Fragments of Feeling

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE

" I hate that I employed you" "I should have known better"" You're very incompetent"" Shikara, I'm talking to you, and you have got to listen"" You suck, everything about you sucks! Why am I even having this conversation with you? You're beyond redemption"".

Shikara reminisced those words over and over ever since she got home. Her boss lost it on her when she mistakenly gave the wrong file to a client and the so-called client had called her boss to state her dissatisfaction. She really didn't want to believe or even accept the fact that she was incompetent. No she wasn't. No . Never. She started working in RY reals three months ago. She has made great contributions towards the company and is still about to do more, but what she is yet to understand is the reason behind the hateful words she gets from her boss. She was trying her best to please him, but so far, it has been fruitless. The other day, he threatened to pour black coffee on her if she ever looked at him again. Imagine! He is a real beauty to behold. Why wouldn't she look at him at least past his stupid behavior? There is still something handsome about him. He is really attractive, she wouldn't lie about that. He really is. His aura too is quite catchy to say. What's there not to admire? Tsk Tsk Tsk! What a disapproving young man. He gave her the job, yet he's making the work atmosphere unbearable for her little soul. He even over works her. The past month hasn't been easy for her personal life to say. She barely had time for her girls. She leaves very early and returns a few minutes past midnight. What the hell is she supposed to do? These days she found her system unable to cope with the early waking up and all that, and that was how she got to eat early morning spiteful words from her boss for the past three weeks. Hmmmmm!!!!! What means can she implore to satisfy him? She feels very sad anytime he stings her with his words and most times she finds herself unable to stop the hot tears that trickle down her face.

As she sat on her bed lost in thought, she suddenly felt a pang of pain in her head. With ease, she supported her head with her palms and gently lay down on her soft bed. It's past time she went to bed. She was tired, very tired today and, as always, but she told herself it was going to be good. With that she slept off.

"Mom, aren't you late for work?"

"Can you just wake up Mommy?"

Shikara screamed as her head hit the cold floor of her room. At first, when she felt herself moving, she thought she was dreaming, not knowing it was real. She had been literally rolled out of bed by her six-year-old twin girls. She slowly opened her eyes amidst the pain.

"Hey, what's this all about girls?"

"Morning to you two, but not good morning"

" And why am I on the floor?" she asked, looking from one person to the other. The two pairs of gray eyes stared down at her, both slightly shaking their heads in pity.

"Ring!Ring!! Ring!!!"" What was that?" She asked them and in chorus they shouted" Your alarm mom"

"Holy s**t" she cursed. Her kids looked at her again. This time she could feel the warning emanating from those lovely eyes.

"OK, I'm sorry about the language, forgive me" She apologized as she drew them closer to herself, kissing them softly on their cheek. She released them gently, rose from the floor and ran into the bathroom to get ready for work and also to prepare herself for the oncoming missile from her boss.

A few minutes later, she exited her room wearing a tight long black skirt with a slit up front and a red blouse that had long sleeves. Its V-neckline was just normal and showed just enough.

"Shikara, your boss is gonna explode with rage today, I promise you". Her Mum's voice echoed from the kitchen downstairs. Shikara sprinted down the stairs with Tilsa struggling to hold her handbag and phone tight together and Elsa carefully parading on her heels, not minding her Mom's lateness. As Shikara got to the kitchen to greet her Mom, her nostrils were immediately filled with the sweet aroma from her Mom's waffle, she noticed Tilsa with the file-filled handbag of hers. She took it from her, ruffling her hair affectionately in gratitude. ""Mom trust me, I know you're a great chef and I also know you make the best waffles, but I can't risk it because, as you can see, I'm already late for work. Wish me luck Mom and don't forget to make a salvation prayer for me. Okay, I'll just grab a slice" and she did grab a slice as she promised. She was about to run out of the house when Tilsa called her back. She bent to Tilsa's height "what's the problem sweetheart?" she genuinely asked. Tilsa looked at her and started laughing. That instant, Shikara noticed she had no shoes on. She laughed stupidly at herself and turned just to find Elsa parading on her heels. She rushed over and lifted her tiny toes out of the shoe.

"Be good girls. Love you" . She blew them a kiss and left to grab a cab.

Shikara alighted from the taxi. She suddenly felt chills all over her skin. She dreaded what was to come today. But she had to keep going anyway, even if it would cost her her life. She needed the job. She believes those hateful words would do nothing but kill her spirit, that's all. Sluggishly she carried herself to the gate. She stood for some time staring at the magnificent building across from her. Her exceptional workplace. One of Rory's real estate management buildings. She was called to earth by the guard on duty. She checked into the building and made her way to the elevator. Her eyeball made a three_sixty-degree check and spotted the receptionist at the desk that morning. Oh! Why Mrs Luttee today? Shikara inwardly cursed. She needed no early morning sermon from the receptionist and, as such, made to hide her face with her long wine-coloured hair.

She made a silent prayer thanking God for her long hair.

"Shikara, I see you" Mrs Luttee called after her as she ran past the lady's desk.

"Oh My! I didn't see you. Mrs Luttee, how was your night?" She asked as she stepped into the elevator. She gave the lady a wink and smiled. Just as the door was about to close, Donnie of the Accounting department squeezed himself in beside Shikara.

"Hmm, Donnie always on these large coats. I wonder if he ever feels hot,"Shikara murmured.

" I hear you Kara," Donnie countered, looking at Shikara.

"Donnie, I know you've distinct hearing, but I clearly meant no offence, and you know that" She defended" Moreover, I say that to you every day, so it's high time you got used to that." Donnie could only shake his head at that. He wasn't gonna let her go in high spirits anyway. "You're late today, Kara, and I believe you ignorantly forgot today is REMSM right? "

Shikara screamed instantly. How could she have forgotten the Real Estate Management System Meeting scheduled to hold this morning and, worst of all, she is meant to present her script on behalf of the Real Estate Management department. Oh! How Rory would crush her was a nightmare she wished to wake up from. What can be worse? She forgetting the meeting and her presentation today or she forgetting her script at home? Who presents without a script in a meeting composed of the Board of Directors from all the departments in RY reals or at least without some PowerPoint? Here she is, the first to break the rules. Ms Shikara. She gave a sharp shriek and felt weak and paralyzed. She didn't know when she sat down in the elevator. How the hell will she face Rory, Rory, Rory? Rory, who hates being embarrassed, not to mention that her sight alone is enough embarrassment for him, she repeatedly sang the name. She was still in agony when she heard Donnie's voice once again.

"You may consider leaving the elevator, Kara, we're already on our floor". He gently pulled her along as they both exited the elevator. He assured her she could still meet up for her presentation since the meeting had only begun about an hour ago. He told her to brace herself for what was to come, as he figured she wasn't even with her script. He breathed her name and left with a deep sigh.

To Shikara, that was good news. She pulled herself together, dabbed her face with a pink flowery embroidered handkerchief and brushed her hair with her hand as she had ruffled it in her time of misery. She inhaled some God-blessed air and marched towards the conference room.

Standing outside the room, she began to doubt her confidence. She wasn't used to semi-large crowds and disliked attention a lot. She discarded the thought immediately, did a breath in and out therapy and made to open the door.