A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 57- Pain and Gain

''Who are you?'' Nandini has no idea of who she is talking to. ''Uh, you might have forgotten me, I'm Daksh, Daksh Hegde!'' he said with a smiling face. Nandini is confused and scared, so she walked away from him. ''Hello, Ms. Nandini'' he kept following her. ''Excuse me, how dare you! Why are you following me! How do you know my name?'' Nandini asked in a panicked tone. ''Oh, I'm sorry, please don't make a scene here. We both don't know each other, but I know your name through this'' he said and gave Nandini her identity card. ''How did you get my ID'' Nandini asked taking it from him. 

''I was the one who took you to the hospital when you went behind that puppy dog to save it'' he said. Nandini was still in a shock to process his words, while Daksh waited for her to speak. She knew that someone had helped her to reach hospital that day but don't remember his face. ''I found your ID card in your bag that day,  luckily I found you today to return it back'' he said. Nandini made her way out from there without saying a word. ''Hello, Miss'' he called out for her. She turned back but didn't say a thing. ''I helped you that day, did you get it'' he said. ''So?'' Nandini said and never turned back to see him again. ''Ajeeb ladki hai! not even thanks! How rude?'' he thought. 

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''Vikas, I'm so sorry for last night'' Manik said as he saw Vikas at his desk. ''I shouldn't have invited you for the party, but my intention was not to hurt you'' Manik apologized on behalf of Inaya too. Vikas didn't say a word but emptied his desk. ''Did admin shift your desk somewhere?'' Manik asked. ''Admin nahi, main iska place shift karwa raha hu'' Manik heard that same old familiar voice. ''What are you doing here in my bay?'' Manik asked him. ''Exactly, it's your bay and my team members shouldn't stay here?'' he said. Manik looked confused. Vikas stood ready with all his belongings. ''Now that Vikas is joining my team, I'm here to welcome him'' he said. ''Vikas, tumhare team?'' Manik looked shocked at Vikas. ''Yes Manik, I've decided to work with their team and sir readily agreed'' Vikas said not able to meet Manik's eyes. ''Sir?! Ab ye shaitaan sir kabse hogya?'' Manik asked him.

''Manik! You're crossing your limits'' he said. ''Stop! Just stop speaking when I'm speaking to my team'' Manik said in a serious tone while their project manager came there. ''Hey Vikas, I've seen your mail for team allocation. Anyway you've worked with Manik for such long time and I hope you would do the same with the other team'' Project manager said in a formal farewell speech. Manik checked his mailbox for Vikas mail. Now that he knew why Vikas is quitting from his team, Manik did not made any effort to stop him. ''Vikas!'' Manik stopped him for one last time. He stopped but didn't turn back. ''Just drop a mail to the whole team looping everyone that you're officially out of the team and submit the data at your end'' Manik said and settled in his seat. ''How about a coffee, Mr, Malhotra!'' Manik was asked by Shaitaan for a coffee and they went to cafeteria. ''Not everyday is yours Manik! It's my day'' he said taunting Manik. 

''And that applies to you as well, Daksh!'' Manik said. ''Well, looks like my good time has started, now wish me all the best'' Manik and Daksh were at logger heads by the time Inaya walked in to check on Manik. Manik shook hands with Daksh and said, ''all the very best, you really had a good morning today'' Manik said and Daksh remembered meeting Nandini in the morning. ''Manik, is it true that Vikas had quit from the team?'' Inaya asked him. Manik took a deep breath and nodded in yes. Inaya held her head in disbelief. ''Never expected this from him'' Inaya sighed. ''I've already told you so much that don't stretch his patience'' Manik said to Inaya. ''What! Are you for real? You're still talking about him. I'm worried that he knows everything about your project! What if he starts plotting against you with that shaitaan'' Inaya said. ''What! No, Vikas can't be unprofessional, I know him since years'' Manik backed up for Vikas.