It took hardly 5 minutes after entering the college the very next day, before I realized how correct the allegations on the College's Ice Queen were. 

I entered the college with a fairly good mood, only for it to be spoilt in a split second when I saw Nandini and her entire group ragging another couple of freshers.

Nandini: So serious about the studies from now only... The year hasn't even started properly kid. Relax! Come on, won't you like to introduce yourself to the seniors?
I heard her saying as she walked around a first year guy, who was looking down his hands clenched together in a fists.

It was as if Nandini could read my thoughts as she noticed his fists at the same time as me. A smile small crept onto her face as she spoke out loud,
Nandini: Ohh look guys... Someone seems to be getting angry.

Her peers laughed at this as she moved to stand directly in front of the guy, placing her finger under his chin as she moved his face upwards.
Nandini: What happened pretty boy, don't you find me beautiful anymore, haan? Not even willing to do what I say. Changed your mind so soon? 

The guy moved his face away from her, making her smirk,
Nandini: Fine, at least give us your name.

"Ra..Raghav!"

Nandini: Raghav... See that wasn't difficult was it? Now, be a nice gentleman and get on your knees, lets have a complete introduction for all your seniors here, right?

I saw her move away from him as she walked over to her group, moving to stand next to Cabir, who I now noticed was recording the entire thing on a camera.

Nandini: Give a nice smile for the Camera Raghav! 

I saw the cringe as Cabir moved the camera closer to him, as I stepped ahead.
Manik: What the hell guys? Do you seem to get some sort of a kick making others uncomfortable?

All of them turned towards me, as I heard whispers starting up in the crowd. It was now that I realized that even though my question was for all of them, my eyes were directed only towards Nandini. Her eyes blank as ever scanned over me, as if sizing me up for a fight before a smirk took over her face, as she moved towards me.

Nandini: We have new savior in the house people... Cabira, why don't we give our savior some limelight here...

Cabir: Shit just got interesting! We have a good looking one here... More likes for me...
I heard him speak up making me turn towards him with a disgusted expression on my face. These people were insane.

Cabir: Oh come on Bro! Chill... We were just having some harmless fun, nothing wrong with that!

Manik: It is called Ragging!
I told him gritting my teeth together, as Nandini chuckled.

Nandini: Thank you for letting us know dear Sir. What would we know without your help...

I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes at her as I spoke up,
Manik: Let the guy go!!

Nandini glanced from me back to the guy before smirking again.
Nandini: You know I didn't have anything special planned for him anyway. All I wanted was for him to be of some use and get me cup of coffee from the canteen. And how can I trust someone with such an important task even without knowing his name. But now that you want me to let him go! Why don't you do the precious job? 

Manik: I'm not getting anything for you...
I replied to her through my teeth.

Nandini: What happened New Boy? Forgot yesterday's talk so soon... If I remember them correctly, your words were and I quote, "I m ready to face the repercussions of what I did... I don't want anyone else to do that"... Remember?

I narrowed my eyes at her, all too aware of the crowd around us while Nandini seemed to be enjoying this as she walked back towards that Raghav guy. 
Nandini: On your knees!

Before the guy could respond, she kicked him slightly on his shin, making him get down immediately. I knew the kick was more of a nudge, not enough to hurt physically, but that didn't make it any less humiliating.

Nandini: Hurry up New guy... Appears like you have a victim to save. I like my coffee Cold and Black, just tell them it's mine and u'll get the correct order.

Abhi: Nandini-
Abhi spoke up coming to stand next to me, but Nandini lifted up a finger silencing him and kept her eyes fixed onto me.

Nandini: I won't let him get away until you are back with it.

I glared at her one last time before turning onto my heal as I walked towards the Canteen. Any positive feelings that I had for Nandini died in those couple of minutes, making me realize why did the entire college hated her. Abhi was right when he called her the Ice Queen. It took me about 15 minutes to get back to them with the coffee which took quite a lot of time to be prepared.

I walked back to see the crowd as it is, if not more. Nandini's group was the only one talking and laughing amongst themselves while Nandini stayed shut looking down at Raghav, who was still on his knees. I walked straight towards Nandini and forwarded the cup towards her,
Manik: Your Coffee... Cold and Black just the way you are, I mean, just the way you like.

I heard a couple of gasps from her friends and the crowd around me, but didn't pay any attention to it. If this girl thought she could control me, then she had another thing coming at her. It seemed like something different passed through her blank eyes for a couple of seconds before it disappeared completely and she took the cup from me.

Nandini: Took you long enough! Poor Raghav was waiting was something to cool him down. The guy is too much hot headed, he needs to chill out, don't you think so? 

She looked up at me, staring straight into my eyes as if trying to challenge me for something. And before I knew it, she slowly poured the entire coffee over the guy's head. My eyes widened at this as her friends laughed out.

She threw the cup onto the side, before breaking eye contact with me and lifting the guy's head as she asked him in a calm soft voice,
Nandini: Feeling that Anger anymore?

