A little ounce of surprise was clear on her face as she stood up, finally looking interested in this conversation.
Nandini: But you are not on the team!

Manik: Exactly... I'm not! And I don't want anyone else paying off for something that's clearly my mistake. The team is not at fault.

Nandini stayed shut at my words but I could feel her head turning in thought before she turned her back towards me taking a deep breath, the stiffness of her shoulders clearly visible to me before she finally spoke in the same calm tone,
Nandini: If you are not on the team then what were you doing with the ball on the campus... Or was it intentional that it came directly to me?

My eyes widened at her conclusion as I raised my voice.
Manik: What? No... Not at all!!! I... I would never do that intentionally to you, or anyone for that matter. I didn't even know what happened till I asked Abhi about the try outs and Mukti told me about it all.

Nandini: You Didn't Know! You didn't freaking Know! Everyone knows about this in college... It has been news.

She snapped clearly trying to point out my lies when a sigh escaped my mouth. Talking to her back wasn't exactly making it any easier to me. Deciding to not let her take the lead here, I walked around her so that I could see her face as I replied,
Manik: I didn't know because I'm new here... That day I was here just for admission. I saw the ball and just kicked it randomly in the direction where I thought the field was, which I now realize was so wrong. It was my mistake, not an intentional act.

She stared straight into my eyes as if trying to read me in. I tried to gauge her reaction but her face was as blank as always. I waited for her to speak up but didn't get any reaction making me let out a frustrated sigh, as I threaded my fingers through my hair.

Manik: Can you plz just say something? I have been living in this guilt since yesterday and your blank face is not helping at all....

Nandini's eyes broadened at my sudden outburst before it changed into a glare again.
Nandini: Never raise your voice in front of me again..... 

Her words registered into my head as I blinked in confusion. This was the most difficult girl I had ever come across. She was standing stiff in front of me, glaring at me with venom in her eyes. 

It was now that I realized why everyone in the entire college found her so intimidating, she looked straight into your eyes, looking through each and every little action of yours, as if reading your soul completely while her own eyes stayed as hard as ice. Everything about her was as if covered by this invisible layer which no one could see through, while she enjoyed the liberty to sneak into your head completely.

Shaking my head, I cleared all my thoughts breaking the eye contact with her as I nodded before speaking politely.

Manik: Plz say something!

Nandini: What do you want from me? Why are you telling me this?
She all but demanded me.

Manik: I know I can't go back on what I did, but I at least owed you an apology. Also, now that the football team isn't at fault, I wished if you could get the team back.

Nandini: And why would I do that?
Her voice turning into one with authority, showing off her power.

Manik: Because I m ready to face the repercussions of what I did... I don't want anyone else to do that.

Nandini stared back at me for a few minutes until she turned her back towards me again and spoke in a soft voice almost out of tiredness.
Nandini: Go back to class. Meet me outside the class afterwards, I need some time to let this sink in.

Manik: Sure...
I muttered back at her as I walked out of the class, not before glancing back to watch her sitting back at the table. 

Checking the freaking schedule on the way, I noticed that it was Economics going on and I was already late by half an hour. Shaking my head at the thought of Mrs. Shah nagging on me being late, I reached the class and knocked at the door.

All the faces turned towards me, clearly curious to know the details of my 'Talk'.

No way was I telling them anything. Its not as if Nandini really talks to anyone, that talk better be between us only.

Mrs. Shah: Do you see the time young man?

Manik: Sorry Ma'am! I know I'm late, it won't happen again.
I replied sincerely hoping she would leave me but then I heard her saying,

Mrs. Shah: Good, then I'll let you in the next time when you are on time... For now, You better leave the remaining lecture as well.

Just as I was about to speak up, I heard a familiar voice behind me.

Nandini: He was with me Mrs. Shah! We were Busy!
A few Oh's echoed through the class as the teacher too blinked in shock before turning towards the board as she spoke up indifferently.

Mrs. Shah: Get inside both of you... Take your seats!

