Year 2021

Lodge 

Aliya came running inside the cabin of Mr. Raj Malhotra along with Aryamann. Looking at her Mr. Malhotra stood up. 

Aliya-" Mr Malhotra... Mr... Malhotra something is not right. I again got a vision sir, please don't let Manik and Nandini go." She was fumbling and shaking with her look disheveled. 

Raj-" What!!?? What have you see Aliya tell me." His eyes widened while he pulled a chair for her and told his assistant to  get some water. 

Aliya-" I was on my way back from college when suddenly I felt a shooting pain like before and I stopped and stood at a side as told by Elena and tried concentrating on my breath closing my eyes. Then I was engulfed by complete darkness when a man was who was holding a injection and moving towards a girl but then things changed and Opal stone showed up. I don't know much but some papers were shown and some hymns were read. It was scary sir, I haven't seen anyone's face but then maybe like before it can be associated with Nandini and Manik. Sir please stop them to elapse today or if not then increase their security." She asked him while he combed his hair back looking at the ceiling and looked at her. 

Raj-" They have already gone, it's been half and hour. They are fully equipped, I gave Manik a gun and more than that Lord is there with them, nothing will happen Aliya and I don't think we can do anything more. You just relax first, I ... I will see what can we do but first I need to talk with Elena." He was about to call Elena when his eyes went on Aryamann 

Raj-" Arya, what are you doing here?" 

Arya-" Actually I got Aliya here, I saw her standing sitting near the college gates in that state so I figured it out that something must have happened so I helped her reaching here. If there is a problem with me being here then I will leave Uncle that's not a problem." He was ready to move out when Raj stopped him while Aliya looked at him.

Raj-" I didn't mean that Arya, I was just surprised that you know this place but then how can I forget Manik doesn't hide anything from you. Well take you seat and thank you for getting Aliya here." He gave him a pat on his shoulder making him sit on the chair adjacent to Aliya's who smiled at him mumbling a 'thank you'. 

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Nandini's POV 

Suddenly someone dragged me from the crowd which led to the burner fall. I looked for Manik but nothing could be seen as the place was filled with smoke and the loud beating of the Dhaak minimized my shouts. 

"MANIKKKKK!!!!!! MANIK SAVE ME! LORD... SOMEONE HELP." 

I tried doing those self defense tricks but nothing worked as it seemed that this person was already prepared and dodged every move of mine. The next I knew was I was dragged out of the Hall and then upstairs. 

As soon as that person left my hand I turned with full anger ready to fight but I froze seeing the person in front of me and also another one standing right beside him. 

"Siddhant and Sanvi you two again!" I started looking around for any weapon to protect me but nothing was seen as I started taking back steps. 

Sanvi-" Nandini, listen to us once please. It's important for you to listen to us too." She held my hand stopping me with her eyes pleading for me to listen to her once. 

"Why should I trust you people? You both flew away with the chronograph and also tried to attack me last time. Last time I was alone but this time Manik and Lord both are with me." I tried to put on a brave face and waiting for Manik or the Lord to come. 

Siddhant-" Because we have the proofs that will make you believe us. The Lord is not what he shows everyone, he is fooling all of you and see he and his followers have successfully brainwashed Manik. You are the only hope for us Nandini, believe us once."  He looked straight into my eyes and don't know why those eyes held me captivated. Like there was something which made me want to believe them. 

"What.. what proof are you talking about?" 

Siddhant-" No... not like this Nandini even we need to be sure that you trust us otherwise all our hard work of these many years will wash off if you pass on the proofs." 

Now I felt like I'm trapped, I don't know what to do. Should I believe them or not? If they were wrong then why did Great grandmom and Grandpaa supported them? According to the lodge they are the traitors they had stolen the machine risking their descendants life in danger along with them. But still I think I should believe them, even their side of the story should be known to me otherwise how will I find that who is right and who is wrong. 

"Ok fine I don't know who is right or wrong but then my mom always taught me that we should listen to both sides story and then make decisions. If you both are innocent then maybe this proof can help me make the correct decision. So far I have met you , you both didn't hurt me even now when we are alone you didn't hurt me so I can trust you with my security. I'm ready to see the proof and believe you." Finally I decided and my these words brought a huge smile on their face. Sanvi hugged me while Siddhant was looking at me. 

That is when Manik barged in and shot a bullet which passed just some inches away from Siddhant. I was stunned and so was Sanvi who tried to protect me  by hugging me more. Siddhant pulled out his own gun and pointed at Manik. 

Manik-" Leave her you rascal, what do you think that you will trap her in your sweet talks and take her blood then you are absolutely wrong. Till the time I'm with Nandini you won't be able to harm her." He was jittering his teeth. 

Siddhant-" You can just show anger and have no brain. They have made you a perfect robot who will work on their instructions and Nandini can never be harmed by me but I can't say the same for your Lord." 

Siddhant-" Sanvi its time!" With this I was pushed away and both of them disappeared into this air. Manik held me immediately while I tried to balance myself and hiding the paper roll in my saari. While Manik and Siddhant were fighting Sanvi gave me the papers which held the proof of their innocence and something more which I need t know. 

