MUTUALLY MARRIED (#1)

FOUR

Manik turned to face Nandini only to realize that she was already gazing intently at him with confidence and a spark in her eyes. For a minute Manik shifted a little in nervousness under her gaze whihc was rather a new feeling for him but eventually decided to break the awkwardness around them.

"Have you thought of any ideas to increase the company's growth?" Manik initiated the conversation.

"We do have a lot of ideas in mind but i think there is some scope of further improvement to increase the revenue of our company." Nandini replied putting out a few graphical sheets infront of him to explain her point of view.

"But i think what we've laid up unti now is also great. It's always been for the betterment." Manik counteracted.

"I understand your opinion but it's always been better and not best. And our project needs to be the best in order to survive competition." Nandini held her hands infront of the table and laid her chin on it.

"I know and i am sure that together we'll be able to achieve that and be the top most company in this country." Manik gave her a small smile as he buzzed for a servent to get some coffee.

"Ofcourse so now can we concentrate on the projet details?" Nandini asked taking the mug and sipping on the hot liquid.

"Yes and according to me it will be a little better for us if we open our new branch, right here, in this building. It's like not a much crowded area and hence the renovations will be easier." Manik proposed.

"I think so too since the new place will require a bigger space. preferably an entire floor area depending on the number of people we'll be adding." Nandini grabbed a pen writing down some numbers on it.

"Exactly. The other places we've looked around are mainly market spaces that creates a lot of traffic." Manik projected a mapping plan on the big screen.

"Umm Mr Malhotra?" Nandini asked to which Manik hummed flipping the pages of a file.

" Can i get this old branch file? If that's fine by you." Nandini requested.

"Yeah sure but may i ask why you need that?" Manik gave a quizzled expression.

"Nothing much. Actually i just want to make sure that the mistakes we made last time don't get repeated again." Nandini replied as she slided the paper at him which had a few pointers noted down.

"Okay just give me a minute." Manik ringed the bell when the same old man entered his cabin.

"Uncle can you please get the old branch file from Mr Agastya." Manik requested giving a small smile to the old man mentally making a note to apologize on Alya's behalf later. The peon gave a slight nod and left the room.

"by the time we gte our file. Let me show you something." Manik faced Nandini as he grabbed the projector remote.

"So basically this is the intial concept of the design that i've thought for the infrastructure and interiors. The team of architects that i've gathered is one of the best and i think they've precisely done a brillaint job to use the space." he added explaining every detail.

"i get it but looking at the scale we're working. I think we need to make it's base a lot much stronger for emergency purposes. You know what i mean right?" Nandini suggested.

"Ofcourse. This is jsut the design Mis Singhania. The team is working on the loads and strength of the entire project." the peon knocked the door to which Manik let him in.

"Sir your file." the man pushed up a blue cover to him.

"Uncle it's not the blue one. Old works are in red." Manik replied.

"Oh sorry. i'll get it changed." the man apologized turning to leave when Manik stopped him.

"It's okay. Don't worry about it. I'll get it because it's almost lunch time. You can go and have your lunch." Manik gave the man a small smile and turned to face Nandini.

"Wait i'll get it from the archive room." he added.

"No problem. I'll help you too." nandini offered getting up from her chair.

"Not needed Miss. Singhania."

"Oh please atleast this way i'll have a tour of your office. "Nandini joked making her way to the door.

"Okay after you." manik gestured laughing at statement.

Both Manik and Nandini entered the archive room which was not like those dusty ones but rather a clean and tidy one

"Not bad Mr. Malhotra i am impressed by the cleanliness." Nandini remarked looking around.

"yeah its easy to find things when its all clean." manik replied shuffling through the boxes.

"So here you have all your files kept. Even the important ones?" Nandini asked.

"Most of it. Wait i'll go search the file till then you see if you need something else." manik offered as he got lost amidst the aisles.

Manik started searching for the file while Nandini was busy watching the other files to gather some required information when suddenly her cell phone buzzed flashing "Hunk Moneky". She picked up the call quickly while Manik turned upon hearing the ringing sound.

"So the i***t finally remembered he has me in his life too." Nandini exclaimed running her fingers through the files.

"Yes my pretty little moneky." chirped the guy from the other side.

"Don't you dare call me that. Moving on where have you been the past 3 days. I have been missing you like hell. The last i knew you had a recording." Nandini placed herself on a nearby table.

"it went great but then mom got a hold of me for all the crazy 'get married' topic." aryaman replied with a laugh. Aryaman, one of the most important and best person of her life after Cabir. They've been best friends since well they knew how to kill each other.

"So when am i getting the invitation card?" Nandini joked.

"Haha not funny. You do know that marriage and me are two opposite poles. And i don't even have a girlfriend." Aryaman replied.

"A permanent girlfriend." Nandini pointed out.

"yeah yeah. Okay there was something very important to why i called you." Aryaman spoke.

"yes i am hearing sir." Nandini got a little serious.

"Listen. I just got done with my recording and everything's set so before the promotional stuff starts. I still have a few days of freedom. Should we plan a trip?" suggested Aryaman.

"I really want to but i can't. we just started this new project and i can't leave it at that but i promise once this gets over we definitely will." Nandini apologized.

"Fine as you say but we' re meeting tomorrow?"

"yes i promise. Now i gotta go byee." nandini replied and then pushed her phone back into her pocket.

Even though Nandini had ended the call but the poor soul who had listened to the whole conversation stood in shock. Manik couldn't belive what he just heard. The girl who was fierce at one time and then a professional the next was so frank with someone. he thought she always had a serious tone fitted inside her vocal chord. Nandini turned to look at Manik so he suddenly portrayed as if he was busy and hadn't eavesdropped on her conversation.

