The very next day, MaNan were on their way to work, with Nandini humming onto an old song, her eyes closed as she rested her head on the back of her seat. Manik's hand was always rested on her thigh, with her fingers lightly woven together with his.

Manik: So, how are u planning to convince Dad?

Nandini: Me? Why would I ever want to do all that alone? U are gonna help me right?
Nandini asked raising her eyes at him when she saw him give her a broad teasing smile as he shook his head.

Manik: Ur idea, u have to do the work! I m already flooded with the year-end work, the last thing I need right now is arguing with Dad over something like this.

Nandini rolled her eyes at him swatting his arm,
Nandini: U r flooded with work because u were too lazy to finish it all off before time. Seriously, both Cabir and you make me wonder how u two are handling such a massive empire.

Manik: First of all... It's not the two, it's the three of us including you. And secondly, we are not that bad and even if we are, we have u to deal with us.

Nandini scoffed at his answer turning her gaze to the window as she thought over it.
Nandini: Do u think I should just burst the bomb on his head directly at the board meeting, or should I go and try to convince him properly beforehand.

Manik: Second option! Both of us know what Dad's initial reaction is going to be, so breaking it up in front of the board members will lead to a whole new set of drama, and believe me, we would never want that.

Nandini huffed in agreement, knowing that this was actually all on her, as her husband is gonna prove himself good-for-nothing this time. Well she knew that it would a first for him, but it still made her complain inside her head.

The rest of the drive went on in silence and soon Manik pulled into the RM Height's parking lot. As they moved out of the car and into the lift Manik wrapped his arm around her waist and whispered to her.

Manik: Try to talk him into it later today! He is gonna be in for some signatures later this afternoon, use the opportunity.

Nandini nodded at him in confidence, but the moment he looked at her, he found uncertainty in her eyes.
Nandini: He is gonna right off refuse to me, isn't he?

Manik smiled at her shrugging,
Manik: Would it really matter that much to u, if he agrees?

Nandini nodded at him immediately, before adding,
Nandini: I really want to do this Manik. I have the entire image revolving in my head, ever since the idea first popped up.

Manik smiled at her kissing her forehead softly,
Manik: U have that oldie wrapped around ur finger babe... Even if he refuses, try to show him how much this matters to u. The owner of RM Heights might refuse to the Head of Design but Harsh Malhotra won't stand a chance in front of Nandini.

Nandini smiled softly at him nodding just as they reached their floor. As the door of the lift slid open, Nandini attempted to move out only for Manik to hold her back as he whispered to her,
Manik: I Love You!

Nandini looked up to find a thousand emotions glittering in his eyes, making a her tighten her grip on their entwined hands as she let silence play it's roll between the two of them. Soon he pulled him out of the lift as they walked to her cabin. 

Manik: I'll see u soon?
Manik asked her making her nod at him.

Nandini: I don't have any other outdoors today or any site visits. Have a lot of designs to work on for the new year.

Manik: I would tell u that u still have a lot of time before u have to start it, but I know u like being ahead of ur time schedule, so go on. But yes, don't forget to pop in my cabin a few times, or I'll end up missing u again.

Nandini chuckled at him pushing him away as she turned around and walked into her cabin. The day continued like any other casual day at work, Nandini ran her idea through Cabir when the three of them were having lunch in Manik's cabin. He loved the idea and totally supported it. Soon after lunch she walked up to Harsh's cabin, thinking of all the things that she could tell him to try to convince him. After standing in front of his cabin for about 3 to 4 minutes, she finally knocked softly on the door. Getting the permission from him she entered the room only for Harsh to smile broadly at her.

Harsh: Come on in babygirl!

Nandini: I m not a baby Dad...
Nandini said smiling at him as she entered the room closing the door behind her.

Harsh: Sure u r not... U r a kiddo!

Nandini: If I m a kiddo, then what's Manik?

Harsh: Oh he is just an idiot!
Harsh replied almost immediately making Nandini chuckle as she nodded.

Nandini: Well u surely got that one right, so I might as well accept being the kiddo!
Nandini said as she took a seat in front of him. Harsh closed the file that he was working on to give her all his attention, the fact that made Nandini smile as warmth filled up her heart.

