MUTUALLY MARRIED (#1)

THREE

Nandini entered the office premises while everyone on their way greeted her with a 'good morning' and a warm smile to which she too replied with a 'good morning to you to' and directly went to the reception area. The receptionist was busy glooming her nails when she saw her and quickly straightened herself and why not, who would not know the soon to be the holder of the Youngest Business Woman Of The Year award.

"Good morning ma'am. How may i help you?" the receptionist greeted her.

"Good morning actually i am here for a meeting with Mr. Malhotra." Nandini informed.

"Wait let me check ma'am." the receptionist excused herself as she ran her name through the schedule database.

"I should text dad and let him know i've reached." Nandini murmured pulling her phone out for the task.

Nandini messaged her father about her arrival at Malhotra office while on the other hand the receptionist contacted Manik's p.a. about the same.

"ma'am?" the receptionist called out to her.

"aah yess." Nandini kept her phone back in her pocket.

"Ma'am actually you're 15 minutes late so right now sir is in another meeting." the receptionist informed.

"But i am just 15 minutes late." Nandini requested.

"Actually ma'am sir is quite punctual about time and his meetings so he waited for you but since you came late he left for another meeting." the receptionist informed with an apologetic smile.

" Dammit. Okay fine! How long will it take him to get over with this meeting?" Nandini asked.

"Approximately half an hour ma'am."

"Okay so i'll wait but do tell him about my arrival." Nandini replied pointing towards the waiting area.

"Sure ma'am. I'll let him know that you're waiting in the waiting area."

"Thank you" Nandini reached the waiting area which was quite a boring one for her without any sort of entertainment. Infront were some magazines and nothing else.

"Such a bore mahn. Oh god 5 minutes into the waiting and i am already bored. I don't know how will i pass my time here." she whined flipping through the magazines. Sometime later, she pulled out her phone to chat with any of her friends.

"Should i call someone? Maybe Navya? Nopes she might be busy with Cabir. Dad might be in his meeting too. Aryaman? Nah he had a recording today. Gosh is their really no one." having no other option she took any random magazine and started turning the pages again.

At the same time Alya too entered the office premises and went to the reception area. Since Nandini was getting bored so she looked around and saw Alya. Through her and the receptionist facial expression it was sure the women was shouting while the poor receptionist was scared of her.

Soon Alya too joined Nandini in the waiting room along with the receptionist coming behind her like a dog's tail.

"Ma'am sir's meeting will be open soon and till then you can wait here." the poor receptionist stammered.

"Listen you just inform Manik that i am waiting. He'll surely kick you out of this office." Alya rolled her eyes.

"Ma'am please just 10 minutes." the receptionist requested.

"Fine." Alya sat down beside Nandini who was up until now watching her keenly. It was sure she was a bossy kind of person with loads of attitude more than her make up. Since Nandini was getting bored she thought to interact with Alya atleast to pass her time but looked like Alya wasn't even looking at her, too engrossed on her cell phone that Nandini had to fake a cough to bring herself to notice.

"hey" Nandini greeted her.

"Hi" Came an uninterested reply.

"I am Nandini Singhania" Nandini introduced herself.

"Oh... good for you." Alya replied without looking at her.

"Such a b***h. Sitting down here silent is way better than interacting with her." Nandini murmured under her breath.

"Ma'am would you like to have something? Tea or Coffee." asked a peon.

"No uncle. Umm maybe just a glass of water." Nandini replied politely.

"Okay ma'am. and you miss?" asked the old worker.

"You're asking as if you have no idea. My regular black coffee." Alya dismissed the poor man.

"Now we know why she's so bitter." Nandini murmured.

Soon the peon came back with a glass of water in his hands for Nandini but before she could take it from him, some of the liquid bymistakenly fell on Alya.

"What the hell! Are you freakin blind." came out a loud shriek from her mouth.

"Sorry ma'am." the man apologized.

"Sorry my foot." she screamed back rubbing the water off her dress.

"Hey relax it was just an accident." nandini tried helping her out.

"You just shut up. Don't you dare interfere in my matter. Bloody down market low standard girl." Alya pointed her finger at her.

