Hello Fraaaaaaands! Chaii pee loo! XD

Hahaha sorry that was lame ik!

But hey how are you all? How's life?

As promised chapter is here, and you are gonna enjoy it hopefully.

Happy Reading!

Ps; In lines are my fav!

Chapter 7

Nandini quietly parked her Scotty in the parking of Malhotra Industries. Taking off the helmet she adjusted it over the handle and got down slowly, carefully.

The cold was a bit more than usual today. The fog was everywhere and was making it impossible for everyone to look through clearly.

She hugged her cardigan closer to her torso and took a deep breath.

Heavy eyes, heavy head she felt uneasiness seeping in her body as she tried to shrug off negative thoughts out of her mind and started walking towards the main door of the office when suddenly she was forced to back off with a jerk, because if she wouldn't have done it she must have hit by that car.

The sharp headlights hit her eyes cutting through the fog to which she blinked away.

Both of the doors of the car open simultaneously and the person sitting on the passenger seat came running towards her.

"Nandu!" She heard Cabir's worried voice as he panicked reaching her. She looked at him with a small smile while he held her arms dragging her a little more far from the car.

"Are you out of your mind? Abhi hit ho jata tou? What were you even thinking?" He was ranting checking out for any signs of injury and it made Nandini smiled more.

But before she could reply, she felt his presence near her.

His familiar cologne, his familiar warmth surrounded her nerves and she suddenly shivered hugging her arms around herself unintentionally.

"She must be thinking about her revenge vendettas!" Manik coughed softly near her ear and she bit her lower lip looking down.

Cabir glared at Manik but he wasn't attentive...instead he was staring at the little monster...who wasn't looking less then like a cute little fairy.

With a simple blue jeans, she was wearing a white cotton shirt and a black cardigan. Her jeans lace shoes and ankle socks. Manik didn't find her dressing suitable for this extreme cold. Her hair was tied in a messy bun and there was no cap or a muffler around her neck.

Instead he himself was wearing an overcoat over his blazer, same went with Cabir he was also wearing an overcoat just like Manik's only the color was different. Those coats were gifted by Navya...

He could see her nose getting red and the way she was hugging herself over again clearly told that she was cold. Her eyes were looking swelled and red. Her puffy cheeks looked a bit flattened and the usual shine in her eyes was lost.

Something stirred inside him. All he wanted was to hide her in his arms so that she wouldn't have to feel that cold anymore but how much helpless he was...

Here Nandini, for the first time she had no answer for Manik's taunts. Her mind gobbled as she stared at the handsome who was her everything...she lost him na?

He doesn't love her anymore na? She tried to kill him...though she didn't know but still.

"Am I right? Or Am I right? Nandini?" Manik cleared his throat once again breaking the trance and she stared at him with an alien face...

Nandini SPEAK! Ms. Subconscious tapped her shoulder and she suddenly snapped out.

"Good Morning Sir!" She blurted and Manik raised his one eyebrow before nodding his head.

Why didn't she reply to my taunt with her usual attitude? He asked to Mr. Subconscious to which it simply shrugged and went back to drinking its hot chocolate,

Manik shook his head as Nandini's stare on his face went too much for him to handle without saying anything else he started walking towards the main office and Nandini's face fell.

He hates me...

"Nandu yar? Are you okay?" Now Cabir was asking again and she just nodded at him before Cabir would investigate further...

"Cabir...!" Manik called out both looked at him he had his back at him.

"If your investigation session is over! Take your sister inside! Its fucking cold out here!" He spoke in his usual attitude filled tone and after that he didn't wait for them as he entered the office. Nandini looked at Cabir to which he just shrugged and without conversing further he dragged a shivering Nandini with him. She too followed him with hot steps.

Today she was determined to do everything right.

_______________________________________-

Tucking a lose strand behind her ear Nandini knocked Manik's office door lightly and entered inside. She had almost run behind him leaving a shocked Cabir alone.

She'll perform her duties well.

