7. FIRST HUG!

Nandini:- Hello Hanky-Panky…….. 

Saying this, she looks at Manik and palms his eyes possessively who is looking at the girl with some unknown thoughts. Manik pouts adorably but Nandini is unaware of the possessiveness which is developing inside her heart for him. 

Nandini:- ( whisper yelled in Manik’s ears ) stop checking out her. This is what Ritu aunty taught you? Wait!……. I will complain to her about this act. 

Manik:- Nandini, I wasn’t checking out her. I was just looking at her. 

Nandini:- in my language “just looking at her” means checking out. 

Manik:- ( innocently ) oh….. Sorry. I didn’t know about it. Next time I will keep it in my mind. 

Nandini looks at him with admiration because he agreed with her without any arguments. This quality won her heart. While on the other side, the girl spat angrily. 

The girl:- shut up! You bitc*. 

Manik removed Nandini’s hand from his eyes and glared at the girl with anger. 

Manik:- she is not a bitc*. You are a bitc* Miss Hanky-Panky. 

The girl:- ( angrily ) Hey you!…… stop calling me that. 

Hearing Manik, Nandini looks at him with astonishment again because he is taking a stand for her and shouting at a girl for her which is not so him but the girl’s reply made her lose her temper. 

Nandini:- and you stop wearing Hankies in the office. This is an office not some fuc*ing club of yours. 

Manik gasped hearing her swear and hissed timidly. 

Manik:- Nandini……. Swearing is bad. You are a good girl. So, you should not do that. 

Nandini:- ( with red eyes ) Manik, teach these manners to your kids. She deserves that and how can she shout at you for no reason? 

Manik nods scaredly because her red eyes are the world’s most dangerous eyes which can scare anyone. 

Manik:- but I have no problem…… 

Before he could complete his sentence Nandini cut him angrily. 

Nandini:- but I have! No one has the right to shout at you when your friend is here. 

Manik:- ( innocently ) who is my friend? 

Nandini:- ( while gritting her teeth ) Am I invisible to you? 

Manik looks at her with wide eyes and asks with an open mouth. 

Manik:- You? 

Nandini:- ( sarcastically ) or who? ( pointing to the girl ) This HANKY-PANKY? 

Manik shakes his head weirdly and speaks in a whisper. 

Manik:- I didn’t even carry hankies so how can I befriend HANKY-PANKY? 

The girl:- ( yelled on top of her voice ) for god’s sake guys, I have a pretty name “RASH” so, call me that. 

Nandini:- ok…ok…. Cool down, girl!….. I am not deaf. Sometimes I doubt whether your tongue is sharper than your heels or your heels are sharper than your tongue.   

Hearing the clever remark of hers’ Manik couldn’t stop his giggles and palms his lips to hide that smile not wanting to embarrass anyone. Seeing his smile, Rash got angry and shouted at him, making him scared. 

Rash:- shut up!……. SMILING AGENT! 

Nandini got angry again seeing her audacity to shout at Manik and call him with different names. 

Nandini:- you shut up! HANKY’S FACTORY!

Rash passed them angry looks which didn’t affect them at all. 

Rash:- don’t you think that you are disrespecting me? 

Nandini:- ( with a lip tight smile ) I don’t think so because I am doing that! 

Manik goes all aww on Nandini’s witty remarks and looks at Rash’s red face which is looking like a monkey. 

Rash:- leave it you will not understand. By the way, I come here to tell you that sir is calling you and your that useless singer too in his cabin. 

Hearing the useless word Manik went into his past and his smile dropped in a second which was noticed by Nandini. 

Nandini:- You are useless, Rash, not he and soon you will accept that. He is a rising star. One day you will run after him but he will not even recognize your presence, Mark my words. He has his talent with him, not unlike you who are working here because of your father. 

Rash:- He… or star? ( pointing at Manik who is looking at Nandini without blinking ) you are dreaming, Nandini. Just look at him, from which angels does he look like a star? He just has a good voice but not everyone with a good voice is a singer. So, don’t waste your time on this useless boy and get another chick to work on it. 

