~ CHAPTER SEVEN ~
"Hey Manny," waved Cabir casually, "Morning. Coffee?"
Nandini still hadn't dared to turn around. She wrung her pink flowered handkerchief nervously as she listened to Manik's slow, dragging steps close in. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see Dhruv taking extra care to keep a low profile. He looked pretty disturbed. It was as if he wanted to hide from someone. Wonder who?
"Yeah buddy," sighed Manik, "really need one today. Didn't get much sleep last night."
"Yup," replied Cabir in a pepped up tone, "you do look like shit today."
"Tell me about it," said Manik as he walked past Nandini and paused right in front of her. "Hey Nandini, how are you today?"
BLUNK!!! That was how Nandini felt. As if a large block of iron had just dropped out of the sky and straight onto her head! The heavenly fragrance of his cologne lingered in the air and she was completely lost.
"It's your blazer Manik," said Cabir who had been watching Nandini's cheeks and ears turn scarlet red.
"Blazer?" Manik was confused. "What about it?"
"It's so yellow today," replied Cabir, "just like Nandini's tunic. Matching colours. Blazing bright. Same pinch Nandini." Cabir pinched the air and pursed his lips gleefully.
Manik smiled as Cabir rocked happily on his chair, excited about his first witty comment of the day.
"Actually dude," continued Cabir, "I have a brilliant solution. Just go and take off your blazer. It's too bright you see? You just blew the poor girl's brains off. She's literally blind now. See? Her eyes are all fused out. Probably your black shirt should balance out the light and shade and bring her back to normal. The works..."
"Shut up Cabir," snapped Manik with an amused smirk and headed right into his cabin.
Nandini's eyes were like gooseberries. All round and watery. Oh Lord! They're going to embarrass me more!!
"Hey just relax," Cabir winked at Nandini, "just giving some sunshine before the storm begins."
Nandini nodded quietly and smiled awkwardly. Right now, she just wanted to bang her head on the table.
"I'll be right back," announced Manik as he stepped out of his cabin.
Dhruv, who was still keeping low, sighed in relief. Phew!!!
"And Dhruv..."
Dhruv almost jumped on hearing his name coming from Manik's mouth.
"And the storm begins," muttered Cabir through pursed lips.
"Are you done with the payroll information copies?" asked Manik with a really grim expression.
"A-almost d-done, Manik," he stammered nervously.
"Bro," snapped Manik irritably, "it's been two days. What were you doing all these days? Laying eggs?"
"N-no M-Manik," Dhruv was visibly shuddering now, "it's just that..."
"You better clear it out in an hour's time," interrupted Manik sternly, "or trust me buddy. Your salaries aren't getting through."
"Oh gosh, don't say that," moaned Cabir faintly with a hand placed tenderly over his aching heart, "I need to pay my bills. I need to eat. I need to fill up my car's tank."
"Keep dreaming," Manik retorted and stormed away.
Nandini was stunned. Did Manik just get really rude with Dhruv right now? Bossy? Pushy? She could see that Dhruv looked worked up, his shoulders slumped wearily. No wonder the poor fellow was keeping low in Manik's presence. He probably gets pushed around a lot!
"Dhruv is Manik's favourite target," said Cabir having noticed the questions written all over Nandini's face.
"T-target?" stammered Nandini anxiously.
"Sweetheart. He isn't as flowery as he looks," stated Cabir in a low voice, "he is what I would call an asshole of the first order."
Nandini was really worried now. The good guy image of Manik she had been adoring all this while seemed to have started to fade away. "Does he shout at you too?" she asked quietly.
"Well," answered Cabir, "you see, we're sort of at the same level. He's the HR Officer and I'm the Public Relations Officer. I collaborate with him. I don't report to him."
"You mean to tell me that he..."
"...Bullies his subordinates," Cabir completed Nandini's question with a full stop. "Yep, that's why he's an asshole. A very big one."
Nandini's head was buzzing now. She had this sudden urge to run away from there. Where the hell have I landed Aiyappa? This guy will surely torture me now!
Just then, the door opens and a nervous young lady in her early twenties tiptoed in. She looked around suspiciously through gritted teeth.
"Dhruv! Cabir!" she whispered hoarsely, "where's Manik? Is he in?"
"You can come in Mukti," replied Cabir in an audible voice, "you're safe for now."
Mukti hurried to her table before she could get caught.
"So what's it this time Mukti?" asked Cabir in amusement. "Break down? No bus? Auto?"
"Traffic jam," she answered as she switched on her PC.
"Yeah right," smiled Cabir, "every day, right?"
"Dude, it's the truth," she snapped in frustration, "believe me if you want to."
"Oh, I believe you," shrugged Cabir, "you just need to deal with Manik."
"God, don't remind me," she growled irritably and started to download her e-mails. As she did, she noticed Dhruv's flushed face. "What happened to you?" she asked in concern.
Dhruv didn't look at her. He just nodded nothing sadly.
"That idiot picked on you again?" she asked angrily. "Early in the morning?"
"It's nothing new," sighed Dhruv drearily with his eyes glued to the computer screen.
Mukti placed a consoling hand on his shoulder and gripped it gently. "Seriously Dhruv," she muttered through clenched teeth, "one day... one day I'm going to lose it and punch this guy so hard! SO HARD in the nuts that he would be seeing all stars and planets."
Cabir snorted and bellowed in laughter.
"I'm serious!" stated Mukti.
"No, I was just playing the scene in my head," laughed Cabir, "it's so hilarious!"
Mukti quickly snapped her hand off Dhruv's shoulder as she noticed Manik returning with a cup of coffee. Cabir managed to control his laughter almost instantly.
"Nandini," he said as he bustled to his cabin, "just come in."
Nandini, who had been gathering together all the terrifying descriptions of Manik in her head all this while, nearly jumped at her name being called.
"Chalo," said Cabir quietly, "he's calling you. All the best."
Nandini was horrified. If he starts yelling at me like he did with Dhruv, I'm sure that I'll start bawling like a baby. Oh God. Save me!
Nandini shuffled nervously into Manik's cabin. He was at his computer already, downloading e-mails and going through other documents.
"Buddy, see that file on that cabinet?" said Manik as he looked up at her momentarily, "just pass it here."
"Okay," her voice was barely audible as she picked up the file with trembling hands and passed it across the...
~THWACK~
... The piping cup of coffee is instantly knocked over and the contents rush like a steaming tsunami all over the table, documents and straight onto Manik's lap!
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