Nandini's POV 

It's been 2 days of that incident. Right now all of the Lodge members were having a discussion on what to do next. According to what I have figured out we are now after Sanvi Basu and Siddhant Malhotra as they are the only ones whose blood needs to be filled in that machine. But they all are worried about our meet with them in the past. Those 2 also have a chronograph which needs my and Manik 's blood to get closed so its a tie situation and who ever reaches first will be benefited. See I have finally started understanding the know-how of all these cryptic stuff and I'm really proud of myself as finally I'm getting my hang on it and will not be behaving like a complete fool who doesn't know what is going around. That reminds me of the chit which my great grandmother gave me. That thing is still confusing me and more than that on should I hide this from Manik and others? As it is these people have low trust on me and now if I will hide it from them and something else happens so they will blame me only. 

Manik has gone into the past to meet the Lord and inform him about the happenings of the future. I haven't met him from the past 2 days as first I was busy with my college work and second I didn't want to face him till I make up my mind as to what to do with that chit. At college things were going great. There was going to be a Fest whose preparation was going on full swing. 

Mukti-" Nanz, what is wrong with you? Where are you lost my bestie, tell me what happened?" Mukti popped out of no where taking a seat beside me in the empty classroom where I was currently sitting.

" Nothing Mukti it's just I don't know what is happening around me. Sometime I feel I know things clearly but sometimes I'm oblivious." I dug my head between my palm being frustrated. Mom was right this all is going ruin my life. It's not a boon but a curse. 

Mukti-" Nandini I don't know what is going inside your head but all I will say is that you need to believe in yourself and don't let yourself be fooled by others or be played. Regarding this time travel, my best friend is a fighter and she knows when to show her real fighter self. You will get through this Nandini but for that you need to trust yourself and always be practical." She gave me a side hug squeezing my shoulders a bit to calm me down. That is when my phone rang showing Manik's name.

Mukti-" Umm humm... Mr. Hottie calling you. Pick it u girl." I rolled my eyes at her and mouthed 'work calls'

" Yes Manik?"

Manik-" Nandini come out of the college, we need to attend a meeting at the lodge." 

" What? But I can't leave my classes in the middle Manik, I have my assignments to submit." 

Manik-" That will be done tomorrow Mr. Raghav had talked with your professor so there won't be a problem you come out I'm waiting outside."

" Hello Manik.. hello... hey" He just cut the call, no manners at all. 

I sighed picking up my books and turned to take my bag when I saw Mukti sitting with her hands on her cheeks giving me a silly smile.

"What?"

Mukti-" What did he say that you suddenly started packing your stuff?"

"He is waiting outside and we need to reach the Lodge ASAP for some meeting."

Mukti-" I will escort you till the car your highness." she jumped up suddenly hearing me and started helping me out singing some bollywood song to tease me which made me roll my eyes. 

Outside

We came out to see Manik waiting for me at the opposite road on his bike brushing his hair back with his long fingers while his concentration was on his bike." 

Mukti-" Wow this guy has a craze for luxury vehicles. First that Ferrari car and now a Bike. Well enjoy your bike ride darling I guess from here you should go alone." She pushed me a bit and I looked at her as if she spoke Japanese. 

*Wasn't she the one who was excited to escort me to the car or say bike.*

" Thank you so much for escorting me till here Miss Vardhaan. Now off you go." My sarcastic comment made her laugh more but then she hugged me whispering a 'take care and love you' making me also smile and hug her back. 

Manik's POV 

I came back after meeting the Lord with a plan which could help us reach the traitors. There was something more that we needed to discuss and it needed Nandini's consent. Now I was waiting for her to come, this girl never comes on time it's been 15 mins since I called her and still there is no news of her. Well I'm going to meet her after 2 days and don't know why my desperation was increasing to see her soon. 

*You are missing her dude.*

"Manik." 

