Chapter 14

"But Paa, what's the hurry I am not ready yet, I will be 26 next month. I am just too young I feel. I have still a lot to achieve, I can't be in a relationship as of now. Please don't force me." Manik pleaded.

"No Manik, I have never ever imposed anything on you and Maddy, but few things should be done at right time and this is the right time, you just can't deny. And our business is at its peak, nothing to worry, you have put your best foot forward. So, its time to settle down I am not talking like your dad, but your friend," his dad said in a friendly tone.

"But Paa, actually I mean I am...I... " he mumbled.

"Manik, dont tell me you have some girl friend who is not from here, meaning you have some one in States, we can't handle that culture shock," snickered his dad.

Manik was really worried now, he was in a catch, his dad was not letting him go until he promised to meet this girl next week. He wanted to buy some time.

Manik in a low tone said "But dad, its not any girl from US but you know that girl and you like her a lot."

"Who is it?" Asked his dad curiously.

"Well its.. its... its...ummmm, Nandini Murthy, who is working for our bank from past 4 months." He was a nervous wreck. When he finished saying this, he was sweating profusely.

"Really?" His dad asked surprisingly.

Manik nervously replied "Umm.. yes Paa, its Nandini." He gave his dad a big fat fake smile cursing himself for just venting out Nandini's name to escape from his parents intention of him getting married to some other girl. He had landed himself into deep deep trouble.

"Wow, I actually know Nandini Murthy's grandmother, they are very cultured and respectable family. But make sure you are not just doing any time pass with her. It should be serious relationship and very soon I will talk to her grandmother." His dad gave him some advice.

"Dad, please, don't talk to her grandmother yet. The fact is, she herself doesn't know my feelings for her. So, I want to take it slow. Let her come clear with her feelings for me, only then we can decide on something. Please not now, I hope you understand Paa and please keep it as secret just between two of us. You can definately handle mom, she will never say no to you." Manik just had dodged the bullet, for now, he thought.

"Ok son, take your time. I am really happy for you. God bless you." His dad hugged Manik.

Manik came to his room and he called Cabir, narrated him entire conversation between him and his dad.

"Manik!! Are you nuts? Have you completely lost it? Nandini Murthy, seriously? You know right she is Veebha's best friend? Veebha will most probably first kill me and then come for you. You have no idea what have you done." Cabir yelled at Manik not letting him talk while he finished.

"Cabira, only you can help me out of this situation. I know you are right. Now I am really worried, you very well know my situation and she is not going to come here anytime soon from US. So how would I have managed this scene? There was no escape so I took Nandini's name." Manik tried to explain his friend and the major slip up.

"OK! No worries Manik. You just sleep on it. Let's see what we can do. We will meet tomorrow and think about something. But just tell me one thing why Nandini? Has something changed? Are you in love with Nandini in real? Have you forgotten your US girlfriend?" Saying this Cabir laughed loudly.

"Shut up Cabira, nothing like that. Good night, lets talk tomorrow." Manik hung up the call.

Nandini was lying on her bed thinking about the entire evening. She was not able to figure out what was Manik upto. She just wanted to get rid of him by resigning, but now that is also seemed like going kaput. She had no idea what Manik meant by sweet surprise. She was flushed thinking about how he advanced towards her by kissing her, she turned red. She took a pillow and covered her face talking to herself, "Why am I even thinking about that, I am supposed to get annoyed but why am I blushing like a fool."

Nandini never had any affair nor had a boyfriend she was always into academics. Though she had many friends she was never romantically involved with any guy. Many had proposed her but she had rejected saying she doesn't believe in love and all but ever since she had met Manik, she had got some unknown feelings as if she knew him from ages and her heart used to pound faster whenever he was around. She had butterflies in stomach whenever he was close to her. His manly looks, his scent everything was drool worthy but she somehow knew he had someone in his life. She had seen caller name as baby and had noticed him blushing whenever he was on call. She had felt pang of jealousy but she warned herself, "never will have any feelings for him he is my enemy!" Thinking that she sighed and drifted off to sleep unaware about new chaos in her life.

Next day at office, Nandini was in Manik's cabin asking him to relieve her from job. Manik smirked and showed her bond where she had her signatures and it was 500K penalty instead of 100k, if she quits before six months.

Nandini was flabbergasted "What nonsense! It was 10k when I signed it how can it be 100k now? Its fraud I will talk to my lawyer this is so unfair." She yelled on top of her voice.

"Hold on Ms. Murthy, when you were signing it was 100K. You didn't bother to check number of zeros, that's purely your mistake. Although I had mentioned as 10K its your job to cross check, you can't trust anyone so blindly, and yes I knew you would do something like this very soon, see, you are here." He winked

"This is just ridiculous how can you do this? You know what I hate you, I just hate you to the core. Another two months and after that nobody can stop me from quitting. These two months I will make sure you will regret your decision of retaining me back. Just mind it!" She warned him and stomped off.