~•~

sometimes, life means nothing; atleast till a person enters and colours your grey life, until it means everything just because that person means something

N A N D I N I

We entered inside, and don't think I missed the glares that people gave us. I don't know if it was because Manik was coming back to office after a month, or if it was because I, a personal assistant, was walking inside together with their boss, the Manik Malhotra.

This is the one thing I hate about most people here~ no one knows how to mind their own business, it's very important for them to know about everyone and everything.

He entered the cabin and I entered behind him, with a fake smile plastered on my face.

"God, it feels so nice to be back here.....!" He smiled, throwing his hands in the air as he jumped on his chair after the cabin door closed.

If someone sees how their monster boss behaves behind the closed cabin door, I'm sure they'd end up in the hospital after getting a shock attack.

"Manik, let me update you about everything...!" I smiled, doing my duty as his p.a.

"Not now princess....", he smiled as he held my hand and I fell upon his lap. "Meri office kiss?" He winked.

"Manik...!" I said in a scolding voice as I tried wringling under his arms which went all in vain, ofcourse.

"Manik, if this was all what you wanted to do, we could have stayed at home, right?" I pleaded and his eyes battled with the playful smirk all over.

"Right. I could have held you in my arms, kissed your lips, kissed your eyes, your forehead, your nose, chin, cheeks, neck, collarbone,..", his fingers rubbed my side face.

"Manik...!" I screamed with wide eyes, making his kiss list stop as the red hue crept over my face.

Just then the door creaked open and I immediately pushed him as I straightened myself, looking here and there, highly embarrassed. What if the person had seen us?

"Oh my god! Who is this? The Manik Malhotra....!" The most unwanted person on this planet smiled cheekily.

"Yes, it is me. And don't you know, you have to knock when you enter inside someone's cabin, Harshad Saxena.!" Manik made the rudest comment, rolling his eyes and I glared at him.

"Well, mujhe pata nahi tha that you're back. I thought it would be Nandini, like always, so I entered without knocking. After all, friends do not need each other's permission, do they?" He smiled at me and I nodded my head with the fakest smile possible.

"Oh. So you both are friends now?" Manik asked with no amusement on his face at all. His voice was cold and sharp, just like the old Manik as his eyes darted into mine.

"Yes, we are. In fact, we are like best of friends....", Harshad smiled as he walked to me, placing a friendly hand on my shoulder, leaning upon and I closed my eyes tightly.

This was the worst step he could ever take. I so hope he doesn't end up in the hospital.

I peeped my eyes open to see his dark eyes burning stares at his hand that roughly touched the arm on my skin. His fisted hand and frowning lips weren't a good symbol at all.

I politely moved away from Harshad. "Important call...", I smiled at the boys, moving away from them. But just as I turned behind, I shut my eyes tight in fear as I ran off from there, escaping from seeing someone's death.

M A N I K' S P O V

F U C K THIS SAXENA.

He smiled like a gay looking at Nandini walk out.

I have no, literally no problem with Nandini talking to other guys. It's her life and I'm no one to control whom she talks to, except the guys I don't get good vibes from.

And this Jerk, he's the leader of the guys and gays I don't like around Nandini. I mean just look at the way he looks at her, as if he wants to eat her up on breakfast the next day. NO DOUBLE MEANINGS.

"Harshad...!" I called out with the fakest face possible, trying to hide all the rising anger in a neutral face. "Hmm...", he said dreamily, still concentrating on the closed door. "Voh chali gayi...", I informed as a matter of fact and he coughed to cover up.

"Is it so evident?" He asked casually and I wanted to break the thirty two teeth with which he was smiling his Gay smile as I raised my eye brows to ask WHAT?

"...that I like her..", he smiled dreamily and I got up.

And why the fuck does he like her? I should charge him interest for even looking at her. If she can stay anywhere, it's only in my heart.

I don't want anyone else to look at her the way I do, to make her smile like I do, to think about her like I do, to care for her, to think about her every night, to look at her pictures everyday. That's something only I and I can do. And nobody else, especially not these gays that love roaming around her.

"No. It's not evident." I smiled as I got up.

"Will you help me win her?" He smiled and I sighed rolling my eyes.

Sure. I'd help you win over my girlfriend. Bas yahi kaam tha zindagi mein.

"She is not interested in you..!" I smiled fake. If he wouldn't have been such an important business partner, I would have broken his bones and buried him in the grave.

"But how can you tell that. I'm sure she likes me...", he shyly smiled and I opened my mouth in frustration to say something but shut it again. It's useless.

"Because I know her...", I whispered in irritation as I threw this files away and walked outside my cabin to see all my employees working, and he came behind me.

Does he love her or me? Why the fuck was he roaming behind me?!

"But I feel she likes me. You know we were so close that day-......", he smiled.

"SHUT UP!" I finally shouted as I held his collars. I tried making the monster sleep but he wouldn't agree. "The girl you're talking about is my girlfriend.", I snapped in a cold voice and every single person on the floor stopped working, their eyes looking at us.

There was pin drop silence everywhere as my eyes darted into his shocked ones.

"Zabaan sambhal ke, zyaada uske baare mein bola, toh zabaan kheech lunga....", I coldly whispered and I suddenly felt like some typical movie hero.

A huge sound made me break my trance, as I looked at everyone's shocked faces, especially Nandini. She stood there numb in a corner along with Mukti and Cabir. Where did they come from?

Her face looked so emotionless, as if she'd faint anytime, along with Mukti, who was shocked. And Cabir? He was giving his normal smirk.

