MUTUALLY MARRIED (#1)

TWO

Manik's car halted at the main gate of his huge mansion which for him was well just, a mansion and not a home. A mansion where there are just walls and no one to talk to. Alya was the only person who always listened to all his complaints but only when she was in a mood of, which rarely happened, so in short he was all alone in this big house which he never called as his own.

It was not that he didn't had any family. In the name of a family he had his father who barely talked to him and was always busy in his business meetings, conferences and not to forget the foreign tours. He never thought to work in that company cause for him it was his father's soo he worked all day and night just to start a snall one of his own, a music company to be specific.

And last but not the least was his mother who was died a long time ago. There wasn't a single person to be with him apart from his step sister, Mukti, who has been his life. Her thought reminded him of her arrival tomorrow after completing her further studies but a point was that she never liked Alya.

In this whole house after Mukti was his step mother, Neyonika. She did cared for him. He can always see love for him in her eyes but he cant love her back. She was the lady who took her mom's place. The place which was only secured for his mother. But she stole it. He knew that his mom killed herself cause of his father's extra marital affair with Neyonika so how was he supposed to look over that fact and love her.

Manik entered his house and started climbing the stairs but much to his annoyance a voice stopped him. It was his dad. It was these rare times when his father calls him and is at home

"Manik good you're back. Come lets have dinner." his father invited him.

"No thank you dad. I am not hungry yet." Manik replied with a stern smile.

" Oh Manik please come. See i baked a cake for the desert, specially for you since you love them so much." Neyonika requested him with a sweet smile as she came out from the kitchen still wearing her apron.

"Thank you for the invite. But i really dont want to eat anything." Manik politely refused.

"Manik!" his father called out in a stern voice as he ordered him, "Sit and eat. Also i need to talk to you about something very important."

Manik having no other option sighed and sat on one of the chairs of the big dining table. Why is there a need of one? While an attendent filled his plate with some food.

"So how was your meeting?" his dad initiated a conversation.

"It was pretty good dad. Tomorrow i have a meeting with Mr.Singhania's company." Manik informed.

"Oh it means you need to get up early in the morning. So Neyonika wake him up on time please. You know he is soo lazy when it comes to waking up early." his dad joked around in a taunting manner.

"Yess i will. So Manik at what time should i wake you up and get your breakfast prepared?" she asked with a sweet smile.

"Not needed. I am not a kid anymore so i can wake up without being pampered like one. Now kindly excuse me i still have to do a few additions to the presentation." Manik refused and stood up from the table bidding everyone a good night as he went back to his room. Yes his room, one of the only place in this mansion where he could find solace. Initially it was his mother's room but after her death he took it just to be close to her. The presentation and all the preparations was just a lie since all of his work was done but he just couldn't sit there anymore between them faking to be a happy family.

He changed his clothes after freshing up and pounced upon his bed, grabbed his phone from the side table typing a quick text message to Alya.

"Hey! Had your dinner?" he asked.

It had been 10 minutes since he had sent that text but she hadn't read it yet. even though she was online. Manik guessed that she might be busy with one of her friends so kept the phone back and slept hoping to have better day ahead.

*********************

On the other side Nandini entered her house quickly only to watch her father sitting at the dining table ready to question her. She walked towards him trying to sit on vacant the chair as discreetly as she could but stopped hearing the man's voice, "Change your clothes first or else you'll fall ill."

"Dad. I am sorry. You know i got drenched by mistake." Nandini took a chance.

"Oh. Did you?" Her dad let loud a small angry laugh.

"yes a 100% not my fault." Nandini nodded her head like a kid.

"Okay go change your clothes then we'll talk about it.' Her dad motioned her to leave.

"Dad i am really sorry." Nandini was quick enough to apologize sensing her father's behaviour and tone. But the next second her dad bursted out laughing hard.

"Dad! I thought you were angry at me." Nandini let out a breath she wasn't aware she was holding.

"I can never be angry at my princess. I just worry for you a little extra. Now go fast to change and come back. i am super hungry." Her dad patted her head.

"I'll be back soon." Nandini smiled leaving for her task.

She went up to her room ,took a shower and wore hsome comfy clothes. As she walked down the stairs she noticed Cabir already seating at the dining able with her dad.

"Come. It's all your favourite dishes." cabir moved his attention from the conversation to her as he called her out.

"yeah yeah jealous people as if your favourite food is never cooked." Nandini lightly slapped his forearm taking her place.