Nandini: Ohk... So since I m ur kiddo, as u call it, I have something to ask u!

Harsh: Sure dear...

Nandini: And u can't say No...

Harsh raised his eyes at her, trying to read her face as Nandini maintained her confident stance in front of him not daring to turn her gaze away from his analyzing eyes. Almost a minute later, Harsh sighed as he leaned back comfortably on his chair.

Harsh: If it was Manik sitting here and saying the same thing I would have probably denied but since I trust u a lot more than him, I m gonna say yes!

Nandini narrowed her eyes at him and spoke up,
Nandini: Don't trap me into words Dad. I know u trust manik too, u just wanted to make me not ask u something that u wouldn't like.... But I will anyways!

Harsh closed his eyes in mock frustration and then looked up at her. Even though his face showed annoyance, Nandini could clearly see amusement dancing in his eyes.

Harsh: Ohk so what do u have?

Nandini: An idea! I have something in my mind and I really really want u to agree to it, if not by choice then just do it for me, because I want it. Ohk so before I start with this idea, I need to update u on the hotel's progress. The entire work is going full speed ahead, the major construction got over last week, and I will have the minor detailing over by the middle of next week. 

Harsh: So soon?

Nandini: Yes... As I said, full speed!
Nandini said smiling slightly at him before she continued.

Nandini: This is what I want ur agreement for!
She said passing over the file to Harsh, her hands moving a lot slower that intended.

Harsh took the file and opened it up as Nandini spoke up.
Nandini: I was wondering, if we could keep the opening in May, 17th may to be exact. RM Height's new hotel, The NH-30, named after Nyonika and Harsh Malhotra celebrating 30 years of togetherness.

Harsh's mouth hung open as he took in her words and glanced at the file. His eyes shifted from the file to Nandini, back to the file and then finally up at Nandini.

Harsh: This... I... This is... No... I mean, you-

Nandini: Consider this as a small non refundable gift from us and please please sign the file. Please Dad!

Harsh: But Nandini, this is anything but small and I can not let u do this. If the hotel should be named after someone then that should be you! It was your idea at the first place, u have nourished and nurtured it all by yourself, not just doing your work but also taking up for Manik's and Cabir's whenever they were busy with Fab5. And not to forget the land basically is yours.

Nandini rolled her eyes at him and leaned on the table,
Nandini: We are not arguing about the land all over again Dad, I thought we were already over that!

A soft smile grazed Harsh's lips as he replied,
Harsh: Good to know that u have so much faith in me to turn this conversation into an argument.

Nandini: What shall I say, it's in the Malhotra blood and I happen to be getting used to it quite well now. Now can I please just get your signatures here... I m kinda on a clock here Dad, I have a lot to get done in just a little more than the month that is left.

Harsh: I still haven't agreed to ur idea Young Lady!
Harsh said in his serious professional voice trying to intimidate her but all he got was a cheeky smile in return.

Nandini: Ohh I know that oldie, but why don't to try to work a little more on your eyes to hide secrets, I can literally see them glowing up there making ur serious vioce quite funny. I have been literally bouncing on my feet the entire day due to nervousness.

Harsh smiled at her as Nandini got up from the chair, and walked around the table wrapping her arms around his neck.
Nandini: Thank u so much Dad! It really means a lot to me.

Harsh: This line should clearly be mine kiddo. I don't think that u still realise how big of a gesture this is.
Harsh told her while she simply shrugged.

Nandini: Ohk now sign... I need to get back to work and blow it off at Manik's face that I convinced u!
Harsh chuckled at her, shaking his head as she handed the pen over to him.

Harsh: I don't know kiddo, are u sure about this?

Nandini: Oh come on.. Just sign it!
Nandini said impatiently, just as the door opened and manik walked in raising his eyes as he heard her words.

Manik: I thought u were going to convince them, not literally force the pen in his hand to sign.

Nandini: Shut up, I already convinced him, he is just having seecond thoughts don't promote it.
Nandini told him as Harsh looked quite amused at their banter as nandini nudged him again. He looked at the two of them once before finally signing at the papers.

Nandini jumped in happiness just as he signed it and threw herself over Manik, who thankfully caught her at the right time saving the two of them from falling over right in his cabin. Harsh laughed at manik's alert expression as he held her close firm against himself.

