"Confidence is when you believe in yourself and your abilities, arrogance is when you think you are better than others and act accordingly"

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"Nandini !!!!" 

I turned towards the door to see Manik standing there 

Devesh-" Manik nice to meet you man, come in why are you standing outside?" Devesh distanced from me and moved forward towards Manik. I looked at him who's eyes didn't leave me even for a second as he came inside and shook hands.

Manik-" Actually Moloy uncle sent me here. I guess we have to practice together so he asked me to be present there and help Nandini." His said in a monotonous tone while his eyes lingered over me. 

Devesh- "Ohh yaa sure you can be here and I hope you remember your last lessons. Currently I was teaching Nandini some basics which she has grasped perfectly." Devesh smiled at me while I reciprocated it. Afterall not everyday I was praised for being an active learner. 

Currently Manik and Devesh were showing me some steps while I was trying to copy them. Well Manik really has amazing dancing skills with the way his hands were rotating in complete 360 degree and steps on beat it was a treat to watch him dance like this with anther aura. 

*He looks killer even while dancing? And the micro smile on his face after every round.* 

As I was busy drooling over him I missed a step and was about to fall flat on my face when a hand caught hold of me. 

Devesh-" Are you okay Nandini? I told you to look in front while you spin." He asked me while he help me straighten up. I looked at him and then nodded at him mumbling a quick 'thank you'. All along I felt a constant gaze on me from the left side and you people won't get any brownie points for guessing who it was. 

MANIK ! He looked as if he had sucked a lemon. The foul face and his hard icy glare made me confused. What is wrong with this guy why can't he for once be all happy and smiling? Once he will smile and then next second will glare. 

At the same time  Devesh's phone rang while he excused himself to attend the call. As soon as he went out of the room I thought to ask Manik the question I wanted to ask from so long

" Manik why were you disagreeing with everyone back in the hall for the plan? I mean do you really think that I can't handle this mission?"  

Manik-" It doesn't matter whether I agree or disagree because you already told your decision to them. You know what I thought that there will be some brain left in you but no you don't have one. Do you really think that the things I learnt in so many years you can master them in some weeks?  Above all will you be able to present yourself like a lady of that time in front of thousands of people? Huhhh... you are just making it more dangerous." He banged his fist on the wall near by taking me a back. 

" Hey, what are you doing? You can't point out things at me, that too when you don't know anything about me. I'm doing my level best and if you have forgotten then let me remind you that even I'm a part of this mission and it is my right as well as duty to do what I can for this mission. I will prove it to you and others that I'm not a scape goat whom you can use whenever you wish for and then leave me." Even I raised my voice while my finger was pointed at him. 

Manik- "Yaa sure you can, by falling in someone's arms and not concentrating on your classes." He gave me a hard glare while he kept advancing at me. I widened my eyes while walking back. 

"What... what do you mean by that?"

He caged me between the mirror and himself by keeping both his hands on the mirror. 

Manik-" The way you fell while dancing it did seem like you did it intentionally or you were distracted." He stared straight in my eyes while my heartbeat increased and I felt like banging either his or my head to the wall.

" I just tripped and it was definitely not intentional and about me being saved then Devesh sir held me that is not my fault right in fact I if not for him then I would have got hurt." I mustered up some courage and said straight looking into his. He just rolled his eyes while I felt like punching his face.

Manik-" Yaa sure and there goes my point that you are unfit for this mission. The clumsy and disoriented girl you are, how will you manage things there without creating a scene?" His challenging tone snapped at me right on my face making me ball my hands into a fist ready to punch but I controlled. 

" I'M NOT CLUMSY YOU GIRAFFE. What all I can do you don't have any idea about it. So it's better that you mind your own business." I snapped at him with all my anger and the uneasy feeling which was happening inside me with his close proximity. 

Manik- "Why is it so difficult to work with you? I don't get that why are you hell bent on doing things on your own? I'm right here and I complete this mission all by my own but no you have to say things. It was never this difficult with Aliya, she use to listen to me."

"AND I'M NOT ALIYA !!!! I'M NANDINI RAJVANSH. I will do what pleases me and what is right for me. You want to work with me fine if not then you Mr. Egoist Monster can answer to the Guardians." I pushed him with all my force while he tumbled a little before steadying himself looked with his drilling eyes. At the same time Devesh came inside and apologized for leaving the class in between. 

Devesh-" Okay Nandini I guess for today your class is done. You practice the footsteps and the spins the rest we will do tomorrow. Well you can even ask help from Aliya or Manik. Earlier I had taught them and Manik is a pro in dancing and playing instruments." His words brought a smirk on Manik's face while I felt a small pang of pain inside listening to Manik and Aliya taking dancing class together. 

Manik-" It's fine Devesh I will teach her dancing too, after all there are a lot of things to be taught to her which only I can teach." 

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I was waiting in Moloy uncle's cabin as told by him because I was not allowed to go alone to the cell where the chronograph was kept. The little tiff with Manik was still lingering at the back of my head even after I tried to forget it. I really don't get this guy sometimes he is all caring and friendly and then will show his bossy attitude. But now one thing is for sure I will not tell about the chit to him. 

