I m quick aint I

I clenched my jaws together to keep my pounding temper under control. Mr. Manik Malhotra very well knew how to instigate me. I was seriously pissed with him not because he addressed me by his surname, well legally and techinically I was still Mrs. Malhotra and I never had any qualms of associating myself with that name but what annoyed me was him.

"You have proved me right once again..the word MATURE has no nothing to do with you in the farthest limits...", of course he didn't have a clue of what I was talking about so I had to clarify, "Is this a kind of party that you get your young daughter in", I looked around to make him notice the skimpily oops fashionably dressed people clinging to each other toasting with wine glasses in their hands.

"So...whats wrong with this party?? You and your old school thoughts..come of it okay..she wanted to come so I got her ...right baby", he nudged Manini for agreement and looked at me with a sorry face like I was an old fashioned 17th century mother.

"Yeshh Daddy", she nodded her head up and down, "Mommy pleashh don't scol Daddy...shhee he has got me a shooo beaful dless", she palmed her dress neatly to make me see her.

I couldn't deny that my daughter was looking adorably pretty. She was totally in love with her outfit and I could see that. I glanced at Manik who was completely in awe with his daughter. It would be wrong if I say I wasn't disappointed for a moment for not being able to hold his attention on me, not that I was trying to compete with my own daughter. But I really wanted to slay him tonight with jealousy. I had purposely picked his favorite color being sure that I would bump into him at the party. Manik caught me looking at him and the moment our eyes met again I looked away and he exactly understood what I was thinking as I saw a sleek smile polish his lips.

"Daddy who ish looking mol beaful me ol Mommy??", Manini had to ask as she saw her parents somewhat ignoring her.

"Does that question even count princess??...of course my darling is looking the most beautiful in the whole party", he glanced at me pursing the brooding smile on his lips, "Lets party then...", his picked her in his arms tried to move inside ignoring me.

"Mommy come with ush", she caught hold of my saree and tried to pull me along with them.

Unable to hold the sudden pull on my saree, I tripped and dashed against Manik's back.

"Careful!!!", Manik immediately turned back and grabbed me tight by my waist thinking I might fall flat. Well he wasn't wrongly entirely; he was well aware of my gross motor skills especially whenever he was around besides that I was in my dreaded attire as well. One of his hand held our daughter and his other hand pulled me closer to him in his secured grip. I was a little taken aback by this sudden gesture, not that Manik's behavior surprised me one bit but it was months after I felt his warm touch on my bare body that too at his favorite place, my waist.

"Princess...you should be careful na Mom would have just fallen", he raised his voice a little more than the normal.

"Sholly Mommy", she made a sad apologetic face and looked at both of us.

"Ahem ahem so the trio Malhotra's are still stuck at the entrance", Cabir commented clearing his throat, "Bro ab toh seedha khade hone ke liye chod de usse", he pointed at Manik's grip on my waist.

Manik's left me briskly and I just tried to make my face not go the shade of my saree out of embarrassment.

"No nothing like that...", both Manik and me blurted in unison and paused immediately. Manik gave me a look and talked to Cabir.

"Hey Cabir so you came", Manik was still trying to locate a proper pitch for his voice.

"I am here since the last 5 minutes hoping and waiting when you guys will have a little time to spare for me but then I saw no chance of that happening so just had to barge in...I hope you didn't mind", Cabir was back with his teasing session.

"Uncle Bilaa!! How do I look??", Manini probably wanted to get it certified by everyone but thankfully she did that to divert Cabir and from getting us more embarrassed.

"Manik's princess looks like a princess", he declared proudly.

We did a further customary Hi Hello. Although Cabir was always a friend but with Manik around I hesitated a little moreover with Cabir's firing sense of humor I was sure to come across some oops moments. After an awkward moment of silence we brushed ourselves and ventured in.

Manik was one happy man when Manini was around. He was ready to shower every drop of his love on her. I stood there for a moment admiring the father-daughter duo. I was secondary now but I was happy to see my baby happy. It was very less of time that she got with her Dad and I didn't want to snatch it from her. I saw Manik happily going ahead and meeting people around, he proudly introduced everyone to his princess and in a moments time Manini had become the center of attraction in the party. She was the youngest and the cutest being in the whole party. Folks flocked to her to adore her and pull her chubby cheeks, she got irritated and hid her face in her Daddy's chest and Manik just laughed at her reaction.

"Mam!! You are needed in the banquet", a sudden voice disturbed me. It was an assistant of mine and was probably calling me for things that required more attention. Manini was in good and protective company so I didn't have to worry about that and I went ahead.

***

"Gul evlin I am Manini Multhy Malhotla", she wished the people Manik introduced her to, in a glance and got busy playing with the buttons of Manik's suit.

"Hey Manik thank god you are here...oh my goodness you have got Manini with you...hello baby", Mukti appeared from nowhere and literally imprinted her lip color on her cheeks and she frowned rubbing her cheeks.

"Hey Mukti you did a great job with the show ...Where is Rewa??", Cabir asked Mukti and purposely glanced at Manik to count his frowns.

"There..there she is"

Rewa walked in a shimmering silver off shoulder gown flaunting her frontal assets. She was a tall lean attractive looking girl who never failed in making a mark at such parties. For the world she was Manik's associate and an investor in AURA but for me she was the woman who was trying to grab my place in his life. Manik never spoke openly about her which is very unlike him but never denied the floating rumors as well. He made sure he was a little extra close to her whenever I was around. I don't know if it was really his liking for her or something else. But I shouldn't bother because I walked out of his life before she walked in. I could never stop him from moving on if he planned to; it was his life after all.

