Once the girls thanked me and we dispersed I quickly ran to the room and pretended to sleep. After sometime Manik came back which I assumed fuming and ready to pounce on me but since I was damn good actress I faked my sleep at the best.
I heard him mutter incoherently. I smiled internally drifting off to beautiful sleep.
Next morning, I woke up with ice water on my face screaming on top of my voice. Manik cringed looking at me.
"Psst... too bad you scream like a girl otherwise I would have drowned you in water for longer time." He said pouring last drops of water on my face.
"You had lots of guts to do what you did to me yesterday. I think this will teach you a good lesson. You little brat, don't you dare cross my path again." He left the room with his long and angry strides and I was wiping my freaking eyes still thinking it was just a bad dream. How I wish!
Since it was Sunday and Manik was out for the whole day I had the room for all myself and it was also a day when I happily turned into a girl until he came back. I had nice hot shower and my hair looked beautiful to me as I was seeing my loose hair after a week. I had a play to direct so I started preparing for that.
I made some notes and started taking my videos of performances and was deciding which shot was the best.
Since I had pizza and coffee as my happy brunch and I was tired I closed my eyes surrendering to sleep.
When I suddenly opened my eyes it was already dark and I was happy that I was still alone so I quickly changed my attire becoming Nandan again. After watching some movies and talking to my family I was sleepy again and Manik had still not come. I was relieved. I had a very peaceful day and night except the morning wake up call.
Next day morning I saw Manik was still sleeping so I decided to get away as soon as possible. I made it to the classes earlier than anyone...but I had a nagging feeling I had forgotten something. I ignored the feeling and decided to concentrate on the class.
After a hectic day and early dinner I reached my room where Manik was waiting on his bed with the most wicked smile on his face. I ignored him and decided to work on my script.
After some time I heard him repeating my script. I was gobsmacked. He came and sat on my bed with my phone in his hand as if he had the most precious possession. I understood what I had missed today. It was my damn phone and now I was about to be busted by my arch nemesis. I had to think something. I kept my cool pretending I was least bit affected but I could hear my heartbeat and I was about to panic because I hadn't even set up a password on my phone which made me smack my forehead.
"Oh good that you have my phone I thought I had lost it. Now can I have it back?" I asked him in a very cool tone.
He laughed like he was given some laughter gas and after sometime pretending wiping his tears he said "Gosh this is gold. I saw all your videos dated yesterday. Do you know what I realised Mr. Nandan or rather should I say Ms.Nandan is that even your name ? I think you have made my life. I had no idea I would come across such deception. Any last wishes Ms?" He got up and started walking with a cool dude attitude.
"Are you done? Well, let me just tell you that you are one hundred percent wrong Mr. Manik Malhotra.The videos you saw are true but the person you saw is my twin sister Nandini, she came to visit me yesterday as you had drenched me in water I almost felt feverish and had to stay in this room and had to ask her to take care of me and also I asked her to enact my play. So you better give me my phone back or else I have to complain to the dean." I said so confidently I was not sure how I was not already an actress. My lies definately could be the script of some daily soap. I had become so much pro in lying and deceiving. My parents would disown me for all the sins I was committing.
I looked at him. He met my gaze for a few seconds, I then looked away and took a deep breath. "Ok, so..." He cut me off.
Manik stopped walking and looked at me like I was some alien. He again looked at the videos and me and he continued that charade for good thirty minutes and finally he said "And why should I trust any of this.You are so lying. You are so going to the jail you just watch. And why are you not in any of the videos." He counter argued. And he was good.
I still kept my cool. I bit my inside cheeks to stop myself from panicking.
"Well I had to go to the doctor to make sure I was not catching some nasty flu."
I pulled my phone out of his hand and dialled a number which I had saved as Nandini, which was actually my only best friend's who knew everything about me and this academy stuff her name was Ananya and she had my back. I had her ready for the fight anytime I needed her. After all I had taken the biggest risk of my life so I had to have backup plans. And I had told her if at all I called her at odd hours she had to pretend to be Nandini and go with my plan.