18

Nandini

Sitting in my chair, I start organizing everything on my desk.

I feel excited because this is my first job, my first step to becoming independent and making something of myself.

I am sure if Vivek were alive, he would have been proud of me.

I pause for a moment, emotional as I remember my brother, but I soon gather myself.

Manik has given me some letters to type and send to his clients, and I need to complete them in the next two hours.

Finally organizing the desk, I turn on the computer.

"I don't believe I have seen you here before." A voice makes me look up, and I frown at the man leaning on my cubicle.

He is well-dressed and has sharp features. But he seems to have a friendly demeanor, not a brooding one like Manik.

"Umm, yes, I am new here," I say, smiling politely at the man. "I am Nandini Iyer, Manik Sir's assistant."

The man smiles back at me. "I am Samrat Ahuja, Manik's friend and business partner."

I was surprised to hear that because I thought only Manik's family owned this business. I was not aware that they had a business partner.

"Nice meeting you, Sir," I say awkwardly, unsure of what I should say next.

I have never been comfortable talking with new people. That is why I never made friends in school and college. I always kept to myself, which is why everyone called me a freak. No one wanted to mingle with me.

"Am I so handsome that you are speechless looking at me?" Samrat asks.

"I am sorry, Sir. I didn't mean to stare. Actually, I have lots to do for now. So, I better get back to work," I tell Samrat and look at my computer screen, hoping he will soon leave from here.

As I continue staring at the blank screen, I feel Samrat peering at me. I don't know why he has not left even after I told him to go.

Well, I didn't say it directly, but he must have understood I meant that when I told him I should get back to work.

"Nice meeting you, Ms. Nandini Iyer," he says after a few seconds and leaves.

I sigh in relief as soon as he walks away.

I had told Manik I would be talking with others here, but at that time, I did not consider how hard it would be for me.

Shaking my head, I start to type the first email to send to the client when I hear someone clearing their throat.

I look to my side and see a girl smiling at me.

Here comes another one.

I sigh as I stand up from my chair.

"Hello, I am Nandini Iyer, Manik sir's new assistant," I introduce myself.

"I am Riya Sharma. I am Manik Sir's assistant, too," she says, and I frown at her.

I remember Manik telling me about giving his other assistant a fully-paid vacation for a month. I knew then that he had done it to make the job challenging for me.

Did he cancel her vacation?

"Are you confused about me being Manik Sir's assistant too? Didn't he tell you he always has had two assistants?" Riya asks me.

"Yes, he told me about that. But he also told me he sent his other assistant on vacation. So, I figured I would be his only assistant for a while," I reply to her.

"Hmm, that's right. He indeed sent me on vacation. A fully paid vacation! Which employer does that for their assistant nowadays? Manik Sir is such a kind-hearted boss.

"Initially, he sent me on a one-month vacation, but later he called me and requested to cut my vacation short and join today.

"Actually, he is starting a new venture with Samrat Sir, and the workload will double due to that. He mentioned having only one assistant would be a hassle for him. So, here I am. Re-joining the office today," Riya says to me, and I am surprised by how genuine she sounded.

When she said Manik was kind-hearted, I could see she really believed it.

I guess she does not know the real Manik Sisodiya, who is a selfish, arrogant jerk.

"Aren't you angry you had to cut your vacation short?" I ask her.

"Oh, no. I knew I needed to say yes to his request because, well, he is my boss. But when I agreed, he gave me a twenty percent increment in my salary. So, with such a generous offer, how could I be angry?" Riya replies, and I nod.

No wonder she thinks highly of Manik. He knows how to keep his employees happy.

Although he is not a good husband, at least he is a good boss.

***********

Manik

"You have hired a pretty assistant," Samrat says as he enters my office.

"You met Nandini?" I look questioningly at Samrat.

"Yes, I did. She seemed sweet. A little shy too. Such a cute combination," Samrat says, and I frown at him. I don't know why that annoyed me, but it did.

"She is my assistant, an employee here. And I won't appreciate you talking unprofessionally about her," I say, and Samrat looks taken aback.

"Woah! Since when do you not like when I talk unprofessionally about our female employees? And I was not disrespecting her. I just said she is sweet. What's wrong with that?" Samrat asks, and I lean back on my chair.

