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

Chapter 33

~ 33 ~
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫

Nandhini's day dragged on as she meticulously filled out the Excel spreadsheet, detailing every product name, sales figure, marketing spend, and promotional effort, spanning several years of company history. Around her, Anirudh and Ravi focused on tasks assigned by Mr. Daniel, while Kumar, to her right, typed away with purpose. On the other side of Kumar, Soha and her friends worked quietly, their laptops humming with activity.

Exhausted and in need of a break, Nandhini gathered her phone and comb into her bag and headed towards the marketing department's restroom. Inside, she stole a moment to admire her reflection in the mirror, feeling somewhat pleased with her appearance in a maroon shirt and black pants. As she ran her fingers through her hair, she adjusted her attire and decided to use the restroom before returning to her desk.

Nandini stood in front of the mirror, in the washroom her hand moving slowly through her hair as she combed it. Her reflection stared back at her, a picture of outward calm that belied the storm brewing inside. As she gazed at herself, her thoughts drifted back to the past, to the complex and often painful bond she had shared with Manik. Their relationship had been a whirlwind of emotions—trust, betrayal, and a deep-seated animosity that had often seemed insurmountable. Manik had hated her, disliked her intensely, and had sought revenge with a single-minded focus.

But now, things had changed. Or had they? She recalled the photograph Manik had shown her in his cabin, a picture taken at the magazine event that captured her and Aryaman together. The image was etched into her memory, a stark reminder of Manik's lingering presence in her life. Even now, as she combed her hair, the thought of that photograph made her heart race with anxiety.

Manik still had those pictures. The knowledge gnawed at her, a constant source of unease. What if he used them against her? The fear was ever-present, a shadow that followed her every move. She knew that Manik was capable of turning against her if provoked, reverting to the vengeful person she had first met. If her actions somehow triggered his wrath, he might not hesitate to use the photographs to ruin her.

Her expression reflected her inner turmoil, a mixture of worry and resignation. She hoped that Manik had changed, that the person he had become was not the same one who had once harbored such deep resentment. She clung to the belief that he understood her better now, that he saw she had no intention of harming him or his company. She had always tried to be fair and honest with him, avoiding any actions that might provoke his anger.

Yet, the fear persisted. What if he was provoked by something beyond her control? What if he reverted to his old ways? The photographs were a ticking time bomb, a weapon that could be used against her at any moment. This uncertainty made her anxious, the stakes of her life and career hanging in a delicate balance.

Nandini's thoughts spiraled further, remembering the violent events that had disrupted her life. Just a day after, she had been happy, only for everything to collapse over the weekend. It seemed almost laughable how quickly her life had turned upside down. She often wondered what she had done to deserve this—first with Manik and his manipulative tactics, and now with the ever-present threat of the photographs. She feared the consequences, imagining the media frenzy and the irreversible damage to her budding career.

As she looked back at her reflection, she noticed her dress was disheveled, and her hair was not properly combed. Deciding to fix herself up, she went inside to adjust her dress. When she came back out, she saw a neatly folded piece of paper placed on her phone. She didn't know what it was, and confusion furrowed her brow as she reached for it, her heart beating a little faster with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

The weight of the past few days hung heavy on her, and she braced herself for whatever new challenge might be waiting in that small, unassuming note. Startled, she glanced around the empty restroom, calling out nervously but receiving no response. With trembling hands, she picked up the sheet and read the ominous message scrawled in bold red ink: "I KNOW IT WAS YOU, I KNOW WHAT YOU SAW THAT NIGHT, MURDER DON'T WORRY DARLING, I'M COMING FOR YOU."

Her heart raced, and she scanned the empty restroom once more, her mind racing with fear and confusion. Why now, after so long? Questions flooded her thoughts as she grappled with the sudden reappearance of a chilling memory from weeks ago. She decided against confiding in Navya, wanting to shield her friend from the trauma she had recently overcome.

As Nandini read the message, her eyes widened, and she reread it once again, disbelief washing over her. Her heartbeat quickened, pounding in her chest, and everything around her seemed to fade into a numbing blur. Who could have left this note? She didn't know. How could someone have entered the company unnoticed, or was it someone from within, someone involved in that cruel, horrible murder?

Her breathing became faster, shallow, as if she was on the verge of a panic attack. She looked around the washroom, calling out with a trembling voice, "Hello? Is anyone there? Please, come out. I won't tell anyone." Her voice wavered, her body shaking uncontrollably. She felt utterly alone, the paper in her hand a terrifying reminder that someone knew, someone was watching.

Until now, she had seen people coming and going, staring at her with curiosity or indifference, but this—this was different. This note was a direct threat, something she had never experienced before. Panic surged within her. She thought, **I need to do something. I have to say something.** But what if speaking up put her in even more danger?

Sweat started to bead on her forehead, her fear palpable. She wasn't ashamed to admit that she was terrified. This was creepy and unsettling. Her mind raced through the possibilities of who could have left the note. Could it have been someone from her department? No man would enter the girls' washroom, so it had to be another girl. Could it be Rhea or one of Soha's friends?

Wait a second, could it be Soha herself? Soha had been threatening her, even though everything seemed to be resolved with Manik. But perhaps, for Soha, it wasn't truly over. To Soha, Manik was hers, and any resolution was temporary, a mere band-aid over a festering wound.

Nandini's life felt unbearably complicated. She didn't cry, but she was scared for her life. The message, with its bold capital letters, was clear: someone had found her, someone who had witnessed the horrific event that night on the weekend.

**Can I go and tell Manik?** she wondered. **Is it right to go and tell him? Maybe he could help, maybe he could find out who is behind this and protect me.** Manik was strong, not just in personality, but in the power he wielded with his position. There was no way anyone would stand against him, even the most horrible criminal.

Her hands shook as she considered her options, and she kept the sheet with her stuffed in her purse. Made back to her desk as if nothing happened before she went back she saw herself and wiped all the sweat from her face everywhere she had to behave as if everything is normal like she went inside the washroom.

When Nandini returned to her desk, she saw Soha and her friends engrossed in their work. Before sitting down, she observed them carefully, looking for any sign that they might have been involved in leaving the note. She scrutinized Soha in particular, watching her actions closely. However, their behavior gave her no reason to be suspicious. They appeared normal, just as they always did, focused on their tasks. Soha, too, was not smiling or acting out of the ordinary; she was simply doing her work.

Nandini sighed, feeling a mix of relief and confusion. Although her mind was still reeling from the unsettling note, she realized she couldn't afford to dwell on it at that moment. She had important tasks to complete, and she needed to focus. Pushing her worries aside, she resumed her job, determined to carry on despite the turmoil inside her.

Days passed in a blur of work and mounting anxiety. Nandhini kept the note safely hidden in her purse, intending to show it to Mr. Daniel or Mr. Manik Malhotra when the time was right. Each evening as she walked home, her nerves frayed, especially on cloudy evenings like today. The streets were dimly lit, shadows dancing ominously as thunder rumbled in the distance.

Suddenly, at the end of her usual route, Nandhini froze in fear. Men stood on both sides of the street, their faces obscured in the dim light, yet their presence was unmistakably threatening. Panic surged through her as the wind picked up, rustling the trees and sending a shiver down her spine. She hurriedly recited a prayer for protection, closing her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, the men had vanished into thin air.

Doubt gnawed at her. Were her eyes deceiving her? Was her mind playing tricks? With no time to dwell, she hurried home, locking herself in her apartment and trying to steady her breathing. The unsettling events left her questioning reality and fearing what might come next.

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