12 gemstones depicts 12 time travelers. Every traveler has a unique ring of their own with thier gemstone.

Manik- RUBY
Ruby red is the mightiest of all to rule no. Seven and eleven Alone.
Fighting for the right is it's only goal.

Nandini-Diamond
Time reverses from future to past,
Then comes the diamond at last who closes the circle of the past.

♣♠♣♠♣♠♣♠♣♠♣

Nandini's POV

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?

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

"That's the wrong password and for god sake lower your volume Nandini." There someone lit a matchstick and I saw Manik's brown eyes sparkling just like the flame of fire. He put his right hand finger on my lips motioning me to stay quiet while there I felt skipping a heartbeat with the touch of his fingers on my lips.

Manik-" No one other than the Lord and his trusted men knows about our visit into the time so just lower your volume otherwise everyone will believe you to be a thief over here." He whispered removing his finger from my lips and then picked up a fire lamp hanging on the wall and lit it up.

" You should have said that it's you before just dragging me like this in the darkness. You know how scared I was because of your this stunt. Why this fire lamp, our torch is better than this fire lamp, why you didn't get that with you?" I was so curious that I was bombarding one question after another in front of Manik.

Manik-" Will you just for a change keep quite? Like you speak so much yaar, just keep your mouth shut. Miss Question bank about why I'm not carrying a torch light but this fire torch is because electrical bulb or torches were invented in the year 1880 by the edisons which has time of around 50 yrs. If we will use that touch in this Era then it will create problem. Now hold this once for me." He gave me the fire torch to hold while I made a face holding it. *
Such a Monster he is, can't even talk properly with me and then will order me to do as he says.*

Next I saw Manik opening the outer door of the cellar and was peeping outside cautiously. Then he turned towards me and took the torch back and held my hand.

" You didn't wear your hat? Miss Mary will be so angry if she gets to know." I looked at his hands which were setting his hair back.

Manik-" I. . . I forgot to carry it with me. Well Miss Mary won't know about this unless someone tells her about it." He gave a sharp look at me at the end as if warning me not to tell Miss Mary. I just chuckled and nodded.

We walked for sometime when we heard someone's footsteps coming near us. Manik and me hid aside and peeped to know who was he. There came a tall guy dressed in same manner as Manik. Manik when saw him from the light of his torch he came forward and greeted him.

Manik-" Good Evening Rob, A visitor from the future. We have been called by the General."

Rob-" Password for the time?" His voice was as heavy and harsh as he looked. The man was very tall but not as tall as Mr. Know-it-all Tower (Manik).

Manik gave the password which we used while we were coming here. And then I realised that I really spelled it wrong a while back. What would have happened if it was not Manik or someone else from this era and have caught me. This thought made me shudder a bit and I shifted towards Manik unknowingly.

The man nodded his head and asked us to follow him. Manik again held my hand while I held my dress from other side to walk properly.

***************

We were back to the Main hall of the lodge with the only difference being the year was 1830. There was a lot of change though like the Air conditioner was missing with only the natural wind blowing coming from the open window, Fire torches were lit at a certain interval providing the hall being lit up well. The floor was an odd one though not those 21st century wooden work. The only common thing present in that hall was the crystal chandiler just in the middle of the hall.

We were made to stand in the middle of the hall, Manik was about to step aside when I just held his arms to stop him. I didn't know why I did that but I was scared to face the Lord alone and as bad and moody this guy is he was the only one who was from my time. Manik stood beside me and blinked his eyes as if saying 'I'm right here', which made me a bit calm and I looked in front.

There came a Man wrapped completed in a olive green cape over his cloths. His hair was golden and shoulder length with a well-built body of a warrior. He was exactly of Manik's height.He got up on the platform and swinged his cape with his right hand and gave a quick but hard glance at us. Well he really looked great even with those shoulder length hair which I always though that were funny but on him it just looked fabulous. Then I remembered that he could read minds and I at once took my eyes off him and started singing our national anthem in my mind. If he happens to read my mind he won't able to get anything.

There were at least 10 people in the hall present and all of them took their seat once the LORD took his own.

Lord-" Welcome back my dear friend from the future. Good to see you again and I'm pleased that you have got someone else with you this time." His voice had something really strange in it, he looked pleased to see me but his penetrating gaze at me said something else. While Manik took a step ahead and bowed down infront of him greating him.

Manik-" Greetings to you My Lord, I'm here in front of you to introduce you to the 12th time traveler of the Circle- The DIAMOND, NANDINI RAJVANSH. I told you in my last visit that there were some misunderstandings in our time which led to train the wrong girl but luckily we have got the right one on time. Though she is untrained but we will take care of all the things. A letter is also for you from the General Guardian of our time stating the same." He took out a sealed envelope from the inside pocket of this coat and gave it to the man sitting at his side while he in return forwarded that to the Lord.

I looked at front and saw Lord William reading the letter and released a deep sigh and got up his seat. Manik stepped back and came to my side looking at the lord. Lord william was standing right in front of me and I did the same as Manik did though it was not that perfect but still a decent bow it was.

Lord-" Nandini, the diamond so... how many times have you traveled back time?" He was directly looking at my eyes. His green eyes were screaming danger and I felt shiver ran through the back of my neck.

"3 times my Lord,all of them were uncontrolled." I managed to atleast give him a straight answer without stammering.

Lord-" How can you be trusted afterall if I'm not wrong you are new to all of this and also come from the family whose member had stolen the earlier Chronograph, she was you aunt if I'm not wrong."

