Chapter 15

"Nandani. Do you have my laptop?" Mukti's strained voice came down the phone line Thursday afternoon. Nandani had finished her class at four and had just caught the bus home, opening the front door just as her cell phone rang.

"Ah...no," Nandani replied. Some day Mukti would lose her head if it was not attached. She set down her bag and closed the door behind her so she could focus on her conversation. "When did you have it last? What happened?"

"Ugh. I don't know, Nandani. I had it yesterday. I am at school now and think I remember bringing it this morning. What if it got stolen?"

Nandani could practically hear her biting her lips over the phone. "Shit, shit...And I needed it tonight for class too," Mukti said.

"That is awful. What can I do?" Nandani asked her.

"Can I borrow yours?" Mukti asked.

"You know I would do anything for you. But I need mine to prepare a presentation for tomorrow. Maybe I can spare it for an hour though, or use one in the library..." Nandani replied.

"Okay. I am asking a few other people. Just texted Emma but Have not heard anything."

Kicking off her shoes, Nandani walked upstairs to her room with the phone still to her ear. No sign of Emma, but the door at the end of the hall was ajar. Nandani stuck her head in.

Alya was stretched out on her stomach on the floor with a book open in front of her. On closer inspection Nandani realized she was holding herself up in a plank on her elbows and toes, hovering just a few inches off the carpet. She was doing a workout.

"Hey, Alya, can Mukti borrow your computer tonight? Hers went missing again." Alya glanced towards the door, no strain being evident due to the workout. The girl had the abs of steel. Nandani was totally envious but also nowhere near willing to put the work in.

Alya rolled her eyes as if to say seriously? Then just as she opened her mouth she heard Mukti on the earphone.

"Wait, Manik just texted back, in reply. He can lend me his but he is in the lab. Can you bring it by?" Mukti said to Nandani.

After four, parking was free on campus, and her car was now fixed, Nandani thought. "Um." She checked her watch. "Sure. What time?"

"You are a lifesaver. As soon as you can." Mukti named the building and the room and Nandani clicked off.

"You are off the hook," she said to Alya.

"Thank God." Her perky voice sounded relieved, though Nandani could hear the strain at the edges. "You know I love her, but if I lent that girl more than a pair of socks I would probably regret it," Alya said.

Nandani pulled into the campus ten minutes later and parked in the lot behind the building Mukti had mentioned. It was a newer one, redone about five years ago, and housed most of the chemistry department.

Nandani had not been in the building before, but the map inside the front door told her where to find lab 316. The stairs took her to the third floor and a long hall lined with photos of various classes. There was a glass case displaying more photos as well as trophies on one end.

The door to room 316 was open and Nandani peeked in. About thirty students were working in pairs at lab benches. It appeared as if they were titrating some solution. Most of them had gloves on but some were taking notes. She glanced around the room. She did not have to look far before her eyes stopped.

Manik was easily the tallest guy in the room. Wearing jeans and a polo under the lab apron, he had obviously been taking notes rather than experimenting, as he was not wearing gloves. He was perched on a stool and was focused on what was happening in a large beaker, tapping his pencil absently on his knee. It was the same look of concentration he had when he had been fixing his car. Like he was so absorbed that nothing could have snapped him out of it.

Manik's partner, a short red-haired guy, noticed her stare. He looked up and gestured to Manik, whose eyes immediately went to the door. Her breath was stuck in her throat for a second when he smiled her favorite smile, a genuine one. Then he motioned her over.

"Nandani, this is Daniel," he introduced her. Daniel appeared to be a bit star-struck, though it was not clear why. Her wavy hair was doing its usual thing down her back. She did not look like a total slob but was still casual in dark jeans, boots, a black T-shirt, and the moto jacket she had bought in New York. It was a bit tougher than her usual look, but what could she say, Manik's car-fixing getup had inspired her.

"Is she your..." Daniel turned to Manik, eyes still a bit wide.

"Yeah. Now if you could just move the hydrochloric acid, we are going to go at it on the lab bench." Manik responded smoothly.

Nandani tried not to blush at the visual Manik's comment had inspired. Poor Daniel. His eyes seemed to have got wider even more.

"Nandani is a friend." Manik rustled around in his book bag and produced a shiny MacBook. "I cannot believe I am doing this," Manik muttered, setting the power cord on top as he handed it to her with pleading eyes. "Tell her whatever she does, do not lose this one."

"I will do my best." Nandani smiled and turned to walk to the door. He moved to follow her out.

She turned at the doorway to face him when something occurred to her. "When do you need it back? Tomorrow?"

"Nah, she can have it until Monday. The guys and I are going to TJ for the weekend.

The smile evaporated from Nandani's face. "You are going to Tijuana? (Tijuana is a border city in Mexico, just south of California. It is a resort and is famous for the racing track, and also bullfights) With your roommates?" She chewed her lip and wondered how much she was overstepping. "Is that a good idea?"

"Why not?" A cocky grin curved Manik's lips. "Because you will miss me, Nandani?"

She did not return the smile. "No. Manik. Because you wanted a fresh start here. Because you are a scholarship student." Nandani glanced around before adding quietly, "Because at your last school everyone had left you because they had heard you had gone to a rehab."

"I am not going there to party, Nandani."

"Really? You expect a trip to Tijuana is a character-building exercise, Manik?"

He lifted a shoulder, suddenly looking defensive.

"Because I am pretty sure Ryan is not going to make candies there." Her voice was sharp.

"We are just going to hang out. Unwind a little bit. Get off the campus basically." He held up his hands. "It is no big deal."

The more Nandani knew about him, the more important it had seemed that he was starting fresh. And booze, single-minded guys, and possibly drugs didn't feel like a great way to reinforce that. She wondered whether part of her selfishly wanted to keep him away from the partying and everything that could go with it, but decided it was more about him than her.

"You are just getting settled here, and making friends, and you seem to be happy to let go of some of your old baggage, Manik."

"Nandani, just...back off. You are not my sister and you don't need to tell me what to do." His voice had an edge to it, which she didn't understand.

"No, I am your friend and I care about you. I don't want to see you do anything that might hurt you or your reputation." Nandani felt that she was being more than a little unreasonable, but something felt wrong. She was not sure why she had trouble letting it go.

Manik stared at her for a moment before running a hand through his hair. "Just tell Mukti I need it back on Monday." Manik turned away from her.