A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 75- New Revelations

"Please make yourself comfortable Nandini" Daksh said as Nandini sat. "I'll introduce you to the management team, just a minute" he said and took her to a table. "Hello everyone, this is Ms. Nandini Reddy, our new corporate gifting partner" he introduced. Nandini shook hands with them as a formality and said that she is new in this realm of gifting. After a few minutes of their introduction, Finance Head has handed over the cheque to Nandini. Her happiness knew no boundaries and this was no less than her first pay cheque. She thanked everyone but deep down she thanked Daksh for the opportunity.

"This is so special and I'm so elated" Nandini beamed with happiness. "This is the first Nandini and many more to go on your way'' Daksh wished her. ''Come let's sit there and enjoy the party'' Daksh said. ''Actually mujhe jaldi jaana hai'' Nandini reminded him again. ''Yeah, just have a drink'' Daksh said. ''No, I don't drink'' Nandini said instantly and Daksh offered a juice to Nandini. Her vision got blurred for a second and the next minute Nandini had no control on herself and she fell on the chair feeling weak. Her eyes began to shut down and Daksh held her hand. Daksh took her aside. ''Nandini, what happened, are you okay?'' he asked her. ''Yeah I'm okay, thank you'' Nandini wanted to leave but Daksh didn't let her go at the moment. ''You should take rest for a while before leaving'' he said holding her hand. Manik and Inaya were hiding so that Nandini or Daksh couldn't see them. ''Is everything okay? Why are you guys hiding?'' Vikas asked Manik and Inaya.

''You know Nandini na!'' Inaya asked. ''Yes, your neighbor Nandini, I knew her'' Vikas said. ''We're hiding so that they don't see us'' Inaya said. Manik and Inaya again came out to have a look at Nandini but found her missing from there. Manik looked around but there were no traces of her. He frantically searched for her in the building and found Daksh sending her off in the cab. ''I need to go home now'' Manik messaged Inaya and went off. Manik went home anxiously and opened Nandini's door. She was seen untying the knots of her dress when Manik suddenly entered without notice. Nandini got alarmed by his entry but he quickly composed himself and turned back. ''Jaldi se change karke hall mein aa jaana, we need to talk'' he said and went out. Nandini didn't look at him but turned to other side. She quickly changed and came out to see a restless Manik tapping on the floor.

''Manik! Where were you?'' Nandini asked. ''Why did you come to Bangalore when I wasn't here?'' Manik asked holding her shoulders and shook her. ''Manik mujhe kuch kaam tha tho isliye akeli aa gayi'' Nandini said in a low voice. ''Don't you dare say anything against Nandini? Kaise kaam kya kar rahi hai kisi ko kuch nahi bataya tu ne!'' Manik raised his voice against her. ''Manik, I got an offer from a friend for corporate gifting!'' Nandini answered. ''Which friend! what are you talking about?'' Manik asked again. ''Daksh hai uska naam, I told you that I knew someone from the joggers park'' Manik realized that Nandini was meeting Daksh every morning when she was in Bangalore. He scolded himself to let Nandini slip away from him. Nandini saved a hamper for Manik and handed it over to him. Manik threw it aside like its nothing to him and this broke her heart. Nandini couldn't control her tears and was scared to see Manik. Manik was fuming in anger thinking about Daksh and Nandini.

''Did I ask you where were you? Where did you disappear after that night?'' Nandini questioned him. ''I was...umm'' Manik hesitated to speak. ''Bolo mere paas answer bhi thi par tumhare paas kuch hai bhi kya!'' Nandini asked. ''Where are you going! who are you meeting! What are you doing? aise questions main tumse pooch rahi hu kya!'' Nandini asked him. Her vision began to blur again but she didn't want to lose herself. ''Oh, so we are talking about equality now, we are equals, no one would say anything to each other'' Manik said. ''Good'' he came near her face and said. ''Main tumhe surprise dena chahti thi Manik, isliye I didn't tell you earlier'' Nandini said. ''Oh please, I liked your surprise very much'' Manik said and went to his room. He banged the door and Nandini didn't understood why he was so aggressive. ''Aaj bhi isse kuch nahi bol paayi'' Nandini thought. She felt sleepy and retired to bed. Within minutes Nandini dozed off and Manik never slept peacefully for the whole night as Nandini and Daksh were constantly running in his mind.