A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 101- Once close, Now far

Nandini's POV:

"Are you happy now?" Cabir stood as I said. Manik was no less as Aryaman said all those things. I couldn't stand there seeing both these men who doesn't know what was I going through. "Kya hua Nandini? You look upset?" Navya said as she came there. I took a deep breathe before I told her everything happened. "Why is this happening with you all the time?" she said making a straight face. "I can't blame anything but my bad fate Navya" I sighed. I saw Cabir trying to get a glimpse of Navya when we were talking. "Seems like Cabir badly wants to meet you" I said eyeing him. "I'm here to meet you and not him" she said. "Why do you keep ignoring him?" I asked him. "I don't even know him Nandini, why should I even talk to him?" she asked with fervor. "Love happens Navya, soch samajke pros cons dekh ke tho sirf business hota hai, pyaar nahi" I said what I felt. 

"Eventually if two people has to live together, ye sab dekhthe hai na. What if Cabir doesn't like after knowing me" she asked. "Aise kyu hoga?" I asked but my voice sounded low. "Love just happens like that but eventually agar sab tastes nahi match hua tho dhoor hona hi hai" Navya stated the truth. "Maybe love is not enough" I said not intending to blurt out. "Nandini, I didn't mean that" she said choosing her words. "If you're not wrong now, then Manik wasn't wrong then" I realized. "If Manik isn't wrong, I'm the problem" I asked or rather said to Navya. "Nandini!" Navya tried to speak but it was too much for me to take. 

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4 days! It's been FOUR complete days as I started working here but Manik and I haven't met after the inaugural ceremony. He did not come to the resort and even if he comes, he makes sure he doesn't have to face me. Work piled up as the bookings started. Corporate teams on retreat, a few city-weary travelers and the reviews online were glowing. "Our honeymoon suite rooms aren't ready yet" Cabir pointed to someone I couldn't see. I walked to see who Cabir is talking to. Manik. But why aren't they discussing this in office and aise hi baahar kyu baat kar rahe hai? "What's up Nandini?" Cabir courteously asked as he saw me. "Cabir, mujhe kuch kaam hai! Can I go out early today, just an hour before my work shift" I asked hoping he would agree. "Rubbish" Cabir snapped at me. "What do you think it is!" he turned himself towards me from Manik.

"Cabir, I..." I trailed off before I speak. "What do you think it is! School or college?! You don't need to seek permission like this if you wanna go out on some work. Just inform that too because I should know where you are! Did you see me or Manik glued to that chair like you! This isn't a corporate job Nandini! Chill! Jao kahi jaana hai tho!" Cabir said. "Thank you! thank you so much Cabir" I felt relieved. That principal must have really stressed me out. Was that so obvious on my face that Cabir said all this to make me feel better. "Zarurat padne se main tumse raat bhar bhi kaam karwaunga but when there's no work, you can leave" he said. Cabir being Cabir, I can't predict how this guy changes in a flash of a second. Friend in a second, and the next minute, he bosses around me. "Sure" I let a smile and bid bye to them. Manik stood there as a silent spectator. He didn't even see me when I turned back. 

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I walked along the direction watchman had showed me. With each step, I can hear my heart racing. "Nandini, you got to do this!" I cheered up myself. I exhaled and tried to stay calm. "I'm here to meet Mr. Aryaman Malhotra!" I tried to sound so confident. "Do you have an appointment ma'am?" the receptionist almost killed me with her expression. I didn't knew Aryaman se milne mujhe appointment bhi leni hogi. "Where can I get the appointment?" I asked nervously. "Sir may not give any appointments today, Tara ma'am is here" she said. "Perfect, mujhe Tara se bhi milna hai". Hearing Tara's name has relieved me. Receptionist gave me a confused look. "Ma'am please, I hope you understand that you can't meet them now. Sir and ma'am are about to leave in some time" she did her job. "Please try calling Aryaman or Tara once" I requested her. "But who are you?" she asked in return.