It's wrong because that's my wife you are talking about.

I want to say it, but I keep my mouth shut. Why should I bother if Samrat, or anyone else for that matter, says Nandini is sweet?

"It's nothing. I just am swamped right now, and I do not have time for your nonsensical talks," I reply to him and get back to reading the file.

"I am not here for only nonsensical talks. I met with Ajay Khanna last night. He told me he wants to meet with us regarding his new project. He mentioned wanting to give us the contract," Samrat tells me.

"That's great, Samrat. If we bag this project, not only will we end this year on a high-profit margin, but we will gain another high-profile client that will be good for our business," I say to him, keeping the file on the table.

"That's right, Manik. But there is a catch. Khanna said he is also considering another company," Samrat said, his voice serious.

"Who?" I ask although I feel I know it as I look at his expression.

"Raghav's company," Samrat replies, and I grit my teeth in anger.

"Call Khanna for a meeting next week. I will make sure he gives us the project," I say to Samrat, already knowing how I will do that.

"And may I ask how you will do that, Manik?"

"Will Khanna give his project to Raghav's company if it is about to get bankrupt?" I ask, and Samrat looks at me with shock marring his face.

"What did you do, Manik?"

"He stole my girl, so I stole his international client. Myra had told me about Raghav and his father about to extend their business internationally.

"So, I talked to those international clients and convinced them to pull back from the contract. I assured them if they did business with me, they would make a double profit than what they are making from the deal with Raghav's company," I reply to Samrat.

"But why have I not heard about it yet? And wouldn't it be breaching the contract if they have already signed it?" Samrat seems confused as he asks me those questions.

"Technically, it would not be because the final contract is not signed yet. I did my research and found that Raghav's company is already in much debt. This international merger is his last hope. If this does not go through, he will lose his business altogether.

"It seems he is keeping everything in wraps because he thinks he can bounce back from his massive debt with this international merger. That is why not many people know about this.

"Even Myra doesn't know because whenever I talk with her, she raves about new gifts Raghav has been showering on her. She thinks this merger will make her boyfriend richer than he already is. Poor girl does not know what is about to happen." I smirk as I think about the devastated looks on Raghav and Myra's faces.

"When will Raghav and his father know about these international clients pulling back from the deal?" Samrat asks.

"In about ten days. That is why I want to meet Khanna in a week. I will make him sign a deal with us. That way, Raghav will have no way to bounce back anymore. He won't have a choice but to let me take over his company," I tell Samrat, feeling good about everything going according to my plan.

"Do you really want to do this, Manik? He is your friend," Samrat says to me, and I scoff at him.

"Friend, you say. Do friends steal the girl you love? If he really considered me his friend, he would never have even thought about getting together with Myra, let alone going through with it. When he didn't think of me when he betrayed me, why should I think about him?"

"I know they did wrong, Manik. But I don't think taking revenge is a way to go here. Maybe if you could talk with them and make them feel the weight of their action, they will understand and apologize to you," Samrat says, and I shake my head at him.

"I don't want their apology, Samrat. I want them to realize what happens when they mess with Manik Sisodiya. I want them to regret their actions for the rest of their lives," I tell Samrat and see him about to argue further. So, I start speaking before he can say anything.

"Look, Samrat. I am not asking you to take part in my plan. Just let me do what I want to do," I tell him, and he sighs.

"I know how stubborn you can get, Manik. I hope you realize what you are doing before it's too late," Samrat says and walks out of my office.

I smirk as I watch him leave.

I do realize what I am doing. I am hurting the people who deserve to be hurt.

I can't wait to see Myra coming running to me once her boyfriend gets bankrupt.

I know her. She won't be with someone who is unable to fulfill her expensive needs. Once Raghav cannot provide her with what she wants, she won't think twice before leaving him.

And when she comes back to me, I will throw my being married in her face.

Then she will realize what she lost when she cheated on me. And Raghav will know he lost his best friend and his company just because he betrayed me for a gold digger.

That way, those two will get the Karma that they deserve.

"I have sent the emails, Sir," Nandini's voice jolts me out of my reverie, and I turn toward her.

I feel my conscience pricking me as I look at her. What about Nandini, Manik? Did she also deserve what you did to her?