"Mukti.."Nandini whispered "..I wanted to ask you something.."

"Sure.."Mukti simply nodded her head. "..but tell me something first.." her words confused Nandini. "What.."

"Why are we whispering.."Mukti asked so seriously that for a second Nandini was shocked but of course the very next moment they both burst out laughing.

"Actually..your question is connected with my question.."Nandini replied. "I am whispering because I don't want people to hear what I am communicating.."Nandini looked around only to find people around her immediately looking away the moment her eyes fell on them making it crystal clear that they were gawking at her. "..as it seems that almost everyone over here is peeking at me every now and then.."looking back at Mukti she finally answered "..so that's bring us to my question.."

Mukti raised her eyebrows and said "Which is.."

"Why everyone is looking at me.."Nandini whispered so that only Mukti could hear it. "..as if I am an alien or something."

"Well ...honestly speaking...for them you are.."Mukti smirked. Her words confused her Nandini. "What.."she shook her head and asked "..what do you mean.."

"She means.."both Mukti and Nandini turned around to find Abhimanyu walking towards them. "..that you sitting here and that too in one piece is no less than a miracle..since it isn't possible for any human being to survive through last 4 hours let alone sitting here and talking so cheerfully..that means you aren't a human..since we don't know about the existence of any other kind of species so that's why they simply reached to the conclusion that you are an alien.."saying them he joined them on their table.

"What.."Nandini got even more confused. "..Abhimanyu plain English please..I can't even understand a single word that you and Mukti are saying...surviving last 4 hours..and still sitting here and talking cheerfully..I am not getting anything..say clearly na what you want to say.."

"You just spend 4 hours with Manik Sir..working directly under him..and still you are here.."Mukti raised her hand and moved it up and down pointing towards Nandini and said "..in one piece..that's not less than a miracle.."

"What.."Nandini was shocked "..you mean these people are looking at me because I am working with Manik sir.."she asked both of them.

"No..that's not why they are looking at you.."Abhimanyu answered. "They are staring at you because..you are still alive..even after working with Manik Sir.."

"What nonsense Abhimanyu.."Nandini shook her head in annoyance. "Why won't I be alive..
Manik sir isn't a psychopath murderer who is on a killing spree..so why would he do anything to hurt me.."

"See..this is exactly why everyone is looking at you.."Mukti spoke this time. "You are the first person..ever..who is actually defending Manik Sir.."

"Mukti can you please tell me clearly exactly what you and Abhimanyu want to say.."Nandini scowled. "You both are simply making no sense."

"Fine.."Abhimanyu sighed. "Do you see that girl dressed in black suit.."Nandini looked at the direction where Abhimanyu was pointing at only to find that girl looking away immediately which made it clear to all three of them that like the rest of the people in cafeteria even she was gawking at Nandini.

"What about her.."Nandini looked back at Abhimanyu.

"Her name is Rachel.."Abhimanyu answered. "Before you she was hired as Manik Sir personal assistant.But you want to know how long she was in that post.."

"How long.."Nandini asked to which Mukti replied. "Four minutes to be specific.."

Nandini's eyes widened in horror as she realised what Mukti was referring to. "What.."

"Yes."Abhimanyu answered. "Not that I blamed Manik Sir for it. Rachel got what she deserved.."

"Meaning.."Nandini asked curiously to which Mukti replied "Rachel was more like a social climber..you know the type who won't mind getting into anyone's bed just to climb the ladder of success.."

"..in fact the reason why she was recommended by her previous bosses because apparently more than doing her professional work she was successful in satisfying them personally..you know what I mean.."Mukti raised her eyebrows.

Nandini shook her head in disgust. "Yeah..I get it.."

"You are too grossed out..aren't you.."Abhimanyu grinned.

"Aren't you.."Nandini pointed out.

"Totally.."Abhimanyu winked which made both Mukti and Nandini smile.

"Anyways.."Mukti continued "So coming back to the point..Rachel thought that she could use her same tricks with Manik Sir too..but unfortunately for her all her plans fall flat on its face.."

Nandini couldn't stop smiling "..so what happened then.."

"If it wasn't for Cabir Sir Rachel would have lost her job that very day.."Abhimanyu smirked. "..not only that she would have been blacklisted for gross moral turpitude..because of which she wouldn't have got job anywhere else.."

"Rachel literally begged for her unethical behaviour..and promised that she won't ever behave like this ever again.."

"..since she had a decent academic records that's why her job profile was changed and she was made a receptionist.."

"..not only that she was..in fact she is still under strict surveillance so that she would never repeat this kind of behaviour.."

"Man..you should have seen her face that day.."Mukti smirked as she remember that day "I still remember the way she walked into Malhotra Industries as if she owned this place..because in her mind she was about to become SOON-TO-BE-MRS.MANIK MALHOTRA.."

"..but exactly four minutes later she was mewling like scared rat.."Mukti grinned. "..god her expressions was priceless.."

