CHAPTER 9

Nandani's phone buzzed from somewhere to her right. She glanced around absently and picked it up off the desk.

Hey smart girl...blew my last twenty on pastries, hook me up?

The name that popped up next to the text said, Bodyguard. Manik must have keyed it in when he had added the number. Cute Nandani thought.

If you are looking for a loan, Manik, you have got the wrong number. Try someone else.

Actually, I was hoping to start with my scholarship, Nandani. Whom do I approach?

Scholarships department, in Bldg No: 4, Second floor.

Manik's reply was immediate.

Thank you, financial aid Goddess. What are you doing right now?

Preparing the supplier list for Dream Girl Collection.

Taking over the world by storm, one miniskirt at a time? Right Nandani?

She could picture his deadpan face.

Something like that, Manik. We are going to make billions.

Forget high-end. I have heard the 80s are making a comeback, Nandani.

Right, will remember that.

"What?" Mukti demanded as she heard her laugh. "Hope that was one of your precious investors."

She had been focused on her phone for a couple of minutes and glanced up at Mukti's voice.

"Your brother just wanted to know where financial aid was available?" Nandani replied.

"And he asked you?" Mukti shrugged it off before Nandani had to explain, and was already on the next thing.

"I still can't believe he got a full scholarship," Nandani said.

Mukti shook her head. She had reverted to sketching while sitting on the bed. "Mom and Dad were so proud. And when he got the transfer back to San Francisco, they forgot he had ever attended a rehab."

Manik's comment about having to get a scholarship to afford college ran through Nandani's mind. If it was true, Mukti was luckier than she knew. Nandani suspected Mukti was more worried that her 'favorite child' status was being challenged.

"Maybe Manik has changed," Nandani offered. "It happens." Though she knew better than to make a big deal of her comments, it seemed wrong to let Mukti belittle his efforts. Probably because she knew what it was like to work your ass for something.

"Maybe. But I am not buying it. With Manik, there is always an agenda." Mukti ripped another sheet off her pad and deposited it in the pile beside her. She then started on a clean sheet.

Though Nandani didn't have any real sibling, she understood the instinct to compete. Her step-sister, Sarah Oberoi, was five years younger, than her. Part of the reason she didn't like going home was that it felt like a shrine to the younger, prettier, winner, sibling, which she couldn't ever be. Nandani didn't bother trying to compete with Sarah. She was already a winner. Her mom blamed Nandani, for her dad's desertion, and there was no way she would ever climb out of that hole.

"He thinks he knows what is best for him, and everyone else. And he is used to getting what he wants. It always gets him into trouble, though," Mukti said.

Nandani wanted to ask more but didn't want to arouse suspicion. Instead, she tried to ignore the cryptic comment.

Judging by her phone, apparently right now, what he wanted was Nandani's attention. It buzzed again on her desk, but after Mukti's remark, she switched off the ringer and turned it upside down. She was fine with Manik getting what he wanted, so long as it didn't interfere with her work.

Nandani then pulled up a website on her MacBook that would help her to locate possible manufacturers for their Dream Girl label, who would take Mukti's designs and turn them into garments. "Let's talk about suppliers," Nandani suggested.

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

The second week of high school, Nandani dragged herself down at seven in the morning on Monday, only to walk into a partially hidden six feet form, standing below the staircase.

It was Manik Malhotra, complete with sleepy eyes and messy hair, and he was leaning against the railing at the foot of the stairs. The way his eyes connected with hers when she bounded down the stairs gave her the strangest feeling he had been waiting for her.

"Morning," he wished her.

"Hi. Don't you have a house? This one's mine." She blinked for a moment and glanced around. "Isn't it?"

It turned out he had not been waiting for her. Mukti wandered towards the front door, an apple in hand. "Mom and Dad said Manik and I could share a car this year." Evidently whatever irritation Mukti felt towards her brother was overridden by the convenience of having her own chauffeur.

"Minor detail?" Manik leaned towards Nandani to whisper, close enough that she could smell him. "It is my car."

"Need a ride to school, Nandani?" Mukti offered, ignoring Manik's comment.

Nandani was about to say no, but Manik nodded as if to say it was fine with him. She didn't have a parking pass so would have taken the bus otherwise. Although she had planned on grabbing a coffee downstairs, while she was already dressed.

"Uh, sure. Give me two minutes."

It turned out that Manik had agreed to drive Mukti only on the days their schedules started at the same time, which was Monday and Thursday. Apparently, this deal had been negotiated by Mukti over the weekend when she found out their parents had monetarily helped him to restore his Chevrolet car.

"Which means it is practically their parent's car," Mukti whispered to Nandani the same way Manik had a moment ago. Mukti continued, "And since they didn't buy me one, it makes perfect sense."

Regardless of the argument, Nandani was happy to benefit from the situation.

The car in question was a White 'Chevrolet Chevette'- 1980 model. Nandani knew the details because she asked for them. It seemed to suit Manik perfectly.

Whether it fit her was another question, while the car was great to look at, it seemed built for two. Or probably two people and two small dogs would fit in. Whatever, Nandani tried to fit herself in, while she squeezed her knees. She enjoyed observing the fascinating dynamics of family relations. Even back when they were young, she always enjoyed watching at the Malhotra house, when they all used to hang out together. Though Mukti's family had made her feel nothing but warm and welcome at dinners and weekends over the years, she could not quite relate to the way they interacted; as if they truly cared and wanted to be in one another's company.

Mukti and Manik used to tease one another, like most siblings of the same age. But that did not mean they ever agreed on anything. They were always fighting even on trivial issues.

"Now we are late," Mukti complained. "I don't even have time to grab a coffee on campus before class. It is going to spoil my whole day."

Manik groaned. "I am seriously underslept. I deserve your sympathy, not your wrath."

"What the hell does that mean?" Mukti demanded.

"I think it means 'get over it." Nandani piped in from the back seat.

Manik nodded approvingly at her translation.

Mukti was quick to jump in. "Then maybe, brother dear, you better schedule your late-night hookups on days you don't drive me to school."

Nandani didn't bother to correct her assumption, it wasn't her place. Somehow she knew that Manik had not lied to her that first night, but his status might have changed since the school started. Girls like Liza were apparently ready to help him out with just that.

Manik turned to shoot a glare towards the passenger side of the car, then relented. "You are only half-wrong. Neil my room-mate has brought a different girl home every night this week. Most of them are loud, and they make different noises." He shuddered. "I am all for privacy, but last night I thought they would bring the house down." He then continued, "The thumping is bad enough. Then there are other noises. Last night I heard a glass breaking, which freaked me out. But they were hardly bothered."

Nandani said, "If they do bring the house down I am pretty sure your tenant's insurance would cover it. It must have been an Earthquake right?" Her gaze met Manik's in the rearview mirror. The corners of his eyes crinkled and she could sense the warmth even through the mirror.

"I like the way you think," he said to Nandani.

He then glanced at the radio and switched it on, then resumed his focus on the road. They then entered the campus a few minutes later. It was not until Manik's eyes reconnected with hers in the mirror, that she realized she had been watching him the whole time. He joked "If the tenants ask, I am pretty sure last night was a 4.0 earthquake on the Richter scale."

Nandani was embarrassed while Mukti just laughed.