MANAN - Cloud with a Silver Lining

29.3 Déjà vu

Manik neatly arranged the papers in the file as Nandini watched him with a scowl on her face. He was mindful of her constant gaze but consciously decided to ignore it for now. However, Nandini had enough of his ignorance as she decided to try her luck for one more time when she called him

Nandini – Manik Listen !!

Manik – Zip it Nandini...I am not agreeing to your stupid demands

Nandini – Right, So my demands are stupid now...Guess what you can keep these papers to yourself, because I am not applying for Visa and I guess you are smart enough to realize that if I am not applying for visa that means I am not going to Harvard.

Manik – Seriously Nandini, I cannot believe you can act so childish even now, you are 29 for God's sake...Mind behaving your age

Nandini – Oh !! So now I am childish as well... You know what Manik Malhotra, Let us talk like adults now...Remember the deal, let me recall that for you I will go to Harvard only if you agree to my conditions and now that you are not agreeing then I am not going

Manik – And I believe you would also recall that I just didn't agree to only one utterly stupid condition of yours

Nandini - GO TO HELL MANIK MALHOTRA

Throwing a cushion at him with full force, she stormed out of the room leaving a completely baffled Manik behind. "Did she just walk out on me", he thought stilled for a few seconds and then shrugging off his shoulders, he went back to arranging papers. He knew Nandini would come around.

Nandini, on the other hand, rush to the balcony - her favourite part of the house. She sat on the hammock, her eyes absorbed the beauty of the setting sun as she reminisced the day they discussed about her conditions. Her conditions were simple, according to her and for a larger part Manik too agreed with it except for one. He found her point of view silly while she found his objections to it pointless.

Flashback

It was two days after his birthday, when Nandini and Manik got time to sit down and discuss the conditions. His birthday was spent with his and her family showering him with love and blessings while their friends had planned a night drive followed by a day-out chilling at the resort. Manik and Nandini were dead tired after returning from the resort and straight away crashed on the bed. However, the next day when they got up there agenda was clear, they had a task in hand and they were in no mood to delay it any further. Seated in the living room post breakfast, Manik placed coffee mugs on the centre table and asked,

Manik – So Madam, what are your conditions, Please elaborate !!

Nandini – You will take care of your health, no excuses to miss on Yoga or medicines, no matter what, Deal

Manik – I agree to that

Nandini – Alright, so the first one is that you will not compromise on your work on my account, no cancelling of meetings because you need to talks me or getting so engrossed in the quest to find projects in America and paying little attention to the ones in hand

Manik – Wait a minute, how do you know I was looking for American projects

Nandini – Just how you know that I would eventually agree to go to Harvard

Manik – Ya right !! We know each other a little too well, don't we ?? (Nandini nodded with a smile) Ok Darling, I agree to that as well, however, that nowhere means I won't look out for projects based out in US but I will not make them my priority. Also, if I get a good deal I will agree to it, is that okay??