Hello peeps!

Sorry for the delay! No excuses at all...

Enjoy the chapter and inline comments are my fav!

PS; The chapter is dedicated to my best friend taurus_hafsa

Happy Reading!

Chapter 5

"Yes Mr. Obroi! Yes! You can come to my office then we can discuss the details!" Manik spoke almost hastily on the phone as he got down of his car and locked it. "No...the conditions you have put are relatable!" He added running a rough hand through his hair as he walked towards the main entrance of Malhotra industries but before he could open the door a girly hand reached over his and pulled the door with full force.

Manik was not at all ready for some intruder so he didn't get the time to move back as a result the door hit his nose hard causing him to shriek in pain and the phone also slipped off his hand.

"What the HELL?" He screamed out in extreme anger holding to his nose and turned to the girl but once again he was not surprised at all because she was none other than the little monster who was the cause of Manik's sleepless nights.

Wearing a red crop top with a simple jeans and flat pomp she was looking younger than her own age.

"Sir!" Nandini chimed sarcastically in a chirpy voice and Manik glared at her.

"Ap dekh kar nahi chal skty?" She asked with a small innocent face and Manik gave her a 'like seriously' look...

"Main? Main dekh kar nahi chal raha tha?" He asked in a anger filled shocked tone and Nandini pouted sweetly. "Tum peechy say aie and pulled the door!" He tried to tell her, the mistake and her jaw dropped open.

"No Sir! Main peachy say nahi aie! Actually ap rasty main aa gye! Main tou oper ja rahi the office main!" Her innocent and lame talks were enough to test Manik's patience as he gritted his teeth to which Nandini enjoyed to the fullest.

"You!" Manik spoke angrily coming forward and she backed off dramatically.

"I'll see you at the office!" Nandini chimed once again and before Manik could catch her she run inside.

Manik fisted his hands and took deep breaths.

His nose was still paining!

"DAMN!" He muttered shaking his head.

"Dekh loonga tumhy!" He screamed in his head and sighed...

________________________________-

Holding to his already paining nose Manik almost stormed towards his office as he passed through the corridor the scene in front of him left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Nandini laughed on something very loudly and hi-fived with Cabir to which he also laughed holding to his stomach.

Manik stormed towards both and as soon as the duo noticed his presence they both stood straight like commandos, full attentive with hands on their back which irritated Manik more.

"What is happening?" He almost roared staring at both with murderous look. Cabir looked at Nandini and Nandini looked at Cabir. Both raised their eyebrows deciding something in eyes.

Then they looked at Manik and showed him their bateesi...

"Wo Sir...Cabir Sir was telling me today's task!" Nandini spoke with a bright smile and Manik looked at Cabir for confirmation.

"Yes! Oh yes!" Cabir too spoke bobbing his head up and down but Manik was still suspicious.

"Esa konsa aj ka task hai Cabir, which was so funny k you both were laughing like crazy??" Manik snarled in a sweet voice and Nandini again let out a small giggle to which Manik gave her a strong glare. Her giggle came to a halt immediately and she looked down but her eyes were still laughing.

"Yahan aa kar hasny ki salary deta hoon me tum dono ko?" Manik's tone was still the same and Cabir shook his head in amusement.

"So get back to your work! We have a meeting with Obroi's at 12! Prepare for it!" He announced in his professional bossy tone and giving duo a final stern look he walked inside his office.

As soon as he disappeared from the scene CabiNi started laughing again.

"Oh God Nandini! You are so funny!" Cabir spoke huffing a breath and she giggled more.

"Aray ya tou kuch bhi nahi hai! Mery sath rahain gay tou I'll tell you jokes everyday!" She spoke in her bubbly voice and Cabir just smiled staring at the tiny girl in front of him.

"I know whatever Manik did...it was wrong!" He started stating in a serious tone but Nandini cut him off shaking her head.

"Mjy Manik kay baary main koi safai mat dainn!" She spoke in a final tone and Cabir sighed. "Whatever he has done...I can't forget it!" She added in a sad tone and Cabir came close patting to her head.

"Although he is my friend! But you remember one thing Nandini!" He spoke lovingly looking into her eyes affectionately. "You are not alone into this! I am here! Your brother!" His words mesmerized Nandini as she was amazed how easily he made out a beautiful relationship between them...

