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~ CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT ~
The minute Manik set eyes on Nandini, he knew that what he had feared was true indeed. He desperately searched her eyes for answers to the extent of questioning them. But she had effectively barricaded them to his penetrating stare. What is she doing here? Has she told them something? This is so not right.
Waudby who had been watching the apprehensive glares that Manik threw at Nandini got all the answers he needed to know. "What happened Manik?" he asked with a sly smile, "Is something worrying you?"
That startling question got Manik to look away from Nandini almost immediately only to be hit with Waudby's smirking eyes and Mukherjee's intense glare and tight throbbing jaw. The look in their eyes was disturbing. It was as if they knew something. "No," answered Manik with a soft nervous chuckle.
"I think that you're worried about her presence. Isn't it?" probed Waudby with his fuzzy brown eyebrows clumped together in a shrewd smile.
"A-Absolutely not," Manik shrugged in an attempt to look cool about the entire situation. However, his voice was noticeably hollow as he spoke.
"Sit," Waudby gestured at the empty chair beside Nandini.
Manik attempted to chuck out the growing sense of dread as he settled down onto the chair. Chill dude, he thought to himself as he threw quick glances at Nandini, don't freak out. It could be something else. But as much as he tried, he couldn't convince himself. Something definitely wasn't right.
"Do you know why you're here now?" asked Waudby as he intertwined his fingers and leaned forward onto his huge glass topped table. Mukherjee remained silent throughout the conversation. Contrary to Waudby, he was leaning far back onto his chair with a hand resting on the arm. He had his "I'm going to kill you" glare fixed unblinkingly on Manik.
"Guess I'm pretty clueless," said Manik in a low voice. Though he did a good job of burying up his anxiety, Nandini could still sense the impending sense of dread that was consuming him.
"Alright," said Waudby with a distinct sigh, "I'll come straight to the point. We have received quite a lot of complaints about you. So we thought we might as well ask you about it."
"Complaints..." Manik raised an eyebrow and ran his tongue over his lips as he tried to sound amused. "Okay?"
"The accusation is pretty serious," continued Waudby, "That you had been purposefully subjecting your subordinates and other departmental staff to mental torture and harassment. What's your take on this?"
"Harra..." the words got stuck in his throat. He took a shallow gulp of air as he tried to cover it up with a quiet chuckle but his heart couldn't lie. It pounded like a drum in his chest. Yes. He could now see where all this was headed to. He was in trouble. Big trouble. In a big mess that could cost him his job and career. His reputation. And who else could he thank but Nandini? If something like that happens... I swear... I'm not going to let her get away with it.
"Go on." Waudby's words wiped the smile off Manik's face.
"I... can't understand what made them think that I was... harassing them," replied Manik with a smirk. "My question is... if there was an issue... why didn't they talk to me about it?"
"Can you look at Ms. Murthy and repeat the same question or answer, whatever?" asked Waudby with a grim expression. The tone of his voice made it very clear that he wasn't ready to take any shit. Manik's alibis or other attempts to divert the topic weren't working. The two big shots were fully equipped with complete details.
Manik felt his vision blur at this. He clenched his dry lips as he gave a quick sideward glance at Nandini. His eyes were everywhere else other than on Waudby and Mukherjee. Yet, he couldn't get the picture of Nandini's tender hands and the colourful bangles that adorned it.
"Come on Manik," urged Waudby.
"N-no," Manik attempted a poor chuckle. "What has she got to do with this?"
"I guess she can answer that question. Ms. Murthy? What's your say on this?"
"Sir..." Nandini began in a hesitant voice. She threw a quick glance at Manik and noticed him staring at her with wide, apprehensive eyes. "Nothing."
"Nothing?" Waudby wasn't surprised. "So you're telling me that Manik here has been exceptionally good with you? Even when he denied you the permission to leave earlier last evening?"
Denied the permission to leave earlier last evening. Manik had a quick flashback of how he had taunted her about the puja. He had even let his impulse get the better of him by breaking her with his stinging words. But the information Mukti gave him later on had got him overwhelmed with remorse. He knew that he had hurt her badly and he wish he hadn't.
