Love in Lockdown

2.

Hello Fam :)

A/N: Dekho dekho, kaun aaya hai. :P

Happy Reading...

Mukti was returning from Thakkar industries after meeting Abhimanyu when she thought she could grab a coffee from the canteen. Reaching there, the canteen guy greeted her before telling her that he would get her coffee. Giving him a smile, she thought of sitting down, and looked for an empty table. A few of them waved at her, knowing her as their boss's wife, when she spotted the guy from the restaurant sitting alone and having his lunch. Frowning, she made a beeline to his table.

"Hey, can I sit here?", she asked.

The guy raised his head and his eyes widened in recognition. "Did you come to throw food at me again?"

"I came to say sorry for that day", she said taking her seat. "I am Mukti, by the way. On that day, she was my friend and I am really sorry."

He nodded even though he gave her a skeptical glance. "Don't you want to have your lunch?"

"I don't work here. I came here to meet someone", she clarified. The guy was still looking half terrified.

"Glad", he said, faking the cheer. "Today I have the advantage of having food with only me. Anyway, even on that day, it wasn't my fault that the food fell on your friend."

Mukti nodded. "She is Nandini. She has temper issues and that day she was extra pissed off. Job trials could do that to you."

"True. But that doesn't mean she would go on screaming or throwing food at people. Do you know, my skin turned red on that day? That soup was really hot."

Mukti sighed. "I am sorry. Did you put any ointment?"

The guy was taken aback before a frown appeared on his face. "It's not your fault."

"I know. I just", said Mukti, "on that day, you said you would see her end. I just wanted to say sorry."

"Hey, I was angry too. I was going for donating my blood and thought I would just grab a juice before it but then that happened. I am not that kind of a guy."

"I am-", started Mukti but the guy waved his hand off.

"No, any girl would feel threatened by that. I would never do that to a girl. Not when they already face so many issues in the society."

Mukti smiled at that. "You have a sister", she said. It explained.

The guy shook his head. "No. But I always wanted one. No, it's all my mom. She had drilled all this into my head. If she gets to know I had tried to threaten your friend, she would kill me, son or not."

When Mukti's phone rang, she sighed and stood up, the guy following her action. "It was nice meeting you, Mr.?"

"Manik Malhotra. Call me Manik", he said.

Mukti gave him another smile before walking away. She needed to talk about his background with her husband, especially if Nandini would be working here. Poor Abhimanyu. He didn't know what he would be dealing with by hiring these two in his office.

XXX

Nandini was glaring at the person in front of her in the restaurant. When she had to order her food, she recited her order before going back to glaring at the person again, making him squirm under her gaze.

"Listen, Nandini, if you are joining my company, I would technically be your boss", said Abhimanyu, her technical boss. "You can't glare at me like this."

Nandini picked up the fork when Abhimanyu pushed her hand down.

"Nandini, look it's a decent restaurant. You shouldn't throw things at me. I will duck down because I have a long time of practice and it would hit the uncle behind our table. He would complain to the manager. Just look around the ambiance. Do you think throwing things on my face is worth getting ourselves banned from such a beautiful ambience?"

She glanced around before putting the fork down. "Your face is not worth losing this ambiance", she decided. "By the way, there is an Aunty behind our table and her daughter."

Abhimanyu turned around before shrugging. "Whatever, you got my point, right? I said I am sorry. I have your job. You can join from Monday."

She nodded. "Just because you are my boss doesn't mean I would bow down to you."

Abhimanyu nodded. "I am not expecting that from you. At least, be civil in front of my employees. You know, to maintain my image."

"You have an image there?", she asked, blinking her eyes innocently.

"Not sure about that once you join the company", he muttered.

He was saved when their food arrived. Nandini ignored him to devour the food. She missed Bangalore but one of the perks of Mumbai was good authentic food. As she had her food, she thought about how her life would change in the next couple of months. 23rd March 2020, her first day of office and the start of her independent life. Finally, she could live without her dad breathing down her neck and laying roses under her feet. Finally, she could fly but after she murdered the idiot who flicked his finger on her forehead. She almost did murder him but then she remembered, yes, ambiance was important before calming herself down. "What?"

"I was saying, why don't you stay with us? You love my parents and Mukti too. Why are you signing up for an apartment?", asked Abhimanyu.

"Because you coddle me more than dad", she told. "Why do you think my dad didn't send an army behind to fetch me? Because he trusts you to torture me enough in his absence", she said. Her father trusted Abhimanyu the most.

"That's my love, Nandu", said the idiot.

"I know. But anything in excess would suffocate me. So, leave me alone. Also, I have a roommate. She is new to the city too. I would be fine. And I will be with you throughout the day. My apartment is just a ten-minute walk from your place. So, stop panicking and don't you dare give a frantic call to my dad. Let me live in peace."

Her 'Boss' pouted. "I don't give frantic calls to your dad."

Nandini narrowed her eyes. "7th grade, winter vacation, do you want me to say any further?"

"Nandini, I thought we promised each other not to talk about it ever again."

She smirked. "You promised. I never did."

XXX

After their dinner, Abhimanyu dropped her at the hotel she was staying. She would pack her bag, her luggage already sent to the apartment, and spend her Sunday with the Thakkar family before starting a new phase in her life on Monday morning. She put her mobile on charge before going to bed when there was a message and she checked it to be Abhimanyu.

Be ready by 5 in the morning. There is some stupid curfew tomorrow. I will pick you up before they start the curfew. You can sleep after coming here.

Nandini groaned and sent an okay to Abhimanyu before putting an alarm on her mobile. Are they seriously applying curfew in Mumbai? She wondered how could they halt the one city that never halts for anyone.

A/N: So, there is a date mentioned. You know that date. Some of you might even guess the story already. I am not trying anything new as of now. I don't even know what I am trying here but I have glimpses of the scene I thought of writing. So, let's see how it would come out. I am hoping for something fun and light type and if the characters would stop listening to me and play on their own after some chapters, then it's not my fault. :P

Next update: Pata nahi. Socha nahi. :P

See you soon. :)