Fragments of Feeling

CHAPTER THREE

"Are you paid to oversleep Shikara?" He shouted. She felt a sharp prick in her heart. She'll not deny the fact that she's been paid but she's been overworked too. She has no time for herself, not even recreational time like the other staff. She arrives early and leaves very late all to please him and because he made it so for her.

She muttered “ I’m sorry Sir”. He scrutinised her with disgust and swore under his breath.

“Again, what’s with you presenting without your script?”

“ I forgot to bring them along” Her words came out more in whispers.

“Did you ever think your confidence could flutter at some point?” His expression became unreadable. “I apologise”

“If you dream of repeating this, I’ll make you wallow in misery because no one dares to embarrass me. You have to live up to my standards. Standardise yourself, your time and your presentation next time.” “Now get out,” he ordered. She made to leave but he stopped her with his words again.

“Hey! Make sure not to smile when next you make a presentation or anywhere near me or even in public, I find it disgusting ""What a total bummer” He muttered and finally dismissed her. “Shush shush”

The pain in her heart hounded her, she wanted a quick escape from the harsh, cruel and ungrateful words of her boss. She ran out of the office bumping into Jones, her boss’ friend. Two bumps in a day. She bowed in apology and quickly ran into the restroom oblivious of the multi-million eyes on her.

With a bang Jones made his way into Rory’s office, he found him relaxing against his comfortable chair with legs crossed against the other and his finger involuntarily drumming on his glass table. Jones knew that feeling.

"Why didn't you call me yesterday Roy?"

" Jones it's Rory not Roy and I tried to get a hold of you but couldn't get through"

" What time did you call?"

" I tried all night"

" Rory or Roy whatever, I still can't understand why you couldn't get through"

" Jones I said I kept getting a busy signal isn't that a reason huh!? His voice becoming loud.

"Tsk..." Jones' hissed while pouring some brandy for himself and Rory because he thought Rory needed a glass or would be needing a glass of brandy.

"Hey Rory can you get the glass saucer over there for me ,I mean for us please"

" Can't you hold the glass in your hand ? Help yourself with the saucer. I've had a very bad morning. I just want to kick back and relax" A deep furrow appeared on his forehead and Jones could tell he wasn't in the mood but he wasn't ready to let him off the hook. Not yet

"Hey! because you'd a bad morning doesn't give you permission to take it out on me” He poured another glass and gulped it down in a go.

"Let me be Ok. Leave me alone" Rory glared at his friend and resumed his sulking.

"You're sulking aren't you? What a turd." He didn't want to bring up Shikara at the moment as it'll only worsen the atmosphere in the office.

Shikara let herself cry in the restroom, she needed to ease the pain in her heart. Feeling a little bit better, she washed her face, cleaned it with a towel and brushed her hair while staring at her reflection in the mirror. She also applied some pancakes to improve her appearance. She straightened herself and got out making her way to her desk outside Rory's office. She heard lots of whisperings around her.

"Did you see Shikara just before she entered the restroom?"

" Yes but why did she have such a long face on her?"

" I don't have the foggiest idea"

" I thought she'd be happy"

" Yeah, especially since she gave that presentation and got lots of praise right?"

" Well, maybe it's some kind of personal problem"

" Shelly and Brenda don't you think you both have said enough huh?! '' Clare, Shikara's friend, cautioned.

" It's so impudent of you two to say the victim is a desk ahead, anyway you guys will never ceases to disappoint me" Clare stated as she walked towards Shikara.

"Shelly move your large ass to the software department and tell Ashley to forward the REMSM meetings to me right now. Also check with Mackie for recent mail updates. The boss needs to be updated on that. Brenda I'll appreciate it if you stop looking at me and focus on processing the file to be sent to the storing department for traceability purposes please. Get to work and stop wasting time"

She gracefully stood across Shikara obstructing her view. Shikara looked up and smiled heartfully at her friend. Her one and only true friend in RY reals. Clare cleared her throat and stared intently at Shikara daring her to act ignorantly. Seems like Shikara caught the hint and began talking.

"Sorry I overslept. My alarm went off late this morning" She looked at Clare pleadingly.

" Again? Shikara again today" She was shocked.

" That's right, even though I did set the alarm last night it still messed me up," Shikara complained.

Clare noticed her biting her lips, she quickly calculated and anticipated Shikara's next move. She does that anytime she is tense or nervous in a not-so-good way.

"Your clock never works, perhaps you should consider buying a new one"

" Well, if it breaks down again tomorrow, I'll definitely buy a new one" she started fumbling the tip of her hair just as Clare anticipated. She made note to have lunch with Shikara because she suspected tension in Shikara though she sounded and spoke otherwise.

"Maybe by then it'll be too late"

"What do you mean by too late Clare? "

"By that time, you'll be fired , I can't wait to get drunk with you when that happens" She turned to head back to her department. Shikara rolled her eyes after her. Clare spoke on track "I know you rolled your eyes right now" Shikara childishly ruffled a piece of paper with the intention of throwing it at her friend.

"Shikara, don't even try to throw that paper at me." Shikara wasn't surprised anyway as being friends with Clare for a long time has given Clare the perfect understudy she needed about her. "Whatever" she murmured. "I don't ever wish to see you again"

Clare never ceases to amaze her. A girl graced with elegance. The perfect girl for any man. The girl with the nicest boss. Jones was her friend's boss; he had recently occupied the position of the director of the board of influencers for both the real estate management department and the property management section as well. Not to forget his is Rory's bosom friend and his family owns about fifteen percent of the RY reals share.

"What if Jones was her boss would he be mean to her too? She quickly shoved off the feeling to concentrate on finishing the report on their company's ongoing project that's the implementation of the company's marketing plans.

She had to get the report ready in time as she needed no second round crucifixion and also it was time they finalised the whole project and set it to motion. She looked at her boss through his window. She couldn't make out his expression as he stood with his back to her. Sensing a gaze, he drew the blind. She shook her head at that.

She was consumed in the report that she barely knew it was past time for lunch. All her colleagues but her had gone to grab something from their company's canteen. She suddenly wished she could do the same. She set to work again.

"You could take a coffee break, you know," Jones suggested to her. He was headed to the canteen to grab something for himself and his friend.

"I wish I could but I can't," she answered, typing away on her keyboard.

"What hath got thou busy? You've been sitting here for hours. You've gotta move around so you wouldn't get swollen feet and be sure you aren't crippled. You can't just stay on the computer forever. You're no robot. " He had his eyes glued on her the whole time he was in Rory's office. She has been so busy and only got to smile when he saw his assistant talking to her. That was a little relief. She was a nice girl despite what his friend thinks. There was something different about this Shikara. She wasn't like the Shikara he knew years ago.

"Well I'm up to my neck in work. I've to finish this report. My boss needs it by noon and I don't want to get scolded again if I can't finish the work by the deadline". She grabbed a file under her desk and flipped through it in search of an address she had written on a small note pad and filed there for easy remembrance.

"Is your boss that mean to you? Did he scold you this morning? Why? Isn't his behaviour becoming unbearable for you.?"

" He despises me, I don't know why but I believe he must have his reasons. Yes I was late to work so I kind of deserved the scold " she made a face and continued "his words were a little bit harsh that's all. Aside from that, he's a cool guy. I know he didn't mean all he said to me. I like him anyway. Behind the mean boss there is a nice guy. My consolation is his handsome face and body anyway" she giggled as she said that she didn't know she was chattering non-stop. The words just came running out of her mouth uncontrollably.