Someone knocked at the door and then got in. I stood up abruptly and looked at Dr. Sharma along with the cute Rohan who waved at me enthusiastically while I smiled at him and then greeted Dr. Sharma.

Dr. Sharma- "Nandini I just came to take you, you need to elapse, Today you will go to the year 1970 but just for sometime and that too in the cellar itself so there won't be an issue of changing outfit. After a while come into the hall till then I will set things up." He went out and then I saw Rohan sitting near me even after Dr. Sharma was gone surprising me. But then I can talk to him now without whispering.

" Rohan how come you are still here after your Dad left the room?"

Rohan-" I don't know Nandu Di, but then I wanted to spend time with you so I stayed back and I think now after Dad you are my special person so yup I can stay with you whenever I wish for." He smiled a toothy smile and did our fav Yo-style. I also did that and was happy that now I can freely talk to him.

Rohan-" You look a bit disturbed, is everything alright?"

" Umm.. yaa there is but then you are a kiddo you won't understand Rohan. It's okay I will see."

Rohan-" I'm not a kid okay, I have been with these people for so long and now I know them and these secrets so I maybe of help. So tell me Nandu Di what is the issue." He forced me again to answer and I sighed but finally agreed and told him about that chit and what my great grandmother told.

Rohan-" I think you should follow her she trusted you with something and if she would have trusted Manik then she wouldn't have told you to do that. As it is these people don't tell you anything so get to know the other way."

Well he was right there if I tell them now then god knows what will happen. I guess I should go ahead with the flow, maybe that is what will be best for me.

With this Rohan and I came towards the hall where Dr. Sharma was waiting for me and as soon as I stood near him he tapped his watch indicating me for being late. I just showed my pinky finger as I didn't know what to say. He rolled his eyes looking at me and then motioned me to go ahead not before blindfolding me and holding my hand.

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Year : 1970

After roaming around the whole room and checking up all the paintings and furniture for about half and hour I was now sitting in one of the rooms of the Lodge but in the year 1970. I was told that the room will be locked from outside as in that time no one use to come in that area of the lodge in 1970. Getting myself engrossed in my favorite novel once again I waited for me to get back into time. That is when I heard a 'CLICK' sound and the door got opened. I turned abruptly to see 2 people standing with the same shocked expression seeing me there.

*Why do I feel that I have seen this girl somewhere? But where?* I looked at them and so did they. That's when another man came in completely unaware of the people inside the room.

Man-" Here you go my children, this will be our launchpad---" He stopped seeing me.

"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" He asked me while I felt myself like a dear caught in headlight.

" I... I'm Nandini Rajvansh but who are you?"

Man-" I'm Ashutosh Basu the Guardian of the lodge. How did you get in here without anyone's permission?" His authoritative voice rang in the closed room while making me shocked.

" Nanu aap?"

All the 3 people shouted together.

" NANU?????!!!!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"

" You are my Nanu, I mean I'm Nandini your granddaughter from the future actually... okay wait how should I explain this... but wait I don't need to right you already would be knowing about all this. I'm your daughter's daughter and come from the year 2020. Well though that year sucks but still its good there. You know I'm so happy to see you. You look so different and Young and,.. handsome. God! I don't even know what am I blabbering." I didn't know what to say meeting my grandfather who was maybe in his early 30's and looked dapper in his suit. Well he looked handsome when I saw but at a young age but this looked a bit too odd.

Ashutosh-" You... you are my grand daughter? Well this will take time to digest as I just got married a year ago. And I get to meet so many people wow." He smiled shyly and then my eyes fell on the other 2 people who were staring at me from a long time.

" Who are you two?" I asked them while they snickered hearing me and looked at each other as if talking within themselves.

Boy-" I'm Mr. Basu's friend and she is my wife. Mr. Basu I think we should take your leave we will see you again." His eyes did some talking as if conversing with Grandpa over something which I shouldn't be knowing. After which he held the lady's hand and started to leave but the lady stopped him.

Lady-" No Sid we can't run like this. We need to tell her the truth." She stopped him and looked at me with some unknown emotions. I didn't know what to do as I tried contemplating her lines and as soon as realization dawned upon me I screamed,

" You both are the traitors, Sanvi Basu and Siddhant Malhotra?"

Sanvi-" No we are not listen we just want to talk to you and explain you something." She advanced towards me while my grip on the book tightened and I backed off. That was when I saw that in her hand was a syringe which she was hiding behind her dupatta. I pushed the teapoy just in between us making her fall and the next second I felt a pain in my head which meant I was ready to go back in my time. 

" Nanu don't trust them , they are bad. They are the evils ready to destroy us." these were my last words before darkness engulfed me taking me back to my own time.

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So how did you find today's chapter? 

What do you think will Manik and Nandini be able to work together or will fight like this?

What is Nandini's grandfather doing with Sanvi and Siddhant?

What will this new meeting with the Lord bring for Nandini?

 To know more keep reading 'Tumbled over unforeseen fates'. If you like the story then don't forget to share with your friends. 

With love, 

Your writer,

Satakshi (Neha)❤