Tales of the Heart

Chapter 18

In the morning, the city woke up with its as usual busy look. The moving vehicles were blowing dust. The park of Windy Lane was busy too as usual like other mornings. Everyone around was busy with their morning walk or jogging. 

Meanwhile, there was a girl sleeping in sitting position on a bench at the edge of the park. There was a flower tree above the bench. The flowers were falling all around the place and as the sun rays were falling on the face, this serene face was looking more divine. Suddenly the girl opened her eyes and sat straightly with a jerk. The girl is none other than our Nandini.

"Uff..." She looked around. "God! Last night I told Avneet to go home and came here, then fall asleep here only. What would I say her if she didn't see me in the morning?" Nandini got up with these thoughts in her mind. "I'll tell her that I came early in the morning for yoga as I missed it yesterday and she was sleeping that's why I didn't wake her up." Nandini stretched her arms while thinking this and inhaled a long breath. 

"I think I should do some jogging. It's been a while I did it." Thinking this, Nandini started running. She found Avneet, Manik and Sid on her way. 

"Here's di." Avneet ran near her. "I didn't see you since morning. Where were you?" 

Nandini gulped. "I came early in the morning for yoga."

Avneet look at her from head to toe and narrowed her gaze as Nandini was still in her clothes from last night. But she was wearing her jacket so it couldn't be understood that she was in her normal clothes. 

"When did you return home last night?" Avneet raised her eyebrows.

Till then Sid and Manik had reached them as well. 

Manik frowned hearing Avneet. "Why, Avneet? We dropped you both till your home. Didn't she go home with you?"

"No." Nandini replied hurriedly. "I was sitting in the garden for sometime that's what she is saying."

Avneet understood Nandini was trying to avoid the matter. So, she too accepted it and noted to talk to her about this later. 

"Come. It's getting late, we should finish our jogging first." 

They all started walking together. But they heard a sound of clapping from their back few minutes later. They all turned back only to find Sanjay there. 

Nandini looked at others and then at her father's face. She was having a feeling that he was going to create scene here. She walked ahead and stood in front of him. Because she knew, if he would come to them, then he would insult Manik again and she didn't want him to witness something which he didn't deserve. 

"What're you doing here?" Nandini asked looking straight into his eyes.

"Why?" He looked around. "I needed some entertainment in my life. So, thought of coming here. What can be a better entertainment than your dramas early in the morning?"

"See, speak clearly what's the matter? I don't have time for your puzzle at this hour nor I'm interested."

"That's what I'm saying. Where were you last night?" Sanjay looked at her seriously. 

Nandini's eyes went wide but she hid the expression soon. "What do you mean? I was at my room only. But why are you asking this? Also all this shouldn't bother you. It's none of your concern."

"Of course! it's my concern. You didn't return home whole night. I know this. I also know that you were with that useless boy whole night."