Entangled

Part 1

Sunrise signifies the beginning of a new day, for everyone, everywhere around the world. However, when and how the day begins in actual, varies from person to person. There are people who wake up way before the crack of dawn, and there are also people who are fast asleep even after the sun has risen, and is shining brightly.

        For some, the sun rays peeking through the windows are sufficient to wake them up, while some find it difficult to wake up even after the repeated ringing of the alarm. There are also some who are lucky enough to wake up to the sweet voices of their loved ones.

        When it comes to our main protagonists, how and when their day begins not only gives an insight to their personality, but also throws light on their current situation and perception of life. So in order to know them better, it is important to have a look at how their day starts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

        It is dark everywhere, since the sun is yet to rise. In a small bungalow, a girl in her late teens is sleeping, but her sleep isn't peaceful. She wakes up with a jerk and looks around. She realizes that she is safe at home and she was having a nightmare. This is how her day starts every day from the past few months.

        The nightmare is a reminder of a horrific incident that happened to her. That incident and the events which led to it, changed her and her perception of life. The girl who was lively had turned pale. The once enthusiastic girl had lost purpose in life. Her name, Nandini, means happiness, but you can't find even a speck of happiness in her. She couldn't move on from her past, though she wished to. She was dejected and felt defeated in the race of life.

        Nandini tried to go back to sleep, but she couldn't, so she got up from her bed and began to freshen up. She chose a plain white dress to wear hoping that it will remind her to stay away from her disturbed thoughts and be calm. She got ready very quickly, and braided her hair carelessly. Nandini was least bothered about her looks.

        Nandini didn't want to wake her caretaker up so early in the morning, so she stayed in her room. She tried to divert herself by trying to keep herself occupied, but something or the other reminded her about the past.

        Nandini : "I shouldn't brood over my past. I should focus on what I am here for. This new place and environment may help me to move on too."

After some self talk, Nandini went to the living room,

         Caretaker : "It is your first day of college. Pray to God and take blessings. Meanwhile, I will serve you breakfast."

        Nandini went to the puja room and started conversing with God.

        Nandini : "I had been praying to you all along and you granted my wish too, but things didn't turn out as I had expected. Today, once again I am standing in front of you with a wish. Hope you will not disappoint me this time."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

        Meanwhile, in a very wealthy mansion, a tall handsome man in his early 20s is sleeping peacefully. Neither the sun rays, nor the alarm had managed to wake him up. The sunlight was blocked by the heavy curtains. He had switched off the alarm, shoved it into a drawer and gone back to sleep. That is how he tackled things in life too. He didn't let anyone or anything bother him, and if someone did, he showed them their place. However, there were exceptions when it came to his loved ones.

        Manik's peaceful sleep was disturbed by his parents voices as usual, but the problem was that their voices weren't pleasant. His dad, Raj, and mom, Nyonika, were arguing at the top of their voices. He hadn't been able to figure out what they were arguing about or why yet, though he had tried to do so several times in the past.

        Raj and Nyonika had a lot of differences, but they had one thing in common and that was their love for their son. He was very precious to them and so they had aptly named him as Manik.

        Manik : "The sun might rise late and the alarm may fail to ring, but they are punctual at starting an argument. Will that time ever come, when they will stop fighting like cats and dogs?"

        Manik : "Don't they get tired arguing with each other? How do they even manage to find something or the other to argue every single day?"

        Raj and Nyonika were studying in the same college. They fell in love and got married, but their love didn't last for long and they began to have differences. They avoided arguing in front of Manik, but he was aware of their constant bickering from his childhood. He had learned to live with it, but it had left an everlasting impression on him, and Manik had made up his mind that he would never fall in love or get married.

        Manik loved his parents, but he didn't want their arguments to spoil his mood. He got up and switched on the music to drown his parents voices. He freshened up and took his time to get ready. He selected bright colored clothes to wear. Manik gelled his hair and set it the way he liked. He looked very dashing when he was done. He went downstairs and joined his parents at the dining table for breakfast.

        Raj : "Are you all ready to rock the stage?"

        Manik : "Yes Dad, we will set the stage on fire."

        Nyonika : "I know dear, you will give a mind blowing performance as always."

        Manik and his friends were giving a performance at their college as part of an induction program.

        Both Raj and Nyonika spoke to Manik, but not to each other. They didn't want to start arguing in front of Manik. After breakfast, Raj and Nyonika wished Manik for his performance as well as the first day of the college year. They left separately and went to work, though they could have gone together if they wished to.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

        At Nandini's home, Nandini got a call from abroad wishing her good luck for her first day. After the call, Nandini left for college. She decided to walk since she stayed nearby.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

        Meanwhile, Manik got a call from his childhood friend, Cabir. They both stay in the same neighborhood.

        Cabir : "Are you ready?"

        Manik : "Yes. Are you going to pick me up or shall I?"

        Cabir : "Neither. Today is our first day, so let's start it with a bang."

        Manik : "What's on your mind?"

        Cabir : "How about a race?"

        Manik : "Whether it is the first day or the last, it's me who will win the race."

        Cabir : "I know you always win at everything you lay your hands on, but I will win over you some day or the other. Who knows today might be my lucky day?"

        Manik : "No one can win over me, unless I choose to let them. If you are so keen at winning, I can let you win just for today."

        Cabir : "Nope, I don't want to win like that. Let's play fair and square."

        Manik : "As you wish."

        It wasn't going to be an usual day. Would Manik still end up winning the race as always? Or will Lady Luck be in Cabir's favor for a change?