MaNan FF - Love's Strategic Edge (On-going )

Chapter 13

𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 | At MM Technology Limited

Around 10:00am
The new week began with the dreaded Monday morning, a time universally despised as it marks the end of a happy weekend. Today, Miss Aliya Saxena, Manik's efficient, prefect professional personality, beautiful looking and detail-oriented PA, made her way to the Marketing department. Her presence signaled an important announcement: Manik wanted to meet with two specific teams and Mr. Daniel was to join them. The 2 team members gathered their work progress files, nervously anticipating the meeting.

They were astounded by the lavish, black-themed décor of Manik's enormous cabin right away as they walked in and smelled Manik's expensive deodorant. When their eyes wandered to the impressive-looking cabin, they saw two cosy sofas next to a sizable bookshelf brimming with a variety of books. A rare limited addition bamboo plant, placed thoughtfully between the couches and booksshelves, brought a sense of peace. The stunning view of the Arabian Sea from the cabin's glass view behind Manik also served as an immediate diversion from their Monday gloominess. Manik's desk, which had a Samsung Ultra S24, an iPad Pro, an iPhone 15 Pro, and an Apple PC all perfectly arranged, was an expression of to his attention to specifics.

The area felt more harmonious with the addition of a second little plant, which was placed on his desk next to his pen stand, notepad, and coffee cup—all of which appeared to be related to vastu standards. The team members' focus eventually switched to Manik as they studied every aspect of the cabin and enjoyed the luxurious ambiance. Manik waited patiently for his employees to turn their attention to him while seated behind his desk, amusing flashing in his eyes. Mr. Daniel, who was standing on the opposite side of the room, smiled slowly as he watched the scenario.

Breaking the silence, Manik addressed the gathering with a hint of sarcasm: "I hope you all had a great time observing my cabin. Are you pleased with it? The teams quickly nodded in agreement, stammering together "Sorry, sir" when they realised the sarcasm in his tone.

Manik moved forward and rested his elbows on the desk, his expression becoming serious. "Let's get back to work," he replied with firmness. "I would like to see your written reports and hear about your progress." The members of the team glanced at each other nervously, hoping that their work would live up to the high expectations placed on it. Ravi from Team A and Soha from Team B stood in front of Manik, presenting their reports and providing brief explanations of their progress.

Manik and Mr. Daniel both listened attentively, their straight faces turning into their normal expressions as the reports had come in. "Well done," Mr. Daniel exclaimed, his face breaking into a kind smile. "It's wonderful to see that you anll are committing yourself to the work and moving along steadily." Manik agreed and nodded, saying, "I'll be awaiting this task's conclusion. I want the work progress to be continued without any distractions and You may all leave now."

The teams annd Mr. Daniel exited the cabin with a renewed sense of purpose, relieved by the encouraging feedback. Knowing that their efforts were recognised and appreciated made the intimidating start to the new week seem a little easier to achieve.

As the others left the cabin, Nandhini remained, standing quietly and watching Manik, who was engrossed in his newspapers, "Business Line" and "The Times of India." Sensing her presence, Manik briefly looked up, then returned to his reading, choosing to ignore her. Nandhini, feeling the weight of her actions, immediately began to speak, her voice trembling. "I'm sor— sorry sir... I'm really very sorry for what I said and did at the party."

Manik continued reading, his eyes fixed on the headlines, offering no response. Nandhini, her voice growing more desperate and her lips trembling as if on the verge of tears, continued. "I know I made a huge mistake. I don't know what came over me, but I'm ready to be fired or accept any punishment you decide. I'm ashamed of myself for my behavior, and I'm extremely sorry for it, sir."

Manik finally looked up, his gaze meeting hers, then shifted back to his papers. His calm demeanor surprised Nandhini, who had braced herself for a furious outburst. Instead, he spoke in a controlled, stern voice. "Miss Murthy, I don't care about seeing you outside the organization premises, but that was a business party attended by many influential people—some of the best business leaders."

Nandhini, feeling the gravity of his words, looked at him with wide eyes as he continued. "If anyone had caught you sneaking into that party, they would have taken serious action. Do you understand the seriousness of the situation? They would have asked where you worked, which could have damaged my company's reputation and mine, as they would think I hire people who crash events without invitations."

Manik's words made her realize the full extent of her mistake. "Miss Murthy, I wasn't mad or shouting at you for no reason. I had every right to question your presence there without informing me, especially when you were with Mr. Aryaman Kapoor, the host of the evening. Imagine if he had called security to throw you out in front of everyone. That would have made big headlines for newspapers and magazines, tagging me along. Instead, he behaved graciously towards you. And be thankful no one saw your dance or anything else, as the photographers had left after the announcements, allowing guests to enjoy their time."

Nandhini, overwhelmed by his words, spoke through her tears. "I'm extremely sorry for every single thing I did, sir. I accept my mistake, and I'm also sorry for speaking to you disrespectfully. I promise to never let you down or pull such stunts again."

Manik nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Miss Murthy, this is your last warning. I will forgive you this one time, but do not make me regret this decision. You may resume your work." Nandhini, deeply grateful, joined her hands 🙏🏻 together. "Thank you so much, sir. I promise I will never disappoint you again."

Manik nodded once more, signaling the end of the conversation. With one last look at him, Nandhini left his cabin, walking slowly. As Nandhini emerged from Manik's cabin, a sense of disbelief clung to her. She had anticipated a different outcome, especially after the harsh words exchanged in the washroom. Manik's demeanor had been unyielding, his words cutting, yet here he was, offering forgiveness. It felt surreal, almost too good to be true. Something about his sudden change in attitude seemed off, but Nandhini was too relieved to dwell on it. The weight of Manik's persistent animosity had been an unbearable burden since her first day at the company.

Walking down the corridor, she felt the tension in her shoulders ease for the first time in weeks. She could finally breathe, no longer suffocated by the fear of encountering Manik's disapproval. The inner peace she now felt was like a balm to her anxious heart, which had been pounding erratically since the incident in the washroom.

That morning, the anxiety had been almost crippling. The mere mention of Manik wanting to see her in his cabin had sent her into a tailspin of worry, manifesting in mild heart palpitations and a pervasive sense of dread. She had expected the worst, replaying potential scenarios in her mind, each more dreadful than the last.

But now, standing in the hallway, she allowed herself a moment of calm. The relief of having his forgiveness, even if it felt conditional or incomplete, was a significant reprieve. She wasn't sure what had caused his change of heart, but she was too exhausted to question it. All she wanted was to move past the animosity and focus on her work without the constant fear of his disapproval.

Nandhini took a deep breath and continued walking, her footsteps echoing softly against the polished floor. She decided to take things one step at a time, hoping that whatever had caused this unexpected truce would hold, allowing her to finally find some peace in her professional life. As she returned to her desk, her friends, curious about her prolonged absence, asked what had happened. She simply replied, "I'll let you know later," before immersing herself in her work, determined to prove her worth and never repeat her mistakes.

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