"Mr Malhotra did you get that file?" Nandini asked

"No i think it's on that other shelf." Manik replied.

Nandini's cell phone rang again and she smiled watching the caller id.

"By the way i've read somewhere that talking on phone during work is actually unprofessional." Manik raised her brow in mischief.

"It's dad just give me a minute." Nandini excused herself as she picked the call and chipped enthusiastically.

"hey dad."

"Hey princess so how's your work going?" her father asked.

"Perfect as always. right now we were just discussing about the infrastructure before we drop into the details." she informed him of the progress.

"Looks like you're working fast."

"yes i am cause it's important. By the way did you have your lunch?" she asked in concern.

"yes i did. What about you?" her dad counter questioned.

"No i'll just have it after this. by the way have you had your medicines?"

"Yes my mom. I did." her father joked over her concerns.

"oh really. your mom?" Nandini looked up as Manik showed her the file they've been looking for.

"Hey Dad i gotta go bye. So take care and don't miss me much." she added.

"Got it so back to the meeting room?" Manik jogged upto her.

"Yeah lets get this done."

Both reached back the office and sat down on their respective seats

"Since it's lunch time already, let me order something." Manik suggested.

"yeah sure. Whatever suits you."

"So what will you like to have?" Manik asked.

"Pizza with lots and lots of cheese and a Choco lava. Also please don;t forget the coke." Nandini replied flipping through the file.

"Okay" Manik replied with amusement as he picked the intercom and called for their lunch in the cabin. Soon enough the peon arrived and they both got seated on the couch. Both of them were eating silently. Nandini was eating her favourite cheese pizza and Manik beint the fitness freak he was had ordered a light sandwich for himself.

MANIK'S POV

I was looking at Nandini as if she is some sort of an alien. The way she was eating like a small kid. Damn that cheese moving down her lips. God Manik dude control yourself, you have a girlfriend to handle, remember. Yeah another note, after this meeting contact Alya or else i am surely a dead meat today.

Soon we both finished our lunch and got back to work or moreover she got back to her professional personality; drafting the designs and the marketing values. Looks like she is more of a business person than me.

MANIK'S POV END

"Mr Malhotra? Hello?" Nandini waved her hands infront of an oddly zoned out Manik.

"yeah sorry yess Miss. Singhania." he apologized handling himself."Where were you lost? Are you okay? I have been calling you since long." she asked with concern.

"Sorry got a little zoned out."

'That's fine. As i was saying that the marketing values of this could reach upto new heights if we get a famous celebrity to work with us. Umm someone whose fascinating." nandini suggested.

"Sounds cool but who could work like i know a lot of people would die to work with our firms but you know getting the best person is difficult." Manik added.

"But i know a person who would be perfect for this." Nandini suggested.

"Who?" Manik asked.

"For that we still have time so lets finish off with our work for the new branch first and then i'll set up a meeting." Nandini replied.

Few minutes converted into hours but both the business freaks kept working and working and soon it was time to sign off from the office so everyone started to leave. Manik's father too arrived back and saw both of them drowned in work, moving his head and sighing he walked inside

"So how's work going?" he asked.

"Just perfect dad looks like we'll complete it long before the dead line." Manik replied still engrossed.

"But i guess deadline for the day has finished." Mr Malhotra pointed at the clock.

Nandini looked at the watch and saw that it was 6 already. The working hour's were already over.

"God its already 6 so i'll take your leave sir." she gathered her stuff.

"Uncle!" Mr Malhotra pointed out.

"huh" nandini looked confused.

"You juts said that the office hour's are over so it's uncle for you now. Isn't it?" Mr Malhora smiled.

"Yes uncle so now i'll go. Have a great evening." Nandini gave small smile and turned to leave when Mr Malhotra called her again.

"Nandini"

"Yess uncle." she turned to face him.

"How about dinner tonight at my place? Your aunt will be happy to see you." the man suggested.

"Umm sounds good but dad doesn't eat without me."

"Hes my friend. ofcourse he'll come so the plan is set." Mr Malhotra clapped his hand like a kid.

"We'll be there." nandini giggled at his enthusiasm.

"manik" Mr malhotra faced his son now.

"yes dad"

"Atleast drop her home." the man ordered.

"No uncle it's fine Cabir or the driver must be here by now to get me." Nandini refused politely.

"But i could drop you till the parking lot." Manik suggested.

"Only if its fine with you." nandini smiled.

Both of them walked till the parking lot when a car came infront of them

"Here's my car. Driver uncle where's Cabir?" she asked.

"Sorry ma'am he was busy so he sent out the car for you." the driver informed.

"Goodbye Mr. Malhotra." Nandini waved at Manik.

"Good bye."

Nandini opened the door and was going to sit inside but turned

"Hey Manik. Look i know i am always professional in my work but it was nice meeting you." She winked at him left off leaving Manik with a small smile on his face. His cell phone beeped again and he took it out opening it he see Alya's 1000's of messages. Not even caring to read them he called her directly.

"Hey baby" he greeted her.

"So finally you remembered me." came a taunt.

"Actually i was in a meeting." Manik replied.

"Okay let it be. I came to your office today but you were way too busy. I just wanted to say that i have decided that i'll meet your parents. Alya informed.

"That's a sober decision." Manik laughed.

"Yes and that too today at dinner. No excuses. Okay bye i am at the parlour gotta get ready." she cancelled the call without even waiting for his reply.

"Hello Alya." Manik spoke but the line was already cut. Moving his hand in his hairs in frustration Manik stood confused. What will he tell his parents more over even Nandini and his father was coming over for dinner and after Alya and Nandini's face off he didn't wanted them to meet ever but looks like its gonna be a roller coaster day for him.