Nandini's POV

"I got the job in 'SPARKLING STAR'" I added after a pause.

"Okay... What!!!" Alya shouted looking at me. I stared at her while she at me. Thank God, we r in traffic or else this would have caused an accident!

"Why don't u tell beforehand? Manik or Cabir must have taken ur interview, right?" she asked.

"They both took. Actually, I was in complete shock to know that they r the boss n I thought I'll tell u once I get the job." I said at the time the green light went on n horns started blowing causing Alya to concentrated on driving while I sat silently.

"What a fate! I'll be working with ur BF n u with mine." she opened her mouth after a long distance.

"Manik is very particular n serious about his company. 'SPARKLING STAR' is the one which Manik n Cabir started on their own n made it to this level in spite of their own family business. They wanna show the world what they can do on their own apart from being their father's heir." she added n I listened silently.

Impressive

"So, Manik is very very strict boss. He won't spare any mistake & punishment is guaranteed." she added creating a pinch of fear in my mind which played a video of Manik splitting fires from his mouth n eyes burning the employees.

What am I imagining!

"So, u keep this in mind." I nodded.

"Actually, he is not that arrogant, bossy n strict that he shows in this office. In the office, u'll see a different version of him, the arrogant one, becoz it is his dream to that 'SPARKLING STAR' to hights...to create international brand n famous." she added.

"N actually u can do me a favor" she said parking the car in our parking lot. I looked at her confused.

"That Soha... she works there only. u can keep an eye on her. But beware wo kant ti ha (Beware! she bites) " she said while we laughed at her words.

"Don't worry Sis... I know how to handle it before it bites." I replied n we both walked inside.

--------------------

Next morning

"Mom, I'm leaving" I said getting up the dining table after completing my breakfast for the first day of my office.

"arey wait" mom shouted coming from the kitchen with a bowl on her hand.

"Dahi cheeni ( sweet curd)" she said putting a spoon on my mouth.

"Thank u, mom... Bye dad." I said turning to dad.

"bye beta. Mann laga ke kam karna.( work with ur fullest)" he said.

"I'll. ... bye Alu." I said hugging her.

"Bye. All the best." she whispered while hugging me.

------------------

In The 'SPARKLING STAR'

"U r need in Conference hall now." a lady came to inform me in my cabin which I just entered n admiring.

"Okay" I replied taking out my phone n keeping my bag on the table.

The cabin is not so big.... a small one with glass partition in it having a wooden table a movable chair, a desktop, and two chairs in my front...

I walked out n crossed a few cabins n also a few joint office workplace with many doing their works... I crossed everything to enter the conference hall...

                                             (Joint workplace with people working)

                                                 (conference hall)

There r already few people present in the hall but not the bosses. I walked in n stood beside a girl who is talking to a boy n started to look around.

"Oh... u here." I heard someone saying to me & I turned to see... Soha! I just faked a smile.

"So, u r Alya's friend, Right?" she again chirped. ... She is really a pain in the ass.

"Yes" I answered it short n I don't wanna introduce myself as her sister in front of this trouble.

" She got a hot friend, I must say" she exclaimed checking me from top to bottom when I'm wearing a formal dress upto my knees n an overcoat.

                                                       (Nandini's outfit)

"but not more than me" she added making me roll my eyes.

'Such a self-obsessed girl! coming to the office to seduce the boss in this outfit.' my mind screamed looking at her dress coming to the mid-thigh n showing her cleavages.

                                                            (Soha's look)

I turned away but saw that girl n boy looking at me in a different way from time to time... I feel awkward.

What's with them!

"Hi! I'm Sneha Sharma" the girl said forwarding her hand.

"I'm Nandini Murty" I took her hand in a shake.

"OMG... Nandini... I'm Sneha. DPS class XII-B." she said with a cheerful smile. And then I remember... she is one of my classmates.

"Hey! Nice to meet u" I said taking her in a hug which she responded.

"Nandini... he is Anubhav Rout... XII-C" she introduced the boy.

"The school board topper." I added taking his hands for a handshake.

"U also topped along with me." he said n I smile.

"U vanished after 12th... no phones, no get-together?" Shena asked.

"Ya... I went to New York for a designing course." I answered.

"OH... u mean, u r the 2nd designer of this company." she said with an o-face.

"2nd? who is the first?" I asked.

"That Soha Khurana, our one n only jewelry designer... but now u joined." Anubhav answered pointing to Soha.

"What r u two working as?" I asked.

"I'm in Marketing Dept. n he's in Management." she said n before I could ask further Manik Sir enter the room with his attitude along with a lady from the interview day following him, maybe his PA.

Manik's POV

"I hope u get to know about each other well" I said buttoning my jacket while taking my seat.

"Be seated" I ordered n they did.

"I've called all of u here for the most-awaited project for this company by Mehra Co. which could be the turning point in the history of this company with ur support...

