Both of them stood drowning in each other's eyes. On one hand, he was trying to differ between reality and imagination and there she was resting comfortably in his muscular arms looking through his enchanting eyes. Being lost was the perfect word which could be used.

" Am I dreaming?" Manik said in a low voice enough for Nandini to hear. But luckily, she didn't.

They didn't even realise that when the door of the cabin opened and someone entered. Cabir.

~~~
Cabir's POV : Nandini called and informed me about reaching office. And by informing, I mean that she didn't even wait for my reply. I knew that she will come across Manik, but to be on the safer side, I wanted to be there with her and him too if in case the situation goes out of control. I immediately rushed through the lobby towards Manik's cabin as the receptionist said that Nandini would be there. I knocked a couple of times just to get no reply which was so unlike Manik. He's asked me not to knock but as a courtesy I always do. After a couple of minutes I entered just so see my sister in my best friends arms, completely lost in their la-la-land. Wow. Just wow. I knew there was something between both of them but I didn't know that so much would happen.

                                     ~~~

He took out his phone and clicked a picture.
"Perfect Kodak Moment" He said loudly which was enough to break their trance. Both of them immediately straightened themselves and looked away from each other just to avoid making the air the denser.

" What are you doing here?" both of them said in unison still getting over the shock to meet each other and that too like this.

" I asked first, you tell me. What are you doing here? " She said.

" Oh hello? I was here first. I should be asking this question. What are you doing here?" He said.

" Oh shut up, you two! Are you both five year olds? " Cabir said while both Manik and Nandini turned their face to the other side.

" Goodness. So Manik, this is Nandini Murthy, the new Junior Managing Director of MM Companies " Cabir said while taking both Manik and Nandini to a shock. Rather, shock would be an understatement.

" And Nandini, meet your new boss, Manik Malhotra. Trust me, he's not like your ex boss " Cabir said while Nandini stood there where her jaw almost dropping on the floor.

" WHAAAAT? " Both of them shouted.

"What what? Yes. You heard me. She is the JMD and you're her boss. " Cabir said plainly by looking at Manik.

Cabir turned towards Nandini just to find her fidgeting with her fingers and said, "So Nandini, all set for the new adventure? "

She looked up said with a nervous smile "Yes bhai. I mean, Yes Cabir, I am."

" So I will leave you guys alone to talk out stuff. See ya! " Cabir said as he moved out.

" So Ms. Nandini Murthy, you are the new JMD of the company. Congratulations. I hope you live upto my expectations. " Manik said he stood up and leaned on the table.

" Sure, Mr. Manik Malhotra. I'll make sure that I don't disappoint you and stand up to all your expectations. " She said with a small smile.

" I'm impressed. You know honestly, I didn't expect you here. I didn't know you're so qualified." He said while trying to tease her.

" Mutual feelings, Manik. I really didn't expect you to be my boss. But nonetheless, I hope we work together as a team. " She said with a smile.

" I'm sure we will. " He replied back with a warm smile and took her hand for a warm handshake.

She smiled and picked up her bag just to leave when he said,

" And Ms. Murthy, it's Manik Sir for you." He said with a smirk.

She turned around and said skeptically, " What the hell? Why Manik "Sir"?

" Because apparently, I'm your boss and if you call me by my name in the office, what will people think? That the new JMD of MM Companies calls her boss by his name. Haww! " He said dramatically.

" What nonsense? " She said with a straight face.

"No, I mean if you're so willing to get linked up with me everywhere, it's cool. I won't mind. " He said plainly while shrugging his shoulders.

" Urgh! Fine. Manik SIR. Anything else?" She asked.

" Nope. Nothing as of now. Come let me show you your cabin. " He said while she was standing behind him.

He turned around and said softly, " After you" and guided her towards the door while she was trying to understand his behavior.

Both of them moved towards her cabin which exactly beside his cabin and everything could be seen through. The glass on the huge side windows of his cabin was of such a type that he could see what's happening on the other side while the person on the other side cannot see what is happening. Same was the case with the glass doors of his cabin. [In simple words, he could now see what Nandini is doing in her cabin while Nandini cannot. The window in his cabin is more of a partition between the two cabins.]

He lead her into a spacious cabin with white and brown interiors which had a perfect surrounding having a small sitting area, perfect lighting, a corner high shelf, a couple of hand made paintings, artificial plants, a flower vase full of lilies on her desk and a small balcony.

[ Nandini's Cabin ]

" So, liked it? " He asked.

" Liked? Its beautiful. Thankyou so much." She looked at him with a wide smile while he just stood there enjoying her expressions, yet again.

" You have the same rights which Cabir has in this office. You can go for rounds to check the work going on, you can call a meeting for any work related issue, You have an intercom here if you need any help, Natasha is right there, you can ask her. " He said while explaining everything to her.

" And you?" She said in a low voice.

" I'm here too. " He replied with a small smile playing on his lips.

" Thankyou sir." She said.

While he just left her cabin and moved away. She sat on the revolving chair and immediately called Natasha to ask the employees to gather for a meeting with her. After a couple of minutes, almost all the employees present on the floor were standing outside her office. She sweetly introduced herself to all the employees while taking the charge of making sure that all the deadlines are met well before in time. Unaware of the fact that this short meeting was witnessed by a keen pair of eyes.