"But i still don't get it.."Nandini questioned. "..whatever Manik Sir did was correct right..he wasn't wrong..then why this kind of terror.."

"Because Rachel wasn't the only one who got fired from the post of Manik Sir's personal assistant.."Abhimanyu added. "..there were twenty four other too girls too.."

"24.."Nandini gasped. "You mean 24 girls were fired from this position.."

"Exactly.."Abhimanyu could see that finally Nandini was understanding what they want her to understand. "..they all were fired within a span of an hour.."

"Aiyoo.."Nandini slapped her forehead. "But why.."

"..for several other reasons..majority of them being not being upto the mark...."Mukti answered. "Manik sir want every thing to be perfect..he cannot tolerate one silly mistake too..one wrong move and that employee is fired.."

"You mean he is a perfectionist.."Nandini stated.

"He is a dominant.."Abhimanyu replied. "A total control freak who likes to exercise control in everything.."

Nandini's head was spinning as she tried to comprehend Abhimanyu's word. "Are you serious.."

"Look around you Nandini.."Mukti spoke this time. "..look at the faces of the employees over here..you won't find one cheerful face here..courtesy of —THE MANIK MALHOTRA—Who's act can put devil into shame."

"He is a true example of sheer terror Nandini.."Abhimanyu added. "These people don't have to work directly with him..under his constant presence..but then too they are working under constant pressure as they knew that one wrong move and their careers would be destroyed..forever."

"And here you are..working directly under his presence...sharing the same office space with him..from past four hours and still you have that beautiful smile etched on your face which isn't fake at all.."

"You haven't been fired yet..and by the way you are looking one can clearly say you are here to stay..so it's nothing less than a miracle.."

"Trust me when I say this it's like watching UNICORN for real.."Abhimanyu teased.

"Can't agree more with you on that Abhimanyu.."Mukti seconded him. "However there is one more reason why you have become the talk of the town.."

"And what is that now.."Nandini raised her eyebrow and asked sarcastically.

"Jealousy my dear.."Mukti winked making Abhimanyu laugh and Nandini scowled. But before she could ask anything more Mukti continued "..Girls are jealous of you because you are working with Greek God himself..and the guys are jealous of Manik Sir as he had made you totally unreachable for them.."

"What was the word.."Abhimanyu thought for a second. "Oh yes.. you are more like a Forbidden Fruit for them.."

"Yup.."Mukti nodded her head in agreement. "Everyone wants it but no one can have it.."

"Aiyappa.."Nandini was hell annoyed now. "Stop it both of you.."

"Aww..someone look so cute when we annoy her.."Mukti pulled Nandini's cheek this time which annoyed her even more. "Stop it Mukti..and tell me something..that if whatever you both are saying is true then why you two aren't behaving like the rest of them.."

"Simple.."Abhimanyu answered. "Because we can clearly identify crackpots who belong to the same category as of us.."he winked making both the girl smile. "It's a hidden talent you see.."

"You two are crazy.."Nandini shook her head in amusement. "Well so are you..and honestly we are in awe of you..I mean to survive even after working with the devil himself..boss you have earn our respect.."Abhimanyu saluted her.

"Shut up now you two.."Nandini looked at her watch and said "let's get back to work as it's almost 2 P.M..."her words were enough to bring them both back to the real world. "Yup..let's go..we don't want Nandini's first day to be our last.."Abhimanyu got up from his seat followed by Nandini and Mukti who cannot agree more with him. "Agreed..let's go.."

The entire cafeteria was almost deserted by the time these three walk out of there.

Though Nandini tried not to show it but her mind was exploding with the information that she just got to know about.

What was the truth..

Whom to believe..

Her co-workers—who had no reason to lie to her..

...or...

..her employer—who hasn't been anything but supportive of her.

Though she didn't knew Manik for long but she knew one thing that she could trust him with his life as she could clearly see the honesty in his eyes.

However she couldn't deny everything else that was going around her as well.

Her mind was saying one thing and her heart was saying another.

Her mind was hell bend of agreeing with the rest of the staff that worked for the Malhotra's. It was pretty clear that whatever Mukti and Abhimanyu said wasn't totally wrong. Even she could feel that everyone was scared of Manik Malhotra..

...but then why her heart was not ready to believe that.

Why was it continuously saying one constant thing that no matter what Manik won't ever let anything wrong happens with her.

She knew that it was too weird to even think something like this but somehow she couldn't stop herself from thinking like this.

As..

All she could feel in his presence was..

...the feeling of being safe.

As if she was lost for so long..

..and today she finally came home.

Though she didn't knew whom to believe but she knew one thing for sure that sooner or later time will clear all her confusion and she would get to see the real picture...

..but right now she need to be extremely careful because whatever the case might be one thing is for sure that..

...nothing is as it seems...

..and whether her mind was correct or her heart..

...only time will tell her that.

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