❤A journey back in time with the aid of chronograph can last for between 120 mins to 240 mins. It is mandatory for a traveler to complete the minimum time laps each day for avoiding uncontrolled time skips.❤

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Nandini's POV

I was with Moloy uncle in the library where I was asked to sit and get the basic details about the meet and also how should I present myself in front of the Lord while in the meantime Mary will be done with my dress for that time. It was my good luck that Moloy uncle was accompanying me and I would be able to ask as many questions as I can without hesitation.

"Moloy uncle, who is this Lord and why am I suddenly being called by him?" I asked him as he was engrossed in finding something in his cupboard.

Moloy-" Nandini Lord William is the founder of this Lodge and also the one who invented Chronograph which is a time machine helping in controlled time traveling. He was the Governor general of India in the British rule and also a time traveler. A very intellectual, shrewd and powerful person. You really need to be careful of what you speak in front of him as he has a power of mind-reading. But you should not worry as he will not do anything to you. Its just that whichever time traveler is ready for traveling needs to meet the Lord, even Manik had met him years back to tell him about the stolen... ahh nothing I think this is enough for the day."

I was surprised knowing all the information and specially the mind-reading one. But what made me confused and curious was Moloy uncle talking about something stolen and he abruptly stopped.

"Moloy uncle, what were you going to say that you abruptly stopped? What was stolen" As soon as I asked him Moloy uncle's facial expression changed. He was a bit hesitant to tell me what was the matter but then thinking for sometime he released a huge sigh and sat beside me.

Moloy-" Nandini, there were many people before you in the line of the 12 travelers. The last one just before you and Manik were Sanvi Basu your Aunt and Siddhant Malhotra Manik's Uncle were the ones who stole the chronograph about 18 years ago. This was the thing that Manik informed the Lord in his first visit. This is also the reason why there is this much tight security in and around this area." As soon as he said this I remembered Mom's conversation the other day with Mr. Malhotra about these two people.

" Why did they stole it and where are they right now? How will we now go into the past?"

Moloy-" We found another chronograph in the walls of the cellar which is at the basement of this building some years back. Though its not that advanced and is a bit big in size as compared to the previous one but it still works perfectly. And about Sanvi and Siddhant, everyone thinks that they had bad intensions and did not want the Circle of 12 to close which is why they stole it and went into the past along with the Chronoghaph. Now because of which neither they can come back into the recent time nor can we find that in exactly which year they have gone." As Moloy uncle said this his eyes had some pain or sadness in them.

" You don't have this notion about them I think, your face says something else as if you believe them that they didn't do anything wrong." I asked uncle while he smiled sadly looking at his hands engrossed in some thoughts.

Moloy-" Hmm... I can't come to terms with them being evil. You know Nandini Sanvi was exactly like you when I had first met her when she was in her teens and came for training along with your Grandfather. She was a really well mannered and head-strong girl, perfect combination of beauty with brain. She also had brown hairs lie your mother and Aunt. Actually it makes me surprised how your hair is black, because each n every Basu girl had brown hairs.

"I got my hair from my father. He had black hairs." I politely said this made me miss my father but I always loved my black hair.

Moloy-"Siddhant had been with me from a long time we use to watch football matches together and search about historical stuff. They fell in love when they started getting trained together. I don't know what exactly happened between them and the Lodge heads that they decided to just run away with the device." As he completed what he wanted to say I was myself confused that why will a person as good as them and so much in love do such a drastic thing. Why were people so angry on them and did not want to talk about them. I was in my thoughts when Moloy uncle asked me to concentrate on some basic details and know-hows of that era.

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Mary's Sewing Room.

I was made to stand in front of the huge mirror and Miss Mary was giving final touch to my make-up and Hair. As she moved aside having a bright smile on her face looking at me one last time now giving me a chance to look at myself. As soon as I looked myself in the mirror I couldn't recognize myself, it looked as if someone has done a magic on me and transformed me into something else. The dress I was made to wear was a beautiful victorian era gown in baby pink and peach color with frill sleeves. The dress was tight fitted on the upper body making my not so slim waist a sleek look and flowing down from the waist till my ankle in a balloon shape. Miss Mary had made a bun with my hair keeping a middle parting which for a change was looking fabulous on me.

Nandini's dress

" Miss Mary this... this is so beautiful,I mean is it really me you are a magician." I squealed looking at myself and twirled around in happiness while Miss Mary laughed looking at me.