I clenched my fists in anger as I took a step forward.
Manik: You-
I started speaking up only to stop as the guy replied her normally.

Raghav: No!

Nandini nodded at him and turned towards me, raising her eyes in question? The amount of anger that I felt in that moment was beyond limits. I was glad that she was a girl, or else I would have definitely being in big trouble for hitting something in front of the entire student body. 

Nandini: Time for classes. I want the corridor empty in 2 minutes...
Nandini spoke out loud for everyone, before she turned around and walked away as if nothing had happened.

I watched as the entire corridor cleared up, Raghav too walking straight out of the college as Abhi and Mukti stood next to me.

Mukti: Manik Relax! You look like you are gonna run after her and eat off her head.

Both Abhi and I gave her a blank look, only for Abhi to speak up,
Abhi: It's nothing to joke about Mukti.

Mukti: Well from where I saw, it was pity harmless until Manik decided to step in.
Mukti said shrugging at the two of us.

Manik: Are you serious? You thought that it was Harmless.
I snapped at her, only for her to roll her eyes at me.

Mukti: You just jumped into nothing Manik. I was here before you two came, the guy literally walked straight to her asking for trouble. And all she was doing was teaching him a lesson, what harm could an introduction do?

Abhi: I don't care how it started... She stretched it too far and you better not be taking her side in this Mukti.

Mukti: I am not taking sides guys... I am just saying you all are making it too big of a deal. And Manik you have literally been in this college for 10 minutes, stop jumping between everything. The same would have happened yesterday had I not stopped you from walking towards those freaking bitches.

Abhi: I can't believe this!
Abhi muttered before shaking his head at Mukti as he walked away.

Mukti: Abhi wait... Hang on!
Mukti called out after him, only to be ignored. I saw hurt clearly visible on her face which made me sigh loudly as all my anger got replaced with guilt.

Manik: Mukti, I'm sorry! I didn't want this to cause problems between you two. 

Mukti: It's fine...
Mukti whispered back to me, her eyes still fixed at the direction that Abhi walked towards making me hold her arm and turn her to face me.

Manik: I will talk to him okay. He'll cool down! Don't stress much over this okay?

She nodded at me softly before walking away as well. I looked all around me to the completely empty corridor before looking at Mukti's back, only to realize that it was the first time, in the past 4 days, that I saw Mukti walking somewhere normally without that usual jumping and running of hers. The girl always had a skip on her steps, and right now it was absent somewhere because of me.

I reached the class fairly late, but the faculty surprisingly didn't fuss about it at all and simply let me take the seat. I sat down next to a sulking Abhi, and ignore the eyes following me, as I turned towards him.

Neither of us spoke up anything for a couple of minutes before he finally cracked and grumbled,
Abhi: Stop looking at me like that!

Manik: You do know that you gotta apologize to her, right?

Abhi: I wasn't wrong...
He told me sternly making me sigh from all the drama of the day. Who would say that this was just the start of the day. This place surely has a lot of drama going on.

Manik: You told me yesterday that you love her. Was that the truth?
I asked him seriously, raising my eyes. Getting a reply almost immediately.
Abhi: It is...

Manik: Then my friend... The only mantra of a successful relationship is... To accept that your lady is always Right! 
I told him with a massive smile, finally getting a chuckle in return as he relaxed next to me.

Abhi: I have to apologize now! God, she is gonna make me work for that apology.
He said with a groan, making me laugh this time.

Manik: I am sure she is...

Abhi: She wouldn't be Mukti, if she didn't! But I love her anyways...

Manik: Whipped!
I muttered getting a smack from on my arm from him, as I noticed the faculty glare at the two of us.

I concentrated for the rest of the class as well as for the following lectures after that, and before we knew it was the Lunch hour. Abhi and I walked out of the class only to notice Mukti walking towards the canteen from the other end of the corridor. Just like the morning, she was walking slowly, her eyes fixed on her phone. 
Manik: I am not having lunch with that sad face, go and sort out your stuff. I'll see you guys in the canteen.

What that I moved towards the canteen and walked towards their usual table where I had been sitting the for past couple days. A couple of other guys from the football team were already at the table, as they greeted me. I wouldn't call these guys friends, as I hardly even knew their names, but they were good enough for now. I could see myself becoming friends with them in the future.

It took around 15 minutes for Abhi to convince Mukti, as I laughed watching them walk towards us with Mukti taking a piggyback ride from him. The other guys from the table hooted for them, making Mukti flash a finger towards them while Abhi simply kept smiling.

Manik: You seem to have got off the hook quite easily...
I teased them as he settled Mukti down on the table and took a seat next to me.

Mukti: Yeah I know... But I was quite tired today so thought I'll make him work a little extra the next time!
Mukti replied to me nodding seriously as I laughed on Abhi's expression.

Abhi: I would appreciate it more if you don't have fun at my cost.
Abhi said eyeing me as he picked up half of my sandwich. 

The rest of the lunch passed on quite soon, we were almost at the end of it when I heard a now easily recognizable voice call out from behind us.
"Abhi!"