"So Nandini tomorrow we have a meeting and for that you need to wake up early." Her dad informed.

"yes dad i was informed about it and i promise we'll crack it." Nandini assured him.

"ofcourse we will cause i have you." her father spoke with a proud smile.

The whole dinner went out with Nandini chirping happily with two of her life's most important members and later slept a peaceful sleep unaware of the new wavering storm in her life.

********************

NEXT MORNING

The alarmed buzzed waking up Manik as he checked his cell phone to see that Alya still hadn't seen his texts. Maybe she slept, or so he thought as he quickly typed in a good morning message and stepped inside the washroom. It took him a good 20 mins to get ready. Once prepared he checked his watch, it said. 9:30 a.m. Since he still had half an hour to go, he collected his keys and drove his car smoothly to the office without even listening to any of the words spoken by Neyonika.

On the other hand its been half an hour since Nandini last snoozed her alarm and went back to sleep but gratefully she had a life saver named Cabir.

"Nanz wake up. God this sleepy head. Wake up!! Or you'll be late." He moved her a little.

"Just 5 mins Cabir. I promise." Nandini replied in her sleepy voice.

"i***t its 9:30 already and your meeting is at 10. get up!!" Cabir screamed pulling off the comforter from her body.

"Oh freak. why didn't you wake me before. Dumbo." nandini panicked as she rushed around her room grabbing important stuff.

"Only if you had listened to me. Now go and freshen up, I'll ask cook uuncle to get your breakfast ready." Cabir pushed her inside the washroom as he went down.

Nandini sped inside the washroom and quickly came out wearing a pink shirt paired black pencil skirt, ready to woo any guy. Stepping inside her 6 inch plumps with a little lip gloss and an eye liner, she was ready for her meeting.

"Dammit it's 9:50 already. I am so done today." she panicked grabbing her bag to leave.

She ran down the stairs, holding onto her car keys when her father called her, "Nandini, my girl, slow down and have your breakfast first."

"No dad. I am seriously very late." Nandini denied handling her stuff clumsily.

"Daughter, atleast have some juice." the cook came running with a tray full of delicacies.

"Okay fine give me the glass." Nandini stopped in her tracks chugging down the liquid.

"Wait i'll drop you." Cabir ordered knowing her friend was nervous.

"Thanks but be quick." Nandini replied putting back the glass and running out.

Nandini and Cabir sat inside the car. All this while Nandini was just tapping her feet on the car's surface while Cabir was driving as fast and safe as he could.

"I told you to be quick." Nandini complained.

"Look at this girl blaming me. not my fault that you woke up late." Cabir taunted.

"wait! wait! wait! " nandini screamed all of a sudden making Cabir stop the car with a jolt.

"What happened?" he asked in concern.

Nandini went out of the car and on the road as she held a small little puppy between her palms.

"And now you're not getting late? huh?" Cabir shook his head getting out of the car.

"I know. Let me just put this little friend accross the road on the pathway and then we'll leave or else he might get hurt amidst all this traffic." Nandini replied stroking the pup's head.

"And nothing can change your heart Miss Animal Lover." Cabir remarked looking at the duo with care.

Nandini gently crossed the road and kept the puppy safely on the pathway bidding it a goodbye. She sat back inside the car as Cabir drove off to their destination. 20 minutes into the drive and they reached the office of Malhotra Group Of Industries.

"All the best. I know you're gonna kill it." Cabir wished her for luck to which Nandini gave back a small nervous smile.

She stepped out of the car bidding a quick good bye to Cabir while he drove away. There she stood Miss Nandini Singhania in front of the huge building that in someway was going to change her life forever. It was a little similar to her own office; huge and extremely busy. She loved being and working in her fathers company which gave her pride. She really wanted to take his company on huge heights and for that she knew how much important a partnership with the Malhotra's is.

NANDINI'S POV

God this building is freakin huge just like mine; no jealousy here. All i can watch is people running around , busy in their works not bothering about the other person, the works that adulthood makes you do. My chain of thoughts get broken when i realize that its already 10:15, that means i am 15 mins late. Great going Nandini, it's only the first meeting you're already late. But what if i explain the owner of this company that i got late because i was helping a poor little puppy. Well maybe the truth might actually help.

NANDINI'S POV END

What do you think will happen when Nandini will meet Manik? And not to forget she's already late. These are two different poles. Will they attract?

One is already in love. with someone else while the other is a kid at heart who's waiting for her fairytale love story to begin.