THE PASSIONATE EGO

5: DIFFERENT RELATIONS

NANDINI'S POV

Life's been good. It's going smooth uptill now and I hope it continue's to do so. It's been a week since I had taken Manik's interview and as vowed i haven't crossed my path with him and hope it stays like that. But why am i thinking about him? Not a thought about him since i last saw him so why today? I had been so busy in my work that such a thought never crossed my mind and right now it is the only thing that i can think about.

Why do i have a different feeling today? Why am i having a feeling that something's gonna happen. Good or bad I don't know but there's something. Its a very weird feeling. 

I don't feel like working at my office today but I have to. The last 2-3 days have been super hectic in office and if I'll even think of taking a leave i know Maria's gonna eat me alive.

I quickly got up from my bed and went to freshen up . 

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" Damn we are 30 minutes late. Why do we keep making a new record everyday " I sighed standing outside our office building.

"Guys no time for dreading. We need to rush. It was just yesterday when Maria asked us to be on time since we have a special visit today and we were supposed to be present there to welcome him " Navya reminded her betterhalves. 

"Let's get in quick " Mukti rushed and we followed right after her.

We saw each other nervously before entering the lion's den. With our eyes closed and hands joined we started chanting our regular everyday rhyme "Sorry Maria. We are very sorry that we got a bit late ". 

Maria glanced us a glare listening to the word "bit". Seeing her glaring at me i bit my lip and tried my luck for the second time " I mean sorry we got late. We won't repeat it again. Promise" 

"sorry Maria " Mukti and Navya too joined me inn. And seeing her dolls apologizing so cutely a small smile formed on her face and gladly she forgave us.

That's when we noticed a figure sitting ahead of her. Maybe the special guest. The guy looked oddly silent to me untl he turned to face us and the words left my mouth in as much anger i could process "You".

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"You" Nanz spoke with much anger while the guest couldn't stop smiling and hence fueling her anger more. 

" what the f**k Abhi. What are you doing here? I don't wish to see your face so get the hell out of my office." Nanz shouted in an anger filled voice

The people who thought it was Manik kindly raise your hands.

" Princess at least listen to me. " Abhi spoke in a pleading voice. 

" Babes at least listen to him once please" Mukti came ahaed in his defence. 

" Okay only if you insist. You have 5 minutes so make it fast" Nanz said. 

" Princess in my defence i was super busy in work. I am sorry i wasn't able to meet you. But look i have planned it all now we are going for a trip and I have made arrangements with Maria too. And guess what she granted you all a good long leave " Abhi took a breathe as soon as he cmpleted his defensive monologue. 

Nanz at once looked at Maria to check whether he was saying the truth or not. As soon as she got a confirmatory nod, she ran and fell in Abhi's arms, hugging him tight. 

" I love you. I love you so much Abhi. I just missed you alot " Nanz said cheerfully. 

Listening to her happy voice everyone chuckled. Moving out of Abhi's arm she ran and hugged Maria happily.

Mukti, Navya, Nanz and Abhi moved out of Maria's cabin and gathered around the girl's desk area. 

" So it was you who needed a special welcome today according to Maria" Navya asked in confusion while Abhi nodded in agreement. Nanz felt like it was finally a happy day today.

" So where are we going? When are we going? I need to get started on my packing. Damn I have to go shopping too. Stop smiling and say something Abhi." Nanz said in a single go. 

" Only if you'll let me speak. We are going to Sydney. I have a meeting there and then after that I'll be free, so we can roam around.Do all the touristy thing" Abhi explained " And yes one more thing my two other friends will join us too in Sydney after the meeting. "

He gave a look to confirm if they were ollowing his thoughts or not and then continued "And for wehn, we'll be going after 2 weeks. So i think you guys have  enough time to shop."

"Cool so i think Nanz and Navya let's go and get done with our office work. " Mukti reminded them.

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Manik's POV

It's been a week since i last encountered her. But there hasn't been a single second that i haven't thought about her. God ! why is she affecting me so much? I had planned a million ways to meet her but this entire business work got me stucked up.

Right now for me the most important thing is to get my empire safe and secure from my rivals so Nandini can definitely wait. Also i can't i got myself stuck with Cabir's stupid trip that he planned 2 days ago. Only if it hadn't been for his effective blackmailing skills, i would have been on an adventure of claiming my priced possession. Nandini.

I was trying to fix my laptop issues when i heard a knock at the door. Even without glancing at the door i was aware of the irritating creature at the threshold

"What is it that you want Cabir?" I asked in annoyance.

"Are you done with your packing" he asked me sheepishly as he moved around my office garbbing an apple from the desk. Okay for sure he was behaving differently and wierdly.

"Cabir. If i clearly remember we still have 2 weeks to do that." I replied still focued on my screen ahead. 

He gave a sheepish smile and said "So that means you are definitely accompanying me cause i have a surprise which i think you'll like" 

"Surprise" I mouthed his words until it hit me. 

" What surprise?" I asked him curiously. 

" Dude it's a SURPRISE " he said in an obvious tone. 

" yes i know what a surprise is " I replied in annoyance and he left my cabin leaving me in deep thoughts. 

Cabir and surpirse in a single sentence have never been god for me. God. It better be digestible cause i cant afford to loose a week of my life onto some stupid adventure.

Also the end of this trip will start a new adventure of my own when i'll teach Miss Nandini the lession for rejecting me. But for now i think i can have a little fun.

I picked my cell phone and made the most fun call of my life.

Manik's POV end

Nanz POV

We all were sitting in the canteen, chatting our adventures along with some gossip. Mind me Abhi can be a girl at gossiping, when i recieved a call from an unknown number. The ring gave me a wierd feeling so i excused myself away from them and moved out to a much quieter place.

"Hello" I spoke in my melodious voice. Self obbsessive much, well who cares.

" hi " came a reply from the other side. It felt like i knew that voice. But who could it be? Damn is it? Nope, not burnign my mind anymore i asked the caller " Who is it?"

" ouch. Has it been that long?" came the reply. 

Yup my guess was right. It was definitely him. The Bastard Malhotra.

" What do you want ?" I asked irritation clear in my voice hoping he would notice and leave me alone 

" A simple answer, YOU " he replied as the shameless creature that he is. 

" Listen let me- " I started on my lecture but decided against it since there was no point putting sense into this prude's brain. So i said in a much calmer voice" Mr Malhotra this isn't Maria's phone. If you want something you can contact her directly or her PA. " and cancelled the call running back to my friends.

As soon as i reached back a message popped on my screen. As obvious it is he wasn't gonna leave me anytime soon

SOO RUDE NANDU! NO HOW ARE YOU? NO HAVE YOU MISSED ME?

NO WORRIES WE'LL HAVE A LONG CHAT SOON.

- MONSTER

I ignored it like it was supposed to and after sometime Abhi left us for work.

As soon as work was over and drove our way back home, ordered some pizza and now i was lying on my bed upside down with no sleep in my eyes. The worst end to my perfect day.

It feels awesome talking to your best friend after so long, narrating them the stories that they missed in their absence. It wasfun listening to his London stories, it was going all smooth until the bastard called me up. My bad that our paths collided but i am not gonna let him run my life and my mood.

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Manik sat at the bar of his mansion thinking to himslef while he sipped his whiskey with a smile on his face.

Cabir entered the room and thought to himself " I definitely need a new friends cause i think this one's a lot much defective. What is he even smiling about, well not my issue until he makes it a drama. All i have to think right now is how to make things closer with Navya. Damn this life movie."