"Okay?" Cabir asked for confirmation and she bobbed her cutely while tears shone in her eyes.

"Okay...Bhai!" She whispered in an emotional tone and Cabir shook his head.

"So now! You go inside your boss's office otherwise he's gonna kill both of us!" He spoke shoo-ing her with hands and she smiled nodding her head while Cabir walked to his Cabin.

Okay....She took a deep breath.

Let's do this!

She thought with a naughty mind and immediately plastered an innocent smile as she knocked the door of Manik's office.

"YES!" His authoritative voice came from inside and it definitely did funny things in Nandini's stomach.

She entered the office with slow steps and saw Manik standing near his glass window. His back was at Nandini.

She easily got the chance to stare at his back. He was wearing a black tux with a light blue shirt the pants were complimenting the tux and he looked ethereal...handsome and oh so hot...

His back muscles rippled as he took soft breaths and stared at particularly nowhere. An urge of touching this man with all rights aroused in her heart and her hands fisted to her sides.

You are staring! Ms. Subconscious shouted in an excited tone and Nandini suddenly got embarrassed as she looked down to her feet.

I...I am just looking there's a difference! Nandini tried to reason but Ms. Subconscious started laughing.

Nandini bite her lower lip as she realized that she has no right over this man.

A girl like her...daughter of a prostitute can never even dream of a man like Manik Malhotra...

She has no right to love him...neither she can give anyone the right to love her.

"Koi kaam tha?" Manik's handsome voice broke her trance as she looked at him with a jerk breaking through her thoughts and found Manik staring at her from a distance.

"Wo...wo!" Her head suddenly fumbled and Manik raised his eyebrow. Demanding the answer.

"Good Morning Sir!" She blurted out and bit her tongue while Manik stared at her aghast.

Fool Nandini! Get a grip of yourself!

"You greeted me too early!" He spoke in a teasing voice and Nandini finally composed herself.

"It's better to be late then to be never?" She said with a small pout giving him a back fire and Manik chuckled.

"Yes...ofcourse!" He muttered under his breath and Nandini gulped.

Normal...Nandini...

She took a deep breath and shook her head.

"My...today's task?" She finally spoke with a strong smile and Manik who was staring at her fairy face came out of his thoughts.

"Yeah....yeah! Come!" He spoke nodding his head and walked back to his desk while Nandini followed him slowly with tongue in cheek.

"Here!" Manik spoke with a small pause he had a flash drive in his hands as he extended it towards Nandini.

"This flash has the most important project of this week! The meeting we are going to have at lunch time! This drive has that data! Usko slides me highlight karna hai!" Manik explained the task in his typical professional tone while unbuttoning his blazer and Nandini was nodding her head staring at his movements.

"You know how to use powerpoint or shall I ask Cabir to give you a hand?" Manik asked curiously but softly clearly he was not asking this to insult but her but Nandini made a bad face obviously taking it all wrong.

"I know how to use all these software's!" She spoke in a rude voice and Manik tilted his a little taking a sigh.

"Well that's good now come here!" He was calm and turned around.

It made Nandini confused.

"Why? What?" She asked in a small voice and Manik turned his head a little back to look at Nandini.

"You are my secretary! So according to that you gotta take of my blazer and must hang it on the stand! And whenever I'll be leaving the office you'll help me wear it again! GOT IT?" Manik's strict, professional, sarcastic and threatening tone while Nandini stood gritting her teeth.

"Ap...ap had say barh ray hain!" She suddenly spoke in a loud voice and Manik turned with a deadly glare. In a second he towered her and she instinctively backed off over the desk putting her palms over it.

"Meri had tum mjhy na he btao tou behtar hoga!" Manik started in a dangerous tone looking somewhere deep in her eyes while Nandini's expressions were dark. "Meri had kya hai ya tumhy maloom nahi!" He added once again and his voice was tuning huskier which made Nandini's inside tremble badly.

"Aur tumhy kya pata!" His tone was seductive as he eyed her lips and an immediate crimson color spread across her cheeks. "Main apni had..." He was speaking lowly...slowly and his thumb reached her lips. "Cross kar chukka hoon...maybe!" He spoke with a small shrug as him kissing her when she was asleep appeared in his mind and he rubbed her lips while Nandini's eyes turned wide as saucers.