Manik was opening the buttons of his overcoat when he heard knock on the door and footsteps.

He unintentionally turned and saw Nandini coming towards him.

Aj isko kya hua! Manik thought to himself but didn't say anything and his expressions remained same, cold...

Nandini stood in front of him with small expressions and Manik ignored her concentrated back on his coat when she moved more close to him.

"Layen...main kar deti hoon!" She spoke in a little voice placing her hands over his and Manik paused with shock plastered to his face. He tried finding something on Nandini's face but all there was seriousness and innocence.

Why is she behaving like this? Manik got irritated...he had always liked that furious Nandini now when she was giving an unannounced attention to her it got him frustrated.

"No...!" He suddenly jerked her hand away as she opened the last button to which she held her breath. "I can do it myself!" In spite of trying his best Manik failed to conceal the rudeness in his voice and it made Nandini fists her hands.

Her heart pained but she shook it away.

"Aray esy kesy! Am your secretary! It's my job!" Her voice was confident and Manik felt as if she didn't bother his rudeness. She again came forward and standing on her toes she pushed the coat off his shoulders and taking it in her hands she backed off...

This time Manik didn't resist her and let her do what she wanted. She walked to his dresser and hung the coat over it neatly. Manik ignored her and sat on his chair, opening to his laptop.

Nandini now walked back to him and his moments paused.

She was fidgeting with her hands.

Manik wanted to ignore her but she was irresistible.

Closing his eyes for once he looked up to find her staring at him.

"Kuch kehna hai?" He spoke trying to normalize his voice and she nodded like a baby.

"Kya?" He asked concentrating back on his laptop.

"Coffee? Laoan kya?" She asked innocently and yesterday's events flashed in both of their heads. Manik's movements once again paused as he looked up at her, she was looking so innocent and small.

"Kal mjy almost maar kay sakoon nahi aya?" He was back in his taunt mood and she gulped licking her lips.

"I won't add salt!" She mewed and Manik was staring directly at her face which was turning red due to embarrassment.

He gave her a bizarre look and she just wanted the earth to split in half so that she could hide in it.

"Aik baat btaoa?" Manik asked in a curious tone causing her to look into his eyes directly. "Did you really want me to suffer?" He asked lowly and the pain was visible in his voice.

Nandini wanted to say so much, she wanted to tell him that she never knew about his health, she never expected him to drink that coffee, she wanted to tell him that how much sorry she was to him and most importantly how much she loves him but...her tongue didn't support her.

She opened her mouth so many times to say something but nothing came out, Manik waited but she didn't say anything...

It pained Manik so bad and a sad smile appeared on his face.

"You know what....forget that I even asked!" He spoke softly and shrugged before shaking his head.

"Manik...!" Nandini whimpered and Manik shot her a glare to which her mouth snapped shut.

"SIR!...its Sir!" He snarled shooting fire through eyes and it burnt the fragile feeling of the little angel in front of him.

Something very silently broke inside her without making any sound and it hurt.

"Go....bring the coffee!" He again ordered and this broke Nandini's trance. The next moment she was running out of the office.

Manik slammed his fist on the table as soon as she left and shut the laptop with a jerk.

"You are going to be my death Nandini!" He muttered helplessly and rubbed his temples to ease the depression.

__________-

"Nandini?" Cabir's voice behind her back scared the shit out of her as the cup almost fell of her hands but Cabir steadied it by holding her hands.

"I scared you!" Cabir spoke sheepishly and she let out a small giggle before concentrating on whipping the coffee. She was in the pantry making a coffee for Manik to which Cabir followed her.

"So...boss k liye coffee ban rahi han?" He asked cheerfully jumping on the shelf to sit and Nandini just gave him a smile before nodding her head.

Cabir pouted with a bad face. This was not the Nandini he was familiar with.

"Nandini...I am sorry!" He started with a sigh and Nandini stopped her movements before looking at him giving him a strange look.

