Uncontrollable time travel is usually announced with a subtle giddy feeling in the pit of the stomach a few minutes in advance. Symptoms are sensation in stomach and legs along with pain in head as compared to a migraine patient. The first trip to time is generally being experienced by the traveler in his/her 18th or 19th year of age. 

From the 'CHRONICLES OF THE GUARDIANS'

Next morning

Everyone was on the dining table when Nandini came all ready to leave for her college. Nandini hadn't expected her Grandmom Gayatri and Aunt Mohini to be back so soon. Specially when next day was suppose to be a weekend and according to her "Disappearing day". Nidhi gave her a bright smile and kissed her forehead as Nandini came to join them. Nandini just whispered to her mother.

Nandini's outfit

"Mumma, I want to talk to you. Its urgent." Hearing her daughter's disturbed voice Nidhi just nodded her head and asked her first to complete her breakfast.

Nandini's POV

The breakfast was going just fine with my grandmother Gaytri on the headchair brought an unusual silence always. But today she looked disturbed and so did Aunt Mohini. I got up to take my bag when my head felt heavier and my stomach flipped. i knew that I will be again going to be taken into some other era and this time it made me more conscious as I was going to disappear in front of my family. But, in a way it was good, I will have proof of what I was about to say.

With this I was swept off and I found myself in my own house but the entire look of it was different. It had more of a ancient touch. I hid under a table and saw my grandfather who was technically dead in my present. But right now was standing right in front of me dancing with his wife aka my Ams. They looked not much old, maybe in their late 30's. My grandfather was a handsome man and seeing him now made me a bit emotional. He was my favorite, always jolly, funloving and a great minded person with strong morals.

As I saw them dance and being all happy I didn't realised when I hit the dining table and it grabbed their attention. They moved towards the table and picked up the cover to look underneath

.

.

.

But I was gone, Yes I was lucky enough to disappear and not been caught by them. Next I found myself lying on the carpet of our hall.

*Why do i always have to fall everywhere. Aahh my back.* As I was thinking this I heard my mother's squeal

"NANDINI"

She ran towards me and took me in her arms. Her entire body was shivering with fear and her eyes moist. I was really worried for her, I know she would have been scared. I looked at her back Ams was standing by the windowpane and looking at me with surprise and something more which I couldn't understand. While aunt Mohini just stood at a distant corner of the hall like a statue.

Mohini-"How is this possible? She... she can't have done that. This all is trash Mom." She was going all hysteric when she saw Ams walking towards me.

Gaytri-" Nidhi, leave her for once. I need to talk to her." her voice was really calm which made me surprised. She was not shocked or maybe she was but not with this particular thing. And I didn't get what Aunt Mohini was saying.

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I was taken to the forbidden area of the mansion. I'm saying forbidden because back in childhood we were always restricted to even be around this area. I was made to sit on one of the couch.

Now Ams and Mausi were starring at me like they haven't seen me before ever. Like what is it with people staring at me and scrutinizing.

Gayatri-"How is it possible? How come Nandini be the chosen one? Her... birth time doesn't align with the universal timings. It had always been Alia, she had the exact same symptoms and timing." Ams was staring at me still not looking in particular. Maybe she was trying to know something.

Mohini-" Mummy, I'm telling you its waste of time. Nandini is not the one. Alia, she is having headaches and all the symtoms. We have to just wait. This... This can be some mistake." She was in her late 40s she was dressed in a black slit kurti and Chudidar.

" Will someone tell me what's happening? Ams, Mausi what's wrong? This is not a first time I just slipped into another unknown era. This is my third time. But the question is why the hell is it happening. And what are you people talking about?" I was frustrated, already my head was throbbing with immance pain and my stomach felt giddy sensation. I was not able to recollect what happened earlier or was happening now. Only the next thing  granny said made me more dizzy not because of the earlier thing but because of shock...

Gayatri-" You are a TIME TRAVELER Nandini. A special one or say the last in the circle of 12."

"What!!! What kind of a joke is this Ams. A time traveler? Seriously. That can't be possible and how?" I was confused and shocked and scared and a lot of things.

Gayatri-" Well this is a legacy of our ancestors and we always thought that your cousin Alia is the one who has these time travel genes because she was born on the exact time which is for fixed for the special one. But I think there is something which is not right and I need to talk to your mother about this." saying this she turned to where my mom was standing. 

Gayatri-" Nidhi, do you want to say something? How can this be possible when clearly Nandini was not even born on that day." her penetrating gaze on mumma made me a bit scared. I always knew she was strict but the looks and the tone in which she was speaking made me uncomfortable and I think so did it made Mom. 

Nidhi-" Mom, actually I lied to you all about the date of Nandini's birth. She was born on the 8th of November and not on 9th November." As soon as mumma said this I was shocked, and along with me even Ams was shocked. My entire life was a lie this means. From my date of birth, wowww... great.

