Shades of Life

Her Doom

I came back to my apartment cursing my fate. I mean this is the first day of job for anyone. I thought it would be balloons and confetti but it turned out to disastrous. I actually pissed off the CEO of the company, not just any company Mr. Varun Mehta heir of Mehta group of companies.

Good job, Akshu.

Sighing, I opened the fridge door to see only healthy food.

Uh, gross.

Only thing that can light me up right now is Kurkure. 

Confused?

I make this amazing dish with includes onion, tomato, salt and chili powder.

My guilty pleasure.

I of course need popcorn and chocolates.

I don’t like sweet at all. I’m a spicy girl *wink* *wink*

I grabbed my small ‘You go girl’ pink purse from my bag and rushed to the nearby grocery store. There is a big grocery store right outside the apartment gate. It is convenient for me.

Happily humming, I rushed into the store and grabbed my stuff. There were very less people. As I reached the chips isle, I grabbed like 15 ‘Masala Munch’ Kurkure with a wicked smile.

Oh, I’m going to gobble them up.

“Woah, do you love Kurkure that much?” came a voice from behind me. I turned around and saw a guy in his twenties. He looked normal, slightly taller than me though.

“Yeah” I said dragging my word. Isn’t he a stranger?

“Oh, you are one of those haa” He said nodding to himself with an amused smile on his face.

“Hey, it completely normal to love chips. I specifically love this because of the dish I would make with this. It’s abso-f*****g-lutely delicious” I took offence by the way he said.

No one can judge me and my Kurkure.

No one.

“Woah, chill. I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just that I have never seen anyone grab that many” He said shrugging.

“By the way, what dish can you make with it?” He asked thoroughly confused.

Poor guy, he has been deprived of this heavenly food all his life. I shook my head sadly.

Poor him.

“I’m sorry” I said sadly.

“Why?” He asked confused.

“I feel so bad that you don’t know about this amazing dish. That is so sad for you” I said sympathetically.

Someone said ‘Excuse me’ and I moved out of there with my trolley. I have grabbed everything so now I just have to bill them.

“It can’t be that good” He said following me to the cashier.

“Take that back” I gasped at him.

How can he say that? Has he ever tried it? No right, how the hell can he disregard my dish like that. It was the first dish I prepared by myself. All on my own and it turned out perfectly and amazingly. Huh, a jealous kid.

“Take one from the aisle because I’m not giving you mine and go home. Cut an Onion and two juicy tomatoes. Add them to a bowl, add salt and lot of chili powder. Then crush the Kurkure and add it. Mix it well and leave it for 2 minutes. Then eat it, trust me you will thank me” I said with a sarcastic smile as I paid the cashier.

“That’s it?” He asked genuinely confused.

“Look man, don’t judge it before you try” I said narrowing my eyes at him and grabbed my bags. I took some ice- creams so I need to go soon. I hate melted ice-cream.

When I got out of that store I turned around to see that guy run to the chips aisle to get Kurkure. With a smile I started walking to my apartment. I greeted the watchman with a smile, he greeted back. Now that I have my stuffs I’m so happy.

Wait, Akshu you just had a longest conversation with a guy and literally shared your favorite dish’s recipe verbatim and you don’t even know his name.

I sighed.

I’m hopeless.

I’m a social pariah.

Eh, who cares. I just got my guilty pleasure right in my hand.

Uh, it came out wrong.

Shaking my unnecessary thoughts, I walked inside the building with a happy smile humming ‘Driver’s license’. I mean the song is really good but the drama behind it is so lame and overrated. Not about Olivia but her ex’s and his current girlfriend’s songs. They are so petty and no as good as driver’s license. They just crave for attention and are mad that her song was a super duper hit.

Yep, that’s me who knows more about celebrity’s life than my close friends.

I’m obsessed with drama channel on YouTube. I watch them dis about YouTube beauty guru’s and influencers. I don’t really care about Indian Film Industry though. I love watching American Series. My first series was ‘How I met your Mother’ then I saw ‘Friends’. Yeah, it is as good as everyone says. Thus, my saga of American series started.

Oh, I binge watch Korean series too but that chat for another time.

So where was I, yeah next series I saw was-

“Ouch” I yelped as I fell back and my grocery fell on the floor.

What the hell?

I looked up to see what made me fall, it was guys wearing kids’ clothes. Indian Sheldon Cooper? Yeah, I love ‘Big Bang Theory’.

Focus Akshu.

“Hey, watch where you are going” I yelled at him as I saw him concentrating on his stupid phone. I’ll bet on my life that he is playing Pub-G on his phone.

“Yeah yeah” He nodded absentmindedly and walked out as if nothing happened.

Not even a sorry.

Asshole.

Cursing him, I started gathering all my items that had fell out of my bag. My poor babies. I gathered everything except few kurkure packets, I leaned in to pick them up and a shoe stepped on the last Kurkure packet that was left of the floor. I sat there on my knees seeing my baby get crushed to the floor.

It’s dead.

Oh my god.

I just witnessed a murder.

“You murderer!” I yelled standing up and looked at the guy who dared to do this.

It was Varun Mehta.

“You!!!” He exclaimed with a frowned.

Calm down Akshu, he is your boss.

Ah, f**k it.

