"Nandu....we have a problem." Abhi entered MaNan's room.

"Kya hua Bhai?" Nandini asked.

"Maddy yahan aa chuka hai." 

"What....aapko kaise paata chala?" Nandini stood up in shock.

"Who's Maddy?" Manik asked.

"Main kal mall gaya tha Mukti ke saath and I saw him with some of his men. Woh mall ke paas wale airport se bahar aa raha tha." Abhi replied.

"This is bad....this is so bad. Matlab, Maddy ko paata toh nahi chala ke hum yahan hai?" Nandini asked.

"Koi batayega yeh Maddy kaun hai?" Manik asked again.

"He is one of my so called brothers..." Nandini said. "Agar Maddy khud yahan aaye hai then that means he knows something....varna woh apne kisi aadmi ko bhej dete." 

"Crap....toh ab kya? Should we call the police?" Manik asked. Abhi & Nandini gave him a look that said 'Are you stupid?'

"Manik...our family is one of the most powerful mafia families. You really think its as easy as contacting the police?" Abhi asked. "No...humme usse marna hoga."

"WHAT! M..M...M...Mur...der?" Manik stammered? "Dimaag kharab hai kya tumhara?"

"Nahi...Bhai bilkul sahi bol rahe hai. Maddy se piche churane ka yehi raasta hai...infact not just him. Humme ek ek karke pura Singhania Khandaan ko khatam karna hoga. Thats the ONLY way we can live in peace." Nandini said in a determined voice. Abhi nodded in agreement, they turned to see the others in complete shock. "Manik...dont worry. We know what we are doing....vaise bhi if its related to the Singhania's then the police ignore it as if kuch hua hi nahi."

"Yeah but.....murder?" Mukti asked.

"Murder nahi...self defence. Humare protection ke liye....Parivaar ke protection ke liye this is what we need to do." Abhi said.

*************************************

Malhotra Industries

After Nandini's first day at the office, Raman didnt dare make her do a janitors work. Infact he actually gave her work like every other employee because although he would never admit it, he was scared of Nandini. Of course he still didnt like her one bit.

Nandini was working at her desk when the phone rang. She picked it up and it was Deep.

D: Nandini beta....woh Agarwal Constructions ka file pls conference room mein leke aana.

N: Ji Bade Papa....abhi laayi.

After hanging up, she picked up the file that was needed and walked to the conference room where Raman & Deep were having a meeting with Jayant Agarwal, CEO of Agarwal Constructions.

"Come in Nandini." Deep smiled warmly. "Jayant....yeh humari bahu hai, Nandini Manik Malhotra."

"Nice to meet you." Jayant curtly nodded to Nandini before looking back at Deep & Raman. Nandini who had reached out to shake his hand, just awkwardly put her hand down. "Look Deep....I already told you, if you want to go forward with this deal then contract mein kuch changes honi chahiye."

"I understand Jayant lekin contract sign ho chukka hai...Ab changes kyun?" Deep asked politely.

"Mujhe paata hai kyun...neeyat kharab ho chukka hai iska." Raman spoke up angrily. "Pichle 15 saal se hum yehi same contract renew karte aaye hai aur aaj tak koi problem nahi hua. Jabse iska woh saala aaya hai America se tabse yeh sab shuru hua hai. Aaj isko prices pasand nahi aaya kal uthke bolenge ki humare employees pasand nahi hai. "

"Raman! Tum mere wife ki bhai ke baare mein baat kar rahe ho." Jayant stood up.

"Raman....shant rao." Deep whispered.

"Nahi kyun? Mr Jayant Agarwal....if you have so many problems then why continue this deal at all?" Raman asked. He snatched the file from Nandini and threw it into the garbage bin. "There.....to hell with this contract. Aap jaa sakte hai."

"Mujhe laaga main ek adult se baat kar raha hoon." Jayant glared at Raman.

"Mujhe bhi laaga ke main ek businessman se baat kar raha hoon....kisi saale ke chamche se nahi." Raman replied.

"Thats it...Im not going to just stand here and take this rubbish!" Jayant yelled.

"Jayant...calm down. Raman ko tum jaante ho na? Pls dont take offence. Main baat karta hoon isse. I promise jo jo changes chahiye contract mein woh karwake ek naya contract bhej dunga." Deep consoled him.

"Bhai..." Raman tried to speak up but Deep glared at him.

"Fine...itne saal se aapke saath kaam kar raha hoon so Ill forgive Raman this time. Lekin aaj ke baad main sirf aapke saath deal karunga....I dont want to see Raman again." Jayant warned.

"Of course." Deep nodded. Jayant nodded & left the room after which Deep turned to Raman "What the hell was that Raman? Tu kab apne gusse ko control karna seekhega?"

Nandini stood there awkwardly as the brothers argued.

