Nandini looked at the person infront of her. He was looking so arrogant and the look he was giving her was something she don't want to see. She gritted her teeth and turned around walking straight not giving him a second look. The flat she was living was not far from JMC. It's just a half an hour walk from the office. So even if she don't get cab she could still walk. The white car followed her and stopped near her again.

"Are you going to be this arrogant? It's not a time to show such behaviour Nandini" his words made her halt. She turned to look at him.

"Wasn't it clear to you that I really don't need your help?" She snapped "you are so smart yet you can't understand this simple thing? And talking about arrogance, saying the one who who seated on the high throne of arrogance" she threw glare and started to walk again. This time the car blocked her way directly.

He looked at her into her eyes "you don't need to be so excited. I am just offering you a help as a colleague. We work in the same place, under one roof. And we are into the same project. Even if we don't want it, we will meet"

Nandini griited her teeth. He was right. This is what she hated the most. She has been through enough with him, and the only person who suffered at the end was her.

"You don't have to remind it again" she hissed at him.

Manik gestured to her "get in, I will drop you home"

She was about to refuse when she heard another male voice from behind "Nandini"

Nandini turned to look at Vasu who was on bike. He removed his helmet and looked at her then to Manik before frowning.

"What happened? Any issues?" He asked.

Nandini sighed and smiled "I just couldn't find any can today"

"Come I will drop you" Vasu replied.

Nandini glanced at Manik who has a kind of expression she couldn't read "thanks for the offer Mr. Malhotra, but you don't have to bother with it now" she turned around and walk towards Vasu who gave her another helmet. She sat on the bike and they drove off. Manik glanced at the their back. This fingers in the steering wheel clenched tightly until his knuckles turned white.

Next morning the project team sat in a meeting. Mr. Dharm looked at the team member and nodded.

"I have got the reviews from the each department and and I happy that it's almost the same. Now that we all have the same thought, we can proceed for the presentation. This Japanese project is the biggest one and no matter what we need to finish it before time so that we could hold of some advantages" he said and turned to Manik "what do you think Manik? "

"Boss, the budget thru placed for the hotel is low, while their expectations was higher. If we calculate everything then it will be over the price they set. From their expectations, the kind of hotel they want has more demand in the market"

Mr. Dharm nodded "that's it Manik, this is what they want. It's a challenge they gave in this project. They want to judge the capability of the company. They did it intentionally to see who can get through this difficulty "

"I can see that boss, then we could only think of idea to proceed the presentation as per their need with the same budget plan they prepared" Manik replied.

"Yes, we don't have any choice either. And how this will be possible is what you all have to think. I need ideas, this why this meeting is called. Remember we don't have much time to complete the task, we need to hurry" Mr. Dharm said with seriousness.

"Boss is the location is fixed?" Nandini asked.

Mr. Dharm frowned "no, the location is not listed. They only said about the building a hotel project "

"Then how about starting from the location?"

"What are you trying to say Nandini?"

"Boss, It's just a thought" Nandini replied "this they challenged through the project of course they want to see who can give a detailed check on the project. And to start something we first need to fix the root. So the first thing is needed to be the location. So I was thinking if this hotel is made near the main company then it will give benefits " she suggested.

"Excellent " Mr. Dharm nodded "you are right. The project didn't expressed about the location so it's also a good choice to decide the location first. According to your point, a hotel near the company will give more benefits. Since it's a multinational company then the dealers and visitors will be uncountable and a hotel nearby will have more effect"

Everyone in the room agreed. Mr. Dharm was happy already.

"I will talk to them about this location idea and see what they would say" Mr. Dharm said and everyone agreed. "Meeting is dismissed, once I get their opinion another meeting will be organised"

Everyone nodded in agreement and soon left the meeting room. Nandini walked at last and she was about to step outside the door she heard voice behind her.

"Good idea. I never thought you would suggest it" Manik said slowly coming behind her. Nandini turned to give him a look.

"Thanks for the appreciation" she said curtly and stepped out.

"Are you free?"

She stopped walking and frowned at his question "what do you mean?"

"Manik pursed his lips "I guess not. May be sometime, we could get a cup of coffee and have a chit-chat. Afterall..." He leaned a little closer to her face "we are friends before" he walked away.

Nandini glared at his back as her face flushed in anger. Her heart was burning in fire and all she wanted was to slap his face till her hands hurts. He placed what they had in past with a only term of friendship? This is what he thought about her? A friend?

"Nandini what happened to you?" Samara popped out of nowhere. She looked towards where Nandini was looking but found none.

"Nothing" Nandini gritted her teeth.

"Lets go, BM is wearing for us. She want us to discus about the project"

Nandini nodded and walked towards her department. The discussion continued till the lunch break. Samara arched her back groaning.

"Oh, god, help me please"

"Why are you behaving like a 80 years old grandma. Even grandma's this days are more stable than you" Yadav on the other hand teased her.

Samara threw a pen at him "shut your mouth. Why is that whenever you open that mouth of yours it's always managed to annoy me?"

"Because you take it as such" Yadav retorted.

"I am not talking to you" Samara frowned in disagreement.

Yadav laughed out. He liked to tease her at every single second.

Nandini got up from her seat "I am going for lunch"

"I am coming" Samara got up in rush "it's better to enjoy food than staying with a annoying monkey"

"Hey, who's annoying monkey? Whom you are cursing?" Yadav  snapped.

"Can't you see, it's you" Samara pointed her finger at him.

"Let me show you something that proves of your accusations is correct or not" Yadav grabbed her finger as he stand up.

Nandini looked at them then rolled her eyes "you guys...." She shook her head "go argue at market place" she said before leaving the cabin.

"Nandini wait" Samara forcefully removed her finger from Yadav's clutch and ran after Nandini while Yadav raised his eyebrows and followed her along.

In the cafeteria Nandini sat at the lone corner. She don't like the center attention so she always chose the corner side.

"God, finally I am going to enjoy time where the word project won't appear" Samara huffed.

"You look like too exhausted" Nandini said sipping on her juice.

"Yep, look" Samara pointed her finger under her eyes "I have dark circles now"

Nandini chuckled "why don't you talk to boss to let you out of the team?"

"What?" Samara's eyes widened "of course not" she shook her head. "I want this project and want it to work out. The others will be jealous of this project is successful and also I will have a good name for attaining in this big project. Wouldn't it be great?"

"They you should complain less" Yadav shrugged.

"Who's talking to you?" She snapped at him. "Wait, CFO is here too?" She frowned looked pass Nandini's shoulder "oh, he is looking at us" then her eyes widened "and coming here too"

Nandini gripped her glad tightly. She could hear footsteps behind her.

"May I join if you guys don't mind?" She heard him ask.

"Of course, we don't mind" before she had the chance to refuse Samara spoke. She couldn't help but silently glared at Samara.

"Thanks" Manik offered politely before sitting down next to Nandini. There was only one seat left beside Nandini so even if Nandini wanted to make excuse she couldn't. She don't know why he is behaving like this. He is breaking her peaceful moment earning the title of peace breaker.

"So what's are you talking about?" Manik asked slowly. Nandini didn't replied but glared at her juice glass before gulping down in a rush.