Mohini-" You are lying, Its not true... it can't be true. Alia was born on 8th Nov and she is the chosen one. You are just trying to divert us, Mom dont listen to her we should get going Alia must have traveled back in time. We will check on her lets go." She was shouting like a mad woman. I never knew my aunt was mad. What was so important about this that she was accusing my mom like this.

Gayatri-" Why you did this Nidhi? You know how dangerous it can be to have an unplanned time visits. Nandini is not prepared. What was wrong with you?"

Nidhi-" I wanted to protect my daughter from all this. She was born on that day didn't meant that she would have those genes. I just wanted her to lead a normal life and when I heard that Alia was born on that day i thought that maybe she has those powers afterall you all said that when you saw her first." 

Gayatri-" I don't believe this, are you out of your mind Nidhi? It doesn't work that way, and you can't stop things which are bound to happen. I don't know what had made you do this but right now we need to take Nandini to the guardians. and you will be coming with us."She just stormed out of the hall with Mohini mausi who was looking like a replica of an angry bird. 

" Mumma, what is all this? And what is this time traveler and guardians and special one? Is it really true? Why you lied to me about my own birth?" I was confused hell confused and I just hugged mumma by her waist still sitting on the couch as she was now standing beside me ruffling my hair.

nidhi-" Somethings are meant to be hidden for time being sweetheart and I really thought that you won't be the gene carrier but... I guess this time I was wrong. Lets go you have to face your Fate."

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We were standing outside St. Paul's cathedral church.It was an old church and a famous one in Kolkata with its exceptional beauty and exactly opposite to Victoria memorial. 

I was confused as to why were we here and what made me more confused was that while we should have gone to the front entrance of the church but we were moving towards the backside of it. As soon as we got at the backside of the church I was shocked to see a secret door. Ams got inside and so did all of us. While Mohini mausi just strolled off to some other side of the building. It seemed she knew this area too well.

The inside of that area was just like any ancient church, full of glass paintings, coloured windows, and extravagent furnitures. There was a big chandelier at the top while I was having a look at the beauty of this secret place at the back of the most famous church, I heard a man's voice who was greeting Ams. 

He was an old man maybe in his 60's or 70's but his smile and radiant face gave me a notion of him being a sweet man. 

" Hello Mrs. Gayatri what a surprise, you came so early ?I thought you will be spending some resting time at your home. As it is Alia has not yet made any progress. Maybe it will take some more time, you should take rest and I will inform you once Alia is ready for the mission." he was having a sweet smile on his aging face while he was filling Ams with all the ongoings. Now I got to know that where did Alia along with Ams and mausi use to vanish on weekends.

Gayatri-" I'm afraid Mr. Banerjee that we will have to stop Alia's training as she will not be ever ready for this time traveling. There has been a mistake from our end or say we have been misled all along." Her last line was meant straight for my mom. I knew that things were going to be very difficult now but all I wanted was my family to be intact. 

Mr. banerjee looked at my mother and gave her his warm smile greeting her.

Ban-" hello Nidhi, its so good to see you after so long. Is that your daughter? She is very pretty, last i saw her when she was a baby. Ummm.. Mrs. Gayatri I really don't get what you are trying to say but if Alia is not the one then who is the 12th descendant? We really don't have time with us you know that." He greeted Mom and me while I just joint my hands in a traditional manner for greeting elders.

Gayatri-" I will let you know that Mr. Banerjee, but before that I need to meet the guardians. So can you fix the meeting of ours with them?" She asked in a hurry while Mr. Banerjee just led us all to the main hall to meet the supposed GUARDIANS.

MEETING HALL 

Right now we were standing in the center of a large Victorian style giant hall which had three huge chandelier  from the enterace to the opposite end of the hall. The walls were as white as milk and it had beautiful paintings hung at every wall along with some sculptures other stuff. At the farthest end of the hall was a huge platform built where we saw 3 men having a discussion, Mr. Banerjee included. As we came, the tallest of the man in that group looked at us and walked off the platform greeting Ams with a bright smile. He was quite a handsome man with maybe a height of 5'8 with well built body for that of a 50's old. His charming smile over his rough n handsome face with those brown eyes contrasting was adding to his charm. 

"Gayatri ji Namaste, I heard you wanted to say something about the 12th time traveler? Is there any issue?" His voice had a calmness of a still sea.  From what he was dressed up like made me believe that he was the head of this business or whatever it was but his tone didn't gave a single onze of egoism. 

Gayatri-"Well Mr. Malhotra I want to let you know that Alia is not the time traveler, she doesn't possess any of the genes of a traveler but its my another granddaughter Nandini Rajvansh who is supposedly the special one." As soon as she completed her sentence there were collaborative grasps heard from all the 3 people who were present in the hall.