"Main kyun gussa control karun? Woh hota kaun hai humare samne aise conditions rakhne wala? All because of his brother-in-law.....main bol raha hoon Bhai uss Dhairya ka kuch toh galat iraada hai. Jabse aaya hai tabse koi na koi problem kar raha hai." Raman said.

"Tere paas iss cheez ka koi proof hai?" Deep asked.

"What? Proof? Aapko proof chahiye?" Raman asked in disbelief. "You dont believe me?"

"Raman tu mera bhai hai...I know you. Tujhe uska behaviour acha nahi laga iss liye yeh sab bol raha hai....I know ki Dhairya thoda sa rude insaan hai par humara professional relationship to Jayant ke saath hai! And you would have destroyed that....Agarwal Constructions humara sabse bada client hai....we cannot afford to loose them. You will stay out of this deal!" Deep replied. He left the conference room & Raman angrily slammed his fist against the mirror on the wall, shattering it.

"Raman Uncle!" Nandini got worried seeing his hand bleed.

"What are you doing here? Jao apna kaam karo!" Raman said rudely. 

"Khoon nikal raha hai Uncle." Nandini said. She looked around and found a first aid box in the cabinet. Nandini reached out to take Raman's hand but he jerked it away.

"Dont touch me! Deep Bhai ne chahe jaise bhi introduce karwaya ho par main tujhe apna bahu nahi manta! Ache se janta hoon mein teri jaisi ladkiyon ko." Raman mumbled. "Just....get out of this room!"

"Raman Uncle....shayad aap bhool gaye ho ke mujhse panga lena aapke liye kitna kharab ho sakta hai." Nandini replied with attitude. "Chup Chap apna haath mujhe dijiye."

Slightly scared, Raman reluctantly gave his hand. Nandini started cleaning the blood.

"Itna zid karke kya faida....mere samne akhir jhukna hi para na?" Nandini said. "Aur sirf zid kya...apka toh gussa bhi khatarnak hai. Like itna saara gussa aap rakhte kaha hai? Koi separate storage compartment hai kya? By the way....gussa bhi umar dekh ke karni chahiye."

"Excuse me?" Raman looked offended. "Umar dekh ke matlab? Tu kya mujhe buddha samajhti hai?"

"Aap kya khud ko bohot young samajhte hai? 60 yrs ka JAWAN aadmi!" Nandini said sarcastically.

"Im 53...." Raman gritted his teeth.

"Haan haan same thing....par point yeh hai ki aapka ek 27 saal ka shaadi shuda beta hai aur aap koi vampire toh hai nahi ki umar nahi badegi so....apne gusse ko control kijiye." Nandini replied.

"Ab mujhe tujhse seekhna hoga ki mujhe kya karna chahiye aur kya nahi?" Raman jerked his hand away which was now bandaged. 

"Bachon ko toh seekna parta hai na." Nandini mumbled, rolling her eyes.

"What?" Raman asked.

"I said....Bachon ko seekna parta hai!" Nandini said in a louder voice. Raman glared at her. "Aise looks mat dijiye mujhe, main darta nahi hoon aapse. 60- sorry...I mean 53 saal ke hai aap phir bhi behave bilkul bachon ki tarah kar rahe hai. Tantrums...kiski ki baat nahi sunna etc etc." 

"Toh what the Fu-"

"Language!" Nandini warned Raman who looked annoyed but corrected himself none the less.

"What am I supposed to do? Deep Bhai bhole hai...harr kisi mein sirf achai dikhta hai unko."

"Aur aapko sirf burrai." Nandini mumbled. Raman still heard her and narrowed his eyes at her. 

"Im not wrong about this. Jayant ka badla badla se behavior, Dhairya ka zaroorat se zyada involvement....kuch sahi nahi lag raha hai mujhe." Raman said. "Maine jo bhi kiya woh iss family ki bhalai ke liye hai."

"Well gussa karke sirf BP high hoga aur kuch nahi. BP high hua toh heart attack ka khatra hai aur heart attack se agar aap mar war gaye toh family ka bhalai kaun sochega?" Nandini said in a teasing tone.

"Bohot jaldi hai...mujhe upar pauchane mein?" Raman asked.

"Tsk tsk...bilkul nahi Uncle, aap mere FIL hai!" Nandini said dramatically. Raman rolled his eyes. "Ok..but jokes aside. Humme kuch plan karna chahiye....Agarwal kya plan kar raha hai, woh paata lagane ke liye." 

"You....you believe me?" Raman asked.

"Aap gusse wale hai....arrogant hai, ziddi hai, judgemental hai...par apni family se bohot pyar karte hai aur agar aap keh rahe hai ki woh Agarwal iss family ke khilaf kuch plan kar rahe hai then I trust you." Nandini replied. 

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