Manik-" Nandini, are you alright? They didn't harm you in anyway right?" He checked me thoroughly to see if any mark is there or not. The concern in his eyes took me aback and my heart skipped a beat when he hugged me suddenly. 

Manik-" I got so scared when I didn't find you in the hall. What if I had come late and they had done something to you. I'm so sorry Nandini for being careless even when I know that those people will be around." His each and every word made me guilty, here he was worrying about my safety and I'm hiding things from him. 

"Manik, I'm alright nothing happened. They just wanted to talk to me and they meant no harm. I feel that things are not like how it's shown. If they were really after my blood so they had enough time to get it forcefully from me but they didn't. We don't know their side of the story yet. Maybe we are misjudging them--" I was cut in between by the Lord who entered 

Lord-" You don't need to decide who is right or wrong Miss Diamond we are there to decide that. You better focus on your work. Whatever anyone says you should know where your priority lies." His authoritative voice made me shudder along with his x-ray type stare. 

Manik-" My Lord, I feel it's time for  us to leave. Today again we failed to catch hold of them but not for long they will be able to escape us. It was a great pleasure though to attend this function with you." He bowed in front of the Lord and then held my hand. 

Lord-" I know my boy till the time you are with me nothing will go wrong. Men can do anything as they think from their mind unlike women who only believe in heart. Here take this letter and do give it to your Guardian." His each and every word made me want to stab him with a sword but I controlled myself and looked away. With this both me and Manik left from there.

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Present 2021 

"Mukku this is so not done yaar, I'm trapped from all ends. I so wanted to tell Manik everything but then they both trusted me so much and gave a proof." I was on a video call with Mukti while having some food. 

Mukti-" Look Nanz I feel you did right by trusting them. If they would have been wrong then Grandpaa and Great grandmom won't have trusted them right? Also in the chit which Nahar Basu gave it also said the same thing that what we see is not always the full truth."

"I know Mukti, and one more reason of me trusting them and believing in them is Grand paa. If the Lodge get to know that it was Nanu who helped Siddhant and Sanvi all this while then things will get so ugly. Also that Lord is so creepy and a male chauvinist which as it is makes me doubt him always." I put forward my thoughts infront of her and she agreed. 

Mukti-" Hey. did you check what that papers have in them?" She asked me suddenly. 

"Nope, I was so exhausted after coming back home that I kept it in the drawer. Wait let me bring it, just hold on okay." I kept my phone on the bed and locked my room door so that no one barges in suddenly and then came back with the papers. 

That paper was wrapped in a cloth like thing opening which I saw some small manuscripts 

Mukti-" Wowww yaar, what are all these? They look quite old." Mukti screamed in excitement. 

"Mukti shhhhhhhh... you will wake your mom and dad up and burst my ears too. These are some ancient manuscripts. These also have some prophesies just like in the book we have in the Lodge. But these are more cryptic like only the one with full knowledge about the old british english will understand." 

Mukti-" umm... so now what? Let us try once we can't loose like this Nandini. Do one thing I will come tomorrow to your house and we will do this together, you know right how much I love these cryptic stuff." I saw my idiot friend grinning ear to ear listening all this making me laugh. 

After the call I tried reading the manuscript and understand but only got more confused. And I finally choose to sleep. 

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It was a holiday today and so Mukti and I had decided that she will come in the afternoon itself so that we get as much time as to decode the manuscript. Mom and Maasi had gone to some function with Amms leaving only me and Aliya at home. 

Mukti was now sitting with me and going through the manuscript and searching for every word's meaning on her tab. This girl is crazy for ancient  and cryptic stuff and her utmost concentration said it all. 

Mukti-" Nanz!!!!!look at this.... I think I got something interesting." She suddenly jumped on the bed calling me. 

" The Raven is the ultimate goal but 'tis power beheld by thee, the stone. 

If the bird is the carrier so the stone 'tis wings. For all you may know is she wishes to leave for the love within.

The stone stands alone for the world to feast on and that is when the ultimate legend is born."

Mukti-" 'tis means it's and thee means YOU in Shakespearean language. If we keep Raven as you then ofcourse Manik will be the stone as see at the top left it's written the link of 11th and 12th stars. But why will he leave for love? Yaar this looks damn scary, where the hell have you got yourself into." 

"Mukti we can't do anything with why have I got myself into. But we need to see that what exactly does this prophesies mean. Look here it says 'the ultimate legend is born' what exactly does this mean?" I started biting my finger nails and thinking of all the possibilities. 

Mukti-" Whatever it is Nanz but one thing is for sure that if something happens between you and Manik then things can get ugly. I mean see it's written 'she wishes to leave for the love within', you better don't get any feelings for him bestie I don't want you to fall in any trouble--" 

"What trouble are you talking about pretty girls?" I snapped my head from where the voice came only to find Aryamann standing on the door and smiling. 

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Hello my lovely readers, 

I know I made you all wait for too long for the update but I was really busy with studies and other stuff. But now I'm back!!!!! 

So here is your new update. Hope you all will enjoy it. And keep guessing what happens now. 

What exactly do you think this prophesis mean? 

Are Siddhant and Sanvi really innocent? Is Nandini right in trusting them?

How much did Aryamann hear? Will it be a problem for Nandini and Mukti?

Till then TOODLES!!!!

Your writer,
Satakshi(Neha)