Olaa People! Miss you all, with love another chapter just for you all!

Sorry for late update but Not going through a good phase in life right now.
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Nandani's pov

Hanging the towel in the balcony i quickly grab my phone and reply; "nothing, just had my shower and got ready! What about you ? Ap bhi subah jaldi uthte hai?"

Last night an hour on phone call and early morning chat! I just can't resist talking to manik and these butterflies, god it feels good! I think and blush , once more.

The message pinged again.

"Yaa... 5:30 morning, everyday. And why do you call me aap? Please don't!"

I stare at the phone "5:30"- i wake up at 7 and thought it was early. My whole life was a lie!!

Before I could reply further, I heard my mom, "nanduu breakfast...." and she was in my room with the dusting cloth, "and Nandani bal sukha, pura bed gila ho raha hai. Thode din me sasural jayegi, kab sikhegi tu."

And that she has to compare everything to my sasural.

"Mummy yarrr...."  I irked.

Going back to my texts.. hmmm.... why do i call him aap? ~ Because I can't call you 'tu'.

I know it's a bit old fashioned but I don't have a justification either. Calling him anything other than aap, i am just not comfortable. The respect , it just comes from within, effortlessly.
It's very difficult to explain, especially to him. So I prefer ignoring his question.

"Mummy's calling for breakfast. You had yours? Btw, who makes you food there?"

"Bahar kha leta hun.." he replied. " but sometimes i cook." He added.

I was about to type further but my mom interrupted.

"Acha nandu, Listen how to upload this photo on Facebook?" She asked and just the mere question dreads me.

Why is it so hard to teach parents social media. And why my mummy comes up with such problems in their phones which I never face. I mean how does she manages to do things to her phone when she has practically nothing to do with her phone.

"Badme." I postpone it in order to avoid it.

"Are how much time it will take, anyways you are texting and eating. You kids, just can't listen to your parents na..."

"Mummy.... please."

"Fine. Don't. Me khud kuch kr lungi. Baki maa bap k bache kya nai kr k dete tum ek photo nai dal k de sakte. Us din uber ka bola to bhi..."

"Ok. Fine. Give. I'll do it." I said and took the phone. "Acha say which one?"

"Vo that one you, manik, us, and your in laws." She said and i saw that engagement photo. I looked flat. Bad picture. "I don't like it mummy. Koi aur bolo."

"It's my Facebook. And Manik's mom has kept. Ja apni sas ko bol nikale." She teased and I couldn't help but blush.

"Ye lo ho gaya." I said and kept the phone and left for the kitchen.

It was 10 when I reached office and headed to my cubicle. I checked in my work mails. And started my work.

It was almost lunch but i was on the verge of completing the program so I was too engrossed in it. Just then my office telephone rang. I thought of ignoring but then thought what if it wass boss, so picked it up.

"Nandani madam, receptionist. There's a parcel for you." She said.

"What parcel?" I don't remembering ordering anything.

"Amazon mam, gift hai." She said.

"Oh! Take it. I'll take from you." I said and disconnected and got back to work. Once i was done i ran the program and mailed it forward.

I was curious who sent me gift. But since the engagement i had received quite a few gifts, so It wasn't something completely new. But the online gift is a first. None of my relatives are so Morden.

I quickly went to the reception and picked it up.

It was a gift with message that said; "engagement gift.. maybe..."

Ooomg!! Him, Manik?? I think. Maybe.

I quickly open it. Air pods!!!! Wow! Air pods. I love them. So damn thoughtful. How sweet. O goddess. If it's him I really wanna go all awwwwwww on him!!!

I picked up my phone and connected the pods first and the first call I made was him. He didn't receive. So I called again. He picked up, but before I could say he spoke, "i am a bit busy, call you later."

I just said okay and he disconnected. Not even sure if waited for my reply.

Yes, i did feel a bit bad. But he has work Nandani, way more serious than yours. I ignored the thoughts and started work with music, from my brand new air pods. God I am already obsessed, I can even give it my middle name.

The work was too hectic today. I had lunch wile working only. It was evening and work was still not done. I stretched on the chair and removed my glasses. "Chai mangao re.." I semi shouted. And everyone hooted in yes.

The half of the office had left and we the left ones were doing overtime. Before we could bitch more about the boss my phone rang. And I sprang to pick it up, and it was him, Manik. I sank into my chair blushing. 

"Oye hoye.... babyji ka blush to dekho...." my colleague Padmini said pulling my cheeks. And I blushed more.

I picked up the call. "Hello.." i almost purred.