"You...! Wouldn't dare!" She was speechless and suddenly she pushed him away.

"Aur mery sath...tameez say baat kiya Karen ap!" She tried to look confident and wiped the sweat which was appearing on her forehead.

Manik chuckled and shook his head.

"Khud mjy badtameezi pay majboor karti ho aur phr esy bolti ho!" He spoke in an innocent tone.

Nandini fisted her hands tightly before angrily turning Manik with her own hands leaving him amused and shrugged off his blazer. Then she marched towards the dressing stand and hung it neatly while Manik mentally patted himself.

Jab ghee seedhi ungli say na niklay tou ungli teedhi karni he parti hai! He thought himself with great amusement and gave Nandini an innocent smile to which she gave him a glare.

Then she grabbed the flash drive and started walking out of the office.

Something naughty hit Manik's mind and he suppressed a smile before...

"Sunooo!" He called out loudly and she stopped but didn't turn.

"Kya hai?" She barked angrily and Manik made a baby face.

How rude!

"Coffee lay k aoa!" He ordered in a teasing tone and it burned Nandini inside out. She gritted her teeth badly and snarled an 'okay sir' before storming out of the office leaving a chuckling Manik alone.

________________________________-

"You gotta take of my blazer and must hang it on the stand! And whenever I'll be leaving the office you'll help me wear it again! GOT IT?" Nandini mumbled to herself Manik's dialogue standing in the pantry and whipped the coffee in Manik's special mug.

"Baray aye! Take off my blazer! HUHHH!" She was so furious and her inside was burning in the fire of revenge.

"What does he think of me? A slave? Coffee laoa!" She again mumbled staring at the coffee cup as if she'll throw it in the wall.

"He thinks I am weak! He's in power because he have this money! But Manik Malhotra you can't buy me!" Her mind was full of poison and evil thoughts.

She wanted to tease him.

"Kya karon?" She asked looking towards the roof and thought helplessly. "Aiyappa ap he kuch help karo?" She asked with a pout and looked around with a bored face until her eyes landed on salt.

Her eyes lit up like a twinkling star and a naughty smile appeared on her face.

"Manik Malhotra! Kabhi salted coffee pee hai?" She spoke innocently staring at his dashing black cup and giggled to herself.

Plan hit hai!

_______________________________-

"I think you must call those models on Monday! We'll be able to deal them better when we'll be free from all these meetings!" Manik spoke rolling the paper weight in his hands and Cabir nodded still tapping on his working gadget.

"And what about Tara Raaj?" Cabit took the name of the famous or we should say the most infamous model of Mumbai.

Manik shrugged and sighed on her name.

"Han! Call her too! Her fan following is increasing day by day which is surprising but definitely beneficial for us!" He spoke in a casual tone as he gestured Nandini to come in with his coffee cup but he didn't realize that the mention of Tara Raaj had left a bitter taste in Nandini's mouth.

"Tara Raaj?" She said in a little voice looking at Cabir and placed Manik's cup on his table.

"Yeah! We are going to have a fashion week next month! For that we are gathering good models! Tara is a good choice!" Cabir said in his usual tone looking at Manik for confirmation and Manik nodded.

"Yes! She can be the show stopper!" He spoke with the same casualty.

Nandini stared at Manik in disbelief.

"She ? The show stopper? Why her?" She failed to hide her frustration and this time Manik and Cabir both looked at her with amazed expressions.

"What's wrong with her?" Cabir asked staring at her red tomato face and Nandini looked at Manik whose curious eyes were demanding a fair answer.

"She...is!" Nandini tried to find suitable words to define that cheap lady.

Tara Raaj was never in Nandini's good books. When Nandini was working under a journalist she had published an article about her ugly works and Tara Raaj came to her office.

Both had cats and dogs fight but obviously she won't be telling all this to ManBir.

"She is?" Manik demanded and Nandini bite her lower lip.

"She is not a good person!" Nandini blurted out and ManBir let out a chuckle together.