Mary-" Aww my Indian beauty I'm no magician its you who is so pretty that each n every dress looks fabulous on you. See this dress is just a simple daily meeting gown but you made it look so pretty or should I say a doll." I blushed hearing her praising me and took out my phone from my bag asking her to take a few snaps of mine. I really wanted to show this to Mom and Mukti, they will be shocked to see me like this.

As we were posing and taking pictures we heard the door open and Moloy uncle came in along with Manik behind him who was wearing an off-white trouser and printed blue shirt and a scarf wrapped around his neck with a long off-white tail coat.What made me laugh was that long ring- master hat he was wearing which he instantly took it off s soon as he saw me laugh.

Manik's outfit

M

oloy-" Aye, tui bishun bhalo lagchish."

" Hein...I "I didn't know bengali so well so I didn't get what Moloy uncle said. Moloy uncle was about to say something when I heard Manik speak.

Manik-" You look very beauitful. Thats what Moloy uncle said." His tone was very neutral. I just gave a blushy smile and thanked Moloy uncle for the compliment. Manik was staring at me from top to bottom making me conscious.

Manik-" You don't know bengali? Didn't they teach you in school?"

" No, I'm not that good in bengali as I took up hindi and sanskrit in my school days. Also my earlier studies were done in Jaipur. I just know survival bengali terms and that too it takes time to grasp." I explained while he looked at me like I have done some big crime for not studying Bengali.

Mary-" Manik Malhotra why are you wearing black shoes on this suit? As much as I remember I had chosen white ones. And you are suppose to wear that hat of your, Its not meant to hold like a showpiece in your hand." Mary was really angry seeing Manik not being ready as he was suppose to be.

Manik-"For Godsake Miss Mary those were not white shoes, they had glittering buckle on it and it looked so ughh... whatever and this really goes well with my outfit and about this hat, didn't you get any bigger hat that this? Am I going to show the Lord some magical show that you have given me a big circus hat I came here to change it. So just give me something else." Manik really seemed having problems with his outfit but his way of ordering Miss Mary was not right I felt he could have explained a bit politely.

Mary on other hand was really furious.

Mary -" You are not the designer here, I AM THE ONE. You will do as I say or I will complain about you to Mr. Malhotra. People in that era use to dress up like this, specially the high- class ones who would meet the Governor general. This is the only hat you are suppose to wear so you better not test my patience Mr. Arrogant Ruby." Manik was about to say something when Moloy uncle intervened stopping Manik to say anything further.

Moloy-" Manik, you really look great in this my boy just relax okay. Mary thank you very much for designing such amazing cloths for these kids. But now its time to hurry up as we are already getting late. Nandini are you ready?" He turned to me while I just kept my phone back in my bag. I was given strict instructions not to take anything from our time into past or vice versa.

Manik-" Moloy uncle you are forgetting something." Manik looked at Moloy uncle while he took out a black cloth folded.

Moloy-" Nandini, beta as per the instructions from the higher officials we will need to blindfold you. We will take you to the chronograph room and then the blindfold will be removed. I hope you are not upset with it, we can't tell the exact location of the machine." His facial expression gave away that he was himself upset with this thing but he was bounded by his duty. I just gave him a small smile and nodded my head in agreement.

Moloy uncle tied the blind fold around my eyes but how will I walk towards the destination. At that very moment I felt someone holding my shoulders making me fringe a bit.

" Its just me Manik. Relax yourself girl stop jumping like this." So it was Manik whose left arms were now around my left shoulder while his right hand was holding my right hand in his firm grip. Moloy uncle was walking ahead of us while Manik slowly started walking with me.

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This entire blindfolding me while walking was such a bad idea and to top it all Manik guiding me while holding me so tight was making me more uncomfortable god knows why. Manik was not even uttering a word but only giving me directions as to when there was a slope or a step or a turn.

As we took a left turn suddenly Manik left my hand for a moment and I banged my head with something which I suppose was a rough wall when I touched it with my hand and squealed

"Auuuuuhhh, my head"

The next moment Manik was by my side along with Moloy uncle who asked with a concerned voice-" Nandini are you okay?How did you banged your head with the wall and Manik why you left her hand? Hadn't I told you to guide her well. She is a human not a supermarket trolley." He was right now examining my forehead and scolding Manik. I felt so happy like a 5 year old kid seeing him getting scolded.

