Sacred Heart

9.

Anger is fuming inside her. Her eyes red and fist whitens cause how tightly she has clutched on to her hold. Her body resembles and breathing heaves.

How dare she stand in front of me and justify herself? Mannat wonders.

Manoj looks at her through the looking mirror and senses the anger radiating off her. Meeting Vaishali Kapoor was difficult, it becomes more difficult when Mannat is reminded of the nightmare associated with Mrs. Kapoor.

When the car stops in front of Asher's office, she gets out of the car and turns towards Manoj. "Tell them to wait until we are done and please come with me." She asks.

Manoj gives a nod and follows her to Asher's office. Asher's secretary stands there waiting for Mannat. "Welcome ma'am. I have informed sir about your visit. I'll take you to the VIP room. Please take some rest while he concludes his meeting."

Mannat shakes her head, "no," she denies. "I'll wait for him in his office and ask him to meet me right now." She demands, her eyes pierce against the person standing opposite to her.

Asher's secretary gulps as she looks at Mannat with wide eyes. Since his time working with Mir family, he has never heard  Mannat speak with demand and authority. He quickly nod his head, "okay." The man mumbles before he moves and opens the door of Asher's cabin for her. Mannat enters inside while Manoj stands outside. He walks away to another direction.

Minutes later Asher comes followed by his secretary. He sees Manoj stand outside and looks at him with a raised eyebrow. Manoj slightly bows and opens the door for him. Mannat turns as she hears the door open and find Asher walking in completely dishelved. Looking tired, torned and broken. Like he has been burried due the pressure and failures.

She has never seen him like this.

Asher Ali Mir never had faced failures or being torned. He never had to.

"What are you doing here Mannat? Why this sudden surprise? Anything important?" He questions as she stands in the middle of the room, her eyes scrutinizing the flowchart and papers on the table.

He rounds and stands behind his desk. "My secretary informed me of your arrival. Take a seat Mannat." He ignores her silence and keeps his important documents inside the drawer.

Mannat looks at him. "Found any way out?"

Asher stops what he is doing and looks at Mannat, frowning in irritation and confusion. "And your concern with it? What are you doing here? Came to rub it on my face that I'm failing my duties." Anger rises inside him as he spits out those words laced with irritation and frustration, directing an angry and heated glare in her direction. "If Aina and dadajaan isn't enough, do I have to listen to you now also?"

Mannat stares at him as he hurls words at her. Failures surely brings another side of a person. The hidden side that no one else is introduced to, maybe not even him.

"Aaina called you?"

Asher gave her a quizing look. Is she here to know if her twin gave him a 'nice' call or not?

He sighs. Rubbing his temple he looks at her, "why are you here Mannat?" He asks. He is tired, angry and completely frustrated.

Mannat sighs. "I think I can help you bhai."

Asher frowns, "help me?"

Mannat nods.

Asher leans back and looks at Mannat with a raised eyebrow. "And how is that so?"

"I told you last night Bhai. If we can't get DR Corporation, we should try to convince their partners." Mannat informs, reminding him of the part of their conversation from last night.