"Behna! We all have evils in us! Zarori nahi if she's a notorious model tou uska heart bhi wesa ho! We can't judge!" Cabir said softly patting her head and she just nodded with a heavy heart of course she can't tell them that how much that cheap lady insulted her.

Gathering his things Cabir took his leave while Manik was still staring at Nandini's sad face.

"You okay? Nandini?" His concerned voice broke her trance and she looked at Manik.

For a second she failed to hide the pain in her eyes and within seconds it made Manik so much restless. He got up from his seat and came forward.

"Nandini? Kya hua?" He was so worried and sad after seeing her like this.

For few moments she stared in his eyes and her eyes got teary.

How much she wanted to hide herself in his warmth and didn't want to face the cold weather.

How much she wanted to sleep in his strong protective arms without any fear.

She wanted to weep till her last tear on his shoulder but she knew she can't...

But she knew her limits...she knew her status.

She suddenly looked away from his eyes and composed herself.

"No...nothing!" She spoke in a cheerful tone shaking her head and Manik was still in a fix.

"You were sad!" He blurted out and Nandini let out a small chuckle.

Of course it was fake.

"Ap...coffee? Ni piyain gay?" She maintained her cheerfulness diverting the topic and pointed towards the coffee which was getting cold.

Her revenge plan was still hanging in the middle.

Manik too took a sigh and sat back on his chair.

"Yeah...I'll have it! You go and prepare the slides! We have only few hours left!" He spoke in a strange tone and Nandini bite her lower lip as now Manik picked up the cup to sip the coffee.

For a instance Nandini wanted to stop Manik from sipping that tasteless coffee.

"Manik!" Suddenly she spoke out when Manik was about to sip it and he paused with a jerk.

He raised his eyebrow to ask what?

"I mean Sir! Main jaoan?" She blurted out and Manik nodded softly once again concentrating towards his coffee.

Nandini turned with a hammering heart and waited for Manik to call her name in anger as she slowly walked towards the exit door but all she heard was his little cough.

She tilted her head a little to get another shock of her life.

Manik was calmly sipping the coffee while reading a file.

Something stirred inside of her which made her heart beat erratically loud so without any other second being wasted she run out of his office holding to her poor heart with her both hands.

Why didn't he scold her?

On the other hand Manik calmly drank the bitterest coffee of his life why?

Because it was the first edible which his Nandini made for him and it will be so rude of him if he'll throw it away.

Chal Manik...aj ya Salted coffee mili hai kise din Sugar coffee bhi mil he jye ge! His subconscious winked at Manik and both hi-fived with each other.

Manik was determined about not giving up on his girl.

____________________________-

"I clearly remember that I added three big spoons of salt in his coffee! How did he drink it? Why didn't he get annoyed?" She mumbled to herself helplessly and typed the presentation on the laptop.

"How much I want him to react! I want him to be gussa on me! So gussa that he'll throw me out of his office himself!" She again thought and added another slide.

"But ajeeb hain! Koi reaction he nahi dety?" She was getting angry on Manik's 'thusss' response.

"Kuch tou aur bhi karna pary ga!" She spoke with a bad face and stared at her laptop thinking of something evil when suddenly her eyes got fixed on the slides of the presentation.

"Most important project of this week!" Manik's words rang in her head and once again an evil smile appeared on her lips.

"It's gonna be some serious fun Manik!" She giggled and went back to work...

Another game was ON!

_______________________________

It was 11;55 pm when the door of the elevator dinged and Manik stood straight with confident face while Cabir stood on his right side with his usual bubbly smile. Nandini was a step behind Manik with a paper and a notepad in her hands. She was the most uninterested person in the whole scenario as she chewed to the chewing gum in her mouth leisurely.

She could see Obroi's stepping out of the elevator and coming towards Manik. She carelessly threw her ponytail to her back and made a bubble out of her chewing gum.

"Nandini! Behave!" Instead of Manik's back at her he pointed her out in a light whisper and she started digging holes in his head with her eyes.

He has two eyes in the back of his head too? huhhh?

"Good afternoon MR. Malhotra!" The one in black dress spoke politely as he shook hand with Manik. Nandini finally took in the appearance of those three people who were standing in professional raiment in front of Manik that too with so much of respect. They all were of different ages and attire. The eldest one was the first to shake hand.