Manik-" Uncle I just left her hand for a moment as something got stuck in my shoes so I was taking that out and I did told her to wait but she just didn't stop so that is not my fault." I couldn't see his face but with his tone it was clear to me that he really didn't cared much that I almost banged my head with the wall and must have got hurt. He was putting all the blame on me.

"Excuse me!!!, you didn't tell me to stop. You clearly left my hand suddenly and that too when I suppose we were taking a turn."

Manik-" I told you we are about to take a left turn but wait a bit. I suppose you need to get your ears checked." The audacity of his to talk like this to me. He is the one who needs to get checked,bipolar Monster.

Moloy-" Manik, this was wrong from your end and you should be more careful. what if she would have got severely hurt, there were some steps just after the turn. Now come on hold this hat of yours I will take Nandini with me. I really didn't expect such irresponsible behavior from you." Moloy uncle held me lightly and I heard Manik's fast step. The rest of the journey was fun because Moloy uncle kept talking with me and giving me clear directions while walking also my concentration level was much more strong with him than it was with Manik.

My blindfold was finally removed and it took me sometime to adjust with the lighting in the room. As soon as I opened my eyes I saw Mr. Raj Malhotra and Dr. Sharma standing in front of me and not to forget Rohan as usual holding Dr. Sharma's coat. My eyes wandered to take a look at my surrounding only to see this room was more like a cellar with brick walls covering all the four sides with no window and only source of light in this room was the tubelight, there was a desk in the centre of the room which looked a bit odd as it had a number board on its extreme left side.

Raj-" Nandini you really look so pretty just like a doll,Miss Mary has done fabulous job.So now that you are here we should get going with the first time travel of yours with the chronograph." he was smiling all along and trying to make me calm. But the question was where was the chro..what is it called..aghhh time machine is better for now.

Mr. Malhotra moved towards the desk which had the number pad and Dr. Sharma stood right in front of him. We could hear someone dialing and then came a beep sound and the desk was split open with a white light filling the room and something emerged from there. I was just surprised because this looked like some magic or like in those movie shows its shown. The device like a telescope or a cylinder came out and the desk was closed.

Chronograph

Raj-" Nandini dear, I know its surprising for you and yes this is the chronograph or time machine which will help us to send you to specific time and year into the past. First Manik will go so that you can see how it works and then it will be your turn. Is it clear?" I just nodded my head and looked at Manik who was setting his hair and had again removed his hat and had kept that on the desk as his name was called.

Dr. Sharma-" You will be going into the year 1850, on the 20th of Sep. Manik give the password."

Manik-" Protyabartaner shomaye janen na" Manik said something in bengali I think and then put his right hand's index finger into the circular hole of the machine and suddenly the room was lit up with a bright red light and the next second Manik vanished into this air.

Moloy uncle called me forward and guided me to put my index finger in the second flap of that circular hole.

Dr. Sharma-" Give the password Nandini."

" What password? I don"t know any password." I was confused and looked at Dr. Sharma with blank expression.

Raj-" Nandini you need to say -'Protyabartaner shamaye janen na' in bengali which in english means 'I don't know my time of return', Manik just said right. Semi-annually or annually these passwords are changed from the long time so that no one can get into this area without the password. I know you don't know bengali so repeat with me." I repeated with Mr. Malhotra and then put my finger into the flap when suddenly something pricked my finger I was about to take my finger out when Dr. Sharma held my hand and a drop of my blood went into the machine and reached a section which read '12- Diamond' and next I saw was a bright silvery white light fell on my face and I closed my eyes as my head spinned.

When I opened my eyes I found complete darkness around me. Where was Manik, he came before me right. Suddenly I felt someone hold my hand and dragging me. Shit who was he? What was that stupid password?

"Prada bartan..samay jane na.. hey leave me I know the password. Manik? Where are you?" But I heard no voice.

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That's it for today. Did you guys enjoyed this chapter?

Finally Manik and Nandini are heading into the past. But whom did Nandini meet in place of Manik?

Did you people liked their outfits?

Isn't Moloy Uncle the sweetest.

In which era will you like to go if you had a time machine? Let me now .

I will see you guys next week with another update.

Till then, take care of yourself and keep smiling! TOODLES !!!!!

With love,

Neha (Satakshi)❤