Next Morning

After a night of partying and enjoying with family and friends, Manik woke up feeling happy and turned over too see Nandini sleeping peacefully beside him. At first he didnt realize and just smiled but then he sat up startled.

"What the- yeh yahan kya kar rahi hai?" Manik mumbled. He slowly poked Nandini's arm to wake her up. "Ms Murthy? Ms Murthy?"

Nandini didnt move and instead was snoring lightly. Manik leaned in closer hearing her. "Yeh kharate maar ke soh rahi hai....kya kumbkaran ladki hai yeh yaar. MS MURTHY!"

Nandini still didnt wake up. Frustrated, Manik picked up the glass of water kept on his side table and dumped it on Nandini's face.

"AAH! Tsunami! Tsunami!" Nandini woke up scared. 

"What?" Manik stared at her. "Ghar ke andaar tsunami kaha  se aa jayega?"

"Manik sir? Aap?" Nandini finally saw Manik next to her. "Aap yahan kya kar rahe hai?"

"Oh hello Ms Pagal....yeh mera kamra hai! Remember? Black & White zamane wala kamra?" Manik said. "I should be the one asking you...tu yahan kya kar rahe ho?"

"Woh...kal raat Nyonika aunty ne hum sab ko rokh liya. Main toh guest room mein soyi thi...yahan kaise aa gayi?" Nandini looked confused. Then she remembered something. "Oh haan! Raat ko main niche gayi thi paane lene...I think aate waqt main galat kamre mein aa gayi. I was half asleep na? Isi liye."

Manik just gave her a "Seriously?" look.

"Whatever...just get out of my room. NOW." Manik demanded.

"Ok Ok...jaa rahi hoon." Nandini pouted. Then she mumbled to herself. "Mr Khadus Kahi ka."

Unfortunately, Manik heard her and glared at her making Nandini quickly run out.

A few hours later, everyone was awake and eating breakfast together. Manik came down in his usual dark coloured suit and sat to eat, after eating he just got up and started towards the front door.

"Arre Manik rukh." Raj stopped him. "Nandini ko bhi saath le jaa....after all tum dono ko ek hi jagah jaana hai and she is right here."

"Dad woh-" Manik tried to refuse but stopped seeing Raj give him a stern look and just nodded. He turned to Nandini and motioned for her to follow. "Chalo."

Manik & Nandini sat in Manik's car and they started driving to Office in silence. After a few minutes, Nandini spoke up. "Sir...kamre wala incident ke liye sorry. Jaan bhuj ke nahi gayi thi main...bas galati se ho gaya."

"Aisi galati sirf tumse hi kyun hota hai?" Manik asked rolling his eyes.

"Woh...main thodi si hatke hoon na isi liye." Nandini replied cheekily. Manik kept his face neutral until Nandini turned to look out the window and the corners of his lips curled up into a smile.

***********

Nandini was working at her cubicle when she heard a familiar voice from behind her.

"No frickin way....Nandini Murthy? Is that really you?"

Nandini spun around in her chair and was shocked to see one of her best friends from London, Vikram Dsouza.

"Vicky? Tum yahan kar rahe hp?" Nandini asked standing up and hugging him. 

"Yaar London se jaane ke baad I came here. Mera Bua yahan rehti hai toh unke saath rehta hoon main." Vicky replied. "What about you? Tum yahan kaise?"

"I told you right? My family lives here...aur woh female hitler chali gayi toh-" 

Vicky started laughing. "Female hitler...matlab tumhari amms?"

"Who else?" Nandini said. "Anyways...I came back and now work here. Manik sir ki PA hoon main."

"Seriously? Tum uss, Gabbar Singh ki nayi PA ho?"

"Haan..." Nandini nodded.

"Oh you poor thing. Why would you do that to yourself? Manik Sir is-" Vicky's smile dropped and he looked terrified as he looked behind Nandini.

"Kya hua? What is Manik sir? Khadus? Akru...Badtameez...Oh...how about, Monster!" Nandini kept suggesting words unaware that Manik was standing right behind her....and he was furious. Vicky squeaked and tried to motioned for Nandini to look behind her with his eyes. "What? Kya bol rahe ho Vicky?"