~~~

Manik's PoV : I was talking on the phone with Cabir as he had to leave for his Radio Station immediately due to some emergency. During the call, I heard her voice through the joint intercom asking Natasha to call the employees on the floor for a brief meting. Yes, all the intercoms of the office were connected to mine. Whatever conversation a person has on the intercom will be accessible to me. This was just to prevent the misuse of the services of my company and frauds. While I stood at the glass door of my cabin listening to each and every word she was saying. Impressive Nandini Murthy! A meeting with the employees, not bad. Let's see what more do you have in store.

~~~

The meeting was soon over. The employees were back to work and she was back to her cabin. She was going through some official documents with her reading glasses on when her intercom rang;

" Miss. Nandini, in my cabin. You need to sign the official documents. " He said in an authoritative tone from the other side.

She immediately picked up her phone and glasses and rushed towards his cabin.

" Yes Sir? " She said as she entered his cabin.

" Yes, so these are the official documents about your agreement with MM Group of Companies. So please read them and sign it. Please have a seat. " He said as he passed over the papers to her.

She sat there going through the three-page document which was merely an alliance agreement since she's joined MM Companies recently with her pink rimmed reading glasses on making her look cute as ever!

While she was reading, her iPhone rang diverting her attention. He glanced at her phone and the name of the caller surprisingly shocked him as her phone was kept at the center of the table. She picked up her phone just to glance at the name of the caller due to which she had a wide smile which made him even more suspicious.

" Um. Sir, can I please take this call? Its very important. " She said with a smile still playing on her lips.

" Sure." He replied plainly to hide his curiosity.

" Hey. Yes I'm fine. How're you? You had your breakfast and medicines right? "

" Good. You better. Is your fever okay now? "

" Great. You take care and keep calling me okay?"

" Bye. I miss you more. See you soon. " 

She ended the phone conversation with a smile and signed the legal documents and exited his cabin while just sat there with shock and confusion written all over his face. He felt an unknown and unexplainable feeling rising in him. Was it shock, anger, insecurity, jealousy, possessiveness or something else?

~~~

Manik's PoV : DARLING?! What the bloody hell? Who is this darling who's calling her? Her boyfriend? NOOO! She indirectly said that she was single at Cabir's place. But then what is this? And that smile she had on her face? It looked as if she had won some lottery. What if she likes some one else? What if this 'darling' is hitting on her? What if they're in a secret relationship? No no no! This can't happen. I cannot let this happen. I don't know what this is, but I cannot see her with anyone else. I have to find out about this "Darling". Anyhow!

~~~

*~*~*~*~*

Tadaaa! Done with the update. Do tell me how it was. ☺️

Suggestions and requests are more than welcome. Thankyou for giving this piece of writing so much of love. It means alot. 💖

Love,
~Vasudha