We looked up to find Nandini and Cabir standing by our table. I tried to leave the episode form the morning behind me, as I looked at her blank face. Next to her stood an exact opposite Cabir, who had a board smile on his face, as if he knew something that no one else did.

Mukti: Oh Hi guys!
Mukti greeted them casually which was surprisingly returned by Nandini.

Nandini: Hi Mukti!
She spoke up slowly in a calm polite tone, while Cabir greeted us all.

Cabir: Hello People... What's up!

He got various replied from everyone at the table as he moved towards the others hugging or shaking hands with a few, while Nandini stood at her place, her attention only on Abhi as she spoke up,
Nandini: Abhi... Just wanted to let you know, that the suspension on the team has been revoked. 

The entire table jumped up in excitement, making the noise heard to everyone in the canteen. As I felt a small smile form on my face too. I knew how much they all wanted this.

Abhi: That's great! Thank you...

Nandini: We do have a few new rules in order.... No fooling around with ball in the corridors or anywhere other than the field, and Football jerseys allowed outside the field only during the tournament season. 

Abhi: Yes, sure... I can assure you that we can work those out.

She nodded back at him before turning around to walk away, when her eyes met mine. She looked at me for a couple of seconds thinking around something then turned back towards Abhi, with the same smirk on her face as this morning.
Nandini: By the way, Thank your new team member for the suspension removal. I really wasn't in the mood to let this go, until he convinced me.

Abhi: New Member?

Nandini turned her gaze towards me and nodded to herself, she giving an innocent look towards Abhi.
Nandini: Getting him a seat inside the team was one of his prerequisites, I thought he already told you this...

What the F-

I heard murmurs going on through the rest of the table while Cabir walked back towards Nandini, shaking his head slightly. It seemed like he knew that Nandini was clearly lying through her teeth, but of course no else would know that. And just as I thought that she was done, she continued further.

Nandini: Anyways, I am sure you can use him in the team, he does have quite a force.

Her statement added along with her not so discreet wink towards me, made the murmurs louder as I felt the burning gazes onto me. Nandini glanced all around, seeming satisfied by the words going all around us, as she took a couple of steps closer towards us and spoke up softly just enough for her voice to stay between Abhi, Mukti, Me and Cabir.

Nandini: You didn't think that I forgot about this Morning did you New Boy?

Manik: I really thought that you were above these petty tricks, but I guess I was wrong... 

From her surprised expression, it seemed that she was not expecting any reply from me.
Nandini: I may or may not be above these petty tricks, but I can surely tell you that these idiots all around you are not.

Cabir: Nandini, chill! Let's leave it at this... I think you have done enough!
Cabir spoke up softly, taking hold of her arm, trying to be the peacemaker between the two of us.

Cabir: Hey, Welcome to the Team buddy. I am sure you are gonna have fun with us!
He said forwarding his hand towards me with a genuine smile on his face. I looked away from Nandini, and shook his hand, managing to give back a smile of my own.

Nandini: Damn Cabir... Didn't you get it yet. He is not gonna be having any fun in that team.
Nandini spoke up again as she moved in between the two of us, standing closer to me, as her hand moved ahead to rest on my chest, while she looked up at me from under her dark lashes.

Nandini: Newbie, I hope you are more intelligent that Cabira here... By the end of this day, you will officially be a part of the Football team, just as you wanted, but all everyone is ever gonna remember is how you made your spot on the team by getting involved with me, and not on your talent. The team members are definitely not liking you already.

I saw Abhi tensing up as he glanced at the rest of the table. While Nandini simply smirked at us.
Nandini: Congratulations on winning people's remarks for the year. That is exactly what you get when you decide to interfere in my business. Oh and not to forget after you "accidently" end up giving me a concussion. 

Mukti: What?
Mukti spoke up loudly, making Nandini look at her in Surprise. Nandini saw shock clear on both Mukti's and Abhi's faces just as Cabir tried to pull her away from me.

Cabir: It was YOU!
He whispered to me, no longer looking friendly and inviting as he seemed just a couple seconds ago.

Nandini: Cabir relax! As I said, it was an accident.
She told him before turning towards me with her eyes raised again, something which I was now realizing she did a lot.

Nandini: You didn't tell them?
She asked me with curiosity while I simply shrugged,
Manik: You didn't tell him!

She stood there staring into my eyes for a couple for moments, while I tried not to make them as expressive as they were. 

Nandini: Have a good year Newbie, as good as it can get... Consider this as my official welcome for you. Not everyone is lucky enough to get one.

She stepped away from me, handing off an envelope to Abhi, before she turned around and started walking away saying loud enough for the entire canteen to hear,
Nandini: That is the official suspension revoke letter for the coach. A copy of this with the new rules are already on the notice board. The team can get to practice form today itself. Let's kick some ass at the inter-college league guys, better make sure to get that Trophy Home.

The crowd cheered out loud at this while I could still feel three gazes fixed onto me, clearly waiting for an explanation. Nandini Moorthy sure knows how to create a mess.