Hi dears I know its been quite. Some time. Sorry. I am in the middle my exams. So here is an long update for you guys.
Enjoy😃
CHAPTER 8
Cabir was watching the drama unfold through the cctv. Dhruv and aliya had their eyes glued to the screen as if they expected a bomb to explode any moment
"Yaar Cabir, After all this fiasco Manik is gonna kill me for bringing Nandini here, right?" Dhruv asked.
"Yup." Cabir answered all too smug.
"Yup mathlab?. Abe tere kehne se maine yeh sab kiya aur tu yahan baitkar maze loot raha hain? Mere band bajne vala hain yaar kuch toh kar" Dhruv said desperately.
"Yaar. Tu kyun bekar ka tension le raha hain. Never fear when Cabir is here" He took two flight tickets and gave it to dhruv.
"Tu jaa raha hain apne chacha ke maut par shok manane mussurie".
"Kon sa chacha?" Dhruv asked bewildered.
"Abe. Tuje zinda rehne hain toh is chacha ko lele varna it's upto u. Ja apne bivi ke saath vacation mana le. Tab tak manik will calm down"
Dhruv looked at the screen into Manik's angry face. Without wasting another second he dragged Aliya out of there
" chal Aliya hum chacha ke pas jaate hain. "
...
"Tum?!"
Nandini saw Manik's angry face in front of her yet again. She shut her eyes tight and began her prayers. 'Oh god. Ye kya ho raha hain mere saath why do I always end up right before him. Last time kya kam tha ki aapne phir mujhe iske saamne lakar khadi kar di. Aap bhi agar party change karne lagi toh main kya karungi?He is not gonna leave me this time. Aiyyapa ji please save me from this monster Manik'
Manik looked at her his initial anger slowly draining off. Her eyes were shut tightly and her hands were clasped in prayer. No doubt, she was in conversation with her all too favourite Aiyyapa. She slowly took a peek at him through her lashes. When she saw him staring at her, she shut it even more tightly and continued with her prayers. Manik's lips slowly began to curve seeing her antics. He caught himself when he realised what he was doing.
"Ofcourse. It had to be you Ms. Nandini Murthy. Care to explain what you are doing here?" He asked sneering.
Such an arrogant jerk. Itna gussa kyon kar raha hain. Whatever happens I've go through it for Navya. Here goes nothing' She thought.
" tumhe koi explanation dena main zaroori nahin samajthi" she said gathering up her courage.
Manik gave a snort "oh really? So you think you can come to my company and do whatever you like?"
"Your..your company?"
" kyon? Koi doubt hain? I can clear it up for you." He said and dragged her out of the room.
Nandini saw all the staff stand up when he passed by. Manik shoved her in front of his name plate on his cabin door. Nandini stared at it and gulped.
Manik Malhothra
CEO Iktara musics
She slowly turned around. I 'm so dead' she thought when she saw Manik's smug face.
"So. Ms. Murthy I'm gonna ask you one more time. What are you doing here?"
"Woh... main"
"Tumhari woh main sunne keliye i don't have the whole day so speak up dammit."
"I'm taking Navya's place in the new music album. She is not well." Nandini said all in one breath.
"Oh..and what makes you think that I'm gonna give you the project?"
Nandini's head shot up."You can't do that pls. It means alot to Navya."
"Tch...tch so sad. Its ok you can cut the drama. I know you don't care about anyone else besides yourself".
Nandini sighed. There was no use arguing with this monster but she couldn't give up. Navya's desperate face flashed through her mind.
"Tumje jo samajhna hain samajh lo. But l can't let you do this. I don't want Navya to lose this project because of me."
" acha.. toh ab tum mujhe bataogi ki main kya kar sktha hoon aur kaya nahin?" He said with his eyes blazing. An idea formed in his mind making him smirk.
"Actually..I'll give you this project if...he paused for a second.
Nandini's mind was giving her all sorts of red alert signals.'this is not good. Not good at all'
"If you will be my spot ...again"
Nandini's eyes widened. Oh god phir se? She tried making all kind of deals with her Aiyyapa but nothing seemed to work. .
"Well Nandini. You've to do this only if you want Navya to get the biggest project in her career. No pressure." He said pushing her buttons.
Nandini felt herself getting trapped yet again. 'Lagtha hain aaj aapne chutti leli Aiyyapa ji.' She thought.
Manik's smirk widened when he saw her nod.
"Very well. You'll be my spot for one month. If you survive till the end the project is yours if not...I'm surly going to enjoy watching it." He said a threat hanging heavily in his voice." And one more thing... welcome to hell Ms. Murthy!"
...
And...our Manan is back to square one. This was the point where their love story began 5 years ago. Lets see how this little deal of the spot girl and her master ends up this time.
...
Nandini jumped up from her bed when she felt someone shaking her awake. She relaxed visibly when she saw that it was just Arohi. She half expected Manik to wake her up like before. She ignored the tinge of disappointment she felt when she didn't see him. She knew she had given in too easily but she felt much alive arguing with him that she had felt for a long time. Shayad pyaar ka asar hi kuch aisa hain.
