A glimpse of Manik and Nandini's life before they met each other

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Nandini

My first day at college. I have never been in a hostel before. After amma and appa passed away, I was with Lakshmi aunty. But now it's time for me to come out and start living independently.

University of Wisconsin, Madison, that is where I am going to spend the next four years of my life. Andrew is the one who's giving me a school tour. We saw the arts and math buildings, and now walking toward the business building. That's where most of my classes are going to be. We'd be next going to see the dorms. The first years have to stay in the dorm and that is kind of an unwritten rule here. I don't think I am dorm room person. I can't adjust quickly with someone. So I am going to stay in a single room. No roommate mess!

Along with me are six other students. I can see name badges on their shirts, Matthew Hale, William Miller, Lisa Wilson, Alice Johnson, Jeff Miller and Xin. I haven't spoken to anyone yet. Just the introductions. Xin and I are the only asians. Xin is from China. Except for him, all are into business. Xin is in science school.

"So this is the business building guys. Your classes are going to be here for the next four years" Andrew said walking us into the business building.

On our way inside, we met a lady. She looked very cheerful, must be in her forties. She doesn't look too old though.

"Hello Andrew. So they are here" she told to Andrew.

"Yes Judy. This is the first group. The rest are still on their way and we have ambassadors allocated already" Andrew said.

So every group of students will be given an ambassador to help for the first few days.

"Hello children. I am Judy, director of International office. Looks like...uhmm only two of you are going to need my help. Let me guess, you are nandini and you are Xin" she said.

I nod my head giving her a handshake.

"Nice meeting you" I said.

"The pleasure is mine. You guys finish with the tour and I'll see you over dinner at the party" she said and went away. We continued with the tour.

William joined me.

"Hey. William. You can call me Will" he said.

"Hey. I am Nandini"

"Nandanii" he struggled.

"Yes"

"No short names?" he asked.

I nod in a no.

"So where are you from?" he asked.

"New York"

"No. Like where are you basically from?"

"My parents are from India. But I was born and brought up in New York"

"Okay! So they live in New York?" he asked.

"Uhmm..they passed away. I live with my aunt"

"I am sorry. I had no idea"

"That's okay. We just met" I said smiling. He looked like a nice guy.

"So yes, you're officially my first friend here. Friends" he said shaking hands.

And that's how the story of Will and his butterfly started.

After the tour, Will and I were at the cafe having lunch, when the rest of the students from our group joined us.

We introduced each other.

Lisa is going to take the room next to mine. So I got a dorm friend here.

Matt and Will are roommates.

They can easily get along. I can see that.

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It's been a month since classes started.

Will, Matt and I became really close. I am not someone who can make friends easily but then these two are different.

They never asked me anything which would make me feel uncomfortable. They got to know what I like and what I don't like.

Will and I were in the Union Terrace, the common meeting point for all the students. It's like the cafeteria. Will and I meet there. And we have a special table for ourselves where we usually sit.

"I am going to take you out somewhere today after the class" he said.

I was sipping my cold coffee, waiting for the sandwich I ordered.

"Where?"

"It's a surprise" he said.

"Will you know I don't like surprises"

"Trust me you're going to love this one" he said confidently.

"Let's see"

My sandwich also was served. We shared it.

After the class was over, Will was waiting for me by the door.

Apparently he's taking me somewhere and I was asked not to tell anyone about it. He said it's our thing.

We walked to the bus stop.

"Is it like too far? I am hungry"

"Tadaa" he said pulling out a granola bar from his pocket.

"This is going to keep you active" he said giving it to me.

My favourite caramel and berry bar.

"You're my best friend" I told taking it.

"That I am" he said.

We saw the bus coming.

"Hey do you have three quarters?" will asked.

I checked my purse and yes I had them.

"Great! Thanks" he said taking them. We got into the bus. He paid for us and we took the last two seats.

I don't even know the route of this bus.

"How long would it take for us to go?" I asked.

"Uhmm...fifteen minutes, tops" he said.

"Can I take a nap?" I asked.

"Ahaan! You can use my shoulder" he said scooting toward me.

I rest my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes. He plugged in his earphones and was busy playing some game in his phone.

After fifteen minutes, he woke me up.

"We are here" he said.

We got down the bus and started walking.

I spotted Matt's car there. In the group, Matt is the only one who has a car. Well, because he is loaded!

"Is Matt here?" I asked looking at his car.

We stopped where Matt's car was parked and I lift my head to see that it's a park.

I have never been here. It's the community recreation center kind of place. Lot of children were inside, playing.

"You got me to a park?" I asked Will.

"Yes. Let's go. There's a surprise for you"

We walked inside. We crossed the area were all the children were playing and were walking towards somewhere more private.

"Will you are not going to kidnap me right?" I asked.

"Ten more steps and that's it" he said.

I literally counted every step.

And there he was, Matt.

"Matty! I didn't know you were going to be here. This guy asked me not to tell you about it"

"Well it was our plan" Matt said.

We walked more and then what I saw blew my mind off! There was a lake. There was a huge tree and under it was a bench, painted in yellow.

It looked like it was some scenery. I have seen these kind of places in google. Never saw one for real.

"Okay. Don't be scared. We are right here" Matt said and then I felt a soft cloth being tied around my eyes.

"Guys what are you upto?" I asked.

"You'll get to know. Patience" Will said.

They helped me walk a few more steps and then we sat on the bench.

A minute later when I opened my eyes, there was a small foldable table in front of me, on it was a cake. A butterfly shaped cake, made with lots of colorful cupcakes.

I am a cupcake freak. I bake the best cupcakes. And since I have been living in the dorm, it's been a while since I baked. The moment I move into an apartment, I am going to bale everyday.