"Sir..." Nandini knew that anything she said could land her in Manik's blacklist. But more than that, she knew that his fate now rested in her testimony. Anything said against him can screw up his entire career and reputation. Though she knew that he deserved it, she didn't want to be the one responsible for the same. "As far as I know... He is a... taskmaster."
"Who sets unrealistic deadlines?"
"Sir..." Nandini grew fidgety. She kept glancing at Manik from the corner of her eyes.
"Come on," urged Waudby. "You don't have to be afraid. Just say yes or no."
"Speak up Nandini," Mukherjee finally spoke after his long and disturbing silence. "Yes or no?"
"Yes sir," replied Nandini feebly after a brief moment of hesitation. She had this dreadful feeling that she shouldn't have said so. She wasn't sure in what sense they would take it.
Manik felt his guts clench painfully. He knew that his doom was at hand.
"And putting unneeded stress on the employees," added Waudby. "What was that girl's name? From your department? She had to quit after suffering a mental breakdown?"
"Alya Saxena," replied Mukherjee.
"Yes. Alya Saxena. The girl who used to be in Nandini's place. Ever since we had to keep an open eye and mind on this issue." Waudby turned his attention to Manik. "And we're so sorry Manik. But the evidence we have is just too strong to turn down. We have to take action."
Take action. Manik very well knew what the action would be. After all, he was an HR guy. "Sir," he began in a low shaking voice, "if I could just explain..."
"What would you like to explain Manik?" came Mukherjee's verbal slap. "How could you? You of all the people?" Mukherjee's voice kept getting harsher with each word. "I'm so-so disappointed! The very department! The very guy that is supposed to stop these heinous acts are committing them! I feel so ashamed of myself and my department!"
"Sir. No. I..." Manik's eyes were watery now. He felt trapped. Helpless. Doomed. Ashamed. Never had Mukherjee spoken to him like this before. Never had he faced his wrath. For Mukherjee, Manik was always the apple of his eye. But now? A downright bottomless shame!!!
"You very well know that bullying is illegal in this company. Don't you Manik Malhotra?" snapped Mukherjee in a strict tone.
"Sir..." Manik was clueless.
"Yes or no?" he repeated firmly.
"Yes sir."
"Then why did this happen?" asked Mukherjee.
Manik's breath was stuck in his throat. The volumes of confidence which once used to emanate from him was nowhere to be seen. It had just vanished into nothing. He was as meek as a mouse right now. Nandini could feel his presence diminishing into size zero. And at this point of time, she felt sorry for him. She didn't want to see him like this. Helpless. Voiceless. Broken.
"Come on! Speak up dammit!" barked Mukherjee. His booming voice shook the walls and foundations of the cabin.
Manik wasn't looking up anymore. His head hung low and his shoulders drooped like a wet rag.
"I'm sorry Manik," Mukherjee continued sternly. "But rules are rules. You know them very well. And rules are the same for everyone! From the CEO to the labourer. And if I don't act on this today, then it will be unfair on my part. Unfair to the company and its employees."
Nandini's chest thumped hard. She knew what was coming. A harsh action that would put him to shame. Scar him for a very long time. For the very first time, she got to see a broken Manik. Defenceless. And at that point of time, she felt like she could finally see through his battered barricades. The one inside him didn't seem like the monster she used to see every day. Not at all. This one was different. This one was scared. Timid. Hurt and unarmed.
"You were the most dependable guy I ever knew," said Mukherjee as he removed a freshly printed paper from the printer. "And I'm so disappointed that it has turned out to be this way."
Manik never even looked up. He never even uttered a word.
"Both of you come along." Mukherjee got up and moved to the middle of the room. Nandini joined first followed by a slouching Manik.
They stood across, facing each other while Mukherjee stood in between them like a referee. "Manik," he began on a serious note, "you very well know what happens in a case like this. But I don't want to lose you. You're my best guy. And because of that... only because of that, I'm willing to give you a second chance."
Manik finally looked up from the depths of his depressed state as he felt a tiny ray of hope shine on him. But what Mukherjee said next, destroyed that little string of light that had started to give hope.
"... After you apologize to Nandini."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kumkum Bhagya
Anupamaa