She let go of him soon enough and grabbed the file from the table still smiling broadly as she murmured to herself the list of things that she had to start doing in order to finish off the work on time. She didn't even spare them a single glance as she literally rushed out of the room with manik eyeing her heels in wonder.
Manik: How the hell does she manage to run wearing those pointed sticks?

Harsh chuckled at his question just as they heard the door closing.
Harsh: I still don't know how u managed to land up with a gem like her!

Manik's eyes broadened as he feigned hurt before shaking his head as he whispered to himself, loud enough for Harsh to hear.
Manik: Neither do I...

Harsh's smile broadened at his words but he pretended not to have heard him as Manik took a seat.
Manik: These are the final year end reports, I have organised a meeting with all the trustees day after tomorrow so that we are ready for the next financial year. 

Harsh took the reports from him and kept them on a side.
Harsh: U know that u don't have to give these to me. 

Manik: Yeah... I do, but I still like to do so.
Manik said with a casual shrug, as Harsh sighed.

Harsh: I don't like to accept this, but I m still kinda trying to take in the fact that she is planning to name it after us and also that she has probably been onto this since the very beginning, as the hotel is almost done, months prior to the actual date. Did u know about it?

Manik: I didn't even have a hint of any of this, as of 12 hours back. I can't believe I live with that woman. I literally find it difficult to hide even a small thing from her she always finds it out somehow, and on the other side, she manages to move worlds right under my nose and I don't even have a single clue.
Manik says rolling his eyes, as he threads his hands through his hair.

Harsh: Women! U can never know them well enough son. I stopped trying years ago.

The father son duo laugh at this, before a soft groan leaves Manik's mouth.
Harsh: What happened?

Manik: She is gonna drive herself crazy for the next two months, isn't she?

Harsh: Not just herself son... I m sure she is gonna drive u crazy as well.

Manik got up at this and picked up his phone from the table.
Manik: Well, I better go get mentally prepared for it and maybe warn Cabir too.

Harsh: Yeah... I should also go and share the news with your mother. She is gonna be ecstatic!

Manik: I hope she is... Good Day! See u Dad.

Harsh: Yeah, do update me with the status okay, and please just make sure Nandini does not overwork herself!

Manik: That's gonna be quite a task!
He said finally before turning around as he moved out of the cabin.

He walked straight to Nandini's cabin wanting to be nowhere else right this moment. Nodding along at all the formal greetings from his staff members he reached her room only to stop at the door as he heard her talking on the phone,
Nandini: No, I m not gonna go onto this with open hands. I need u to prepare a special team for this. It should be a perfect mixture for all the work, I need 3 to 4 from the design department, 2-3 from the finance department, 6-7 from marketing, and yes I need a whole lot from the recruitment, not to forget I want you to contact some event management company and get them on board. And I want all this done TODAY! Everyone in the team would report direcctly to me for the next one month, and tomorrow the first thing in the morning, I want them in a meeting room including the event managers. Did u get it?

Manik could literally imagine the person on the other end gulping at her intiimidating voice. No matter how much he wanted to go inside and hug her, he knew better than to distrub her when she was so into her moment. So he decided to do what he had mentioned to his father, talk to cabir.

Entering the cabin, right next to his own Manik spoke up,
Manik: Heads up... Try to be out of Nandini's way!

Cabir chuckled at his words before raising his eyes,
Cabir: And that is because she is furious about Uncle not agreeing or because she is too damn excited about him getting on board with her idea.

Manik: The latter... But above all, she is already onto the preparations and let me tell u Nandini Moorthy is pulling out all her big guns this time!

Cabir laughed out loud as he shook his head,
Cabir: It's funny how u literally use her last names to emphasise on what u r speaking about. It's Mrs. Malhotra when u r being romantic, Ms. Kapoor when u r both into ur business zones and ms. Moorthy when u r shitting your pants out of the fear of that little petite woman.

Manik: She is no where near "a little petite woman" as u say it.
Manik spoke up quoting the words with his fingers just as Cabir's phone rang and the two of them got back to work.

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A very very Happy Friendship Day to all u amazingly friendly and loyal readers out there. Thank u for baring my irregular updates😂😂

Lots and lots of Love,
Navya.😍😍