Whenever I saw them together I could not stop grinning. It was more like a constant chase, the more Rewa would try to have Manik's attention the far he maintained his distance from her only to pamper her when I was around. Rewa wasn't dumb either not to understand Manik's tricks but somehow she didn't want to lose out on the little attention she could get from him at my cost. She too made sure to cling to Manik as close as she could in my presence.

If there could be something more hilarious than this it was definitely her assistant Rose. She was like the epitome of foolishness and over excitement but together Rewa and Rose were one heck of a combination.

"Hi baby", Rewa came forward and rubbed her cheek against Manik to greet him and Manik smiled back her.

"I am the baby.. this ish my Daddy", Manini held Manik tighter and cringed her brows in irritation to see her Daddy being addressed by an even more ridiculous pet name than hers.

Rewa gave a sly un wanting grin, she well knew even if she didn't like our daughter she could not dare to be strict with her at least in Manik's presence.

"Oh hello Manini baby", Rose squeaked from behind in a plastic over joyous tone which was immediately cut down by Rewa's furious glare.

"Rewa I think you should save those glares and frowns...really haan; If Manik sees you looking like that at his daughter then forget your chances with him", she whispered into her ears with a fake smile.

"Rose can you please shut up", she warned her to be tight lipped and Rose just shrugged rolling her eyes.

I was talking to some fashion entrepreneurs at a distance but my attention hardly left my counterpart even for a second. More so because it was a funny view, now Manini was bored of her father's suit buttons and her new toy was Rewa's long chainy earnings, sometimes she twirled the chain in her little fingers and sometimes she pulled it. No matter how much Rewa was trying to keep her hands off from her earrings but my daughter was too obsessed with the amusement now. Rewa glared at her stealthily, tried to scare her with her frowns but Manini was too busy to pay attention to her agitation. I was trying hard to suppress my laughter at the particular scenario, I agree it was bad manners on her part to do such things but my daughter was pretty much doing everything that I wanted to. Manik was completely ignorant, talking to his clients and even Rewa was getting fidgety. She helplessly left Manik's side and changed her place to the other side to a safe distance from Manini's reach.

"See I told you this little girl is enough for you...heaven help you if Nandini decides to take the charge against you", Rose once again remarked into Rewa's ears only to escalate her irritation by manifolds.

"Daddy take me to Mommy pleashhe", she said in a bored tone. She was expecting some fun in the party but was disappointed by the formal and polished surroundings.

"What is it baby do you need something?"

"Mommy"

Manik scanned the hall to locate me and excused himself from the guests and got her to me.

"Mommy", she called out for me from a distance and I smiled looking her.

"Oh!!! is that your daughter Nandini", Mr. Arora, my boss asked me

"Yes sir..she is Manini"

"Manini Multhy Malhotla", she had to say her full name.

"Hello Manik..how are you? Manini seems to be really fond of you", Mr. Arora asked as he saw Manini rubbing her nose on Manik's shoulder.

"Daughter's are fond of their fathers", he said it purposely with a wide smile.

Mr. Arora gave me a confused look at the piece of new found information. He of course knew I had worked for AURA previously but was unaware of the fact that I was apparently the wife of the owner of AURA which was Panache's ace competitor as well. He gave me a wry look and excused himself. Manik was of course enjoying the situation after putting me in a fix and we were joined by few others.

We all got talking about business and the fashion week outcome when we were approached by an international fashion client Mr. Steve George who was interested in doing business with the top most fashion houses in the country and we was more than happy to see two of the top fashion houses together AURA and Panache.

"It's going to be great to be associating with the most promising fashion houses in India, I shall be looking forward to our meeting there is lots that can mean good for us", Steve spoke in a rich British accent.

"Don't worry Mr. George we...I mean Panache won't disappoint you...we are one of the most established in business", I intervened before Manik could impress him by his glib techniques.

"Huh you mean OLD... fashion is all about being new and exploring fresh trends which only AURA can offer you", he said trying to outsmart me.

Steve was definitely impressed by our arrogant confidence. Manini was of course bored with our talks she began playing with my hair. Every time she did it Manik stopped her even while his full concentration was in our talks. Manik held her hand to stop her from messing my hair and disturbing me.

"Just look Rewa..when Manini was bothering you he didn't even care to look at you but see with Nandini around he is so much in control of his daughter", Rose again poked Rewa who was already fuming and Rose's pin pointing pinched her even more. She desperately wanted to get back at me but somehow was trying to mellow down her rising temper and maintain the plastic smile on her face.

***

"Daddy put me down", Manini dangled her legs to come down from Manik's arms.

Manik had some reservations but then let her free. She held both our hands and started swinging in middle, she was enjoying on her own and having a good time.

"Nandini I must say your daughter is as pretty as you", George complimented with a warm smile and as mark of appreciation he took my hand and kissed it, "I must say you are looking very beautiful"

I could feel Manik was straightening himself out of irritation, he obviously did not like when his wife was appreciated especially like that and now it my turn to chuckle at his chili red face. A bunch of photographers encircled us to click the top most fashion entrepreneurs of the fashion week. We all closed in to pose, Manik was by my side and he quiet conveniently slid his hand behind my bare back before Steve could put his hand on me. I could sense he not very pleased by my backless blouse more so because he had never seen me dress that bold for a party and also the over excited cuddly cozy Steve was contributing every bit in screwing his mood. Manik zoned me in completely in his embrace. His behavior in public was mostly embarrassing but I couldn't let the fake smile fade due to the continuous clicks. By the time we were over I suddenly realized Manini wasn't there. We were busy posing and she slipped our eyesight. Both of us panicked.

Not fair guys the prologue had got so many comments n votes but in d first chapter people vanished anyways do tell me if u liked this one.