“Who the hell do you think you are? Huh. It was my f*****g baby, you heartless buffoon. You f*****g killed it. Are you happy now that you crushed it to the ground? You! You! Nimrod!” I yelled getting up his face. He is pretty tall, maybe 6’1 or 6’2. Huh, he has a sexy height but that doesn’t matter.

He wasted a WHOLE packet of Kurkure.

He stared at me for few seconds as I controlled my breathing from all the yelling.

“Are you nuts?” He asked looking bored.

I closed my eyes to control myself. No Akshu, No don-

Huh, a lost cause.

“I’m? I’m nuts? Haa. You! You! Huh. Monster!!” I yelled at him heaving heavily I dashed out of there with my grocery, leaving that packet behind.

I’m sad now.

Shaking my head, I went back to my apartment and grabbed the ice-cream and played ‘Mom’ series to cheer myself.

After few hours and a whole tub of chocolate ice-cream, I finally calmed down.

I didn’t over react. I hate when my favorite stuff is wasted or harmed. Same goes with my phone, if someone messed with my phone, I won’t hesitate to kill them.

Akshu, now that you are calm can we think about the fact that you just yelled at the CEO of the company you are currently working in but not for long?

OH s**t!

I did just yell at the billionaire Varun Mehta, who also happens to be my boss. Didn’t I?

I’m so screeewwed!!

Let’s see what will happen tomorrow. Now that I’m calm, I’m making my Kurkure churmuri and start watching ‘Bridgerton’ cause my friend Akshata was forcing me to watch it saying that there was some smut in it, so why not!

By the it was 2 am, I was done with four episodes and let me tell you there is no smut until now but the story is very compelling. I loved the set, the story. It was so fresh from other series that I usually watch and that duke is yum! I can’t wait to see his butt, my friend said that he has the cute little one and I can’t wait to see them. Sadly, I have to wait till tomorrow evening to see them. I have work tomorrow so I have to sleep.

But Akshu, are you sure you have a job to get to tomorrow?

Questioned my subconscious.

Hmm, I don’t know but right now I’m so tired that I don’t care.

Next day, I begrudgingly woke up early because I wanted to take my car today. I want to get familiar with the direction and roads. If I start using cab, I’ll make a habit out of it and then use it all the damn time. I don’t want to make my driving skills rusty.

Bangalore traffic is gross.

That’s what I want to say. The city is beautiful, absolutely beautiful but the traffic is the ugliest side of Bangalore aside from gangs and fascism and all that usual stuff you know. I reached the company on time though I took time in parking. I reached my floor and now slowly nervousness was creeping in. Maybe because seeing this building and all the employees is making me see what stupid thing I did today.

How could you Akshu?

What is wrong with you?

Don’t get into that, it will be a long debate.

I looked around, only Rahul was in and was working on his computer. I kept my bag in my cabin and walked to his.

I knocked on his glass door to get his attention. He looked at me and smiled, nodding at me to come in.

“Hey Rahul, good morning” I greeted him with a nervous smile.

“Good morning Akshara” He greeted with his ever-so-elegant smile. I think this guy just loves to smile.

“Uh, I had a question” I said gulping.

“What is it?” He asked confused seeing my nervous face.

“Do I still have my job?” I asked with a tight smile.

He furrowed his eyebrows and looked at me with a frown.

Oh, god is he going to deliver the bad news now?

Stupid Akshara, couldn’t keep your stupid mouth shut!

I can’t blame myself enough.

“What are talking about? Of course you still have your job” He looked at me like I’m some alien from another planet.

“Are you sure?” I asked with a nervous smile.

“I am, Akshara you just started yesterday. Don’t you remember? Are you okay? Is there any problem?” He asked getting worried.

“Huh no Rahul, I’m fine. I just wanted to confirm. Have a great day ahead. Bye” I chirped internally sighing in relief and fled the room leaving a very confused team lead behind.

I went back to my cabin and started working more attentively as I found this new grown respect for my work now that I had a near getting-fired experience. I continued watching all the functional KT videos and making note of all the doubts I’m getting. I was happily watching the videos when I heard a knock on my cabin.

I turned to see Rahul at the door. I nodded at him to come in with a smile. Bless him.

“Hey Rahul” I chirped at him.

“Hey Akshara, are you working?” He asked walking in.

“Yep, going through functional KT sessions. They are really good but I still have some doubts. Can you help me solve them on Friday because by then I’ll complete all of them?” I asked with a pleading look.

“Of course, I’ll clear all your functional doubts and ask Aarav for any technical doubts okay?” He asked with a smile and I nodded happily.

It always makes me happy to learn something new. It gives me a sense of lightness that I have learnt something new and I have some knowledge of the subject. I love knowing about the stuff I care about if not I don’t really hear a word, I swear on that.

“Huh, Akshara. The reason I came here is that, I just got a call from Varun. He wants to meet you it seems. He’s waiting for you in his cabin” He said with a smile and my smile slipped from my lips.

Oh god!

Here it is. I thought he might have forgotten about it or at least moved on thinking that I’m some foolish girl but no he had to remember it.

I gulped and placing my palm on the table whispering ‘Bye Friend’ with a pout.

I had a good two-day run.

Sighing I got up muttering bye to Rahul who looked at me all confused.

I walked to my doom.