Nandini controlled her anger sensing her surroundings, but only if she was at her own office or any other place she would have shown Alya what her standards are.

"Ma'am i am really sorry. It was a sincere mistake." the man apologized for the millionth time.

"Seriously, what if the water fell on my phone rather than my dress!! Do you even know how much costly it costs??? Atleast look upon your age and standard you won't even know its name let only be the price. Gosh who keeps an old uncle on a job." Alya screamed creating a huge scene as people around them gathered.

But the next moment the mouth which was speaking all those shits welcomed a tight slap by our very own tigress who was shooting daggers at Alya who stood with a shocked expression registering all the happens which happed just 5 seconds ago.

"Be in your limit. He is older than you. Do you even have any idea what you are saying? It requires more than a make up dipped face to understand someone. Okay you might be Mr. Malhotra's some distant relative or something but you don't have any rights to say so low about anyone be it be of any standard. Do you understand??" Nandini stood firmly infront of her.

"Ma'am come this way. Sir is now available." the receptionist came running to ease out the situation.

"Next time it will be better if you be in your limits." Nandini warned Alya before storming off the place.

Mr Malhotra who was standing a foot away smiled as he adored the fierce togress, "She is just like her mother." turning to Manik he spoke, "Lets go Manik. We have a meeting with the singhania's in five."

"Yes dad. Right behind you." Manik replied , his eyes still roaming at the scene.

MANIK'S POV

I came out of the conference room and heard some loud noises coming from the waiting area. Leading my steps to the place i found Alya shouting at a very old peon uncle. She was continuously shouting upon uncle that made my heart experience a slight pain. Before i could step in a saw a girl walking in between then. Feels like i have seen her before. Where have i seen her before? Wait! Isn't she is the one who was dancing in the rain on the roadside area with those beggars. What is she even doing here? She was too shut by Alya who continued to spat venom.

I was just moving ahead to stop her just when the beggar girl came and slapped Alya. I guess it was the first time Alya was slapped by anyone. I haven't even shouted her anytime before and this girl just slapped her but what she said next to Alya cooled me down. She was taking uncle's side. My chain of thought was broken when Dad nudged me for the upcoming meeting with the Singhania's, i hope atleast that goes well after this commotion.

MANIK'S POV END

Manik and his dad entered their cabin and saw a girl sitting facing her back with a high ponytail

"Good morning Miss. Singhania. I hope you didn't have to wait for too long." Mr Malhotra greeted her.

"It's fine sir. I made you wait first." The girl stood up and turned around and that's when Manik noticed her. It was the same begger girl but she was wearing a professional pencil skirt with a white shirt neatly tucked in. Oh so she was Miss. Singhania.

"Manik!! Manik!!" Manik had no idea he was zoned out until his father patted his shoulder.

"Yess dad. Sorry." Manik apologized getting back to the conversation.

"I would like you to meet Miss. Nandini Singhania." his father introduced them as Nandini shook his hand.

"Manik Malhotra." Manik too smiled greeting her.

"So shall we start our meeting." Nandini motioned for them to move along.

"Sure." As they all got seated. Nandini started the presentation.

"So i am sure you know that it's a merger project and we have our duties divided. Here is the idea introduced by my company. We have decided that.." Manik's father was very much impressed by her professionalism and her ideas but Manik was soo engrossed in her that he actually forgot about his surrounding; this meeting or even Alya, who had ran away after her slap from Nandini.

He was watching her features as she explained anything and everything in detail. A face without any frownlines, so confident and cool with no worries, minimal make up, neat and appropriate outfit. He was keenly watching with utmost concentration.

"Great we have seen your presentation and i think-" Mr Malhotra spoke but soon got a message regarding his client meeting.

"Sorry kids i need to leave urgently. Manik?" Mr Malhotra informed.

"yes dad?"

"From here you take up this discussion and i'll take your leave Miss. Singhania."

"Sure sir." Nandini smiled seating back.

Mr Malhotra went away while Manik stood in a daze

"What is this girl? Yesterday she was carefree. With Alya she was bossy and here a perfect business women. What more colors do you have Miss Nandini." Manik thoughts as he glanced at Nandini who was already looking at him.