Shades of Life

Their Professional Chat

I took the elevator bribing all the gods out there to help me just this once. I entered his floor and saw a girl slightly elder than me sitting in the reception booth outside his cabin. The whole ordeal looks like the one’s shown in Fifty Shades of Grey. I wonder if this interior was inspired by Christian Grey’s office décor.

Not the time Akshu, your job is on line. Take care of that.

Shaking my thoughts, I went towards that girl.

“Hi” I said giving her a polite smile. She lazily looked up at me and gave me an arrogant look. I wanted to remind her that she was not auditioning for any role so cut out the over acting but I don’t want to increase the chances me getting fired.

“What?” She asked me before turning back to her mobile.

Rude much!

“Um, Varun sir called me. Is he free? Can I go in?” I asked pointing towards his office.

“Who are you?” She asked me looking up and down my frame.

“I’m Akshara Vashisht, it’s my second day here. I just joined the One Frame team” I said sweetly ignoring her arrogance. I can’t take any chance. Once I get my job secure, I’ll take care of her.

“He didn’t tell me about you, so move along” She waved me dismissively pointing the elevator.

Okay now, she’s getting on my nerves.

“Hello miss, he just called Rahul and told him. He must be waiting for me, can you call and check or I’ll be going in” I said crossing my arms with a tough look. I’m already anxious about my job and I don’t need this b***h to escalate my blood pressure more than it already is.

She seethed and called him getting skeptical when I took Rahul’s name.

“Sir, there is some girl called Akshata here saying that you called her” She told him. I rolled my eyes when she took my name. I don’t care.

“Okay sir” She said and hung up.

“You can go in” She said rolling her eyes.

 I’ve met a lot of rude people in my life but they have a common curtesy to disguise her bitter words with sweet voice or sarcasm. My relative are good at it though, they either cover up their rude comments or out of respect for me and my family, b***h about us behind our back.

But this girl acts like she owns this company. Delusional.

I shook my head and knocked on his cabin door.

“Come in” heard his sharp voice which sent a shiver down my spine.

Oh! He is mad alright.

I opened the door and peeked in to see him sitting on his chair in front of a humungous table. It was really huge filled with all kinds of office stationaries. I entered the room and it was Wow.

It was like dream office; one side of wall was made of glass. I could see the city and it was beautiful scenery. Other wall had an amazing modern interior design and in front of it was a big ass sofa and a table. There was another room which I’m guessing either a bedroom or washroom. Other wall had a big television with some wood work around it. All in all, the whole room was bomb.

“Are you done ogling my office? “came his voice which made me look at him.

Hu-ho, someone looks mad.

“Um, Good Morning sir” I said with a nervous smile. He sat there in front of his laptop looking handsome as hell in his sexy ass suit. But boy oh boy, his face was like he had eaten a rotten egg.

Great Akshu, you made a billionaire and CEO of renewed company hate you. Good job.

“Sir? As far as I remember I am a murderer, right?” came his sarcastic response making me want to dug a hole and hide myself.

I chuckled nervously.

“Sorry sir, I was really sad and tired. The only thing that brings me joy is Kurkure and you stomped on it like it was nothing and I was frustrated as my first day here was not as I hoped and I took it all on you. I didn’t mean it though, you see Kurkure has been with me when no one was. It holds a very special place in my heart. I make this killer dish using it, I could give you my famous recipe if you want. Trust me you will love it and understand why I reacted that way. Even though it wasn’t your fault, you didn’t’ do it on purpose and I kind off over reacted. So I’m sorry sir” I finished my speech when I felt my throat was parched. Trust me you don’t want me coughing, I’ve spent my share of time sitting down during prayer time in school. My class teacher actually stopped me from coming down for prayer as I would start coughing while singing State and National anthem.

Yeah, I’m a mess.

I looked up to see him staring at me with a blank look.

“Are you done or you have something else to share? Maybe your family history or your love life. I mean go on. It’s not like I have any work rather than listen to you go on about some nonsense that I don’t care about” He said leaning back in his seat.

His sarcasm is good; I’ll give him that.

“Sorry” I said with a grimace. I couldn’t say more though; I need this job. I happen to like it and if I get fired my relatives with have a field day celebrating this day. Yeah, I’m unlucky in relatives’ department.

“Take a seat” He said pointing towards the seat in front of him.

Nodding I sat down.

“There are two reasons to why I called you. One, do not ever try to disrespect me like the way you did yesterday. I have no idea what you were doing in my apartment building but never repeat that” came his hard, deadly voice.

“You live in that apartment building?” I asked gasping. We both live in the same building. Wow, what are the odds haa?

“That’s what you heard from what I said” He asked looking at me in disbelief.

“I mean, I would never disrespect you like that ever again” I said shaking my head with sincerity. If someone else was in his place, by the way I talked to him yesterday they would have fired my ass right then and there itself.

“Second, I wanted make sure that you are ready for what is waiting for you. Right now the work is slow. Rahul told me you are going through the Knowledge Transfer sessions. There do give you some information about how we work and what we worked on previously. But when a new project is starting, it will get hectic and I expect you to be on your toes. Our company pay you guys generously because we expect perfection when it comes to work delivery. Our customers are important just like our employees. If you can’t or won’t pace yourself and work hard then you will be dropped from the team or company altogether. I’m not saying this to scare you but I’m telling you the seriousness of our situation. I’m expecting you to take your job seriously and work hard. If you face any issue, you can talk to Rahul would be guiding all 6 of you. Now that I have said what I wanted to, you can leave. You are dismissed” He completed his speech in a serious tone. Aura around him was so intimidating that all I could do was nod.

“Thank you, sir” Not knowing what else to say, I stood up nodding at him once again as he continued to stare at me, not creepily just like when you see a weird person on streets the kind of stare you give them.

I walked out of his room and saw that girl, his secretary sitting in her chair look at me.

I moved my gaze towards the elevator and a bee line to it. Can’t handle her bullshit right now.

As soon as I entered the elevator, I leaned back on the wall of elevator sighing deeply before starting going my happy dance.

I have my job!!

I’m not getting fired on second day of my job. Yayyy!!!!

Right in the middle of my dance, the elevator door opened and Richa and Aarav stood on the other side looking at me like I’ve lost my mind. Aarav had an amused expression on his face.

Clearing my throat, I stood up straight.

“Good morning, my dear fellow colleagues. Have an amazing day ahead” I said with a wide grin and skipped past them to my cabin not giving them a chance to talk.

Till the lunch time, I engrossed myself in the videos and making notes.