"How did you guys know it's my birthday?" I asked them.

Yes today is my birthday. I stopped celebrating after mom and dad passed away. I felt like there was no reason to celebrate as they were the ones who gave me life. It didn't make sense to me to celebrate birthday without them.

"Here's the knife" Matt said passing me the knife.

"Whoa whoa whoa! Wait" Will said.

He took out the camera, a tripod stand from his bag and set it up in front of us.

He set the camera on video mode.

"Now we're ready" he said joining us.

They both held my hand and made me cut the cupcake cake, if it is a word.

They fed me first and then I fed them. All this was getting recorded.

Then it was time for gifts.

Matty gave me his gift first. I opened it and it was a handbag and a wallet set. They looked so pretty and expensive.

"I had my mom get it for you. She's waiting for you to open it" he said.

"This is so pretty! Thank you matty" i said giving me a hug.

"Okay my turn" will said.

It was a small box. I opened it and there was a beautiful bracelet. It had M, W and N charms on it.

"I want the three of us stay together, always!" he said.

"Aww Will, that's so thoughtful. And the bracelet is so beautiful" I said.

I extended my hand and he put the bracelet.

"There's more" he said giving me two other gifts.

I opened the first one and it was a frame with a picture of Will and I from the first day at school.

"I never thought we would be great friends" I said looking at it.

And the other gift was a set of butterflies that I could stick them on my wall.

"Okay what's with the butterflies?" I asked.

We sat on the bench.

"Nandu, we need to talk" Matty said.

"About?" I asked.

I put the butterflies in my bag.

"About you" Will said.

"What about me?" I asked.

"Nandu. What is it that is making you so sad? I know you've been through a lot, but Lisa found this in your room" he said giving me the bottle of pills.

"When did she find them?" I asked taking them from Will.

"Nandu, I know it's hard for you trust people. You take your time in making friends. But you have us now. Please talk to us. Everyday we meet, we talk, we have fun. But then, it all doesn't look like real. You are in trouble and we can see that. If not everyone, atleast Matty and I can. You know you can talk to us about whatever that's troubling you"

I don't know why, but the very next moment, I started crying. I was crying like there was no end to it. And the two boys were watching me in silence, letting me take it all out.

"Nandu you can cry how much ever you want to. But only today. Come on, you need to help yourself, it's not going to work if it keeps going like this" Matt said giving me a hug.

I was still crying.

"Nandu, look there. Fast" Will said.

I looked at the direction he was pointing to and I could see hundreds of butterflies, coming out of nowhere.

"I have a name for you, butterfly. Nandu, just look at them. Butterflies are signs of freedom. They fly places. They may lose their wings, wiggle and die but that doesn't stop other butterflies from flying. It's their nature. It's how they live. Just because your mom and dad are not with you, you can't stop living. Think about them. Would they ever want you to be like this? Surviving on anti-depressants?" Will asked.

"I have been through a crisis for the last two years. I was fine initially but once I started growing up, I missed mom and dad. Like hell! Every night I used to cry to bed. I stopped eating, I stopped hanging out. I lost weight, all my hair was falling. I didn't know what I was doing to myself. You know it's not easy" I said.

"I know that. I totally get it. But Nandu, you have to some day" Matty said.

"Why don't we find you a boyfriend?" he asked.

"Oh come on! That'd be the last thing I'd want" I said.

"Why would you say that?" Will asked.

"Who's going to like me? I don't have eating habits. I don't talk. I am a...silent psycho. Any one who'd know all these things about me, would run away the very moment we start dating"

"You never know Nandu" Matt said.

"No one would want to keep broken things with them, same is the case with me. No one would want to date a broken girl" I said.

"Broken things are beautiful too. It all depends on the perspective" Will said.

"And yes, there'd definitely be someone somewhere who's made for you. And when you meet him, you'll come to know" Matt said.

"Oh come on! Stop speaking like a Rom-com writer. That's not true. I don't believe in love"

"You would, when you find someone who truly loves you. And then my dear butterfly, your life would turn upside down" Will said pulling my cheeks.

"In your dreams" I said.

"Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you look when you smile?" William asked.

"Dude are you flirting with her?" Matt asked.

"Nope! Just telling the truth"

"Nandu, does Judy know about your mom and dad?"

"Well, I haven't been telling you, but I meet Judy everyday. We talk for hours and hours. She's a beautiful woman. She's become like a mother to me"

"Does she know that you take the pills?" Matt asked.

"She'd kill me if she knows"

"Bingo! Lisa took away the other bottle of these pills in your room so now you don't have any. Now promise us, you are never going to take those pills again" William said.

"I can't. They help me go to sleep. I can't sleep without taking them"

"But Nandu, it's destroying you from inside. These are not good. Girl, there are other ways to help yourself"

"I don't see any" I said.

"Nandu please! We can't see you troubling yourself like this"

"I am sorry. I can't do it" I said, somehow grabbing the pills from him.

His face fell.

"Just not that Will. Please" I said.

He gave into my request.

"Okay, we had to do the wish thing before cutting the cake. Since we haven't done, let's do it now" Will said.

"Okay" Nandini said and closed her eyes.

"Hello amma. Hello appa. Today is my birthday and these two people here have tried to make it the best day. They asked me to make a wish.I think I have become so sad that I stopped thinking positive about anything. I never thought I would make friends, I never thought I could smile. I never thought I would celebrate my birthday. I have become hopeless. So yes, on this day, I wish for hope. I need hope that good things will start to happen in my life. I need a hope that I would find someone who would take me as I am, who would help me come out of the pain, who would love me the way you did. I just need some hope" she wished.

Someone somewhere heard her wish. Want to know who? Read the next chapter.