"Sorry? Bhai...sorry for what?" She really didn't know what he was talking about and Cabir took the cup from her hands. Then he pulled her near him and held her hands in his.

"For yesterday...the way I told her to leave...I shouldn't have talked to you like this!" He was really sorry and Nandini smiled sadly shaking her head.

"Bhai please! It's me who must be saying sorry!" She told him in a small voice and Cabir sighed. "In my revenge thing I....I risked Manik's life!" Her tone was calm and sad.

"Agar unko kuch ho jata tou? Main khud ko kabhi maaf na kar pati!" Just even the thought of losing Manik was so painful for her that she trembled.

"This is not me Bhai!" Her voice got wet and Cabir got restless as he face palmed.

"Nandini listen to me! Okay?" Before she could blame herself any further Cabir cut her off and she looked at him with tears floating in her eyes.

"First of all! Manik is an ass! He was the one who started it! He was the one who pushed you towards all this! He is the initiator of this dirty game!" Cabir kept speaking and she listened to him like a three year old.

"He's my friend! Aur mjy uska sath dena chaye myny uska sath diya bhi! I know whatever he did was wrong! But Behna! Usk intentions...they were never to be questioned! All he wanted was you! He wanted you to be with him! Uska tareeka galat tha but uski neyat saaf the Nandini!" Cabir was almost pleading and tears were making their way down her cheeks.

"And you, my idiot sister! You made it all a revenge scene!? You also acted stubborn just like Manik! You didn't try to understand him!" Cabir let out a sad laugh and slowly wiped Nandini's tears.

"Bhai...main!" She hiccupped bitterly and Cabir got down of the shelf taking Nandini in a hug. So much of comfort she got in his brotherly hug.

"Nandini why are you resisting Manik so much?" Cabir asked sadly patting her head and she backed off wiping her tears.

"Main unkay qabil nahi hoon Bhai!" She let out the sad reality of her life and this made Cabir confused.

"Let Manik decide this Nandini! It's his call!" He said in a bit forced tone and Nandini looked at him.

"You are not understanding Bhai! Its not just about the money and my status!" She spoke lowly and her inside was breaking.

Cabir understood that she was hesitant in telling him the whole thing.

"It's okay I understand! But I think you must explain Manik the reason of you not being with him!" He said in a matter of fact tone and Nandini's stomach twisted in knots.

Manik will hate me...

He will hate me after knowing the truth.

Nandini looked at him and he was looking at her with hope in his eyes.

"Yes...Bhai!" She whispered in a low tone and Cabir smiled brightly.

"That's like my strong sister! Now cheer up! I am sure everything is gonna be okay!" He spoke in his cheery voice and she nodded with a fake smile.

"And yes! Wesay ya salted coffee wala thing...Manik deserved it!" Cabir spoke just to cheer her up and this time she really giggled to which Cair laughed with her.

"Bhai...I am thinking about writing a letter to Mr. Obroi! An apology letter! What do you think?" She was trying to fix the damage she had done to which Cabir scratched his head.

"I think this is not a good idea!" He said sheepishly and Nandini frowned.

"It is the best idea Bhai, it's the only way to mend Manik's reputation! I did it wrong na! I'll fix it! Main maafi mangon ge Mr. Obroi say!" She spoke, almost pleading...she was dying to make herself a better person.

"Nandini! Manik won't like you saying sorry to them! Manik! Wo na khud kise k samny jhukta hai! Na he un logon ko jhukny deta whom he loves! Tou I won't recommend you!" He stated the fact but Nandini shook her head.

"Who will tell him? No one! Unko koi ni btaye ga! I'll talk to Mr. Obroi na! He won't mention the apology thing. He'll pretend that he really wanted to do it and he came back with his own consent!" She spoke still not ready to give up and Cabir sighed rubbing his forehead.

"Nandini if Manik gets to know, he's going to really very angry! You'll invite more trouble for yourself!" Cabir knew Manik's anger and his last night's discussion.

