Thank you for all the lovely comments and supports. I have come back with a much longer update! Chapter Two- Revelations
Gasping for air, Nandini woke up in a dark, damp, and smelly place. It smelled absolutely terrible and Nandini could barely move due to the small space. It seemed as though there was a lid or cover over her head. She tried to push it open, but it didn't budge. 'Oh no! Aiyappa. Not again. How could Manik do this to me?! He had seemed so kind, so familiar. I thought that we had become friends.. I can't do this. Not after what happened with...No, no, no, don't think about that man. Think, Nandini! Think! How can you get out from here? You've done it before, so you can do it again.' Nandini started helplessly banging on the cover over her head, but nothing happened. Flashbacks from four years ago started apppearing in Nandini's head. Nandini started to profusely cry and hyperventilate. She couldn't handle small, dark place. Not after what had happened with Pandit four years ago. She had survived what had happened four years ago, but she didn't think she was going to survive this time.
Else where in the college, Navya started panicking. It had been three hours since she had last seen Nandini. By now, she should have ended her tour of the college with Manik. Had the Fab5 done something to Nandini? They hadn't given her a Fab5 card when they had the chance. 'But who knows with those weirdos. I should start looking for Nandini,' thought Navya. Navya looked everywhere: the canteen, washrooms, classrooms, library, practice rooms, and auditoriums. But, her efforts were fruitless. Just when she had almost lost all her home, she saw the only person who could fix this. She saw Harshad sitting on one of the benches in the gardens behind the school. She decided to ask him. It was well known around school that Manik and Harshad were sworn enemies. 'Perhaps, Harshad can help me in finding Nandini,' thought Navya. "Harshad, I don't mean to bother you, but I think the Fab5 have done something to my friend, Nandini. She's a new student here. Earlier,she bumped into Manik and accidentally spilled food on him. But he acted so nice afterwards. He even said that he would show Nandini around the school. However, I haven't been able to find her since."
Harshad immediately stood up with false worry. "Navya, the Fab5 are unpredictable. I think they used one of their old tricks on her. You get a campus security guard and meet me by the dumpsters at the side of the school." With their plan of action finalized, Navya and Harshad split up, bot on a mission to save Nandini from the wrath of the Fab5. Though, the intentions of the duo were not the same.
Harshad arrived at the dumpsters which were found at the side of one of the college's buildings. He started calling Nandini's name, hoping to foil one of the Fab5's plans and gain someone to support him. He started to open all of the dumpsters, peering in to see if they had trapped her in one of them. He had almost lose hope of finding the latest victim of the Fab5's misdeeds when he heard quiet whimpers from one of the dumpsters at the very end. He tried to lift the heavy cover off of the dumpster, but it had been locked. "Damn it, Manik! Hello, Nandini, if you can hear me in there, please stay calm. My name is Harshad and I am here to help. Don't worry, I'll get you out of here soon." However, he didn't hear a reply from inside the dumpster. Nandini's quiet, helpless whimpers continued. Harshad looked around for Navya, but she was no where in sight. Frustrated, Harshad made a quick phone call to Navya. "Hello?! Navya, where are you, god damn it?! The situation is no t good. Hurry up and meet me at the dumpster at the very far end." Without waiting for a reply, Harshad ended the phone call.
"Listen, Nandini. I know you can hear me. Don't worry, okay. Your friend, Navya, is on her way here with more help," Harshad consoled the other girl. After hearing this, Nandini replied with a weak "okay," but Harshad had all the reassurance that he needed.
After a few minutes, Navya appeared with one of the college security guards at her side. It seemed as though she had ran there with her sate of breathlessness. Still panting, Navya manged to get the words out. "Sorry Harshad, it took me so long . Actually, non of the the security guards wanted to get involved in the matters of a college trustee's son,
so-"
"Enough, Navya. What matters more is that you're here now. Make yourself useful and help me get your friend out of this mess. The security guard promptly took out his keys and opened the cover of the dumpster. Inside, Harshad and Navya found Nandini lying in the trash and waste of the dumpster. She had wrapped herself into a fetal position and kept whispering to herself, "No, Panditji. Please, don't," over and over again. She had a glossy look on her face and had not even registered the fact that the cover above her head had been removed.