Nandini immediately got into the class, walking ahead of me as she got to her seat by the window, sitting next to Cabir. I moved in after her and scanned the class to see a seat saved by Abhi, at which I smiled before sitting.

Manik: That's pure Hypocrisy... Get out to me and Come in for her!

Abhi smirked at me and nodded,
Abhi: She is after all most loved as well as the most hated student amongst all the faculties...."

I looked at him with a silent question at the contradicting statement when Abhi bent closer and whispered,
Abhi: Hate.. Well, I am sure you can see why! And love.... well, Nandini is the top student of Space, the best marks in each subject. Ask her anything and you'll get the answer, that is if she even wishes to answer you at the first place.

I turned towards her, as she sat there staring straight at the teacher impassively.
Nandini: She doesn't look studious types...

Abhi: She doesn't look dangerous or evil types either, but that girl has caused a guy to almost jump off the college terrace because of torture. Nothing was really proved what she did, but then words go around everywhere. There is a reason people prefer staying away from her. Nandini Moorthy is everything that she doesn't look like... 

To say that I was shocked would be an understatement. Torture? Could she really do that?

Nandini Moorthy was really a Mystery....
------------------------------------------------

The lecture got over soon enough as we walked out of the class with Abhi trying to convince me for this party.

"You really have to come to this party, I'm sure we are gonna have a lot of fun and plus-"

"Follow me..."
I heard a calm voice speak up as she walked off by my side, her voice effectively interrupting whatever Abhi was saying. Abhi looked up confused at it when I patted his back,

"I'll see u in a few minutes, Okay?"

Not willing to answer any unwanted questions, I walked ahead behind her but not before getting weird glances from almost all of Nandini's so called friends. I rushed towards her and reached next to her matching up her steps to wherever she was taking me.

We walked through a couple of stairs to the technical department as I looked around confused. I was not expecting her to take me to some authority to complain or something. But here she walked straight through the board which read "No students allowed", passing through one room to the other and the next.

I noticed that even the staff there seemed intimidated by her presence as they clearly got alerted in her presence when she busted into the last room of the hall.

"Out!", She commanded to the middle aged man sitting inside the room, as I looked around to see the multiple screens monitoring most parts of the college. It was the Camera Monitoring room, I realized as the Man immediately followed Nandini's command and moved out of the room, dutifully closing the door behind him.

Nandini kept her purse at the table and moved ahead taking the chair in front of the system.

Nandini: You can take a seat if you want!
I heard her mutter to me as she turned to the computer, and opened up some software typing in some security codes.

Manik: Why do you know the college security codes and how come you are allowed in here?

Nandini: None of your business...
She told me sternly before turning towards me.

Nandini: So as you said you were here for the admission procedure that day right?

Manik: Yeah... But I just met the principle and did the paperwork the next day, Why?
I asked for the reason even after knowing that she wouldn't answer as she turned back towards the screen.

Nandini: I wanna check the truth in your story before anything else.
She answered me in a clipped tone, taking me by surprise as I saw her open up the recording to the corridor outside the principle's office where I saw Dad and me moving out.

Nandini: Who is that?

Manik: None of your concern but I'll reply... My father!
I replied in a voice same as hers making nandini give me a pointed look.

Nandini: Where did u find the ball?

Manik: The parking lot...
I answered as I saw her following our movements from the principle's to the parking lot where I kicked the ball before getting into the car and driving off while the ball reached straight to the poolside and hit Nandini.

She paused the recording at that and closed off the system.

Nandini: We are done here... You can leave!

Manik: What?

Nandini: I said leave!

Manik: Okay, let's get one things straight Nandini, I don't know how people around here in SPACE treat you, nor do I want to know. You may think of yourself as someone superior, but I'm not one of those followers of yours. I'm not the one who would nod and follow each of your commands without any question.
I replied to her in a polite yet stern voice.