Hearing her calling me I looked at her and again got lost in her. How does she manage to look cute and pretty all the time? She stood there for sometime fiddling with her sling bag waiting for me to greet but being a dumb I become in front of her, I kept staring her.

Nandini-" Manik where are you lost? Let's go." She shook me a bit bring me out of my zone. Now I felt a bit embarrassed. 

" Yes.. yes come let's leave." I gave her my full blown smile to hide my embarrassment and gave her a spare helmet. She did wear the helmet but was having problem with sitting on my bike without any support. 

"Umm... you need any help? You can keep your hand on my shoulder for support." After thinking for some thinking she hopped on the bike with my support. 

" Well, sorry if you are feeling uncomfortable, I would have got my car but last night I took my bike and now came here in haste to pick you up so didn't get time for double trip to my place. But hey, I won't let you fall, I'm a good biker." I tried easing her a bit while she smiled which I could see on my mirror.

Nandini-" No actually I'm fine with bike rides but I always went with Mukti. This is my first ride with a guy so just was a bit conscious." She giggled a bit while we zoomed off through Kolkata's busy streets. Her answer unconsciously brought a smile on my face. This felt different or say special, with Nandini on my bike was something new.

***********

LODGE

There were some people sitting in the main hall when we entered. Raj Uncle was sitting on the head seat talking to them who turned towards us. 

Raj-" Manik, Nandini please have a seat the meeting is about to start." We took our seat and Uncle stood up to address the hall. 

Raj-" I read the letter Lord sent us through Manik and it has a plan which can help us reach Sanvi and Siddhant without any threat to both our Gems i.e. Diamond and Ruby. but then the plan has some risks which needs to be discussed as well, mainly for Miss Rajvansh our Diamond. Manik and Nandini needs to attend a function which was held in the past as from the trusted sources of the Lord there are chances of Sanvi and Siddhant to be present there. It is going to be a bait for them to lure them into our trap. Lord himself will be there for your safety."

" Mr. Malhotra this is a huge bait considering Nandini is unprepared we can't take her to a function in the past where there will be a crowd. She doesn't even know the native language properly, and have no self defense technique." I reasoned them, this plan is ridiculous and mainly has a huge risk surrounding Nandini. Siddhant Malhotra is dangerous what if something happens to Nandini or she herself gives away herself by saying or acting inappropriately in that era.

Raj-" I know Manik it has huge risk but then if the Lord has made a plan then he must have something in his mind. I guess this is the reason he has volunteered to be present with you people for your safety. And regarding Nandini not been prepared then we are here to train her, I'm sure Nandini can put in a bit extra effort for this mission and prove everyone wrong that she is not a untrained. Am I right Nandini?" He looked at Nandini at the end who was sitting right next to me completely stiff from the time she has heard the plan.

Nandini-" I... I'm ready Mr. Malhotra. I  don't know to what extend I can push myself for standing upto all of your expectations but I will surely give my 100% to avoid any mistake. Just let me know how much time do we have for this plan to execute?" I can't believe this she is agreeing to this plan. I agree that I'm impressed with her confidence but then this plan is dangerous, but why am I getting worked up if she is fine with this plan? 

Raj-" We have 2 weeks time in our hand. You both will be attending a Durga puja event on 10th January, but the past date will be different and that we will decide afterwards for now the year we can let you know which will be 1880." 

With some more talks and discussions the meeting came to an end and Nandini asked to go with Moly uncle while I stayed back. 

**************

Nandini's POV 

My life can never be easy, not a single day can go smoothly and it proved to be right after the meeting ended. I'm really being served as a bait to the two traitors which even Manik understood and was trying to convince everyone. I know you all must be thinking that if I know that this is dangerous for me then why am I getting into it. Well I have 2 reasons

1. I want to prove these people wrong who think of me being an underdog. I am not a coward but a fighter and I will show them that I can't be played the way they want. 

2. I want to know the truth behind all this. The chit says that I'm not been told the whole truth so I will find on my own now and this will only happen if I go into the past and be an active participant in this mission.

