HER SECRET HUSBAND

1.

Nandini looked up when the two strangers walked in. While one could notice immediately that they were related, she found the taller man’s personality striking. “Hello, I’m Ram Malhotra and this is my brother, Manik. We would like to meet Ranveer Singh.” “Good morning, gentlemen. Please take a seat. Let me check if Mr. Singh is free to meet you now.” After the two men settled down on the sofa in the reception, Nandini lifted the phone to call Ranveer’s extension. As the phone rang, she checked the taller of the two men from the corner of her eyes, the one who had been introduced as Manik. While both were good-looking, Manik appeared handsomer.The phone rang and rang but no one picked up. With a small frown on her face, Nandini had an office boy bring tea to the two men waiting to meet Ranveer. She tried for a couple of more times and not getting through, Nandini called Shikha’s cabin with reluctance. She did her best to keep out of Ranveer’s secretary’s way. The older woman had a lashing tongue and Nandini wasn’t one who was keen to be at the receiving end. Shikha picked up the phone immediately and barked, “Yes?” “Hi Shikha, there are two guys waiting at the reception—Ram and Manik Malhotra —to meet Ranveer. They don’t have an appointment, it seems. Should I—” “Young or old?” barked Shikha again. “Huh?” said Nandini , not sure that she
had heard Shikha right. “Are you dumb or what? I asked you whether the guys you’re talking about are young in age or old,” drawled Shikha, sarcasm dripping in her voice as she dragged out the syllables as if she was talking to a retarded child. Nandini blanched. With great difficulty, she kept her face straight as she replied, “Why don’t you get your butt out here and find out for yourself?” before disconnecting the line. While she had been tempted to bang the phone down, she didn’t want to create a bad impression on the visitors who sat waiting to meet her boss. She gave them a sweet smile as she said, “Ranveer’s secretary should be here to meet you soon.” Nandini sat back to update the files on her computer, while attending to a few more calls—all this while watching Shikha flirting with the men. She clenched her teeth as Shikha’s loud laughter broke out a couple of times, getting even more angry with the other woman than she already was.  What’s with Shikha and men? She never spoke to any of the women staff members of RS Software. Thinking about it, Nandini recalled that Ranveer’s secretary didn’t interact with the male staff much either. Yeah, she flirted with every one of them. But...but, there was something in her body language that changed around Ranveer, the same as right now when she interacted with the two guests. Was it because they appeared wealthy? Nandini just caught herself from snapping her fingers. That must be it! Her lips curled in disgust. Shikha finally got up to say “bye” to the visitors and left the reception. Nandini was pleasantly surprised when Manik Malhotra walked up to her desk and said, “Bye Nandini. We’ll see you tomorrow.” His throaty voice sent goose pimples chasing all over her body. Nandini looked at the attractive man in front of her in surprise. Did she hear right? Ranveer wasn’t there the whole week. She had just received an email from his second-in-command, Abhimanyu, which said so. The mail had been sent to everyone in the office. Then how come Shikha had given them an appointment? Nandini decided it wouldn’t be right on her part to say anything. She nodded to Manik, who waved before leaving. Nandini called Abhimanyu’s extension. She knew that he was the man in charge when Ranveer wasn’t in the office. She explained to him about Ram and Manik’s visit and how Shikha had given them an appointment to meet Ranveer the next day. “Did you say Malhotra?” asked Abhimanyu. When Nandini answered in the affirmative, Abhimanyu left clear instructions that she was to send the men to his cabin when they arrived the next day.  “Sure, Abhi. I’ll do that,” said Nandini, disconnecting the call. A small smile played on her lips when she recalled Manik Malhotra’s face. Though he seemed quiet, his black eyes framed by thick and curling lashes, were sharp. With a broad forehead and a head full of dark curls, an aquiline nose, chiselled, clean-shaven cheeks and a tiny cleft on his chin, he was enough to turn any woman’s head. And Nandini realised that she didn’t like the idea of Shikha getting close to the hunk. She would ensure that the Malhotras were directed to Abhimanyu’s cabin even before Shikha realised they were there the next day.