"Kuch bhi nahi hoga! Trust me!" She pleaded and Cabir reluctantly nodded.

"Okay done! Now prepare the coffee and take it to Manik!" He spoke patting her cheek and she smiled while getting back to make his coffee.

__________________________________-

Manik was busy in reading a file when Nandini entered the office with his coffee cup he didn't bother to look up. After all he was in a mood to show a bit of attitude although his heart was doing somersaults.

Nandini quietly came closer and placed the coffee cup without disturbing him.

Manik pretended to be into the file although his whole attention was towards her. after placing the coffee she paused for a moment to look at Manik and then backed off.

Aray...she's leaving! Manik thought sadly behind her back and made a sad pout.

Koi bahana soch...stop her! Mr. Subconscious screamed in excitement and Manik shook his head before...

"Sunoo!" He called out loudly and stopped before turning to him.

"Jee?" She asked softly and Manik cleared his throat.

"How would I know that you haven't made a bitter coffee this time?" He asked raising his eyebrows and folded his hands together on the table to place his chin over it.

Nandini bite her lower lip and walked back to him with slow steps.

Few lose strands came over her face which she tucked back with a bit trembling hands which didn't go unnoticed by Manik.

"Hmm?" Manik hummed looking at her face and she just shrugged.

"Aray...kahen is baar tumny isme zehar tou ni milaya?" He asked with a shocked tone and Nandini's eyes widened with horror...

"No...No Sir! Why would I do this?" She almost shouted in fright and Manik just pouted before nodding his head...

"Because you want me to suffer!" He reasoned with an innocent face and she bite her lower lip to conceal the urge of crying out loud.

"There is no poison in it, Sir!" She spoke with a confident face ignoring his taunt and gulping audibly loud.

"Then prove it?" Manik said with a shrug leaning back into his chair and demanded with eyes. "Take a sip!" He spoke as his gesture was towards the cup.

Nandini frowned at him thinking as if he was joking but all she found was seriousness.

"Par sir!" She left her sentence incomplete...

"Kya hua Nandini? Agar isme poison nahi hai tou don't be so hesitant!" Manik said in a pouty voice and she stared at him confused. Before she could register anything he got up and reached her in a single stride.

"Aur agar isme poison hai tou!" His voice turned huskier as he brought the cup near Nandini's lips pinning her with the table and she was just staring in his eyes with shock and amazement.

"Tou...?" She let out a breathy whisper and a sarcastic smile appeared on Manik's lips which scared Nandini.

"Tou let's die together!" Manik whispered over her face and it took everything for Nandini not to fall on her knees.

"Sath jee nahi skty! Sath mar tou skty hain? Hai na?" He was looking way too dangerous and this time Nandini couldn't resist the tears. Her eyes filled up immediately and at that moment Manik was looking like some devil to her.

Manik could clearly see the tears in her eyes but he didn't stop...

"Drink!" He ordered-whispered and her lower lip wobbled as she moved a little forward to place her lips on the coffee cup.

With loads of difficulty she took a sip and a tear slid over her cheek with that she pushed Manik away, without bothering to listen to him anymore she ran out of his office wiping to her cheek.

As soon as she left Manik closed his eyes and stared at the cup.

The marks of her lips were there...the light pink gloss she was wearing was there only.

That's what he wanted and he got it.

Smiling to himself he placed his own lips exactly where she hers were a few moments back.

"You care...Nandini Murthy! You care!" He thought to himself and sipped the coffee.

It was the sweetest coffee Manik has ever tasted.

More to come buddy! Mr. Subconscious snickered and Manik too smiled remembering the tears in her eyes.

Those tears told so much to Manik.

And he knew he was going to conquer her soon.

________________________________________-

I LOVED THE CHAPTER!

And specially Cabini's conversation.

Manik has gone officially mad! Do you agree?

And what's coming?

More drama and dhamaka is on your way peeps!

Stay tuned!

Tell me your fav scene from the chapter!

Love, Cheers! Mawara