My life was no less than a roller coaster ride which was not coming to the finishing point. The purpose of us coming to this totally crazy college filled with nerds and bunch of over confident students was not yet fullfilled. I took a sigh, trying to get her out of my mind. This girl was driving me crazy. By now, one thing was very much clear that just like me, this girl had also burried thousands of secrets somewhere in the corner of her heart and no matter how much I tried to explain myself that it's none of my concern, my mind just never agreed. The feelings were mutual now, we both were very much suspicious about each other. For me, a woman written in mystery is worth a curiosity trip!

~~~

The next day, I was running around the college, in search of my partner. We had to submit our case file a day after and I was so screwed because I honestly knew nothing. She just made a guess and I had no damn idea about law to comment on that. I saw her best friend, Sid standing at the coridoor so I went to him and asked, "Where is Nandini?" He looked at me as if I had just asked him his account number. "Dude, She's my partner for the project. I need to meet her now so please!" I said, rolling my eyes. He raised an eybrow at me, crossed his arms and Began, "Firstly, if Nandini's your partner, you really don't need to worry about the project cause bro, She's the topper and Secondly, today is 12th November."

"So?" I questioned, not being able to understand what was the link of her not coming to the college with the 12th of November.

"The entire college knows that Nandini Mehta doesn't come to college on 12th of November." He said, checking out his phone.

"But why?" I questioned curiously to which, he gave me an angry look and left. I took a deep breath, in order to control my anger which this arrogant guy just triggered. Well, You can't just hide from me. I said as I took out my cellphone from my pocket, I'm gonna trace your number and bingo! You have no idea who you're dealing with.

~~~

And there I was, Standing outside an orphanage with my arms crossed and eyes narrowed. What is she doing here? I wondered. After a while, I stepped inside the Orphanage to look for her. My eyebrows raised when I saw five little kids laughing their hearts out, having the best time of their life with her. She was playing with them, laughing with them and most importantly She was enjoying every little bit of it. The girl who never laughed or even smiled, was laughing with those kids, crazily. She was a like a moon, a part of her was always hidden. On that day and in that particular moment, for the first time ever, I felt good to see someone else smiling. There was another world inside her which no one knew about or maybe no one had the guts to even try. "Good to know that you can smile aswell." I said out loud and it was clearly evident from her face that she was not even a cent percent happy to see me there. "How dare you follow me?" She pointed her finger at me and I giggled. "Don't give so much importance to yourself. I didn't come here for you. I came here for the Project. Sadly, we're in this together and I don't trust you so, Yeah." The kids laughed seeing us argue like that and this surely caused her blood to boil with anger and thus, she stabbed her foot angrily onto the floor and left and I could not control my laughter. "Baccha log," I began, looking at the kids, "What is she doing here with you people and how do you guys bear her?"

"Bhaiiyaa, Didi to yahan har saal ati hai aur hamare sath raat bhar rukti hai." A little girl said, with a smile on her face. Weird! Hitler has a heart too?

~~~

"Listen. Don't drag this okay? Let's just complete the project and I'll leave after that. I promise." I tried my best of convince her but little did I know, She was in no mood to listen. "Promise? Sorry to burst your bubble Mr newbie but just like you, even I don't trust you and Also let me remind you that, you came here by yourself and on your wish, so why do you expect me to help you out?" I stood there, looking at her open mouthed. How fast people change! An hour ago, she was having fun and now, She's back to her real self. "Oh hello? We're in this together! It's OUR loss, not just mine."

"Really now? Well, You don't have to care about me." She snapped, looking into my eye.

"What do you want me to do?" I spoke, accepting my defeat.

"Baccha log!" She said out loud, "What should this uncle do to make you happy? Dress as a clown or dance like a monkey?" 

"Excuse Me, Don't call me an uncle!" I cried.

"If you want me to help you out then Just listen to me. Do as I say and don't even try to argue." And once again, she managed to shut my mouth.

"Han toh Baccha log, bolo?"

"BOTH!" The kids screamed in unison and my eyes jumped out of their sockets. She looked at me, giving that mischievous look and winked. "Don't even think about it. I AM NOT GOING TO DO THIS, AT ANY COST!"

"Ahan?" She smirked.

Helpless. The perfect word to describe my condition that time. After sometime, I was dressed like a clown and as per the deal, I had to dance aswell So yeah, I did that. The kids were laughing out loud and she was enjoying the scene and I literally wanted to punch her for making me do this but then again, If I wouldn't have agreed, the principal would've welcomed me to the college with an expulsion letter in his hand. "Hogaya? Now, Shall we?" I said, handing her the Case file. She read the file once again and Said confidently, "As I said, Child abuse it is!"

"And again!" I exclaimed, "How can you be so sure man? No investigation, nothing at all and you're so over-confident." She exhaled, clutching the handle of the chair firmly, almost like her existence was contingent on it. "Can't you see those cuts on his hand?" She screamed, "Does this look like an accident? NO! This little kid was beaten badly. Can't you see the fear in his eyes?" The pitch of her voice was raising and She pushed away the Wooden Chair angrily with such force that it broke into two pieces. I just kept looking at her, unable to understand as to how should I react to such aggressive behaviour of hers. "Okay fine. Calm down!" I held her by her shoulder. "DON'T!" She cried, "Don't you dare touch me. Stay..Just bloody stay away from me." She snapped, pushing me away. "Why are you yelling at me?" I questioned in a voice laced with confusion.

"Forget it." Saying this, she left and I stood there, still wondering what just happened. What even is her problem? She's okay one moment and the next minute, she turns into a monster.

~~~

Later that night, when everyone was sleeping, I woke up due to thirst and that's when I realized that someone covered me with a duvet while I was asleep. Must be some kid! I said, yawning. I walked towards the kitchen, to get a glass of water and on my way, I saw her sitting alone in the garden, gazing the stars. Should I go? I questioned myself, leave it Manik. This time, she'll definitely eat you up. And no matter how much I tried to stay away from her, I just couldn't. Taking a deep breath, I walked towards her and sat next to her. "I lost my cool. I know." She said, still looking at the stars.

"It's okay."  

"I've completed the project. The file's kept on the table."

"Cool." And again, there was a deadly silence.

"So..You woke up? Wasn't one duvet enough to warm you up?" She questioned absentmindedly and then facepalmed herself, realizing that the damage has been done.

"Oh you covered me up with a duvet? Thanks!" I smiled making her nervous.

"I was just passing by and saw you shivering, So Yeah, just like that." She said, avoiding an eye contact and I just giggled. "Yeah Yeah, I got it." I nodded my head and she looked away.

"So? What's the plan?" She questioned, looking at me and I raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What Plan?"

"There must be some plan. I mean, you people surely didn't come to this college to study. There's definitely something else!" My eyes widened and I didn't know what to say. I just wanted to disapper from there because honestly, she was way too intelligent for me. "My mom wants me to be a lawyer just like my dad so yeah, I had to come here to fullfill her wish." And She was convinced. She surely was! "That's really nice!" She began, "I'm sleepy now. You too, have some sleep. Goodnight!" And this is how our first ever normal conversation ended. Without any argument and without any sarcasm!

~~~

Do drop in your views and let me give you a little sneak peek for the next chapter too.

What's gonna happen when the entire city shuts down due to a sudden curfew? Manik and Nandini, unaware of the situation of the city, leave the orphanage and walk towards the college. How will they deal with this? What are they gonna do?