Agar inko pata chal jye k ya Manik Malhotra ni Zalim Malhotra hain tou ya foran meeting cancel kar den! Nandini thought to herself with a bad face and looked away from them with a 'huhh' face.

"Afternoon Mr. Obroi! It's an honor to have you here with us!" Manik spoke with a small nod smiling brightly and the guests too smiled at him.

"Here! Meet my right hand, my friend, my brother, my manager! Cabir Dhawan!" This time Manik introduced Cabir looking at him and instead of having zero percent interest Nandini smiled on the way Manik's choice of words. Now everyone shook hands with Cabir too, to which he also had a very bright smile on his face.

"And who is the lady behind you?" This time the one of the guest who looked in his early twenties and was the youngest said eyeing at Nandini which made her frown.

Unintentionally she tried hiding behind Manik's broad back and didn't dare to look at him again.

His eyes had something which made her feel uncomfortable.

"Umm she! She's my secretary! Very personal assistant! Like someone very important to me! Nandini Murthy!" Manik introduced her in a composed tone emphasizing on 'very' and the young guest whose name was Abhishek nodded with an evil sweet smile.

Something stirred inside Nandini as she realized her position and she looked down again.

"And she's my sister too! She wanted to work in office so Manik Sir gave her the post!" Cabir's introduction suddenly made her so respectable in her own eyes and she looked at him with so much of thankfulness who was looking back at her with a smile.

"Oh your sister?" This struck Abhishek and Cabir nodded without hesitation. This time Abhishek's smile went dull while suddenly Nandini felt confident and came out of Manik's back giving Abhishek a teasing smile to which he made a bad face.

"Ok gentlemen let's get to the conference room!" Manik announced to avoid further introduction session and everyone followed him.

______________________________-

They all got seated with Nandini close to Manik and Cabir setting up the presentation file on the projector.

Nandini was still too much into the lovely introduction which Cabir and Manik gave her that she forgot about her evil plan.

"Nandu? The flash?!" Cabir asked about the drive which had the presentation and Nandini without even thinking handed it to him.

As soon as she gave it to Cabir the thing hit her head.

Aiyappa! Badlay ki aag me I replaced the presentation slides with cartoons! What the hell I did! Ab kya hoga? She thought to herself too much worried for whatever she has done and bit her nails in anxiety looking at Manik who was smiling at her.

Then she looked at Cabir who also had a smile on his face as he attached the flash with his laptop.

Just a few minutes ago they had given her so much of respect and what's gonna happen now?

Aiyappa! Dushmani tou meri Manik say the! Here tou Cabir bhai will also get embarrassed! Ya kya kar diya myny? She was too much worried as she saw Cabir opening the file and she closed her eyes in regret.

One...

Two....

Three...

"WOW!" Abhishek's sarcastic voice forced her to open her eyes as she looked at the projector's screen.

Tom was running behind Jerry and Jerry was showing him his tongue.

She looked at Manik who had his eyes flaring with anger and Cabir also had his smile vanished away.

"Ap nay humy yahan Tom and Jerry dekhny k liye bulaya hai? Mr. Malhotra?" Mr. Obroi asked in an interrogating voice and Manik looked at Nandini with a strong glare who looked down in so much of regret.

"I...think there's some mistake!" Cabir tried to cover and Manik just wanted to snap on Nandini.

"Mistake? Is that even a joke? Itne professional meeting ko apny aik third class cartoon movie bana diya?" Abhishek spoke in anger getting up from his chair and Manik kept quiet. He was just glaring at Nandini who didn't had the courage to face Cabir and Manik.

"No sir....please don't leave! We can find a way!" Cabir pleaded as the guests started walking out the room.

"No Mr. Dhawan! Looks like Mr. Malhotra himself not interested in doing this project with us because he ain't speaking a word!" Mr. Obroi snapped at Cabir and the next second the guests were gone.

Nandini's plams turned sweaty as she knew Manik will kill her but he didn't say anything instead he got up from his chair and stormed out of the office leaving a scared Nandini and worried Cabir alone with each other.

"Nandu! What was that?" Cabir asked sadly looking at Nandini's lowered face and she looked at Cabir with a small face.