Nandini rushed out of her house with barely a goodbye to her chachi. 'God main late hogayi. Woh pehle hi din mujhe zinda chabne wala hain. Aiyyapaa meri raksha karna'
She was panting heavily when she reached in front of his cabin. His secretary gave her a pitiful look. She composed herself and went in.
He was already there going through some files. Without looking up at her he said "you are 5 minutes late."
"Haan woh main.."
" so.. you'll work 5 hrs extra today." he said in same time tone as if he hadn't heard her, still going through the file before him.
"KYA?! 5hrs? Manik tum kya bol rahe ho? Main ghar kab jaungi?" Nandini asked desperately.
Manik shut the file with a snap making her jump. He looked at her with stern eyes and said.
"Ms.Murthy, you're too forgetful aren't you? Looks looks like I have to remind you of the rules again because you broke the third one as well."
Nandini mentally slapped herself. She was not supposed to call him by his name. It should be 'sir' 'aap' 'ji' etc etc. Yeah right.
"Sorry sir" she said through her gritted teeth.
Manik smirked at her. This made Nandini go into her land of dreams. Damn, this guy could still make her heart stop with his smirk even in situations like this.
" good. Now go get me a coffee" he said
"Hmmm" Nandini replied still in her trance.
Manik saw her standing there with a weird expression on her face.
"Ms. Murthy?" He called in a soft voice.
"Hmmm?"
"I said GO GET ME A DAMN COFFEE"
This shook her out of her dream land.
"Yes..yes sir" she said stumbling out of the cabin in a rush.
Nandini sighed and looked at the 6 th cup of coffee she had made in the past one hr. The first was too hot, the second too cold, less sugar, black, cardomom flavoured. God knows what was going to be wrong with this one.
With a final prayer she went in.
"Got my coffe?" He asked.
"Yes sir."
"Good. Now throw it away"
"Sir?"
"Are you deaf?I said Throw.It.Away."
Stupid. Arrogant. Jerk. Khadus. Monster. Next time I swear i'll make you drink vim flavoured coffee. God koi itna irritating kaise ho saktha hain?
"Ofcouse sir" she said with a fake smile on her face while her mind was busy yelling at him.
"And... Ms Murthy. I want you to recalculate all the accounts records in the past 5 years. I want it by 8 o'clock. You are working extra time anyway"
"All...of..it?" She asked feeling like she was about to faint.
"Yes. Any problem?"
"No. None at all. Sir" she said and walked out of his cabin. She really wanted to kick something or rather someone right now.
6 hrs later Nandini was sitting on her chair. Her hair was held up by a pencil, strands of hair fell around her face in an irregular manner. Her eyes were red and her head felt like it was about to about to burst. It was almost 8 and she was nowhere near finishing it. She slapped the file shut. She took a stray paper and slowly crushed it imagining it to be Manik. 'Mr Monster Malhothra. I totally hate you.' She threw it down and began stamping on it. She felt someone tugging her dress while she was busy with her little revenge. She looked around to see a cute little girl of around 3 yrs.
"Aap kya kar rahi ho?" She asked in a baby voice. "Usme cockroach hain kya?"
Nandini was confused to see a little girl here at this time. Her cute smile and her innocent question brought a smile to her face. She picked her up in arms.
"Haan. Isme ekk bahot bada cockroach hain jo mujhe irritate kar raha hain" She said.
" mujhe bhi coakroach nahi pasand. Toh hum same to same hain na." The little one said with a dazzling smile on her face.
"Bilkul." Nandini said lightly pinching her chubby cheeks. "Waise aap yahan kya kar rahe hain? Aapki mummy kahan hain?"
"Mamma aa rahi hain. woh phone pe baat kar rahi thi tho main na daudke chale aayi apne mamu se milne keliye." She said.
"Aapke mamu kon hain?"
"Woh hi" she said pointing behind her.
Manik looked at the clock. It was 8pm. Time to check on his spot girl. He went out looking for her. The sight that met his eyes made his heart stop for a second. Nandini had her long hair held up with a pencil, small strands fell around her face. Her jhumkas were dancing freely while she was in an animated conversation with a small child she held in her arms. Manik felt himself getting drawn to her.
Nandini turned around to see Manik walking towards them. Something in his eyes were different. It held a look she had seen five years back. He walked upto them.
" hai mamu" shivani, his niece said in a baby voice.
He dragged his eyes away from Nandini. His eyes softened when he saw his favourite little girlfriend.
"Hai sweetheart. Aap bahot beautiful lag rahi hain aaj"
" tanku Mamu.yeh meri nayi dress hain" she said proudly showing off her frock.
"Really? It is so beautiful. Waise mer girlfriend ne aaj mujhe gift nahin di." Manik said with a fake pout.
"Koi baat nain. Main abi de dungi." She said and gave him a small kiss on his cheeks.
