Nandini's POV
My eyesight blurred, but not because tears were welling up. Everything became fuzzy; then I saw nothing at all. My consciousness was floating through an empty space filled with a thick static.
"Hold me", my heart said, and as if he heard it.
His hug tightened around. My breaths were erratic now.
"You're fine", he said sweet whispers in my ears, and I felt myself alive.
He cares for me. He does.
He crawled up to me slowly and pulled me closer to him wrapping his arms around me. His embrace was warm, and his big, strong arms seemed very protective when wrapped around my frail body. The world around me melted away as I squeezed him back, not wanting the moment to end.
"You're fine. I know it", he whispered and I felt safe.
Never have, I'd that flutter in the pit of my stomach. I felt safe. My breaths were getting even. The butterflies started raising in my stomach and I felt my muscles relaxed. The choking subsided. I felt safe in his arms, just like paradise.
"Shhh.. I've got you", he mumbled and softly kissed on my head, and I was stunned perfunctorily. He kissed me, he kissed me on my forehead. "I've called my friend. He'll be here soon"
"Than...thank y.. You sir", I whimpered almost inaudibly and I could feel his hold coiling around tighter. His warmth, his cologne, which I'd craved always was so soothing.
He's so heavenly graceful.
"No need. I hope you're alright?", his concern filled eyes, asked and I nodded slightly.
I was claustrophobic still, but then I felt if he was there, nothing in the world could harm me. He's my savior, my shining armour.
"Ummm... Nandini I hope you're dealing with this phobia?", he asked and I nodded, knowing how better I felt after being in his arms.
Minutes rolled away and we stood there in that position, oblivious of her relation. He was my boss, and I was nothing. Yet, he was holding me. At that moment, I felt paradise slithering on my feet. Suddenly, we felt some voices from outside.
"Just do it now. My friend is stuck inside", I heard voices from outside and concluded his friend was here.
We pulled apart and within some minutes, the door was opened. As soon as it opened, I saw Manik Sir embracing his friend Cabir. I've seen him so many times in the office. We came out. I couldn't meet up his eyes, after that. I could still feel his Hot burning gaze and my cheeks tinted to red. I knew, a moment later, they would be on fire.
"Manik, are you fine right?", Cabir Sir asked him and he nodded. They gestured me and I shook my head softly, avoiding to look back in Manik's eyes.
"Nandini, let's go. We have a meeting", he instructed and soon we left there, with Manik bidding bye to Cabir Sir.
We went inside. The office was painted grey, and it had was a multistorey building, which faced the main road. In the whole office, grey desk sat a desktop computer, a notebook lying open, and a stack of papers sitting under a turtle-shaped paperweight. In the corners, the air conditioners were blasting at medium, and there were swivel chairs in the middle of the of every desk. A bookshelf, bursting with books was in the corner, with yet another stack of papers under a paperweight that was shaped to look like a tuft of grass. A few pens were lying on the papers, but some had fallen onto the top of the bookshelf.
I silently followed in the conference room of Ahulwalia's company. As soon as we entered, we met the director Shaheer Ahulwalia
"Hello, Mr Malhotra it's a pleasure meeting you", he said shaking hands with Manik Sir.
"Glad to meet you too", he said, "And she's Nandini, my PA"
I greeted him and he asked us to take a seat. There were other members too in the meeting. The meeting started, with Manik Sir taking the lead to explain them.
He went for 2 hours, straight explaining them.
"So gentlemen, I hope I've cleared all your doubts. Malhotra Industries have always achieved the highest profit-rates and you can have a clear picturesque through the presentation.", Manik Sid spoke, addressing the members, in his proportionated modulated voice, which didn't lack in perfection anywhere.
The ceiling light still illuminated the windowless conference room, but it was dim and flickered at strobe-like intervals. Manik was standing in those flickers, anticipating the replies of the members, present there.
"Mr Malhotra, we're highly impressed by your presentation skills. We've heard a lot about you, but now it's obvious why they said so", a board member, spoke standing up from his place, appreciating his skills.
"Thank you Mr. Ahuwalia. We're glad to deal with you", Manik grimaced and shook his hands with all of them, one by one.
I was feeling so proud. He was so perfect. Every single person present there was congratulating him for clinching another deal. And he was meeting them formally and I was standing in the corner, admiring him. I couldn't help but reminisce the moments, we had in the lift. How gentle he was. He cared for me, like the way no one did.
"Ummm.. Hello", my chain of thoughts were broken by someone.
I looked up and saw a man, who was there in the meeting.
"Yeah?", I asked.
"I must say you're really beautiful", he said and I was feeling uncomfortable. But I knew, I couldn't be rude to him, considering where were we. "Yeah thank you"
"So I'm Ronnie", he said forwarding his hand.
"Yeah. Nandini", I greeted him.
And when I thought to retrench my hand back, I couldn't. He had trapped them in his hands. I tried taking them back, when he started tracing it u uncomfortably.
"Excuse me", I rudely interrupted.
"Oh C'mon babe. It's normal. We can have some fun. Let me take you to coffee and I'm sure you'll remember this for your lifetime", his words irritated me. I felt so disgusting. He didn't deserve to be here.
"Just leave my hand", I shouted a bit louder and he smirked.
"I won't", he yanked me closer and pushed me almost out of the room, where no one could notice. He tried coming closer, "You're a sex goddess", he said getting an inch closer.
"Just leave me... Leave me", I took all my might and pushed him, but his hold was quite stronger.
His lips almost lingered near my ears, and I closed my eyes in fear.
Suddenly, his disgusting touch was lost from my body. I didn't feel anything. My muscles relaxed and I sighed in relief, deflating stress from my body. I slowly opened my eyes, seeing Manik Sir beating Ronnie black and blue. I was stunned.
"You bastard", he kicked in his spot and I was taken aback. "How dare you", Manik Sir was again my savior.
All the Board members were keenly observing them, but I couldn't hold back my tears, which failed to stop.
He cared for me.
He saved me, again.
I can't love him more, can I?
But then, I saw him shrieking in pain. It was all Blood spreaded.
"Manik Sir.. Stop. He'll die.. "I shouted and he stopped on his tracks.
He stopped. He came forward and time stopped.
It was a new beginning.
But I didn't know, things were already swirling ahead. A tornado was already waiting. A new story was going to start.
Precap : Manik gets a letter and comes to know about her death.
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