|| ENDLESS LOVE || -- A MaNan FF

|| Destined - Second Meet ||

Nandini's POV ( Past ) 9 years ago :

Alright Nandini Murthy, this is it. This is going to decide how your life is going to start - New York - the big apple.

I was looking up a really tall, hundred odd floor skyscraper building, dropping my head back. This is so huge. In my hometown in Mangalore, there were not many building above 10 floors, unless we went into the city of course. I feel so intimidated about these huge skyscrapers - there were so many of them; and the pace of the life in this city. Everybody was in a rush - some to catch their subway, some to their work and some to their classes. I suddenly look down at my dress to check if I am dressed appropriately enough. I am wearing a knee length long white pastel flowery dress and beige pumps to go with it . I am not a corporate person and I hate how all people dress alike in corporate offices. I feel a person's dressing is a statement - for who he/she is and how could it just be all alike and formal? I never conform to these 'rules' so to say - I'd like to do my own thing - I am a writer after all. That and I really do not have the money to invest in a suit.

I walk through the glass doors and enter into the reception area. The windows and the outer face of the building was all in glass and the lady at the front desk looked like a shiny statue of those Egyptian women we used to see in historical movies - perfect grooming and flawless grace.

"Nandini Murthy. I am here to join today - creative writing intern. I am to meet Mr. Phil Jones."

"Just a second Miss." She puts me on hold and presses a button on the intercom.

"Thirtieth floor, left and straight ahead at the elevator, third right, room L43 Ms.Murthy. Mr.Jones is already there." Egyptian goddess tells me with a perfect and formal smile.

"Thank you..er..Ma'm."

Humphh! Considering that I am the most clumsy and fumbly person in my class, I am amazed at the sheer perfection with which she is giving me the direction to my room. I am so out of my league here. He is already there, that means I am late. I summon the elevator and reach the 30th floor. The whole area looked extremely polished, grand, expensive looking and well designed but there weren't any kind of art - painting or models anywhere. The walls were umm...different. I cannot really place what was lacking about the area. I adjust my folders for one last time and enter room L43 - as the tag on the side read that, I have managed to successfully arrive at the destination.

I peep in a little as I don't see anyone around - looks like I am not late after all. It was this long conference room with a large table and a dozen chairs around it. There was a drawing board and a projector and the two sides of the room - facing the road were in complete glass - floor to ceiling. Wow! Look at the View!

I knock the door knowing fully well that there wasn't anyone in there. I just wanted to unload the huge snippet folder off my hands and I didn't want to be rude entering in without knocking.

I walk in and put my folder neatly on the table and take out my journal and the other material out. If everyone around here is going to be so meticulous and accurate, I better make it a habit to make notes. Oops! There you go, I am at my fumbly best, all my writing snippets land nicely all over the floor from the folder. I hurriedly scoop down to collect them all.

"Huh! Wishing wells and tinkly bells!!" I hear a voice that I vaguely remember.

I look up and there he was, holding a coffee cup and a curious expression. He was dressed completely different than at the bar - a white designer shirt, black well-maintained and perfectly ironed trousers, silver 'M' cuff-links and a flamboyant smirk. He puts his cup on the table and bends down in front of me neatly gathering my papers. He looked at each and every sheet as he gathered them all and then at me, with a strange amused gleam in his eyes.