Hold On My Heart (Complete)

10: Fifty Thousand Dreams

Nandini’s PoV

I am sitting in the office. No doubt, this place is way bigger than I expected. There are so many girls waiting for their turn.

I don't know why, but I’m hella nervous. I take deep breaths to calm myself. Just then, a girl around 25 enters the room.

"Hello everyone. I’m the assistant of Mr. Malhotra, and we’re hiring an assistant for me. So, please make sure you answer accordingly. And yes, it’s possible that sir might choose the very first girl he interviews, so make up your minds already. Please hand over your resumes and wait here," she says.

We all hand her our resumes and wait for the call. After what feels like ages, she returns.

"Nandini Murtiy?" she calls.

"That’s me!" I raise my hand.

"You're first. Follow me!" she says, and I do.

She knocks on a door and enters with me.

"Sir, Nandini Murtiy," she announces, and he nods.

"Please have a seat, Miss Murtiy," he says, and I sit while the assistant leaves.

"So, Miss Nandini, how did you find out about us?" he asks.

"Uhm... through a friend."

"Alright. Any work experience?" he continues.

"Not office work exactly, but I’m currently working at a café."

"I see."

"Why do you want to work with us?" he asks again.

"I want to do something on my own. I mean, become independent. And getting such an offer and opportunity all of a sudden brought me here, so..." I don’t know what nonsense I’m blabbering.

"Miss Nandini, I’ve seen your resume. You’re not well-educated, and you have no work experience."

"I know."

"Then why should I hire you? Any reason?"

"Well, to be honest, I don’t have any. But if I get the job, I’ll definitely work hard, and you won’t get any complaints from me," I say.

It’s over now. What the hell am I doing?

"Well, in that case..." he pauses.

I wear my bag because I know what he’s going to say. He stands up, so I do too.

"You can join from tomorrow. Sharp 8 a.m.," he says, extending his hand.

It takes me a moment to register his words, and when they hit me, I instantly shake his hand.

"Oh... thank you so much, Mr. Malhotra. Thank you very, very—"

"I’m not Malhotra. They don’t work here. I’m their business partner, Sidharth Singh," he says with a smile.

"Oh! I’m so sorry, I didn’t know."

"That’s fine. It’s not your fault."

"Then I should leave, if you allow?" I ask.

"Sure, sure. But be on time. I can’t tolerate mistakes. And yeah, Ahana will tell you the details about salary and all," he says, and I nod.

Coming out of the office, I almost scream. I can't believe I got the job! The starting salary is 50 thousand—can you believe it? Me, the girl who hasn't even seen a 5-thousand note in her life, now earning 50 thousand!

Navya—yes, Navya! I should tell her. I head towards her office, which is right in front of Malhotra Industries.

Coming out of the elevator, I see her sitting at her desk, busy on the computer.

"Navya," I call, standing behind her.

"Nandini? You’re here? What happened? Did you get the job?" she asks, standing up.

I make a sad face.

"I told you I wouldn’t," I act.

"What? Why?"

"They said I have no experience..."

"Bullshit!" She gets sad and angry.

"Navya." She looks at me. "Are you ready to spend 50 thousand a month with me?" I ask.

"What does that mean?" she frowns, and I smile.

"Wait... you... you got the job, right?" she asks.

I nod, and she hugs me. "See! I told you. I’m so happy for you, Nandini!"

"Ehem ehem."
We break the hug to see a lady standing there.

"Miss Navya, should I bring you a coffee? Then you can sit down and talk as much as you want?" she says sarcastically.

"Sorry, ma’am."

"This is not allowed during working hours. So better not do this again," she warns and walks away.

"I’ll see you after work, okay? Then you have to tell me everything in detail," she says, and I nod.

I come out of the office and wait for a taxi. That’s when my eyes fall on Manik. He’s coming out of Malhotra Industries. He looks at me and starts walking in my direction, but I ignore him and get into the taxi.

The day passes in a blink. Navya and I celebrate with some ice cream and chocolates.

"You know, I’ve heard the Malhotra boys are very handsome. No one has ever really seen them. They work in the underworld, and even when they visit the office, it’s always like strangers."

"Why’s that?"

"No one knows. It’s still a secret."

"Weird."

"No doubt it is."
I look at the time—11:15.

"I should sleep. Tomorrow’s a new day."

"Yeah, and I should leave. Dad must be waiting for me," she says and leaves.

The next day

The office day goes really well. Mr. Sidharth is genuinely a nice person—friendly with colleagues and no attitude at all.

I’m on my way back when someone starts walking beside me. I roll my eyes. I know the owner of those footsteps.

"What are you doing here?"

"Yesterday, you ignored me, right?" he asks.

"No. Why would I do that?"

"But it seemed like you did."

"Then you must’ve seen wrong."

"Hmm."

"You wanted to ask me that only?"

"No, actually, I wanted to congratulate you on getting the job. I wanted to say it yesterday."

"Thank you. But... how do you know I got the job?" I ask.

"My friend works there. I saw you coming out, so I asked him, and he told me."

"Oh, I see."

"Oh, by the way... are you free today? I mean, in the evening?" he asks.

"Uhm... why?"

"Actually, I thought we could celebrate, since you got a job. So... if you want to, obviously," he says.

Aww... he’s shying. Cutie.
Shut up, Nandini!

"I’ll see if I can."

"Oh, alright. No problem. But I’ll wait for you."

"Where?"

"Uhm... behind the college," he says, rubbing his neck.

He’s acting weird!

"Okay," I say and walk away.

Alina ❤