"Hello." He said maybe in a cheerful voice.

"Thank you..." i purred again and he laughed freely. This was the first time I heard him laugh.

"So, you got the parcel han.. glad you liked it." He said.

"So, ghar pohoch gaye?" I asked.

"Yaa. A while ago. Dinner k bad vapas jaunga. What about you? Aj train ki awaz nai aa rahi." He asked.

"At office. Too much work. May be we'll stay at office guest house tonight." I said.

"We .. as in..." he asked hesitatingly.

"The other female staff." I said. "What about you? Vapas office jaoge?"

"Yaa. This case that i am on is really getting on nerves and this media, if they know so much then why don't they complete the case. They declared something irrelevant and then the seniors pressurise us unnecessarily. Bloody fuu...." and he stopped and that made m laugh.

"It's ok you can swear in front of me." I said.

"Sorry vo thoda flow flow me nikal gaya." I said coyly and that me laugh more thinking how cute he would be looking.

I too laughed.

"Ooh my eyes.... they hurt." I say and open the drawer for eye drops.

"Number nikalvaye?" Manik asked.

"Oh I have spectacles. I use them only while using laptop. But aj this week over dose ho gaya thoda."

"You should still see a doctor." He said. Concerned ~ hmm I like concerned.

"Oh it's fine. The office provides us free chai, cushions and eye drops." I said putting two drops in my each eye and stretching back on the chair. 

"That's good. What will you do for dinner?" He asks.

"Canteen. What are you having for dinner by the way?"

"Chicken. You eat non-vegetarian food?" He asked.

"Yaa, i do." I said and see the last code see being successfully run. I quickly mail it to the marketing associates.

"How's family?" He asks.

"Family is good. And how's your family and Cabir, how's he?"

"Mom dad are fine. Cabir is useless." He says making me laugh.

"Such a typical elder brother." I said.

The marketing man mails back with some issues in the app. He wants some changes. And then I heard his, Manik's hellos... may be I zoned out.

"Amm ... Sorry I was just checking mails. Kuch keh rahe the aap?"

"Ohh.. amm.. nothing. Just ese hi. It's okay you work." He said.

"Yaa, i'll have to. I have to make some changes. I'll talk later may be."

"Sure. Bye. Take care." He said.

"You too. Bye." I said and hanged up.

"Yaar kya natak hai ye marketing valo ke? Har chiz ka app chaiye. And why don't they stick to their own layouts. Faltu ka kam kyu badhate hai. And why is he asking me to make a blog? Social media valo ka kam hai ye. Blog banana bhi nai aata inko? Trishaa! Mail this Subhash.ratnagar95  fellow that this is not our job and no one on Nandani "ma'am's" team is free." I said in one go leaving a long sigh. And all the cubicles raised their tea or coffee cups and said ~ "wallah wallah!"

This is our office tradition if one lets out a frustration you wallah praise him.

"Yaar phone pr apne swami ji k aage to tu gaay(cow) ban jati hai. And see now, wild tigress." Padmini said.

"I am- a hippocrate." I said and we laughed.
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It was past twelve when we were in the company guest house and still working. I got out to take fresh air in the balcony. I thought of calling him, Manik.

He disconnected.

I thought after the evening conversation I could call him back. We were a bit friendly, right?

And with that thought I called him again. And this time he picked up. "Yes." He said. And his Yes didn't seem like a happy yes, it was a sort of irritated yes.

"Ooh, if.. if you are busy I'll call later." I said, it,  was, awkward.

"Amm.. noo.. amm sorry. I just, amm you know this case. It's a bit, amm leave. You say, not sleepy?"

"No, i have work. You know, amm you can share if you want..." - this is what couples do, I wanted to say but I didn't. I wasn't sure even that I meant the couple thing.

"Amm.. yaa I mean..." he was finding words. Oh god this is really awkward.

Please don't share. Please don't share. I won't know what to answer. Like I have never done it before.

I mean, I have advised a few people and may be one or two turned out to be disastrous.
Okay three.

"It's just this case. Chodo na. You say had dinner?" He asked.

"Yaa. I had. Amm... i'll talk later may be i have to complete the app tonight. So, amm.. goodnight." I said.

"Yaa yaa go ahead. Good night." He said and I hanged up.

Shit. Back to square one. It is definitely gonna take time. I thought. And then I laughed at myself.

Dill ka toh pata nai me zaroor pagal hun. I like that song, I always want to dance in rain after listening to it.

I always wanted to become a dancer. Well not always , at some point, just after watching dill to pagal hai , i did.
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