Manik’s POV

I smiled as Nandini finally asked about me. It wasn’t every day that someone wanted to know more about me, and with her, it felt different. It felt real.

“Okay, okay,” I said, leaning back in my chair, trying to look casual. “Where do I start?”

Nandini gave me a curious look, waiting for my answer.

“Well, I guess, unlike you, I had a pretty normal childhood. Both my parents are alive, and they’re still together. I have an older brother who’s a pain, but I guess he’s alright,” I said with a small chuckle.

Nandini raised an eyebrow. “Older brother, huh? I thought you were the ‘eldest’ type. Guess I was wrong.”

I laughed. “I know, I know. I’ve always been the one who’s a little… how do I put this? A little more... free with things. My brother’s a lawyer. So, you can imagine how different we are.”

“Sounds like opposites attract,” Nandini teased.

I nodded, smiling. “Yeah, exactly. Anyway, my parents have always been supportive, but they have high expectations. It’s a little overwhelming sometimes. I feel like I’m constantly trying to live up to their vision of me.”

Nandini seemed to sense the shift in my tone. Her expression softened, and she looked at me with understanding. “That must be tough. Having everyone expect so much from you…”

I nodded. “It’s a lot of pressure. But at the same time, I’ve always had this drive to prove myself. That’s probably why I’ve been so… focused on my career.”

“Is that why you’re always working so hard?” she asked gently.

“Yeah,” I admitted. “I like to keep busy. Keeps my mind off things. But I don’t know… I guess, over time, I started feeling like it wasn’t enough. Like there was something missing. And I think that’s where you come in.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Me?”

I nodded, glancing down at my food. “Yeah. I don’t know, Nandini… you’re different. You make everything feel a little less complicated, you know?”

She didn’t reply immediately. I couldn’t read her expression, and for some reason, that made my heart race a little.

The silence lingered, and I took a deep breath before continuing. “You know, when I first saw you, I thought you were just like any other assistant—quiet, professional, and in the background. But after getting to know you, I realized there’s so much more to you. You’re strong, independent, and you don’t let anyone walk over you.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly. “I’m just… trying to survive, like everyone else.”

I smiled. “Well, you're doing a great job of it. But don’t worry, you don’t have to do everything alone. I’ll always be here, Nandini. As a friend. Always.”

Her gaze softened. “Thank you, Manik. That means a lot to me.”

I was about to say something else, but just then, the door to the cabin opened, and we both jumped a little. It was the peon, bringing in more paperwork for me to review.

Nandini stood up quickly, her usual professional demeanor returning. “I’ll leave you to your work then, sir,” she said, but there was a hint of a smile in her voice.

I stood up too, walking over to her. “No, no more sir,” I said, offering her a playful smirk. “Remember, we’re friends now. Call me Manik.”

She hesitated for a moment before nodding, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Alright, Manik. I’ll see you later, then.”

I watched as she left the cabin, the door closing softly behind her. There was a strange feeling in my chest, something I couldn’t quite place. Was it relief? Happiness? I couldn’t tell. But it was a feeling I hadn’t had in a long time.

---

Nandini’s POV

As I walked back to my desk, I couldn’t stop thinking about the conversation I’d just had with Manik. It was the first time I’d ever really talked to him outside of work, and it felt... natural. Comfortable, even. There was something about the way he spoke to me, the way he made me feel like I wasn’t just an employee, but a real person. It was strange, but in a good way.

But then, my thoughts drifted back to the night we spent together. I couldn’t ignore what had happened, and neither could he. The awkward tension still lingered between us, even though we’d both tried to act like nothing had changed. I wasn’t sure how to handle it. Was I overthinking it? Was Manik just being nice, or was there something more there?

I sighed and sat down at my desk, pushing those thoughts aside for now. I had work to do, and that was more important than anything else.

I glanced at my phone, checking the time. It was almost the end of the day, and I had a few more tasks to finish up. Just as I was about to dive back into my work, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

I turned around to see Aliya standing behind me, her usual confident smile on her face. “Hey, Nandini. How’s everything going?” she asked, her tone sweet but with an edge I couldn’t quite place.

I gave her a polite smile. “Everything’s good, thanks.”

Aliya’s eyes flickered to the empty chair next to me. “Mind if I sit down for a minute?”

I shrugged. “Sure.”

She sat down gracefully, looking me over with a curious expression. “So, how’s working with Manik going? He seems pretty... distracted lately.”

I raised an eyebrow, trying to keep my voice neutral. “What do you mean by distracted?”

“Oh, you know... I’ve been noticing that he’s been spending a lot of time with you. It’s kind of hard to miss,” Aliya said, a small smirk playing on her lips.

I felt a knot form in my stomach. “What exactly are you trying to say, Aliya?”

She leaned in a little, her voice lowering. “Nothing, just wondering if you two are... getting close. I mean, he’s always had a thing for strong, independent women, right?”

I kept my expression neutral, though my heart was racing. “I’m just doing my job, Aliya. Nothing more.”

Aliya didn’t say anything at first, but her smile faded slightly. “Of course,” she said, standing up. “Well, if you ever need someone to talk to... I’m always around.”

I watched her walk away, feeling a strange sense of unease settle in. Was this jealousy? Or something else?

---

Manik’s POV

As I sat at my desk, finishing up some final tasks for the day, my thoughts kept drifting back to Nandini. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. The way she’d smiled when I shared something personal, the way her eyes softened when she talked about her past. She was so different from anyone I’d ever known, and that made her stand out in a way I couldn’t ignore.

I glanced at the clock. It was getting late, and I was about to call it a day when I heard a soft knock on the door. I looked up to see Nandini standing there, her eyes avoiding mine.

“Need something?” I asked, trying to keep my tone casual, though my heart was beating a little faster.

Nandini hesitated, then stepped inside. “I just wanted to ask if you needed any help with the reports,” she said, her voice quieter than usual.

I smiled at her, grateful for the offer. “No, it’s alright. I’ve got it covered. You can head home if you’re done for the day.”

She nodded, but before she left, she glanced back at me. “Thanks, Manik. For everything.”

I nodded, watching as she walked out of my office, the door clicking softly behind her. As she disappeared down the hallway, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was beginning to change between us. And this time, I wasn’t sure if I was ready for it.

But I was willing to find out.

how was update guys

So, here is the EIGHT part .

Do follow, votes and comment .

Don't forget to add the book in ur library or reading list

Thanks all the peoples for support and very happy with the response .

Hope you answer them

1)are you liking the story

2)what you think about this plot

3)Are you excited for future chapters

Do give your review on above
★━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━★

Love
Nikki

Copyright © all rights reserved |
Xprincesworld25x