Big Boss 19: Daily Discussion Thread - Aug 29, 2025
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai - 29 Aug 2025 EDT
BHAROSA THODNA 28.8
MAIRAs SCHOOL 29.8
Param Sundari opens well
Abhira : The self-respect queen
Aneet and Ahaan on the cover of THR!!
Geetanjali Saree look
Anupamaa 29 Aug 2025 Written Update & Daily Discussions Thread
Deepika Ranveer At Ambani Ganpati Festival
Bullying in the first week?
Ijja-jjat hai
Monsoon Magic Micro-fiction Contest Felicitation Ceremony
Throw back! When katrina did not take 'gentle' gently from Shah!
Trailer - Do You Wanna Partner - Tamannaah Bhatia Diana Penty
Unseen bollywood pics
Sorry guys, I know that you guys have been waiting all day. It's just that I was badly caught up throughout. Going to compensate with more updates tonight, so keep your eyes open ;)
~ CHAPTER EIGHTEEN ~
The minute she uttered those words, she knew that it was a big mistake. What's it with you Nandini? Why on earth did you have to ask HIM that question? Don't you have better things to do?
Manik gave her a deadly and defensive glare as he spoke up. "I'm sorry?"
His tone was so rude that her throat got clogged almost instantly. "N-nothing," she stammered quickly as she cleared her voice and fought to maintain eye contact. "It's just that... I came to know what you told Hashmi about the mishap with the cheques..." With each word, Nandini's voice kept fading away and Manik's vicious stare grew more threatening.
"So?"
Nandini began to wither before his merciless scorn. She had the serious urge to cry now. "Nothing... the cheques... Were spoilt... coffee... mud..." By now, she kept swallowing bits and pieces of what she intended to say that it made no sense at all.
"Can you be a bit louder?" he demanded sternly. It seemed that he was determined to break whatever resolve she carried with his uptight demeanour.
She took a deep breath and cleared her throat. "What I wanted to ask was... why you... took the blame... when I... was at fault..." She paused to take breaths and utter the words more clearly.
"And why is this your concern?" The sarcastic smirk on his face and the scornful tone gashed her deeply. So deeply that the tears eventually started to break through the barrier she had built to keep it at bay.
"N-no," she said very quietly as she struggled to hold back the tears that were threatening to show up, "was just asking... just like that..."
"Nandini... Nandini... Nandini..." he let out a satisfied sigh, leaned back on to his chair and intertwined his fingers. "It's good to ask questions. Trust me. It is. But ask them only if they are required for your existence. Secondly, don't poke your nose into unnecessary issues. I may do and say stuff for a reason. But that's none of your business. And third..."
He easily towered over her as he rose to his feet. She felt powerless and cornered as he closed in. "...I understand that you're really distracted and need something to keep you entertained. Yeah?" There was something in his voice that sent a chill down her spine.
The air of intimidation was suddenly interrupted by the much wanted ring of Manik's cell phone. He gave her a wicked glare and said, "Give me a minute."
He answered the call and stepped away from her. "Hey," he began cheerfully. But almost instantly it was dissolved into surprise. "What? Now? Why? What happened?"
Nandini was still rooted to the spot. She so badly wanted to get away from there, but did she really have the permission to move?
"Babes, I'm at work," he said in a hushed whisper, "I can't come out now. Try to understand."
Nandini found his transforming expression to be a wonderful distraction from the pain that was building up in her. Wow. I don't believe this. This can't be real. Is he being soft with someone? Like seriously! Is he really capable of that? Wow! I wonder who that is... she or he deserves an award for the amazing feat of taming this Komodo dragon. From the looks of it, I think it's a girl. He'd be gay to call a guy as babes. And with that, a teeny weeny smirk crept up her face. Labelling him a gay was giving her some kind of temporary satisfaction that she was finally able to get back at him!
"But what is the issue?" he continued on the phone in his extra soft tone. He seemed a bit perturbed as he sighed and rubbed the nape of his neck. "Fine. Fine. I'm coming. Just give me a minute."
"You. Come along," he beckoned Nandini as soon as he hung up the call. She quietly followed him out.
Manik stood across Dhruv's workstation and almost gave him a heart attack. "Bro, just pull out your filing work."
Dhruv's eyes looked like gooseberries. I'm so dead, he thought to himself and slowly pulled out a large stack of papers.
"That's it?" Manik asked coldly with a hardened expression.
"Y-yeah," Dhruv stammered.
"Come on, I know you," snapped Manik, "pull out the rest."
Dhruv gulped down a visible apple in his throat as he nervously pulled out the next stack. Mukti threw sideward glances at them and nodded her head irritably.
"Only this much?" teased Manik.
"Y-yes Manik," Dhruv replied.
"Come on," he said with a smirk, "I know you buddy. Remove the lot. The entire lot from your go-down."
And with that, Dhruv pulled up two more stack from under his table.
"Wow!" Manik exclaimed with fake surprise, "I suppose this was meant to be filed three months ago? Why is it still with you? Planning to start a chaat stall?"
"No Manik," Dhruv now had a sheen of sweat covering his face.
"You know what," said Manik, "you're unbelievable. But it's okay. I've gotten used to your surprises. Now here's what I need you to do. Hand over the entire stack to Nandini. Just show her the basics. How it is done, where to be placed, et cetera et cetera..." He turned to Nandini now. "And you... I want all of this to be filed into its respective folders. And I want this done before end of today. Is that clear?"
Nandini was speechless as she stared into Manik's overbearing eyes.
Dhruv looked stunned beyond belief. By end of today?! That's impossible! It can never be done that fast! That's a lot of filing!!! I can't let her take this load. "Manik," Dhruv spoke up and rose to his feet, "it really is okay. I can do this."
"The shit has been up your ass for three months buddy," Manik snapped angrily, "and you expect me to have faith in you? How are you going to finish this today if you weren't able to do it in three months? And I'm not doing you any favours. Understand that first."
Having swallowed up Manik's virtual slap, Dhruv slowly settled down on to his chair.
"Hand it over to her," Manik ordered sternly.
One by one, Dhruv passed on the heavy bundles to Nandini who had a tough time carrying it.
"Six PM is your deadline," said Manik, "you better finish it by then. And I want to see the filing room in one piece." Saying this, he stomped out of the department.
Dhruv was exasperated. "Nandini," he sighed and tried to take back the bundle, "you don't have to do this. Trust me."
"Let's do it together," Mukti joined in. "You don't have to take this guy's nonsense. I mean... what he thinks of himself."
"Three months..." Dhruv looked fed up, "it's not like I was ignoring it on purpose or something. I was loaded with a hell lot of work. Overloaded! He knows it too."
"Guys, just chill," Nandini managed to smile, "I'll handle this. You guys don't worry. Moreover, I don't want you to get into trouble by helping me."
"Nandini..." Dhruv began in quiet protest.
"Just show me how it's done," said Nandini and placed an assuring hand on his arm.
Meanwhile, Manik was down and out at the entrance of his building. He looked around (seemingly searching for someone) and dialled a number on his phone. "Baby, I'm out," he said into the phone, "where are you?"
"Look to your right," a woman's voice answered him on the phone.
Manik did as he was told and spotted the person he was looking for. A woman in her early twenties moved out from behind the pillar and ended the call. Soha Khurana.
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Book Talk
Shiv Shakti
