"I've looked danger in the eye
I'm not afraid to live or die
But after all that I've been through
I'd be afraid of losing you"

-I'm Afraid Of Losing You
(A Rocket To The Moon)

[DISCLAIMER: Contains violent content. This is a work of fiction. DO NOT take it literally.]

Nandini

With my eyes wide open and my mind running with thousands of possibilities, I stare at the sniper who is aiming his gun in Manik's direction.

I don't know if I have even a minute or not to control the situation but I'm going to give my best shot. I can't shoot him from this distance as my gun isn't wide range so I need to distract that asshole of a sniper.

"Nandini...!" Manik murmured in a hoarse voice, his breath tingling on my neck.

One second passed...two seconds passed...three seconds passed.

Guilty! This is what I'm feeling at this moment. Guilt sat not only on my chest but inside my brain too, eating and pestering me.

Whatever is happening I couldn't undo it but I promise to save him from all of this, especially from myself!

I need to get hold of the situation and make things right...for him!

I started caressing his hairs softly with my fingertips and could feel how deeply he is breathing right now. He snuggled more into hairs and I adjusted my face on his shoulder for a clear vision. My other hand went stealthily towards my socks as I grabbed my gun. Next, I wrapped my legs around his waist to stable my position.

The red bright dot of the laser was now clearly visible in the middle of his spine, showing the aim of the sniper.

Time to shoot now! Glad my gun has a silencer.

I aimed the gun at the nearest glass window and without a second thought, I pulled the trigger.

The bullet swings in slow motion and after a moment a loud sound of shattering of glass erupts. The broken glasses were falling gracefully, each shining bright in sunlight. The vision was so beautiful but the reality was deadly!

At this point, I realized what fear felt like! Since the day I came into the mafia business, I knew the deal that came along with it which is death can knock my door anytime and one day I won't see it coming. But now it's even chasing anyone who is associated with me.

Manik, a harmless, innocent soul could be killed today!

How? Because of me.

Unintentionally or not, I dragged him into this mess! My mess! This wasn't the plan!

My body felt icy cold as a shiver ran down my spine in a creepy way, partially by all the worst scenarios and partially because he was not in my embrace anymore!

He was walking towards the window.

I carefully tugged my gun inside the waistband of my jeans when I heard his voice.

"I wonder what happened there!" He said while peeping out of the window.

But my brain failed to function orderly. Even my heart I think it's gonna explode any moment.

It was fear! Fear of losing him forever!

It's painful as if someone is stealing a part of me from me, something so precious that I can't live without.

This fear made me realize that this is not some casual attraction or obsession that I feel towards him. It's much deeper, deeper than what I've imagined and now I'm afraid this fear is also going to make us fall apart from each other.

We can never be together, something meaningful!

Just the thought of staying away from him makes me quiver but this is the only rational solution to this problem.

I wish I owned a Time-Turner like Hermione Granger so I could go back, rectify the mistake, the worst of all I had done.

However, I could not. Impossible.

I had to live with it.

"Nandini? What happened?" Manik shook my shoulders with concern clearly visible in his eyes.

"Don't worry! I was actually thinking about you only." I replied in a low tone.

"Oh...that... yes...!" Manik replied rubbing his nape as an adorable tint of pink graced his cheeks and the tip of his earlobes.

"Woah! Manik Malhotra...I mean 'The Manik Malhotra' is actually speechless! Me, a commoner girl, made the rich, popular, bad boy of the college, speechless!" I said clapping my hands. "Looks like the tables have turned, FINALLY! I stressed the word 'finally' with a smirk.

He frowned at my words. "Finally? What do you mean?"

"Umm...do you remember the day when we were stuck in the library and your friends found out? I hope you know how your girlfriend misbehaved with me after you left and that tomboy friend of yours, she even slapped me!" A humorless chuckle escaped my lips.

A look of guilt passed over his face. "I had no idea that Mukti will ever do something like that. She herself is really sensitive, trust me! I am sorry from her side."

"Oh just cut the crap! Stop being someone you are not. The day you bullied me and next, you came with this superb idea of 'let's be friends', you really thought that I will fall for this dirty trap of yours?! You are a brat, a bully and will always remain one." I said in a harsh voice.

"Why now? After everything that happened between us, why are you telling me now?" He asked, now all traces of softness from his face long gone.

"Us? I questioned laughing out loud. "Damn! You are so slow. There is no us! You kissed me every time and all I had to do was cooperate a bit. Else who wants to be with someone so self-centered and arrogant like you?! I had to bear you just to prove Aliya and Mukti wrong. They told me that a rich, popular, handsome guy like you won't even spare me a glance because I don't have a class and blah... blah... blah...! But look The Manik Malhotra kissed me and not just once...but one on my shoulder...then my cheek...then on my lips and just a few minutes back you were kissing on my neck! Isn't it shocking? I didn't have to do anything because you did everything. I wanted revenge from Mukti because she slapped me but I guess now I got my revenge through you!" My lips curled into a smirk as I said in a voice filled with excitement but my heart swarm with regret.

Manik took a menacing step towards me, clearly infuriated by my statement.