Mr. malhotra-" Gayatri ji, do you even know what you are saying? We have been training Alia for the last 8 years now, and now you are saying that she is not the one but someone else? That someone really doesn't know the T of time travelling. Ma'am I respect you a lot and you being the senior of this lodge still made such a grave mistake?" His calm as sea tone suddenly turned into a loud tundering one. He was shocked will be an understatement.

Gayatri-"Well even I was kept under complete darkness till this morning Mr. malhotra, that too by my own daughter. But today we ourselves saw Nandini traveling back in time and then Nidhi told us that she also was born on the  same day and time as Alia." Ams voice held a mix of agitation, humiliation and helplessness. She looked at her back to introduce me and Mumma.

Mr. Malhotra scanned me from up till down and then it went up to my mother. When their eyes met I saw some different emotion on both their faces. 

Mr. Malhotra-" Hello, Nidhi it's so nice to meet you after a long time." He gave her a small hug while I saw my mother B.L.U.S.H.  Something was so wrong with them,but was it only me who thought so? i looked away from them. 

Nidhi-" Hey Raj, Its really been a long time, somewhat 20 yrs or so." So my mum even know his name. great!!! what all am I suppose to know in  a single day? 

" If your greetings are over then can we get back to the work in hand My Lord?" We heard the third man who was present in the hall speak for the first time. His stern look and jet black eyes gave away that he was a 'no-nonsense-kind-person'. Behind him I could see a small boy maybe around 8 or 9 years was holding his coat and staring at everyone. I waved at him with a smile.

"There is no point of waving at me Miss. Nandini. And don't you have any manners of how to wish an elderly?" That No-nonsense man again spoke, ohh come on its not for you mister. I so wanted to say this but I just joint my hands in a namaste.

Raj-" Well, its fine Dr. Sharma she was just trying to be friendly. Now don't scare that poor girl at the first day of meeting you. Umm Nidhi, can you please enlighten me as to why you hid this big thing from all of us, Specially your own daughter?" His tone was back to professional one and his eyes piercing on Mom.

Nidhi-" I didn't want my daughter's life in any danger. After what happened with Sanvi I did't want that even my daughter gets into all this. Infact after seeing Alia from so many years as to how she can't lead a normal life I felt that this was the best. As I told earlier, Alia was also born at the same time so it was a possibility that she was the gene carrier and not Nandini." my mother was very much clear as to why she did, what she did but I was confused as to who was Sanvi, what happened with her and how was it related to me? 

RAj-"Wow, what an amazing explanation Nidhi. But now what? Nandini is the ultimate gene carrier and not to forget 'UNPREPARED' and that is all thanks to your motherly thinking. What you have done is inappropriate and illegal in the law of Lodge. About your other explanation of Sanvi, then mind you Mrs. Rajvansh she was not any saint that things went wrong with her, she had betrayed us all and ran away with Sidhhant." the things were getting heated up, both Raj uncle and Mumma were having an argument while Ams and Dr. Sharma were just staring at them with different emotion. 

Nidhi-" You people are blind with that ohh- so law and magical spell of the Lord and that is why you didn't heard them. Maybe they were not wrong, maybe all this things you people are doing is wrong."

Dr. Sharma-" Mrs. Rajvansh you are not part of the lodge but just a family member of the inner circle family. I don't think you should talk about the things you have not even have an idea about. Already your overthinking has caused a problem for all of us and specially your daughter." his tone was a sarcastic one again I looked at the boy who was right now sitting on the chair and staring at me. I looked here and there and saw everyone busy so thought to talk to him for time pass.

" Hey kiddo, what are you doing here with this angry man?"

kid-" He is my father. He is not an angry man, just a bit tough."

" Well okay, I'm Nandini. Whats your name?"

KId-"I'm Rohan sharma."

" hello rohan, You should be in school right now why didn't you go?."

Rohan-" I can't go to school because I'm already--" before he could say anything I heard my name being called by Amms.

Amms-" Nandini please go with Mr. Banerjee he will make you meet with the costume designer Mary and after that you will have to have some tests done by Dr. Sharma." 

I looked at my mother who was looking at me with some fear in her eyes and apprehension of sending me alone well even I was a bit scared and clueless.

"Mumma, should I go won't you come along. I mean I'm not yet clear as to what is this all about."

Raj-" Nandini dear, don't worry there is nothing to be affraid of here. You are a time traveler and have some specialty in you which is because you are here. Don't worry Mr. Banerjee is not at all strict he will let you know what is to be known to you." his once again soft and friendly voice made me calm and I nodded at him with a smile. My mother kissed my forehead and whispered 

Nidhi-"I will be waiting for you here, just do all they say and come to me."

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Here we go with the 2nd chapter. So Nandini is a time Traveler!! 

Did you people enjoyed this one? 

Will Nandini be able to cope up these new changes?

What will happen to Alia now?

Who is that little boy? Is he also a special one?

Will meet you people next Sunday with more interesting stuff.

Till then take care and enjoy reading.

with love,

Satakshi (Neha)❤