"Yes she was my aunt and Manik's Uncle together whom I just got to know a few hours back. But then my Lord how will you know that one can't be trusted if you don't give me a chance. Another reason being as I'm completely clueless as to what this all is about I won't be in any of the conspiracy and threat because apparently I have knowledge about the secrets." I put forward my thinking as how can these people think that I can be a threat when apparently I have no clue as to what is happening.

The Lord smiled at me and asked his attendant to get something. After a while I saw him bringing a huge tray which had some stuff.

Lord-" I must say you are too good with words. You are right about me trusting you will only happen when I give you a chance. I want it or not you are a part of the secret. I think I didn't made any mistake by asking Manik to get you here. Welcome to the Circle of 12 my dear Diamond." He looked at both Manik and me and took a ring box from the tray opening which I saw a beautiful diamond ring inside.

Nandini's Ring

Lord william asked for my hand while I looked at Manik once and then forwarded my right hand to him. He made me wear the vintage ring in my middle finger and suddenly I felt my hand being held very tighly as if someone was crushing it. My left hand which was on my side was twisted towards my back and held strongly by the LORD.

.

.

But the most shocking part was that as he was doing all this no one could see it. For everyone present in the hall only saw the LORD holding my hand gently making me wear the ring, even Manik because his hands were in front. I head his voice in my mind

Lord-" You little birdie don't try to get oversmart, because you can't do that till I'm there. I will be having a watch on you so that you don't ruin my mission. Just do as you said to do because if you do something wrong you won't be alive. This conversation will be only between you and me and none will know." His eyes were doing all the talking they were dark in color I felt my hands breaking but suddenly the pressure was released and he smiled at me giving me a sword which had diamond on the holder.

I was scared, stunned and rooted at my place looking straight into his eyes with terror while he was smiling at me like everything was normal. Manik looked at me standing like a statue and nudged me asking me to bow in courtesy. I looked at him with fearful eyes but did as he motioned me to do.

Manik-" My Lord Its about time that we head back because we will be traveling in few minutes."

Lord-" Yes please Manik and it was nice meeting you both specially Nandini. And yes let Guardian of your time know that I have no issues with Nandini being a part of this mission. You people can include her but knowing that how much is to be told." He gave Manik a 'you-know-what-I-mean' look. Manik held my hand when he saw I was still standing there and dragged me with him.

**************

Manik was dragging me and when we came towards the basement of the lodge away from the hall he stopped me for a second and held both my shoulders jerking me towards him in frustration.

Manik-"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING OVER THERE NANDINI? Why were you standing still like a statue infront of the Lord like that when he made you wear the ring? Still you are not saying anything has something gone wrong with your head." He tapped my head slightly looking at me. I didn't know what to say, should I tell him about the thing the Lord did to me. the threat he gave me?

" Ma... Manik he tried to man-handle me. He twisted my arms at my back without moving his hands. For everyone it felt that he was making me wear the ring but I felt his hold on me tight as metal on my wrist and he... he also threatened me that he will keep a watch on me. Even without opening his mouth. Manik I swear he is ... he is dangerous." I bursted out crying in terror. That scene and those few mins were not leaving my mind.

Manik looked at me in surprise and his hold on my shoulder lightened. He held my both arms and started inspecting with the light of the fire-torch but couldn't find any marks.

Manik-" I had just heard tales about him getting into people's mind and controlling it but I never knew he had such powers and specially that he will do this at the very first meet with you. Nandini just, just calm down okay? Lord William is just being more careful because already the old chronograph is stolen and he can't take chances with anyone new. Your case is so different as you are very new to all of this. I guess that is why he --"

" You are supporting him in this and giving explanations on his behalf. Like wow Manik Malhotra, that Lord of yours threatened me with my life and you are saying that he had a reason for what he did? You people are sick, and so is all this secret mission of your. I have no intensions to get in this but I'm bound by my stupid fate and this good for nothing time-traveling." I shrugged his hands from me and walked in front with still my eyes glistering with tears.

Manik-" Nandini, Nandini stop I didn't mean that. Listen I agree he shouldn't have done that with you but we can't do anything right, you just be careful and we can make him trust you if you work as he says. You want it or not you are a part of this now so please don't have any hard feelings for anyone."

We reached the cellar where we last landed and Manik looked at me with a sigh. I saw a handkerchief forwarded towards me. Looking at my side I saw Manik motioning me to take it.

Manik-" Your eyes, just wipe those tears off otherwise all of them back there will get worried seeing your tears." I took the hanky from him and dabbed my cheeks and eyes with it, while I saw Manik putting that fire-torch back on its place and stood beside me looking at a small hand clock in his hand.

Manik-" Just 5 seconds more to elapse back." As soon as he said this I felt the same dizzy feel and my stomach churned. And with that Manik went wooshhhhh into thin air and after him it was my turn.

Finally back in our TIME!!!!!

***************

Manik's ring (as he is the RUBY)

So how did you liked today's chapter? Finally the first time travel journey by our MaNan.

Some words about our "Know-it-all-Monster Manik" ?

This Lord seems dangerous right?? What will happen with Nandini?

Will Nandini tell anyone about this in her own time?

I will see you guys after 10th October because!! I have my exams next week so I will be off watty. Till then keep loving this book and be happy.

Toodles!!!!

Your crazy writer,
Neha (Satakshi)❤