"so nandini... To start with.... Jitne bhi 4days ke assignments aur meetings hai uska file mujhe 1 hour mein table par chahaiye and yah in perfect order. Agar ek minute bhi late hua toh ajj kaa schedule tumahare liye 2 hour jyada hoga... " said manik

Nandini was listening to each and every point silently.

"and... Jab tak you are in this job you will refer to me as 'sir'....is that ok?? "

Nandini nodded.

"now don't waste your time and leave!!!" shouted manik

"y... essss.... " blurted nandini before she ran out of the room.

••••••••••

It's been 2 hours.
Nandini hasn't returned with the files yet. Manik has lost his patience now.

"how dare she not obey me!!! " thought manik

He got up from the chair and walked out of the room.

"Ram das ji??!!!!! " shouted manik for the servant

"Ram das ji!!!!! " he shouted again and this time a old man of age 60 came running.

"ji sahab...." said ram das in a trembling voice.

"app ko kitni baar bola hai ki mujhe manik bulayiye.... App mujhse bade hai... " repeated manik....

Manik always told ram das uncle to call him with his name. He respected him. And he has always been faithful to manik.

"by the way.. Apne nandini ko kahin dekha??? "

"woh.. " before ramdas uncle could complete they heard a sound. A loud sound. Like someone was throwing something.

"yeh sound toh file room se aa raha hai" said ramdas uncle.

Both of them rushed to the file room and opened the door to see nandini standing on a stool whose legs are about to break. She was probably cleaning the room as the room was totally messed up for someone to search for particular files. She was holding a broom and was cleaning the top shelf.

Manik noticed that she was about to fall and without even thinking he ran to save her. Manik caught nandini in a swift motion when the stool broke into 2 pieces. He held her in his arms. And that was the first time manik noticed how nandini perfectly fit right in his arms.

BG MUSIC:

Rehna tu pal pal dil ke paas
Judi rahe tujhse har ik saans

Manik just kept looking at nandini. She has encircled her arms on his neck.

Khud pe pehle na itna yakeen
Mujhko ho paaya
Mushkil si ghadiyan aasaan huin
Ab jo tu aaya

Nandini could feel her heart beating fast. This was a perfect moment for a perfect couple. But they weren't perfect. They weren't truly a couple. But still she could feel something in her heart. Some unrecognized feeling.

Ik baat kahun tujhse
Tu paas hai jo mere

Seene se tere sarr ko lagaa ke
Sunti main rahun naam apna
Seene se tere sarr ko lagaa ke
Sunti main rahun naam apna

Without saying anything nandini leaned into chest buring her face inside. And to her surprise that felt unintentionally good.

O lekhdi tera naa jindari zaaniye
Bas rehna tere naal ve zuriye
Rehna tu pal pal dil ke paas
Judi rahe tujhse har ik saans

Seene se tere sar ko laga ke
Sunta main rahun naam apna
O o naam apna

Manik didn't stop her. He didn't move . He just freezed with nandini's move. He didn't expect her to do such thing. Tears streamed down his cheeks. He felt something. Something that made him feel pain. The tears reciprocated his pain. It may be love he thought. But he isn't allowed to love. Love will make him weak. Love makes everyone weak. He doesn't want to be weak. He once has experienced being weak and that was the worst thing one could ever think of. He didn't want to experience that again. He thought of dragging nandini away from him.

He then slowly let nandini go. And moved out of the room with all his emotions captured in his heart.

••••••••••

After more 1hour...
Nandini has arranged the files and had presented them infront of manik.

"maine tumhe kaha tha ki mujhe 1 hour mein sari files chahiye.... It's been 3 hours.... You are 2 hours late.... " said manik

"woh.... I was cleaning the room up.... Agar clean nahi karti toh it wasn't easy to get any particular files. They were totally messed up" said nandini in her defense

"I don't want a explanation nandini!!! It's time for your punishment..... tumhe saaf safai karne kaa bada sauk hai naa?? Then Today you will remain here in the office the whole night and will clean up the whole office. " said manik with a smile

"but... But.... Sir.... " nandini wanted to say something but words didn't came out.

"no buts.... My decision is final... You have to do as i say...... " said manik.

"we are closing up know..... And i will myself lock you here.... Kal mein khud ake office open karunga and i want the work done.... " said manik.

"sir plz.... Ek baar.... " nandini was trying to say something but manik ignored him and left the room.

••••••••••

After half an hour after manik declared her punishment.... Nandini was standing alone in the office with lights off.

Nandini tried to switch on the lights but the lights did not turn on....

"yeh lights kuin on nahi ho rahe hai" panicked nandini

"abb kya karun....i need help.... "

It was raining outside probably it's because of the rain there is a power cut. The windows were closed. The only sound that could be heard was of wind and lightning.

Nandini was scared. She was scared of dark. She was Nyctophobic (i have previously mentioned it in 'A real monster '). She was trying to stand but the anxiety inside inside her was increasing every second. All she knew that she needs help.

Phone connections were not available. No network. There was no way of escape.

After some hours... Nandini was sitting on a corner of the room

•••••••••••••

Next day.....

When manik opened the office door he found darkness spread around his office. A chill ran down though his body. He knew that nandini is Nyctophobic. She is scared of darkness. He knew this before he had married nandini when he was gathering all sort of information about her. Oh my god!!!! What has he done!!!

He tried to switch on the light but they didn't turn on.

" why aren't the lights turning on?? " shouted manik

"sir... Lagta hai kal barish ke bajah se abb tak electricity nahi aya... " said the manager

"i know that dammit!!!!!! What's wrong with the generator " asked manik

"sir lagta hai.. Kal baarish ki bajah se generator kharap ho gaya hai sayad" said the manager

"Nandini" murmured manik

His voice was full of concern and love.

He rushed inside, opened all windows as fast as he can and started searching for nandini.

Then his eyes land on nandini's motionless body lying on the floor. Freezing due to cold. Eyes closed and barely breathing. This took the breathe out of manik too. He was devastated to see nandini like this because of him.

He then rushed to nandini pulling her close to him. Cupping her face in his hand.

"Nandini!! Wake up!! You can't leave me... I will not let you leave me.... No.... Not know.... " said manik

He lifted nandini up and rushed out of his office.

**********

Guys... Plz comment on if you like this chapter... I tried a lot to convey all the emotions... It took me a lot of time to complete this chapter so i expect to read some comments on this chapter... Plz plz plz comment and like.....