Nandini felt herself turning into a pile of mush watching the duo. She couldn't believe that this was the same Manik she had been cursing a moment ago. They were so adorable. 'I didn't know that Manik was so gud with kids. I wonder how he'll be like with our own kids. Wait. What? What on earth am I thinking? Nandini get a hold of yourself.' She scolded herself but try as she may she couldn't stop the blush from coming on to her face.
Manik smiled at his niece. He saw Nandini's face all red. Manik felt his hands move towards her face on its own accord. He gently stroked shivani's cheeks while the back of his hand brushed across Nandini's. Her breath caught in her throat when she felt his fingers grazing her cheeks. His eyes were fixed on hers. They were lost in their intense eyelock for a moment. A voice brought them back to earth.
"Nandini?"
She looked around to see Maya staring at her. She was totally confused. What was Maya doing here?
" Dr aap yahan kaise?" She asked.
" Arae wohi toh main bhi puchne wali thi and Call me Maya. Ab yeh sab formalities chodne ka wakth aagaya hain." She said brushing it off. "Manik tum donon ek dusre ko janthe ho?" Maya asked.
Both of them didn't say anything for a moment. " "haan.."Nandini slowly began but was neatly cut by Manik
"Di, it's not important. Aap boliye ki aap yahan kaise?woh bhi is wakth.?"
Di? Maya is Maniks sister?! Nandini wondered.
" woh kya karun mein Shivani zid kar rahi thi tum se milne keliye. You were not at home so we came here." Maya said doing her role in the cupid club perfectly.
Shivani gave her mom an incredulous look. "Par mamma.." She was about to tell her mom that lying was not a good habit when Maya snatched her out of Nandini's arms.
"Here you go dear.I've got a new Barbie doll game installed for you. She said handing her iPad to her. The innocent kid happily took the bait. Maya was relieved 'That was close. Thank god for the iPad'.
"Chalo di, we'll leave" Manik said trying to stop his prying sister from questioning them any further.
" yeah. Nandini tum ghar kaise jaogi? Kafi der hogayi hain. Manik go drop her off. We'll take my car ."
Both Manik and Nandini's head shot up
" Nahin ji. Uski koi zaroorat nahin. I'll be fine" Nandini said.
"I don't wanna hear anything. You are going. That's it."
Maya personally made sure that they had left before leaving herself.
A car stopped in front of her. She got in with shivani in her arms.
" mission accomplished"
" Akhir bivi kiski hain" Aditya, her husband said smiling at her.
...
There was a awkward silence in the car. Nandini had her eyes fixed out of the window and Manik was staring straight ahead. Manik switched on the FM trying to reduce the building tension. It was time for Cabir's show and he never missed it.
'Hellooo Mumbai... This is rj Cabir wih your favourite show dil ki baatein...
Pyar har tharekae ka hota hain ...kuch log use bol dethe hain toh kuch ehsaas karthe hain. We also have those lovers who love each other par keh nahin paate. Pyar nafrat se bhi ho jatha hain. Aaj ke show un love-hate couples keliye hain. Main toh bas itna kehna chatha hoon ki boss pyar se nahin, nafrat se daro kyonki nafrat kab pyar mein badal jaye koi nahi keh saktha...so enjoy and stay tuned.'
Manik and Nandini were quite dumbstruck before they could get a hold on themselves a familiar music filled their ears.
Baatein kuch ankaheen si...
Kuch ansuni si hone lagi...
Kabu dil pe raha na hasti hamari hone lagi...
Ohh ohhh ooo oohhh
Nandini bit her lips and closed her eyes trying to stop a flood of memories. It was this song for which they danced together for the first time. Manik held the steering in a death grip trying to stop the memories from clouding his mind
Baatein kuch ankaheen si
Kuch ansuni si hone lagi...
Kabu dil pe raha na hasti hamari hone lagi...
Ohh ohhh ooo oohhh
Shayad yahi hain pyar...
Both of them were stealing glances of each other. Their eyes locked and they quickly looked away. Manik switched off the radio abruptly. Another few moments of strained silence Nandini gave a sigh of relief when they reached in front of her house.
She turned towards him and mumbled a small thanks fumbling with the seatbelt.
"Nandini"
Her hand froze on the door when she heard him call her name. It was the fist time he called her something other than Ms.Murty. she turned to look at him. She saw him lean close to her. They were merely a few inches apart. They were lost in each other's eyes. Her heartbeats sped up when she felt his fingers entangle in her hair. Manik was lost in her beauty. Her eyes were closed and her breaths were coming out fast. He slowly pulled the pencil out of her hair watching her long hair tumble out freely.
"Tum kuch bhool gayi." He said softly and leaned away.
It took Nandini a few moments to clear her mind enough to understand what he was talking about. He cheeks turned beet red in a second and she hurried out of the car and almost ran into her house.
That night she could barely sleep she was tossing and turning around the bed unaware of a small warm yellow light near her window.
It was a firefly...
...
.
Edited by crystalfairy95 - 9 years ago
