01 // He is arrogant
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"SIR, MR. RANDHAWA is not available. He is asking if you can postpone the meeting a week later because he can't drop in until this weekend." A young man speaks. His face is pale white and his hair is jet black in the moonlight which is currently washing his face.
"Why so ?"Asks his boss, Mr. Manik Malhotra who is intently gazing the night sky as if it was telling him something. His hands clinging in his pocket and his tone calm.
"He has some emergency Sir. I asked him the reason but he shoved it away saying it is his personal thing and not an announcement to be made to the public" He answered and turned his heel to leave him alone.
"Something more important than the deal? The deal which ties both the companies together? The deal which slipped away from many worthy hands to reach him? The deal for which many people are ready to pay me ransom?" He mutters to himself gritting his teeth in frustration and slams his fist in the railing. "I can't make a precious deal with a person who his imprudent and apathetic and has no damn sense of responsibility," he growled at his P.A. who flinched a bit and turned around.
"Mr. Jatin, I order you to inform Mr. Randhawa and his people that I am cancelling the deal. Tell them.. Mr.Manik Malhotra doesn't have time to wait and waste and he expects his partners to be worthy like him. If they are lethargic and irresponsible idiots, then he is not the person to welcome them with open arms."He spat, fury gushing through his veins and blood. He hates people who disobey him, he hates them who disagrees him. He can't tolerate defeat. He wins each innings he plays. Even if he doesn't win, he makes himself win. Hook or crook. Victory is his.
Jatin, who is some 5 years elder to Manik is a very responsible and compassionate man. Though Manik's behaviour and pride greatly displeases him he ways tries to give him right suggestions and advices but Manik is a man of so much ego that, he doesn't give a damn to him and follows his own principals.
"But Sir... I feel that we should oblige to them. At least this time because if we cancel the deal loss is not only theirs but ours too. Not only would we break the friendly relation between the companies but also it would drop our respect and dignity in the society." said Mr. Jatin, well aware that he will knocked down by him for his suggestion alleging himself as nosy but still, we was a faithful employee and wanting his company to raise and achieve. He can't see it falling down.
But it seems his worry turned out to be unnecessary. After a long pause Manik spoke.
"You're right Mr. Jatin, I feel a point in your words. I guess we can allow it once, I can't bloody stake my precious company's reputation for a irresponsible bloke like him. But I will ensure that we never agree a deal with them henceforth." He spoke as he started playing with the crystal ball in his desk, swirling and tossing as if a devilious plan was constructing itself in his mind.
Jatin walked out of his cabin with a sorrowful face. He never thought he would have to see a day like this. He sighed deeply and shook his head wishing that he could go back a few years and try to stop somethings.
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Her steps were quicker as she slurried in the rain, clad in a full length bright red gown with high stilettos she was finding it quite tough to battle with the rain. She carefully placed each of her step and moved her handbag over her head to escape the heavy downpour.
Her steps stopped as she stood before a brightly lit building. Lanterns were dangling from the ceiling in vibrant colours and before that stood a statue of cartoons with small playing balls scattered in the verandah. Two big poles were erected on either sides of the handsome building displaying a wide banner with the tag "Babe's and Tot's Playschool".
She sighed deeply as she pushed open the door. She was screwed. He specifically ordered her to come early to pick up and that he feels sleepy till she comes and that disrupts his sleep. She urgently rang the bell highly anticipating to get hit by a doll or something as soon as the door opens. Her wait was over as the door cracked open. She looked around for him but no one was visible to her. Did he leave ? Her hands started shaking and tears were threatening to spill.
"Hello?"
She wondered who opened the door and looked at all directions. She almost jumped when she heard a voice all of a sudden.
"I won't speak with you. She are a cheatel." The voice said and it did'nt take a genius to find out that:
"Harry? where are you?" She asked, her voice shaking with fear as she surveyed the place, worry written all over her face.
"Go Mumma, I won't come with you." Said Harry in his slurried speech still hiding safely away from his mum.
"Hardik ! I'm sorry sweetheart, please come out....wherever you are, don't frighten Mumma" Nandini rasped as she searched for him every nook and corner in the verandah and the hall.
"Plomise me that you will come eally from tomollow" Hardik whispered silently still standing in his place watching his mumma from the corner of his eye.
"Promise ! Anything for you honey."
"Okay, I am coming out" the door moved a little and came a wonderful small toddler with a huge grin in his face. Nandini gasped as her son swiftly moved to her with a proud smile on finding a new hiding place from his mum.
"New place again? Bad boy Harry" Nandini mock-glared at him placing her hands on her hips. Harry's smile instantly vanished replaced by a frown.