I closed my eyes as I realised the mistake I had made. "Do you all think I have been partial with anyone at office?" I asked finally taking a deep breath, looking at all my employees.

It was finally time the world knew. Ishq kiya toh darna kya, right?

There were negative nods everywhere as I walked towards Nandini, putting my hand on her shoulder, holding her right as I blinked my eyes in assurance, and she gave me the most nervous smile I have ever seen on her face. She looked as pale and white as a sheet.

"So, I'd like to introduce you all to one of the most important people of my life, my girlfriend, my love, and my soon to be wife, Nandini.", I smiled. Everyone looked at us in shock until one of them started clapping, soon followed by everyone.

I could sense my girl relaxing with a deep breath as a shy smile took over her face and she hid her face in my chest.

All the claps ceased, except one and the most prominent one. My eyes turned dark as Nandini's small body hid behind mine and the monster's gaze was ready to tear apart the eyes that dare scare my girl.

"Really, Manik? Bohot acha naatak karlete ho tum dono...!" Harshad frowned as he walked towards us. My muscles stiffened and I could hear Nandini gulp her saliva as she held my shirt tighter.

"Kya keh rahi thi tum Nandini, 'I don't maintain personal relations on professional levels'," he mocked quoting her words in the air as he tried reaching her.

"Harshad, Harshad, Harshad... tch, tch, tch." I mocked pushing him away from her.

"The girl you are talking to, is my girlfriend. Sambhaal ke.", I warned for the last time. Once more he points at her, he'd get up straight in hell.

"Your girlfriend? Aur yeh kab hua? I mean, how many times did she sleep to become your girlfriend..", he smiled snobbishly and I heard Nandini supress a sob. My eyes looked at her, her head bent down, as Mukti took her in a side hug, and she kept a hand on her mouth.

"Harshad..." I screamed looking at Nandini's crying face as my fisted hand landed up right in his chin, and he fell back.

"Bolo na Nandini, I will also give you all the money, mere saath bhi so jao!" He shouted rubbing his neck as he got up. This Gay has some guts.

"How much did you pay this slut buddy-...", he asked and another punch landed on his stomach. But this time, it was not me, it was Cabir.

"Jisko tu aise disrespect karr raha hai na, jaan hai meri voh!" He screamed holding Harshada collar. It was the first time I had seen Cabir so angry.

"Dekh lunga tum dono ko, aur isko bhi...", Harshad gritted, his eyes aimed at Nandini as I stood in front of her, covering her from his filthy eyes.

"Ab jaa saale....", Cabir said kicking him as he tripped once before walking out raising his collars.

"Nandini..", I turned towards her, cupping her cheek. Her face was bent down, silent tears flowing out.

I can't even imagine what she must be going through, it was like a repeat Soha telecast for her.

"I.. I'm sorry..", I whispered rubbing my thumbs on her cheeks, wiping off her tears.

"Why-.. *hiccup* are-.. you sorry Manik, I- *hiccup* am sorry, mere vajeh se yeh sab hua...", she sobbed.

"Nandini!" I sighed as I pulled her into a Home crushing hug, forgetting I was in my office, forgetting many employees were looking at me, forgetting I had a reputation to maintain. Nandini was important to me then everything else in this whole wide world.

"Ssshh baby. Pyaar kiya hai, galti nahi. Be proud, not ashamed", I smiled lifting her head with my fingers and she smiled weakly.

We looked around to see everyone looking at u with admiration. "It's okay sir, we wouldn't tell anyone..", one of them said, as if snatching away my thoughts.

"Thank you so much!" I smiled in gratitude as I took Nandini's hand in mine, entwining it and we walking inside the cabin, Cabir and Mukti following us.

She sat on the couch silently as I leaned in front of her, her hands in mine and our entwined hands on her lap. Her gaze was fixed at our hands and mine at hers, as I waited for her to say something. Cabir and Mukti impatiently moves around the room.

"Gussa ho mujhse?" She finally asked and I let out a chuckle in amusement. Is this girl ulta?

"You should be angry with me, I just said so much without you consultation princess..", I smiled, my hand rubbing her cheek and she caressed my hand on hers.

"But it happened because of me-....", she sobbed again, a lone tear flowing out.

"Sshhh. What's important is that we faced it, together!" I smiled and she nodded positively.

"Together...", she repeated, smiling with tear filled eyes as I picked our hands to kiss them.

"Aur hum bhi the tumhaare together mein", Cabir pouted, interfering as I dropped our hands which never reached my lips as I sighed and got up.

"Cabir, mere paas tere liye ek degree hai...", I fake smiled. "Kaunsi?" He asked, hope twinkling in his eyes.

"Mera romance disturb karne ki...", I gritted and he gave a proud look as Mukti and Nandini laughed.

"Haa voh toh hai, usme toh mein proffessional hu!" He proudly accepted and I sighed while the girls giggled as Cabir sat between them on the couch.

They were busy talking but Nandini's eyes were fixed upon mine with a smile as I continued my work in the thrown files. As our eyes met, she smiled more, and I happily returned it.

She was the girl I could turn the world upside down for, I could bring anything for her, the most expensive and the most antique. I could do wonders for her with all the money I had. But she never cared about all this. Because she didn't love my money, she loved me.

And her smile was all I ever wanted. Forever.

~•~

~I wish I could explain your eyes, and how the sound of your voice gives me butterflies, how your smile makes my heart skip a beat and how everytime I'm with you, I feel just so complete~

~•~