Now let the game continue as I'm not going to step back. 

Currently I was in the practice hall and there stood a man in his early 40s dressed in kurta and pajama. His curly hair falling on his forehead and he smiled seeing us enter the hall.

Moloy-" Hello Devesh good to see you after a log time. Thank you for coming here at such a short notice, I hope we didn't disturb your routine." Moloy uncle greeted him while he smiled hugging him. 

Devesh-" Not at all Mr. Banerjee, I'm never busy for you all. I just came from my tour last night and now I'm free to help you all." 

Moloy-" Well good to know, I hope Raj would have told you about your new student whom you have to train a bit. So here is Nandini Rajvansh and Nandini he is Devesh Mirchandani who will train you in dancing. Well the plan requires you to be properly prepared as a Bong girl and even you would be knowing that during durga puja people do dance and participate in dunich dancing. So learn some steps from him in case they ask you to perform one." I literally felt like fainting after what Moloy uncle said. I'm a bedroom dancer and he is asking me to perform dhunuchi naach. I will burn myself. 

" Moloy uncle, I can't do this, I have literally burnt myself once while I danced with that dhunuchi. Forget about professional dancing I'm a simple bedroom dancer." 

Devesh-" huhh.. bedroom dancer?"

" Yaa.. bedroom dancer, just like how people sing in bathroom the same way I dance in my bedroom on my bed being crazy. Most of which are bollywood steps or some tribal dancing. Sir, I can't do this." And here goes me hyperventilating.

Moloy-" Nandini my child it's nothing trust me. Dhunuchi naach is simple all you need to learn is the tricks of it. Devesh will teach you and I'm sure you will do the best." He kept a hnad on my shoulder to calm me down and Devesh gave an encouraging smile to me and asked me to start with basics. 

We did some exercise and I learned some steps like how to twirl with your heels and after every 2 turn I would feel my head spinning.

Devesh- "Nandini.. Nandini, focus on one point when you take a turn and make sure your eyes come to same point once you complete the twirl. Okay look at my hand here, focus once and then spin." He kept his right hand infront of me and I looked at it once focussing then took a spin and came back at the same spot keeping my head straight. This time I didn't feel dizzy. 

" This worked. wohoo... now I get it how do dancers take so many spin and still their head doesn't feel dizzy but come on exact point." I clapped my hands while he laughed. 

Devesh-" Good so this was your first tip for dancing. Whenever you take a turn look at the front and then spin. You will be able to take as many turns as you want without being dizzy." With this we did some more steps while he showed me a small dance step with the dhunuchi. He was doing it so perfectly and smoothly and it looked so easy but as I have done it myself I know it's not the same as you see.

Devesh-" Let's start with 1 at a time, cup your hands and feel like you are holding something. Now take your left and and leg towards your right side like drawing a U with your left hand and then come back. Then do the same with your right side." He instructed me while I tried doing it and though it was very easy but I use to tumbled when I lifted my legs and hand together. 

Devesh-" Nandini do it with a grace, slowly and calmly." He stood behind me and held my left hand and started showing me how to do it. I was doing it with full concentration when suddenly I heard my name being called. 

"NANDINI!" 

There stood Manik at the door staring at me while my right hand was held high in air by Devesh. His facial expression was surprised as well as confused. 

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🎉🎊🎉HAPPY NEW YEAR MY READERS!!!!!🎉🎊🎉 May this year brings happiness and keeps everyone fit and fine in terms of mental as well as physical health. 

 I know I'm late with my update but then I was a bit caught up so late update, But then here I'm with your update. Hope you like it. 

(First time I made a cover. Let me know how is it.)

Is the plan apt ?

What is the Lord planning and will Nandini be able to handle this risk?

Why is Manik concerned for Nandini? 

Are you people exctied for the 2nd meet of the Lord and Nandini?

Keep enjoying the story and do share it with your friends if you like.

TOODLES!!!!!

WITH LOVE,
Satakshi (Neha)❤