"I'm solly mumma...I was feeling very alone-alone in his big home. All my fliends went with their mumma. I feel tiled waiting fol my mumma, So I stalted to sealch new hiding places."He said in his cute baby tone and pursued his lips. Nandini's anger instantly went away as she heard her boy speak. He was everything to her, even a small scratch in his arm caused her so much pain. He was her priceless treasure and he was what mattered her the most. Hardik was her heart and soul. She survived for him, her boy.
"So you will not hid and frighten mumma, Promise?" She leaned to his height and put forth her petite palm before him.
"Plomise" replied the adorable baby flashing a charming smile to his mother and placed his miniature palm above her's. Nandini smiled tenderly at him and scooped him in her arms, gently tickling him in his belly making him laugh.
(Hardik-- Harry )
"Nandini ?" A voice spoke.
Nandini turned to face the owner of the voice and her lips moulding into a beautiful grin. Standing before her was a beautiful lady, might be around 20-25 years old wearing her peach coloured nightgown and her braided hair swaying in the wind.
"Navya !" She squealed in joy seeing her best friend and quickly made steps to her. Navya was next to Hardik, she was her moral support. She has been with Nandini through thick and thin, in the times when Nandini was jobless and with a responsibility of a year old Harry. She helped with her during the times when Nandini was roaming around the city in search of job with not a penny in her pocket. She cried with her in younger teenage years when her parents died in a car accident with Nandini being only 15 years old. She joined a part time jobs to help Nandini raise Harry. They both were soul sisters and nothing in the world was powerful enough to break their bond. Currently she ran a playschool and day care centre which Harry was a part of; much to Nandini's relief as she calmed herself that her kid is in safe hands.
"How was the day ?" Navya chirped as she started tickling Hardik making him giggle with glee.
"Tiresome" She leaned over her shoulder, patting Hardik head as she giggled hysterically.
"Why? Any problem?" At this Nandini returned back to her position. She furrowed her brows, her face now holding some sort of a serious expression.
"Yea....No... I mean, it is not a problem but it might become one in future" She stared at the ceiling imagining the outcome in the wide white expanse of it as if it is a white screen and she is the projector playing the future of her company's plan.
"You can share it with me if you are comfortable" Navya offered and she
hesitantly nodded her head.
"So listen..."
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"Sir.. I have spoken to Mr. Randhawa and he is scheduling the meeting for this Wednesday."
"You mean day after tomorrow ? But I guess he was unable for a week" Manik shot his eyebrows and looked at his P.A. who seemed equally confused.
"I was even lagging in those lines Sir. But, I didn't move to question him as he has already insulted me of poking my nose in his affairs." A flicker of hurt flashed through Jatin's face as he said that.
"I understand Mr. Jatin," Manik walked to his desk in a slowly, his mind deciphering the situation and trying to derive a conclusion. What is he doing to him, Trust or Treachery ? "But, his moves and actions are forcing me to think, I feel he is up with some evil idea in his sleeve." He took hold of a pen, swirling it devilishly and quickly averted his gaze to his P.A. "And... I suppose you are not with him. Right ?"
Jatin's looked at him with horror,"Manik ! How dare---" he stopped abruptly as Manik shoot him a cold look."Uh-- I-- I mean Mr. Malhotra, I am always by your side and I have always been, it is no point in suspecting me. What would I get by drowning your company ?" He muttered, making sure his voice was polite. The look in Manik's face softened and he seemed quite satisfied with his statement.
"I trust you Mr. Jatin, please make sure we keep the same thing between us, because I cannot tolerate disloyalty and the if anybody acknowledges that I'm afraid I will hack them to death." Jatin shivered as Manik spat the words back to him in a dangerously venomous tone and he waited no more a second. He placed the stack of files carefully in his desk and paced out of his room.
"Mr. Aditya Randhawa..." Manik smirked as he glanced at a picture of him in his phone. "You think you are more clever and talented than me, huh? You think you can turn the tables and win the bait but, you forgot that until Manik Malhotra is in his world, no bloody person can oushine him." He muttered in a frosty tone as he stared intently at him." No One !" He howled and filled the air with his delirious laughters which echoed through the building.
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{A/N:- Hola ! I am very much warmed up recieving such a cool response from you guys, thank you so much<3!. you guys are awesome :)
okay, so let me know your views about this chapter.) What do you expect ?
Will Manik win the bait with his arrogant and dominating nature ?
or, Will his opponent shut his commanding and disrespectful mouth by winning the game ?
if you have any doubts regarding the chapter do let it in my notice, I will clarify the same.}