"Bol raha hai...ke main tumhare piche khada hoon." Manik replied. For a second, Nandini still didnt realize and just dismissed him.

"Haan toh? Usse kya-" Then she finally realized and slowly turned around. Manik grabbed Nandini's arm firmly and started pulling her to his cabin.

"Sir woh-" Vicky tried to speak up but Manik glared at him and he shut up. Manik pulled Nandini into his cabin and closed the soor. Then he pinned Nandini against the door, squeezing her arm very tightly.

"What the hell were you doing out there huh?" Manik growled. "Tum mere PA ho. Tumhe main apne cubicle mein baith ke gossip karne ke liye salary nahi deta! How dare you badmouth me?"

Nandini flinched in pain as Manik's grip only got tighter with each word. Finally having enough, Nandini pushed Manik away. "Just an FYI...Manik sir, aapki burrai sirf main nahi kar rahi thi. Vicky bhi kar raha tha...in fact pura office karta hai. Mujhpe gussa karne se pehle aapne kabhi yeh socha hai ki aisa kyun hai? Yahan Cabir bhai bhi hai, Abhi jeej hai, Raj Uncle hai...Rohit Uncle hai...lekin office mein sab sirf aapki burrai kyun karte hai? And main koi gossip nahi kar rahi thi. Ek second rukh ke dekhte toh paata chalta ki maine apna saara kaam kar diya hai. Mere desk pe rakha tha....sirf do minute ke liye main apne dost se baat kar rahi thi...and aapse kisne kaha aise piche se aa ke humara private baatein sunne ke liye?""

Manik was speechless and shocked.

"Main jo bhi kaha, galat toh nahi kaha na? Aap ho khadus, aap ho Akru...Badtameez. Aap ho....Monster! Agar nahi hote toh yeh sab nahi karte." Nandini pointed to her arms which were now red with Manik's finger marks. Manik curled his fingers into a fist, internally cursing himself for hurting her that bad which he never wanted. "Kitna dard ho raha hai...its going to bruise now. Kaunsa boss aisa karta hai? Hum employees bhi insaan hote hai...aapko main Mr Khadus nahi bulaungi toh aur kya bulaungi!"

After scolding Manik, Nandini turned to open the door and leave but was stopped by Manik who grabbed his wrist, this time much softer but still firmly. He led her to the couch and made her sit, by her shoulders. "Sit."

"Iske liye mujhe salary nahi milti na....sir." Nandini taunted standing up again. Manik looked at her sternly. 

"Miss Murthy....just sit." Manik demanded. Nandini sighed and sat down. Then Manik went to his table and opened a cabinet, taking out a white box. He brought it to the couch and took out a small ointment tube. Then lightly started applying it to the marks on Nandini's arms. Nandini watched in silence...she didnt knw what to think of him. Sometimes Manik was rude and sometimes he was being so sweet.

"Yeh....aapki sorry hai kya?" Nandini asked. 

Manik rolled his eyes. "Manik Malhotra kabhi kisi se sorry nahi bolta hai okay?"

"Hmmm...par oinment laga sakta hai." Nandini added. Manik didnt look at her and kept applying the ointment. "Im sorry."

Manik looked up at her surprised. Nandini shrugged. "Mujhme aapki jitni ego nahi hai. I can say sorry when Im wrong. Haan, maine jo kaha woh galat nahi hai....and agar aap chahte hai ke aapke baare mein koi aise burrai na karre toh aapko khudko badalna hoga. Lekin...aise office mein sabke samne mujhe woh sab nahi bolna chahiye tha. Aage se, main akele mein aapki burrai karungi...Didu aur Navya ke saath...ya phir,main text karungi. That way aapko paata nahi chalega aur burra nahi lagega!"

Manik blinked at Nandini, just staring at her in amusement and then couldnt help but start laughing. Seeing Manik laugh for the first time, Nandini was stunned. Even she smiled as Manik laughed. The employees who were worried that Nandini was going to get fired were startled to hear his laughter and very confused too.

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Vicky Dsouza (24 Yrs): Nandini's best friend from London. Works in Manik's office. Is a harmless flirt. Has a huge crush on someone...not Nandini.