Cabir dialed a number on his intercom and asked, scaredly, to send HER in.
Cabir:- send the HEADACHE in………….
Manik looks at him, confused, seeing him scared of a girl, but soon his gaze falls on the door, which opens with a bang, and a storm enters.
The door opened with so much force that the photo frame, which was kept beside the door on the table, fell, breaking once again.
From the same door, a girl walks inside as if nothing had happened. She is wearing normal jeans with a top, not looking less than a fairy in simple attire. The first thing that Manik noticed was her big doe eyes and her natural, puffy, red-tinted cheeks.
According to him, her lips can give sleepless nights to anyone, and she is perfectly thick in the right places. In short, she is the epitome of beauty. His eyes are just stuck on her and notice her small to small features. This is the first time that he has noticed any girl so closely. Although he never looks at any girl because of his shy nature, except for one in the past.
He comes out of his admiring session, hearing Cabir’s statement.
Cabir:- ( while palming his face ) finally 10!
Hearing him, Manik looks at the fallen frame, which is joined by white tape from every possible place. But soon his eyes again fall on the girl who picks up the frame and walks towards them with a sheepish smile, skipping his heart.
The girl:- ( while giggling at her act ) Sorry!...... This won’t happen again, I promise.
Manik felt a sudden jolt hearing her melodious voice. Her giggles were like a cherry on top.
Cabir:- ( with a crying face ) How many times will you apologize for breaking the same frame? ( took the frame from her hands ) NANDINI, you broke the same frame 10 times since the day of joining this office.
“NANDINI……………………. What a sweet name like her voice and her”, thought Manik.
Nandini:- ( with sharp eyes ) uff…… And from the day of joining the office, I have been working with a white tape in my pocket. Don't you know about this effort of mine for the company?
Cabir:- ( while palming his face in distress ) This is not an effort. It’s how you cover up your mistakes.
Manik is enjoying this banter like a silent spectator. Well, frankly speaking, he is noticing only Nandini with the corner eyes while keeping his face emotionless. His lips stretch into a smile, seeing the cute scene, and to hide his smile, he opts to drink water.
Nandini:- ( while widening her eyes, dramatically ) MY MISTAKES!..... Really? Is it my mistake that everyone falls for my hotness?
The next second, the water stuck in Manik’s throat, making him choke, hearing her. On the other hand, for Cabir, all this is common.
Cabir:- From where does your hotness come?
Nandini:- What do you mean by that? Don’t you know that I was born hot!
Seeing the conversation going from the frame to the hotness, Cabir wants to bang his head on the table. With a defeated look, he joined his hands and said.
Cabir:- I am sorry, Nandini. It’s my mistake that I kept the frame on that table, knowing that because of your hotness this will fall every day.
Nandini:- ( while pulling his cheeks ) aww….. How cute, my CUTU BOSS! You look cutest when you apologize. ( mischievously ) So, keep doing that and don’t worry, I will repair this.
Saying this, she picks up the frame from the table and takes out the white tape from her pocket. Sincerely, she pasted the frame and handed it back to the Cabir. This is the quality of her that Cabir likes the most, that is, her sincerity while working.
Cabir:- ( while looking at the frame ) Now, this frame looks like a tape frame more than a family picture.
Nandini:- It’s fine, MY CUTU BOSS. Everyone makes mistakes, but what matters the most is how we accept our mistakes and apologize. Don’t worry, I will always stay beside you to cover up your mistakes just like I did now.
Cabir:- ( sarcastically ) OH!..... My goodness…… Thank you for making such a sacrifice for me.
Nandini:- oh…. Don’t be formal, CUTU BOSS. We are like a family.
This is how she is, a total drama package.
NANDINI
A NOT-SO-INNOCENT GIRL THE WAY SHE LOOKS. A TOTAL DRAMA PACKAGE WITH LOTS OF NAUGHTINESS. CAN’T KEEP HER MOUTH SHUT EVEN FOR A SECOND. HER TALKS WILL MAKE YOU MAD.
SHE IS TRULY A PATAKA (CRACKER) FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. A GIRL LIKE A MIRROR, WHAT IS IN HER HEART IS ALWAYS ON HER MOUTH. A GIRL WITH NO FILTER AND NO PAST.
A HARDWORKING AND SINCERE ONLY WHEN IT COMES TO WORK.