"All this time you were using me by acting all this shy and innocent and I thought you really are different from others. Yes, I despised you but whenever I kissed you it was all genuine. I don't know much about feelings but for the first time, I thought that something is worth putting effort for. But you used me for your revenge! You are disgusting and a selfish bitch! When Mukti slapped you I actually felt guilty, that's why the next day I came and ki.....!" He paused for a moment and all I wanted was to go and hug him and tell him that everything is fine.

"Just forget it!" He snapped back. "I wish I never met you! I wish I never kissed you! I wish I never gave that lift to you when those goons were chasing you!" He said running his fingers through his hair casting me a disgusted look.

"I too wish the same, Manik!" I whispered to myself but now the deed is done. He won't come back to me...ever!

"Well...well...getting emotional, are we? Guess your mommy and daddy didn't warn you about selfish girls or were they too busy making money? Aww...poor Manik, his daddy didn't warn him!" I said giving him a look of pity.

His eyes seemed to darken at my statement while his face shone with pure hatred.

"Shut.The.Fuck.Up!" His voice was low and dangerous as if depicting silence before the storm. "You have no right to talk about my Dad! Get the hell out of here before I do something bad to you! Just.Get.Lost" His voice boomed inside the room raising the little baby hairs at the back of my neck.

I rolled my eyes clearly ignoring the intensity of hatred in his voice. "Stop shouting man! I'm not deaf, okay?! Well don't forget to attend freshers', you are my date for tomorrow and I don't want to miss an amazing party because of you. I need to celebrate!" I said giving him a wink while he looked disgusted with me, his fist and jaw clenched with anger.

As I turned back to leave, a drop of tear escaped my eyes. Before I breakdown, I rushed towards the door while his faint voice filled with hurt trailed in the background.

"I hate you!"

These three words kept replaying like an echo in my mind and my heart ached each time.

***

Splashing water on her face, Nandini glanced at her reflection in the mirror! Her eyes bit of reddish due to tears while her face looked dull and worn out.

Weak...Pathetic...Coward...was all she could hear in her mind as if her subconscious taunted her.

Beep...Beep!

Her phone vibrated showing a new message notification.

Nandini...I'm at the back of the Music department. Please come right now...it's urgent.
-Navya

What the hell? Nandini immediately tapped the call button but her call was rejected.

"Damn it...Navya! I hope it's not anything serious." She muttered as she ran towards the location.

Breathing heavily, she looked around for Navya but there was no sign of anyone, not a single person!

The back of the department looked almost abandoned as if none visited this area. The only thing present there was a boundary of thick green trees and a bunch of broken desks and tables.

The sound of a low whistle caught her attention.

Turning around she saw four men giving her the creepy look. "She has got nice curves, isn't she? It will be fun playing with her!" One of them mused with a hideous look, licking his lips while others roared in laughter nodding their heads.

"Where the fuck is Navya?" Nandini said gritting her teeth with annoyance.

"Navya? Now, who is she? Are we having fun with her too? Buy one get one free offer!" He said grinning excitedly.

" Don't! Just don't test my patience! I'm warning you before coz you ain't gonna like what you are getting into. Now tell me who send you here and where is Navya?" Nandini's head tilted, her jaw clenched and her piercing gaze directed towards them.

"She is just wasting our time!" One of them said and quickly came forward, grabbing onto her wrist while the rest of them stood back enjoying the show.

Nandini smoothly rolled out her hands from his grip, now grasping the man's wrist in a tight grip and twisting it with such a force that a blunt sound erupted clearly implying that it's broken. The man shrieked in pain. But it wasn't enough for her. With her open right hand, she slapped him full across the face as he now sagged back groaning louder in pain.

The other guys stood clearly in shock as they witnessed the whole scenario.

"Yeah? What you three are waiting for? You bastards...!" She snapped loudly.

The next moment two of them charged on her while the third stood back quite intimidated by her.

Nandini threw up her forearm as a defense when a fist came in her direction and at the same time she kicked the second one hard in his crotch as he went on the floor limping and mewling with pain.

The other one was attacked with a quick potent fist, slamming into his face hard as blood pooled down from his nose. He ran back, stumbling, giving up on the fight.

The last one of them who just stood back watching the fight took out a swiss knife from his pocket and held onto it as if his whole life was depended on it.

The amateur way he was holding the knife clearly portrayed that he wasn't a pro at it. Not only him but the rest three, they all were too sloppy to be professionals. Rathore? Nah...it can't be him! That guy is too prideful. The one who planned a fucking sniper wouldn't lower his standards by hiring some roadside goons. Then who send them? Am I missing something? And where is Navya?

Before the last guy could run, Nandini quickly traced her steps towards him. The guy panicked and to save himself he directed his knife to her stomach. In the process of blocking it, it's sharp tip tore off the piece of her shirt on the right side of her abdomen as the knife fell down.

The tattoo-covered in black ink was now clearly visible on her skin in the broad daylight. The same dragon tattoo in the shape of letter 'M' which each of her men has on their arms. But hers was a bit different. The dragon had a crown on its head clearly implying who the queen was.