Nandini: We are done here...
She spoke up again, looking right into my eyes with a blank look on her face, while I nodded and turned to leave. I was almost at the doorstep when I stopped again and turned towards her, to do the one thing that I had wished for ever since I realized my mistake. A genuine apology.

Manik: I am Sorry Nandini. I really am guilty about what happened. Even if it was a mistake, I wish I could undo it to save you from that pain.

I think I saw her eyes broaden slightly at my words, but I couldn't be too sure about it as her face returned to its usual stolid expression all too soon. Keeping an eye contact with her for a couple seconds, I hoped that she could see truthfulness in my eyes, before I left the room.

"Why does this girl's stare makes me so uncomfortable?" I muttered to myself, letting out a slight breath as I walked to the canteen.

I got back to the canteen and joined Mukti and Abhi on their usual table with a few more guys from the football team. Abhi smiled up looking at me, before he asked me slowly making sure only I could hear him.

Abhi: What was all that about?

Manik: Nothing important bro.... Relax!

He nooded at me, before getting back to whatever he waz talking about with Mukti. The table seemed to be buzzing about the party that Abhi was inviting me for earlier before Nandini interrupting us. Apparently it was someone's birthday this Friday and they had a massive party planned.

A few minutes later, I noticed Nandini walk into the canteen as she took a seat at her usual place. I saw Cabir ask her something, when she simply shook her head and started eating.

The rest of the day passed away normally. It was the end of the day when I walked towards the parking lot with Abhi and Mukti. As always Mukti was the one leading the conversation, with how some professor hated her and all.

The sound of a few people laughing broke our conversation as we turned around to find Soha, Tanya and Tina, or as I like to call them Nandini's wing girls laughing at someone.

I turned towards Abhi, who shrugged in reply as the three of us speed walked towards the scene. It was a girl dancing in the middle of the parking lot, looking down at the ground, clearly distressed.

Tanya: We told you to Dance, not fumble around. Come on show us some sexy moves.
I heard Tanya say as the other two laughed making me clench my fists.

Manik: Is that -

Abhi: Ragging... Yes!
Abhi replied, anger clear on his own face as well.

Soha: Okay do one thing, shed that boring dupatta of yours away, and then dance!
I heard Soha speak up loudly as a few guys from the crowd chuckled making my anger cross its limits.

Manik: What the fuck! I am not gonna stand here watching this...
I said to Abhi and Mukti as I started walking ahead only to hear another voice speak up.

"What's happening here?"

The crowd turned towards the voice all at once as Nandini walked closer to the center. Manik saw the girl, who was being bullied, shiver at the sight of Nandini. Her fear clear in her eyes while Nandini kept her gaze on Soha, Tanya and Tina.

Tina: Oh Nandini, you came at the right time. We were just gonna start with the real fun!
Tina spoke up with a sickening smile as she turned towards the girl again and snapped,
Tina: Go on, dance didn't you hear us...

Just as Manik was about to take a step ahead, Mukti held his arm back.
Manik: Mukti you-

Before he could complete his sentence he heard Nandini point at the girl.
Nandini: You... Get lost!

The girl looked up at her in surprise or shock, while Manik saw Soha turned towards Nandini with anger clear on her face.
Soha: We were not done with her yet...

Nandini didn't spare her even a single glance as she raised her eyes at the still shivering girl.
Nandini: Are you going to walk away or you wish to entertain the crowd further? Get lost from here...

The girl rushed away, just as Nandini turned her glare towards the crowd nearby, which scattered immediately.

Abhi: These guys are sick in their heads.
Abhi muttered angrily as he turned around and walked back inside the building.

I turned to watch him walk away only to see Mukti sighing in despair. 
Mukti: I'll just go get him. 

Manik: Cool... I'll see you guys tomorrow!
I told them before walking towards my car. I was driving out of the office, when I noticed Nandini standing in front of Soha, arms folded on her chest, as she glared at her so called friends. And even after all that I have heard about Nandini Moorthy, somewhere inside me I believed that even she was against that ragging as much as we were. Coz if I were to believe all their words, then why she did leave me?