CAN WIN ANYONE’S HEART WITH HER TALKS AND NATURE. IN SHORT, A COMPLETE SURPRISE PACKAGE.
Cabir:- Now, should we focus on the work?
Nandini:- ( with not so interesting look ) No…… let’s discuss Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal’s wedding. This is the hot topic of Bollywood. What do you think of this rumor?
Cabir:- ( excitedly ) I have a better topic than this. Wanna listen?
Nandini:- ( bowing her head ) as my boss says.
Cabir:- Why don’t we discuss the ways to make you resign from the job? What’s say? Listening to this, Nandini composed herself, but her eyes soon fell on the person who was sitting beside her. Her lips stretched into a smile, seeing a very beautiful smile on his lips.
Nandini:- You have a very beautiful smile, boy.
Hearing the compliment, the blood rushes to Manik’s cheeks, making her chuckle.
Cabir:- ( rolling his eyes ) everyone has a beautiful smile, Nandini………
Nandini cuts him off.
Nandini:- ( eyeing him ) Not everyone has!
Cabir:- ( with narrowed eyes ) I will take it as a compliment. Now, let’s focus on him ( pointing to Manik )
Before he could say further, Nandini again cut him off, excited.
Nandini:- ( with dreamy eyes ) My focus is already on him, Boss. He is cute… Look at his cheeks, which turned red when I complimented him. Not so usual, right? Look at his dimples…… and his height would ( eyeing him from head to toe ) umm…….. Would be around 6.2…….. His dressing is quite good, and his specs give him a different look……
Cabir makes a crying face and rubs his forehead because it started paining.
Cabir:- Nandini, I didn’t mean to focus on him in that way. Look, you are embarrassing him.
Nandini immediately looks at Manik to see him turned into a complete beetroot. She goes all aww on his cuteness.
Cabir:- Nandini, I am appointing you as his guardian. FROM NOW ON, HE IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. Show him the jam room and prepare him for his launch and concert. Work on his vocals, the personality that….. The charm that rockstars have.
Nandini:- Don’t worry, boss, FROM NOW ON HE IS MINE. I WILL TAKE CARE OF HIM.
Manik felt something strange when she openly claimed him as hers. He is staring at her with unknown emotions.
Cabir:- Now, you both can leave. ( to Manik ) Manik, rest, she will make you understand.
Manik nods, and both stand up to go, but are stopped by Cabir.
Cabir:- wait!...... ( while looking nowhere ) BE SAFE!
Manik looks at him innocently and tightens his hold on his guitar case, nervously.
Manik:- don’t worry, sir!.......... I am not like those spoiled brats. She ( pointing to Nandini ) is safe with me. I won’t cross my limit, I promise.
Cabir:- No…… no…… Manik, you took me wrong. I told you to BE SAFE. Nandini is safe with you, I know!....... But your dignity is at risk with her.
Listening to him, Manik giggles while looking at Nandini, who is shooting daggers at her boss.
Nandini:- I am not a spoiled brat, sir.
Cabir:- You are not less than them.
Nandini flares her nose and grits her teeth.
Nandini:- then, let me be honest, SIR!...... today you are looking like an EYESHADOW PALETTE, filled with all bright colors. ( turns her gaze towards Manik and asks ) Am I right, shy boy?
Manik looks into her angry eyes and nods immediately like an obedient student, making her smirk.
Cabir:- ( yelled at her back ) I am your boss…… for god’s sake show some respect to me!
Manik looks at him with a pitying look and again looks at the fierce girl who doesn’t care about anyone. He walks behind Nandini, but is stopped, hearing Cabir.
Cabir:- I am taking these aspirins ( showing her tablets ) daily in the office for headaches only because of you. So, I will cut this expense from your salary.
Nandini rolls her eyes and closes the door with a bang, making the frame fall once again, but this time at her exit. Manik heard the noise and understood what happened inside, and the next second heard Cabir’s yell.
IT’S 11……!
From the other side, Nandini also yells back.
Nandini:- keep counting……..
Manik looks at her and then at himself with a pitying look.
Manik:- ( thought ) Am I going to be a ROCKSTAR or a ROCK+STAR in the sky? It depends on this girl. ( Cries ) WHERE AM I STUCK?
To be continued…