Hello Fam :)

Happy Friendship day. Manan has given me lots of friends and even though I am not as attached to Manan as I was when I started writing, I would always cherish you guys. Thank you for being there. 

A/N: It is one day before the lockdown. As I remember the news of the countrywide lockdown was announced at around 7-8 pm. So, I let Nandini have one day of being in the office physically before shifting to the virtual part. I might be wrong, so let me know what exactly happened. :P

Happy Reading...

Nandini did go to the supermarket after checking on her roommate. The girl didn't return the day before. On her way to the supermarket, she called her house owner and asked the number of her roommate before dropping a text to her, asking if she was fine. The reply was a bit late as the girl said she was stuck at a friend's house because of the curfew and stayed the night there. She was going to work from there and they could meet in the evening after work. Nandini sent her a few thumbs up before putting her phone into her pocket as she filled her carts with the food she wanted.

Once done, she paid the bills and left for her apartment to get ready for her first day in the office. By the time she was done, there was a text on her mobile and Abhimanyu honking from downstairs under her balcony. "Coming", she yelled, instead of replying to the text, grabbed her bag with whatever documents she had with her, and went to meet her boss.

"Good morning, boss", she greeted.

Abhimanyu rolled his eyes. "There's breakfast for you. Mom asked you to eat it."

She grinned and started munching the parathas. She missed these.

"Everyone at the office knows you are my best friend. So, it's fine. You don't need to pretend anything and we can still be friends at work", he said.

Nandini punched his arm. "What else did you think I would do at work? Call you sir and bend for your every rule?"

"Never said that", he muttered.

The rest of the drive was silent except for Abhimanyu stopping to get coffee for both of them.

XXX

When they reached their office, Abhimanyu took Nandini to his cabin before calling and asking his assistant to send their new project manager. "Listen, Nandini, try not to punch this guy."

"I swear I don't punch every other guy I meet", she said and huffed when Abhimanyu gave her a look because who was she kidding? "Fine, I will behave."

They were interrupted by a knock and within a span of a few seconds, Nandini stood up from her seat. "What the hell are you doing here? Are you stalking me now?"

Manik Malhotra huffed, crossing his arms. "As if I don't have any other work than stalking a mad woman."

"Whom did you call mad?"

"It's fine. Don't put a strain on your brain thinking. Doing something like that for the first-time hurts. Especially, when you don't seem like you use it very often. Or at all", said Manik.

Nandini was on his face in an instant, an inch away from punching him. "You know I could very well give a police complaint on you. Why am I explaining to you? I will call the commissioner now."

As she pulled her phone out, Abhi was quick to pull the mobile from her hands. "Okay, as fun as the morning drama is, care to explain what the hell is going on here?"

"He is an idiot who threatened me in the mall when I went out with Mukti", said Nandini.

Abhimanyu frowned. He thought Manik was decent enough and his dad was really impressed with the boy. Raman was a really good judge of character. Before he could question him about threatening Nandini, Manik snorted.

"Yeah, yeah. Why don't you tell him why I threatened you?", he said, before turning to Abhimanyu. "Sir, she poured hot soup on my shirt."

"He dropped tomato sauce on my favorite top."

"I didn't", said Manik. "You were the one who turned back abruptly. Who even turns 180 degrees to return to their place when you know there is a line behind me? And you blame me for a stupid accident."

"It wasn't an accident. You were all over me. Who asked you to stand close to me?"

"Enough", interrupted Abhimanyu, rubbing his forehead. Not only does he have to deal with these two idiots but also, they were supposed to be working on the same project. Yash uncle wouldn't even have to kill him for hurting his daughter. These two together would kill him before that. "Listen you two. Shut up, not a word, and take your seats." He used his most serious voice. Though it would be too much for Manik, because he has always been a friendly boss, it was the only tone that would shut up his best friend.

"Guys, I am giving you three months. That's the project deadline that you two are supposed to handle. If you couldn't do that, you can talk to dad directly. If you two are fighting again, I would take you to dad myself. Let's try this again. A bit civil this time. Nandini Murthy, meet Manik Malhotra, the guy dad chose and thought he is a perfect addition to our company. Manik Malhotra, meet Nandini Murthy, my best friend and as good as a daughter to dad. Manik, Nandini is here to learn and I want you to help her with the project."

Manik nodded. "I will try my best, sir."

Abhimanyu nodded. "Please, show her to the cabin beside yours and explain the basics. I have a meeting. I will meet you two after some time."

Before leaving, Abhimanyu pulled Nandini and pecked her head. "All the best."

If Manik was startled at the move, he didn't say anything.

XXX

Abhimanyu went to meet Manik around lunchtime and was happy when he found the boy alone. "Manik?" When he stood up, Abhimanyu motioned him to sit down before taking a seat himself. "How are things with Nandini?"

"She didn't utter a word. I explained to her whatever I had to. She snatched the files from my hand and left the room. I asked her to call me if she had any doubts but I didn't see her after that."

Abhimanyu sighed before shaking his head. Yeah, that's totally his best friend. "Manik, she has temper issues but underneath all the anger, she is a nice girl. We have been friends since we were born. Our parents are friends and we grew up together before her family shifted to Bangalore. I just, I know it's asking too much from you but please be patient with her."

Manik nodded without meeting his eyes.

Abhimanyu smiled at him. "Hey, just because she is my best friend and I am asking you to, you don't need to take shit from her. I just don't want you to hurt her, that's it. She might be my family but when she is working here, you two are equal to me and I would treat her as such. If you have any problem with her, just tell me and I will talk to her, okay?"

This brought a smile to the boy's face and Abhimanyu thanked him for his effort before talking about the project. He then asked Manik to have lunch as it was time and left to meet Nandini.

"Nandini, let's go for lunch. My treat for your first day", he said entering her cabin.

"I don't go out on lunch with bosses on my first day, sir", she said.

Abhimanyu huffed before going towards her table and leaning against it beside her. "Hey, I am sorry, okay? But why the hell did you pour soup on him."

"It was close to my hand and I hate soup."

"You love soup but it was hot and which makes it worse. Manik is a nice guy. What would have happened if he was someone else? Say, some underworld don or something?"

"Underworld dons don't hang out in malls ordering food, Abhimanyu. Stop being stupid", she said.

Abhimanyu sighed. It would give him a headache to stay in the office. "Okay, Nandini, I love you but think of it this way. If you are fighting with a guy you barely know, Yash uncle would book a flight and get you out of here in no time. I can't do anything about it. How about we forgive Manik and be civil here?"

"Is being civil your favorite term? Why am I being lectured about it?"

"Please? Think about it. Let's go for lunch. I am hungry."

He drags a reluctant Nandini out to have her lunch, praying this project would end well without him being involved in any of the possible murder cases. 

That went well for the second meet of our lead characters. Abhimanyu would end up with a bald head by the end of the story. What do you say? :P