"Bhai...I am sorry! I didn't know k all this will get so serious! I wanted Manik to get angry but I didn't realize that Manik ki reputation sirf unki nahi...apki bhi hai aur this whole company! I am sorry! I didn't mean it that way!" She spoke stammering and knotting her hands worriedly.

"You shouldn't have done this behna! Manik is very angry!" Cabir spoke rubbing his forehead and this made Nandini more sad.

"What should I do?" She asked like a small baby and Cabir shook his head.

"Just go to your cabin and don't disturb Manik! he'll be fine!" He spoke with a shrug and she just nodded sadly.

_________________________-

The clock struck 6 pm of the evening and it was time for everyone to leave but she sat glued to her seat.

I wanted Manik to be angry...to get embarrassed in front of everyone but now when it's happening then why am I feeling so bad! She thought to herself with a crying face and fisted her hands tightly.

Because in spite of whatever happened you still love that man! Ms. Subconscious spoke with a bad face and Nandini sighed helplessly.

What should I do?

He hasn't called me since that failed meeting.

Should I go and talk to him?

I think I must go and talk to him.

Yes...better idea.

Deciding this thing in her head she got up and almost run towards Manik's office.

Without knocking for once she entered inside but to her shock...Manik wasn't there.

"Sir? Helloo?" She called for him and looked around.

The laptop was on standby his working pen was left open on the place...looks like he was there few moments ago.

"Sir?" She called again this time worriedly...something wasn't right.

Before she could register anything she heard some sound coming from washroom.

Manik!

She rushed towards the bathroom and knocked it.

"Manik?" She called out panicking and tapped the door furiously it went opening.

The inside scenario made her heart stopped as she saw Manik bending over the washbasin and throwing up.

"Manik! Manik!" She screamed crazily and run to get him..

Manik threw up once again.

She rubbed his back with her hand as she didn't know what to do...

This situation was so new to her.

She felt Manik's whole body covered with sweat and her own hands trembled.

"Manik...idher dekhain!" She spoke stammering and forcefully turned Manik towards her as she quickly opened the first few buttons of his shirt to avoid suffocation with that she rubbed the sweat of his forehead.

Manik had his eyes closed as he took breaths. He could only feel Nandini...only Nandini around him.

Nandini opened the water tap and turned Manik back towards the washbasin.

"Let's wash your face Manik!" She spoke softly and still too much worried as she threw fresh cold water on Manik's face which made him felt good.

After that she made him turn towards her once again and before Nandini could react Manik almost fell over her...

This made Nandini's breath stopped and her body stilled.

"Manik...!" She whimpered lowly and felt Manik's hand caging her inside him.

"Please!" He whispered weakly hugging her more closer and Nandini failed to comprehend that what was that please for?

So without thinking further she hugged him back.

"BE....with me!" Manik whimpered again and his voice had something...something heartbreaking that Nandini was forced to hug him tighter.

There was so much of heat and sweat coming out of his body.

The remained like that for few moments and Nandini slowly walked Manik out of the bathroom towards the couch.

With a little push she made Manik fall over it and fell along with him.

Her own breath was so ragging...Manik's proximity was too much for her to handle..

"Manik!" She called him wriggling out of his grip as he was not letting her go while his breath was getting heavier and deeper with every passing second.

"Stay!" Nandini felt his voice coming out of some well...

"Manik ap theek nahi ho!" She cried out staring at his closed face where was only sweat and it was turning red. "Let me call Cabir Bhai!" She pleaded once again trying to break free from his grip...

"Nan...!" Manik's voice dipped and his grip loosened badly...

"Manik?!" Nandini called him but there was no response...

"Manik?" She again called tapping his cheeks but he didn't respond.

"Manik!!!" She screamed like a maniac calling his name...

"Manik talk to me!!!!" She cried her lungs out but Manik was unconscious....

Aiyappa! NOO! NOOO!

Her tears broke out of her eyes and she knew if something happened to this man she'll also die...

_____________________________-

OMG! What the fuck happened to Manik...such a strong man got unconscious?

Why?

Well there is a reason of course!

You wanna know? Then wait for the next chapter!

Tell me how was it?

Are you gussa on Nandini or is she doing fair?

Lemme know!

Love, Cheers! Mawara