PART 1
"For …the ….last….time…….will you stop calling me Nikki….I am on my way" an irritated Armaan shouts into the mike of his blue tooth.
"Armaan…..if you don't want that arrogant, stupid, idiotic" Nikki's voice rings in his ears. Here she went again. He rolled his eyes. As soon as she had started on her praises, he had understood who she was talking about.
"What did Modi do now?" Armaan asks in a honeyed tone.
On the other end Nikki fumed. She hated when Armaan took this tone with her. He did not understand how evil and ruthless the boss of Sanjeevani was but she knew him. Actually she didn't know him well but he was her famous surgeon father's most favorite student. That was reason enough for Nikki to hate the guts of the man. She knew that just like her father, his favorite student was ambitious and all out to achieve his dream and just like him he didn't care whose toes he tread to achieve what he wanted.
"Armaan….don't baby me….and that man didn't do anything….as yet…..but he will if you don't reach soon….he has called a meeting with all the interns….needs to discuss something with us…he says" Nikki conveys the information.
"Fine…. see you in two minutes" and Armaan cuts the call.
"How many times do you need to be reminded not to use a cell phone during duty hours?" her nemesis's voice cuts into her thoughts. Nikki closes her eyes to brace herself. She took a deep breath and turned to face Abhimanyu Modi.
The handsome man was looking at her with narrowed eyes behind his glasses and was standing with his hand on his hips, his feet tapping impatiently while he waited for her answer.
"Well it was important" she imitates Armaan's tone and starts walking towards the conference room without looking back. Irritated at her high handedness, Abhimanyu promises himself to take his revenge.
Armaan parks his bike and rushes into Sanjeevani locker room and in a hurry puts on his lab coat in reverse and as he is rushing towards the conference room, he bangs into Riddhima.
"Watch where you are going" her soft voice comes behind him.
"Miss Muffet…..you stop coming in my way….get it" he tells her off rudely and scurries inside followed by a fuming Riddhima. There are only two seats left and Armaan slips besides nikki and making a face Riddhima sits next to him.
"So did he kiss her? Was it passionate? Did you burn with need?" Armaan whispers in Riddhima's ears and watches her color embarrassed and angry.
"Shut up Armaan…..and learn to mind your business" she tells him off, turning away.
"Oh you read those books all the time….isn't this what happens in them?" Armaan's eyes glitter with mischief. He loved to tease Riddhima. She was so easy to irritate and that made his day.
"How do you know? Do you read them too?" Riddhima turns on him and his dimpled smile deepens further.
"So that does happen?" he raises his eyebrows.
Before riddhima can retort back, Abhimanyu enters the conference room and the focus shifts on him.
"I need you all to make a report for me which I have to present to the board and our new investor. I also need a presentation and Dr. Nikita……you will do that" he gets down to business without any niceties and puts Nikita's biggest fear in front of her.
Ever since she was a child she had hated the limelight and as a result had never participated in any school plays or debates. Instead she had concentrated all her efforts in studies and chosen to be a doctor.
"P…pre…presentation" she gasps, the color draining from her face.
"Yea" he replies shortly and then turns towards Anjali and teams her up with Rahul for one section of the report. Then he turns to Atul and teams him with Muskaan and then turns to Armaan and teams him with Riddhima.
"I need this report in a week…..so no slacking and get working" done with his business, he strides out of the conference room. Nikki gets up in haste and rushes behind him.
"Modi…..Modi" she calls and he stops midstride.
"Dr. Modi" he corrects her.
"I ….Look I can't give the presentation" she snaps at him.
"Why? I know for a fact you are not dumb….so what's the problem?" he asks walking towards his cabin. Nikki takes big steps to match his long strides to keep up with him.
"Look…..Armaan will be able to do full justice to it….I won't be as good…..just give it to him" she tries to suggest when he stops abruptly and turns towards her, his dark eyes flashing fire.
"Don't tell me what to do….get it…..and I am giving you an opportunity….take it" he snaps.
"I don't want this opportunity" Nikki snaps right back.
"Fine….then this is an order" he says and starts walking without looking back.
"Order….my foort….idiot….rot in hell" Nikki curses under her breath.
"Niks….chill yaar….I am here….I will help you" Armaan consoles his raging best friend. "Imagine….I have to partner with that romantic notioned girl……what if she falls for me? I fit that Tall, dark and handsome bill" he tries to lighten her mood and she finally smiles at his attempt at humor.
"Riddhima…...fall for you? It will happen the day I will fall for this Modi" Nikki laughs and they both head for coffee.
"You know what Nikki….I think Riddhima can fall for me……poor girl……my heart breaks for her as I won't fall for her" Armaan replies after pondering and Nikki bursts into peals of laughter.
"Don't even try Mallik" she reverts back to his last name and that infuriates Armaan.
"It isn't funny…Ok" he snaps.
"It sure is……have you seen Riddhima…..she is a simple girl……and your reputation precedes you….she already hates you….all which might happen is that she might kill you" Nikki replies.
"Oh look …what a beauty" Armaan whistles and Nikki turns to look at a tall, slim and gorgeous girl walking with Abhimanyu towards the caf.
"That Modi has a girlfriend?" she spits contemptuously, making a face.
"Oh no…..am sure that this girl is way out of his league…… but she sure is in mine" Armaan gets up and heads towards the girl who is sitting by herself, while Abhimanyu goes to place their order.
"Beautiful girls shouldn't sit alone….it is a crime" he starts and flashes his dimpled smile her way.
The dark haired stranger looks up from her blackberry and flashes a smile at him. "Really? How?" she asks him in a musical voice.
"Well you rob people like us of your precious company" he retorts and introduces himself. The girl smiles and shakes his hand. Once he grips her hand, he refuses to let go but rather grips her delicate hand in both of his.
"Your friend is going to get slapped" Abhimanyu says behind Nikita and she jumps.
"Wha……what? Why? Just because you can't get a beautiful girl to smile, you think others guys who can will get slapped?" Nikki jumps to her best friend's defense.
"Oh Dr. Nikita……how you underestimate me….but then this isn't about me…..come one….watch the fun in close quarters" he urges her.
An irritated Nikki walks behind him. "Ahem" Abhimanyu clears his throat and the girl looks at him and flashes a breathtaking smile at which Abhimanyu gives Nikki a "gotcha" look and Nikki makes a face.
"Doctors….let me introduce to you…..Damini Gujral….the new investor of Sanjeevani" Abhimanyu cuts in and Armaan stands up immediately.
"Oh is all that comes out of his mouth.
"Nice to meet you Dr. Malik…..now I hope you are half as good in your work as you are in flirting" Damini replies and Armaan colors.
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
Current Affairs
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