Firstly, Our company had one Designer, Soha Khurana n now a new designer joined us, Nandini Murty" I said pointing to both of them.

"U both will be designing separately for this upcoming project as we have a huge target to meet within 1 month's time.

Then... R. Robert too joined us from today in the marketing dept." I introduced him too.

"Now, coming to the main topic. For the project, the whole team will be divided into two. Each with one designer, two from Market team, one Manager & one who'll be in direct contact with all of u including me. the team of 5 is decided by me only." I said indicating my PA to announce that...

"Team 1 with Soha, Manisha, Aditya, Sohan, Robert and Team 2 with Nandini, Sneha, Anubhav, Karishma n Karan." Anjali Rhizada, my PA said making them look at each other.

"Okay.  As this is my dream project, so I want all of u to give the best to this n u'll be directly reporting me in any case. N I don't want any excuses or mistakes on this. Am I clear?" I said.

"Yes Sir" they all said together.

"Good. today u all can get along n Anjali will inform u about ur work." I said getting up n they too get up.

"Soha n Nandini... in my cabin." I said leaving the hall.

In Manik's Cabin

Nandini's POV

Sir sat on his chair while we both stood there in his front, Soha with flirtatious smile n I with a casual face.

"Which age group mostly buy jewelleries?" he asked looking at us both.

"Youngsters" Soha answered instantly. He nodded n eyed me.

" age 16-39" I replied.

"What do u think they mostly buy?" he again asked.

"Earrings, Necklaces, Rings, Bracelets and Anklets" Soha said.

"Mostly Rings, Earrings, Bracelets and pendants" I said.

"Okay!... Before the actual consignment, Mrs. Mehra n her daughters wanted some jewelry for them. U both design it. She'll visit us after 4days on Wednesday. I need the designs ready to date. ... n this will be an assessment of whose design the most of them prefer. one who wins will get the right to choose something for the next project" he completed leaning back on his chair.

"Choose what sir?" Soha asked while I was silently listening.

"That u'll get to know afterward." he said.

"Any more doubts?" he added especially looking at my face.

"No Sir" Soha chirped.

"Sir. Are we meeting Mrs. Mehra to know her preferences?" I asked.

"No... This is exactly the challenge. U have to try to design so that they love it without knowing their point of view n likings. Basically, u need to know what all want?" he replied.

"Okay then. Since Nandini, u came from abroad, I would suggest u get to know the taste of the local peoples... ask, visit, search... ur wish." he said to me particularly by saying that I don't know anything about India n it's people.

Really???

"U both may leave." he ordered opening a file.

"Thank u Sir" we said n walked out.

"If u need any help... feel free to ask me. Even though we r competing, but I'm kind enough to help needy u know" Soha said sweetly patting my shoulders before walking at her cabin.

Kind & u? No way!

On Wednesday

On one side, Alya joined Dhruv's Fashion House from Monday. On the other side, Nandini worked hard gathering the likings of Mrs. Mehra n her three daughters from the internet... Nandini is bonding with her schoolmates n her team...  Murty family is full-on marriage mode along with the Malhotra family.

"Mrs. Mehra has arrived with her daughters." Anjali informed entering the hall where the two teams r already present.

They walked in with Manik Sir n got seated. Manik introduced his teams to them.

Nandini's POV

'Oh God her smirk indicates that she recognized me... Ab Sari Kashar Uttaregi mere designs pe (Now, she'll make me pay the price through these designs.)' I mentally slapped myself for her,  Sanaya being Mrs. Mehra's daughter.

"Show ur designs" Sir said n we handed over our files with 10 designs each to them which all 4 Mehras will be selecting the best 9 discussing among themselves.

"Do u know her?" Sneha whispered standing close to me noticing that Sanaya winked at me with a playful smirk.

"She's gonna make me lose" I whispered back while in mind I was hitting my head multiple times.

"Why?" she again whispered.

"I'll tell later" I said as we all r standing silently waiting for them to decide.

'Look at her denying to all my designs... she'll surely make me loose'  I screamed mentally as I saw her making faces holding my designs n siding them.

"Here u go" Mrs. Mehra said forwarding the 9 selected designs to Anjali after a good 20 minutes.

"5 designs of Soha n 4 Nandini's" Anjali counted the looking at the names backside n announced.

"Thank u Mam... Thanks" Soha said happily to Mehras n they smiled back.

While I'm sad...

u know everyone expects one's victory in every step. n this was my first ever project in this company but I failed... so being sad was somewhat clear... On top of that I knew this was coming... so let's chuck it...

"Excuse me... one minute please" One of her daughters named Swetlana (as informed by internet) said getting up n asking for the designs to Anjali, which she gave.

"I've something to tell." she added going through the designs while we confusedly waited for her to say what she wanna say more.

Is she going to praise some more of Soha's design?

Which part do u like the most?

If u were Nandini, how will u handle Soha n her mouth?

Silent viewer,  please vote n comment. Ur hard work encourages me to write more as soon as possible...