Harshad reached in and picker her up. Then he carefully place her in a sitting position on the ground. Navya crouched down to console the traumatized girl, but Nandini kept repeating her mantra of "No, Panditji. Please, don't," over and over again. Navya kept trying to speak to the girl, but nothing worked. Without no other options left, Navya dumped the remaining water from her water bottle onto Nandini. The shot of the cold water on her skin broke Nandini away from her trance. "Navya? Whos is this? How did I get here?" Nandini asked when she saw Harshad standing off to the side.
Navya looked up to see who Nandini was referring to. "Oh, Nandini, this is Harshad. He helped me to find you. In fact, I wouldn't have even found you if it weren't for him, but never mind that. Let's get you rhome and get some rest. That's exactly what you need aftera day like today." Nandini slowly nodded as if she was a small child being told what to do by her mother.
With Navya's help, Nandini slowly got up. Before leaving, Nandini wanted to thank her savior. "Thank you so much Harshad. I honestly don't know what I would have done if you had not helped me."
"Nandini, there's no need to thank me. Just make sure you're careful of Fab5." With the end of the short exchange, Nandini and Navya left. Once the girls were out of ear shot, Harshad congratulated himself. "Really, well done, Harshad. Manik, you're not going to reign over this school for long. Manik:0 and Harshad:1." He laughed to himself and started to make his way back to the school.
...
Nandini and Navya arrived at the front of Nandini's house. Navya's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets after seeing the size of Nandini's house, but Navya decided that now was not the appropriate time to comment on it. She decided to offer her help instead. "Nandini, are you sure you don't need any help? You seemed to be pretty shocked before."
Nandidni tried her best to put a small, reassuring smile on her face, thought the smile did not reach her eyes. "It's okay, Navya, You don't need to worry about me. I'll manage by myself." Because Nandini was being so adamant about her being fine, Navya did not push any further and bid farewell to her new friend.
Once inside, Nandini snuck past her family to her room, so that they would not see her current stae. She didn't want to bother her Chacha and Chachi with such trivial matters. They were already so busy with managing the family business. In the shower, Nandini was left to her own devices. Today's events had brought back memories that she had worked hard to get rid of. Year's of therapy had failed to stop her panic attack today. 'It's okay, Nandu. Don't let that Monster Manik ruin this for you. I know you can do it. You're a strong girl,' Nandini thought to herself.
As Nandini was getting ready, she suddently remembered. She and her family had dinner at the Malhotra's tongiht. keeping this in mind, she dressed in a salwar kameez. Though she belonged to such a modern and upper class family, Nandini still preferred wearing traditional clothes. This was a result of living with her Ams for years in Mangalore. Nandini went downstairs so that the entire family could leave together.
...
As Nandini arrived at the Malhotra Mansion, she remembered so many childhood memories. Their singing lessons together. Him playfully tugging on her little braids. Them mischeviously playing in the pool in the back gardens. It was funny how the boy that she had grown up with, who had been her childhood best friend had the same name as the vicious monster she had met today...
Nyonika Malhotra was waiting at the front of the house to greet the Murthy family. "Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Murthy. My, it has been such a long time since you all have been to visit my home, not ever since the terrible accident, but let's not think of such depressing things today. Wow, Nandini, you have grown to become such a beautiful young woman." Nyonika cooded as she observed Nandini. "Ah, there's Manik. He's just coming home from practicing with his band." Nyonika said as Manik stpped into the house."Manik come over here and see who has come to join us for dinner after eleven years. It's your Nandu."
Manik nearly had a heart attack as he saw was sitting in his living room. "TUM?!" Manik and Nandini both exclaimed as they saw each other. "What are you doing here?!" The two exclaimed in unison again.
And that's the end of chapter two! So, I have just revealed a couple of the twists and turns in my fan fiction. What do you guys think? Please let me know and leave a comment. 😆 Chapter three will be updated soon!
Edited by lamz325 - 10 years ago
Indian Idol 15
