Chapter 15

Manik smiled. Hopefully everything will fall in place after two months and whatever things he had mentioned to Paa, if Nandini would even get a clue then it was end of him, she would kill him for sure. Coming out of his chain of thoughts he called Cabir.

Cabir asked him to talk to Nandini and inform her about whatever happened or it might lead to more complications. Manik was reluctant because he was damn sure Nandini would sue him. He finished his talks with cabir and remembered his time in US.

Manik's Past

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Manik was doing his post graduation in finance management in one of the top universities in New York.

Manik was in his last semester and he was a geeky guy. So he never went out with his friends. He was not a party animal. His focus was to finish his studies and get back to India, handle family business and relieve his dad from work related stress.

It was a long weekend in winters for the Thanksgiving event. His friends literally dragged him to the night club to enjoy and beat the winter by getting intoxicated. He had no other choice but to join them. It was New York's best club and he could see lot of people of his age who were enjoying in their own world.

He was just sipping on his whiskey while his friend Vicky came with some girl and introduced her to Manik.

"Hey Manik, meet Soha Mathews, Supermodel. I just met her here and she is amazing, you just catch up with her. My girlfriend is waiting for me bye, enjoy." His friend winked at Manik and left.

Manik gave her a flustered look not knowing what to talk to a stranger.

"Hey Manik, nice to meet you Soha here." She talked in heavy accent.

She came forward to hug him but then Manik just shook his hand and smiled.

She settled on a seat in the bar counter. She was going on blabbering as if she knew Manik from ages. Manik was just a listener. He was cursing his friend to have put him in this situation. After some time she left from there taking his phone number.

Soha was a famous supermodel. She had American father and Indian mother. But she had not visited India even once. She was born and brought up in US so she was very much American and even looked like one.

After that incident Soha called Manik hundred times and Manik was initially hesitant to mingle with her but later he also started enjoying her company. They started hanging out like friends and enjoyed each other's company.

When Manik's course was over he booked tickets to Mumbai. The day he was traveling back, Soha proposed him and he just couldn't say no as at that instant he had no reasons to reject her. He had found her as a great companion and a great friend and moreover she was hot. But he had never thought she would propose him. He actually said yes and Soha was jumping out of joy. He was very sure that his parents would never agree but he thought he would convince them and make Soha come down to Mumbai. Bidding bye to his girlfriend he came back to Mumbai with heavy heart.

Surprisingly, they had only shared a friendly hug and he had not even kissed her.

After coming back to India he had shared everything with Cabir. Nobody else knew about this.

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So now it had been almost a year and he was in long distance relationship with Soha. Initially, they talked for four or five hours a day but eventually it got reduced to ten minutes a day as both got busy with their work. He pleaded her to come to Mumbai many a times but she was extremely busy with her fashion shows and endorsements so she hadn't made it till now.

Hence Manik had not mentioned about her to his family as they wouldn't accept without seeing her. He was planning to surprise them once she was here. But then, his dad came up with this proposal and he committed blunder by taking Nandini's name. He could have taken Alya's name but he very well knew that Alya was head over heels for Maddy. It was Maddy's stupidity that he was not acknowledging Alya instead, flirted around with every other girl and most importantly Manik was scared about Maddy's intentions with Nandini. He at any cost didn't wanted Nandini to reciprocate Maddy. Manik was kind of jealous and he very well knew Nandini was his dad's favorite employee as he always praised her.

Nandini after coming back to her desk was holding her head and reminiscing Manik's words. She was getting more restless but she decided to still give her best as her ethics were high and she didn't want to be disrespectful towards her employers. She decided to just go on as long as she is here

She got back to her work temporarily forgetting all chaos.

After lunch break Manik called her and discussed few things related to project. In reality he wanted to check her mental stability. After getting the hint that she was normal he sighed.

Maddy joined them and as usual he started taunting Nandini but Manik stopped him annoyingly and Nandini left without reacting. Maddy was surprised to see their behaviour, he too left with blank expression.

A week passed without much chaos and then Manik's dad came up with conference in New York for 10 days and he had selected 6 members panel, Manik, Maddy Nandini, Alya and two others and they were supposed to travel next weekend.

Nandini tried hard to deny but Manish Malhotra requested her as it would help to build her career. After some brainstorming with her, she agreed.

Manik was dumbfounded. He had mixed feelings. He would meet Soha there but Nandini would be with them. He was by now pulling his hair in frustration. He wasn't ready to face this kind of situation where he had his girlfriend and then Nandini. Nandini, yea right this girl, he didn't even know what to do with his fluttering heart whenever he saw her.

Nandini informed Amms and decided to get all stuff. Arranged everything for the trip. She was excited as it was her first abroad trip and at the same time she was on edge thinking about Manik.