Saying this, she left the cabin with a smirk leaving a fuming Nandini behind. 

Nandini:- ( with a bad face ) god!!! Why does Boss give a job to this HANKY? Can’t he find any shirt or trousers for the job at her place? 

Saying some harmful curses, She looks at Manik who is lost in deep thinking and on the verge of crying. She wipes that big drop of tear from his left eye and caresses his cheek. 

Nandini:- don’t take her talks seriously, MY SHY BOY. She is bitter than bitter gourd ( karela ) and her thoughts are smaller than her dress. 

A small chuckle left Manik’s mouth hearing her whereas the same smile reflected on her lips. Giving a damn to her surroundings she shakes her hands around his neck and takes him in a tight hug in a sitting position. He too wrapped his hands around her waist tightening the hug. This is their first-ever hug which brings so much peace. Both are coming closer but Nandini is unknown to their closeness. Whereas Manik is aware of the rising feeling which he didn’t want to name because of his bad experience in the same. Indeed they met just a day ago but the connection and chemistry they share look like they are meant to be. 

Manik snuggles in her arms and says like an innocent kid. 

Manik:- I am not a useless singer, Nandini. I will prove them wrong. 

Hearing him, Nandini immediately shook her head and broke the hug, snatching his peace but he kept quiet. 

Nandini:- you don’t have to prove anyone wrong, Shy boy. If you will prove her wrong then, the next day some other will stand up to defame you. YOU HAVE TO PROVE YOURSELF JUST FOR YOURSELF. This society always finds mistakes, even in the diamond then who you are. 

Manik:- you trust me? 

He asked with a high hope but Nandini’s reply shattered his hope. 

Nandini:- No…… I trust myself that I will train you like everyone says that rockstar ho toh aisa warna na ho! 

Manik palmed his face and understood that she came back in her notorious mood. He too changes the topic to bring a smile to her face which becomes his solace. 

Manik:- By the way, Nandini, Hanky-panky is a better name than Rash. 

Nandini:- ( flipping her hair in attitude ) I KNOW!!! Let’s go. Boss would be waiting for us. 

Manik nods and both walk side by side to Cabir’s cabin where their boss is waiting for them anxiously.

Cabir:- Finally!!! Like finally….. Thank you for gracing my cabin with your presence. I called you guys an hour ago and you are coming now, great! 

Nandini:- ( making a place on a chair in front of Cabir ) Woh Boss, we had work as we are not as free as you. So, that’s why we got late. 

Cabir:- ( murmurs ) this girl will never simply answer a question. ( getting offended with her recent statement ) You thought that I am resting here? 

Nandini:- we are not saying that because WE KNOW! 

Manik:- ( murmurs ) yeh ladki aaj mera juloos nikalwayegi. ( today, she will take out my parade. ) ( to Cabir ) Sir, WE mean only SHE! Don’t count me with her. I know you are a hardworking and dedicated person at work. 

Cabir raised his imaginary collar listening to his praises but how can Nandini let him be in peace. 

Nandini:- ninja technique to butter boss for a higher salary. 

This makes Manik speechless whereas Cabir chokes. 

Cabir:- ( palming his face ) Kya karu mai is ladki ka? ( what will I do about her? ) 

Nandini:- don’t waste my time, Boss. I have a date! My love is waiting for me in the canteen. So, say for what you called us? 

Before Cabir could say anything Manik shouts on top of his tone making him shocked seeing Manik’s behavior.  

Manik:- ( with wide eyes ) YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND? 

Nandini:- ( cooly ) No…. 

Manik:- ( innocently ) toh….. GIRLFRIEND? 

Listening to his question, Nandini shoots daggers at him declaring her answer without even saying a word. 

Manik:- ( with a bright smile ) so, the answer is no! ( exhale a breath which he held unknowingly ) 

Cabir:- ( curiously with a tinge of protectiveness for his sister ) then, who is waiting for you in the canteen? 

Nandini:- ( while licking her lips ) MY FOOD!!! 

Both the mans’ banged their heads on the table seeing her craziness for the food. 

To be continued…

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