The guy stood like a statue with his jaw dropped as droplets of sweat appeared on his forehead. She grabbed him by his hairs, her eyes darting back and forth with equal measures of fury and terror.

"Tell me, bastard! Where is Navya and who send you?" She queried pulling his hairs from the root.

Aaahhhhhh. The man cried out in pain. "Pardon...pardon me...please! I didn't know you are The Knight...please we haven't seen your face ever...else we would never...never dare to do anything like that...to...to you!" He stuttered in fear joining his hands for forgiveness. "We only have...seen your tattoo...once in a fightclub...your face was covered...but your tattoo was visible...and we asked some people around...about you...and then came to know that you are Murthy...queen mafia of Asia. I swear we never saw your...your face. We wouldn't dare to...to cross you. Please...please leave me!"

"Now you have seen me so don't dare to tell anyone coz you clearly know who I am and what can I do to you. Now stop with your shit and answer my question!" She snapped back pulling it her gun and aiming it on his left thigh.

"I don't know...about Nav...Navya...I swear! I just got a message from an unknown number...that you will find...a girl...at the backside of the music department...and you have to mo...molest her. That person even transferred money...into my...my bank account. I can...I can show you the message...and bank details." With shaking hands, he pulled out his phone handing it to her.

With her phone, she quickly took snaps of the bank details and phone number and shoved him away.

"I hope you know what to do when that person messages you back! Don't utter a single word else I'll personally hunt you down and feed you to the dogs! She warned in a low and hard voice while the man nodded in understanding.

"And this..." She aimed her gun on his thigh and shot him right there while his loud voice in pain echoed in the area. 

She fired three more shots each to the three men on their thighs as they all shrieked in unison.

"This will remind you all not to molest any girl or woman in the future!" She warned smirking bitterly.

***

Nandini

I casually entered the Spanish class and saw Navya sitting at the back looking all bored. I bet she doesn't even know what somebody did with her phone. Even the whole FAB-5 is present there. They all have taken Spanish? Wow! Real friends!

My gaze went towards Manik and saw him already looking at me with sharp eyes. I couldn't seem to look away, his gaze is so intense, always, which makes me feel some weird things.

The eyes which radiated warmth were now holding accusations.

It was a look that conveyed hatred. Disgust perhaps.

I know he hates me now, but he doesn't have to remind me again by his hateful look.

As if he could listen to my thoughts, he pulled Aliya on his lap and kissed on her cheek with his eyes locked with mine as everyone around them hooted. Aliya blushed while he smirked at me. I literally gagged at the PDA.

Fury blurred my sight and I looked away gritting my teeth with annoyance as sadness clouded my mind.

"Navya? Where were you and where's your phone? I kept calling you!" I stated in an annoyed voice as she looked all confused but suddenly her eyes lit up as she understood me.

"Sorry sorry sorry, Nandini! I lost my phone in the morning. I forgot in the washroom and when I went back it wasn't there!" She said with sadness dripping in her voice.

Before I could continue the conversation, Teddy's over-excited voice grabbed everyone's attention.

"Hi, Nandini!" He said grinning widely.

What the hell is wrong with this guy and what's with this smile always? I told him to behave normal and this is normal for him? He's grabbing the whole world's attention now. Just wait a few more hours, I'll see him at home!

"Hello, Adrian!" I emphasized his name gritting my teeth irritatedly.

"Can I sit with you...please?" He pouted his lips so cutely that a giggle escaped my lips.

I looked at Navya and she winked at me, indirectly telling me to go forward.

I rolled my eyes at her and sat beside Teddy.

"Adrian, what's with this overacting?" I asked in a hushed voice.

"What? You laughed and that's enough for me! He shrugged casually.

I frowned. "And why do you want me to laugh?"

He wiggled his eyebrows as his eyes danced with a mischievous glint. "I can sense that tension between you and your tall brown-eyed monster! Anger from his side and jealousy from yours is at its peak. What did you do this time?" He looks amazed by this situation and I'm freaking out.

Nothing can escape his eyes. Now I'm hating this idea of Baba sending him to college with me. He's going to irritate the shit out of me.

I huffed with irritation. "Adrian, for now, I'll advise you not to use your brain else I'll kick your ass right here, right now!"

"Oh, I always knew you loved my ass, princess!" He tried whispering in a sensual voice but it came out in a rather funny tone to which I laughed out loud.

"Oh my god!" I said clutching my stomach. "Don't ever...ever try this again! You sound like a drunk horse!" He too laughed with me. 

Well, to be honest, it was much needed after what all happened today.

But you know that feeling when someone is staring at you continuously, I can feel exactly the same from the right side.

I turned my head and saw those gorgeous chocolate brown eyes again. 

Manik. 

That lethal stare. If looks could kill, I won't be alive right now.

His eyes were giving a glare that was freezing my bones, like being nude on a wintery night which made me gulp nervously.

I sighed to myself.

Oh God! How on earth did I land up with him? This boy will be giving me a really hard time.

Aiyappa!

***

[Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you did, don't forget to vote and comment!]

Spread Love.
Ryka xx