An Arranged Journey To Forever

Part 17

Nandini woke up with a soft groan as the sunlight peeked through the curtains. Blinking, she took in her surroundings. It took her a moment to process what had happened—everyone had fallen asleep in the hall after watching the movie. Her head was resting on the headrest, and Manik was lying with his head on her lap, still in a deep sleep. His face was peaceful, a stark contrast to the usual whirlwind of emotions around him. The others were all spread out on the couches and the floor, snoozing away as well.

Manik shifted slightly, snuggling closer to her, his arm tightening around her waist. She smiled, her heart skipping a beat.

Gently, she leaned down and whispered in his ear, "Good morning, get up, Manik."

He let out a sleepy hum, nuzzling deeper into her. She couldn't help but laugh quietly.

"Manik," she said, her voice more insistent this time, "We need to leave for the office, remember? Interior meetings today."

"Hmmm... two minutes," he mumbled, his voice full of sleep.

Nandini raised an eyebrow. "Manik," she said, a teasing edge to her voice, "Get up now."

Startled, Manik shot up, his eyes wide. He looked at her, blinking in confusion before groaning. "What?"

Nandini smirked, clearly enjoying his sleepy reaction. "Good, now freshen up. I'll wake up the others. I'm leaving for the office, you can come later."

He pouted, clearly reluctant. "Why can't we go together?"

Nandini's lips curled into a smile. "Because for everyone else, you're coming from Bangalore. We can't just show up together."

Manik groaned in mock frustration. "Ughhhh... Fine."

Nandini laughed softly. "Good morning to you too," she teased, her eyes sparkling.

With a chuckle, Manik leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Morning," he said softly. "I'll just get ready."

He stood up and walked away, leaving Nandini to wake up the others.

By 9 AM, everyone had gathered in the kitchen, ready for the day. Nandini had already left for the office.

Abhimanyu, noticing that Manik was getting ready to leave, turned to him. "Manik, we can go together. It's already known that we're friends, so it won't be a problem. Plus, you'll have some company."

Manik nodded. "Yeah, okay. I'm new here, so why not? Let's leave."

Abhimanyu smiled, then said, "I'll just tell Navya and Cabir. Cabir's dropping Navya and Radhika off at school today, so it works out."

"Okay," Manik replied, taking out the car keys. "I'll get the car."

Soon, they were on their way to the office.

As they drove, Manik asked, "So, this restaurant chain of Nandini's, and the other business—it's all hers?"

Abhimanyu nodded proudly. "Yeah, all hers. She started as a nurse and worked her way up to become a renowned doctor. With the money she earned, she started a charity foundation, and when she had enough resources, she started this restaurant chain. She did it all on her own."

Manik smiled, feeling an overwhelming sense of pride swell in his chest. He couldn't help but feel lucky to have her by his side.

When they reached the office, they walked to the reception.

"Hey, Chala," Abhimanyu greeted with a smile.

Chala, the receptionist, beamed at him. "Hello, Abhimanyu Sir, welcome!"

Abhimanyu gestured to Manik. "This is Mr. Malhotra."

"Oh, yes, of course," Chala said, glancing at Manik with a polite nod. "Ma'am is in a meeting right now, so you can wait in the cabin until then."

"Thanks," Abhimanyu said, and they made their way to Nandini's floor, the top one in the 20-story building. The office space was impressive—large, with modern furniture, bright colors, and an air of professionalism. Manik was amazed at the thoughtful design choices, all of which, he learned, were made by Nandini herself. She could easily be a designer too, he thought, watching the way she had brought everything together.

They reached her cabin, which had a stunning glass wall offering a panoramic view of the city. The office was large, but in a way that felt cozy—no wonder Nandini had such a good reputation here.

Abhimanyu ordered coffee for them as they settled in. They were enjoying their drinks when they heard Nandini's voice, raised in frustration, as she entered with her P.A., Ajay.

"This is just not done, Ajay! You know I don't tolerate unprofessionalism! If you don't want to work here, fine, leave. Priya will handle my work from now on."

Ajay's voice was apologetic, but also defensive. "Nandini, it's not that. I just wasn't ready today."

Nandini crossed her arms, her face hardening. "Not ready? Do you even understand what happened? Shut up with your excuses and just leave."

With that, Ajay walked out of the room, leaving Nandini visibly irritated. She let out a deep breath, finally noticing the two men sitting in her office.

"Bhai, Manik, sorry, I didn't see you guys," she said, her tone softening.

Abhimanyu raised an eyebrow. "What's going on with Ajay?"

Nandini sank into her chair, visibly exasperated. "Can you believe it? He didn't have any presentations ready, no agenda, no topic for today's meeting—absolutely nothing. How was the meeting supposed to happen then? The delegates know me, but this was embarrassing. Luckily, we managed to keep things smooth. Priya will be handling everything now."

Abhimanyu nodded, clearly understanding her frustration. Manik, on the other hand, was somewhat taken aback by this side of Nandini. She was usually so warm and composed, but here, she was all business—focused, firm, and in charge. It was an impressive sight.

Nandini turned to Manik, her expression softening. She gave him a small smile, and he reached for her hand, squeezing it reassuringly.

"It's alright," he said gently. "Calm down."

"I know," Nandini replied, looking up at him with a sigh. "But if it had been anyone else, we would've been labeled unprofessional. Ajay... I didn't expect this from him."

Manik smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I understand. It's okay. You'll be more careful from now on, right?"

Nandini nodded, her lips curling into a small smile. She leaned in and hugged him tightly, the warmth of the moment easing her tension.

"I love you," she murmured, and Manik placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"You're the best," he replied softly.

They stayed like that for a few moments before hearing footsteps. The sound broke their bubble, and they quickly pulled apart just as Abhimanyu walked back in, a grin on his face.

"Meeting hall is ready. Let's go."

They made their way through the office to the conference room. The employees greeted Nandini with smiles, and she returned them with a calm, professional nod. Manik, however, couldn't help but notice the way the women stared at him. He just smirked, unfazed.

The meeting began shortly after they entered the hall, and everyone focused on the task at hand. Manik was impressed by how effortlessly Nandini balanced being a tough boss with being compassionate and thoughtful. She knew when to be firm and when to be kind—and that was what made her so exceptional.

By the time the meeting ended, all the designs were finalized, and the work would begin soon. Manik felt a sense of satisfaction as he watched Nandini command the room, her professional side shining brightly. She had it all. And he couldn't wait to see where their journey would take them next.