Shades of Life

Team Gossip

“Hey, North Indian meals are really nice. Try it” Keith said as he sat beside me.

“Not today, I’m craving for roti” I said shrugging.

“Where’s Richa?” He asked eating his food.

“She’s still in the queue, she was talking to Carla when I saw last time. I didn’t want to be anywhere near her so I came here” I said savoring my food.

“Argh! Don’t remind me. You know yesterday Varun had told her to invite me for the meeting with the clients and she didn’t even tell me. Varun got mad at me for not attending. She told him that she had told me. Such a b***h” He ranted shaking his head in annoyance.

“Not surprising, I mean I just had one conversation with her and I already dislike her” I said with a guilty smile.

“I don’t blame you” he said chuckling and I ensued.

“What are you doing right now?” I asked about his work since project work has not started yet.

“I’m completing old projects financial statements and estimating what our new project might need since I have to give the clients an estimated number” He explained casually but just imagining actual work that too to such a big client makes me anxious.

I nodded back gulping.

“Hey” Aarav joined us.

“Again South Indian meals? Dude you are obsessed” Keith said laughing.

 “Hey don’t laugh at my food, you haven’t tried it so your jealous” Aarav said which didn’t make that sense but who am I to complain.

“Why would I be jealous?” Keith asked deadpanned.

“I don’t know bro, let me eat. My mind doesn’t work when I’m ravenous” Aarav said pouting before digging into his food.

“Why? Why does god hate me?” Richa said huffing sitting beside Aarav.

“Why? What happened?” Aarav asked her with his mouthful. I gave him a disgusted look to which he gave a sheepish smile.

Hopeless.

“Let me guess, you met Carla” Keith acted like he is genuinely guessing. I shook my head at his antics. These people are easy going and fun.

“How did you know?” Richa looked stumped.

“One, only she can bring out that kind of reaction from us and second, Barbie here told me” He said nodding in my direction.

“Barbie?” I asked him narrowing my eyes.

“Hey, before you take it in an offensive way I meant that you are as cute as a Barbie” He explained nonchalantly.

“Are you even aloud to say that?” I asked Richa and Aarav.

“He’s harmless” Richa said waving dismissingly.

“Listen to what she was telling, Varun sir is having a dinner party at his home today and he personally invited her it seems. What a load of bull! I have seen him get so irritated by her. There is no way he invited her. I’m sure Vir sir invited her” Richa said rolling her eyes.

“That’s true though, Uncle did invite her. Varun hates her presence, she just goes out of her way to impress him and he just hates it” Aarav said stuffing his face.

“Are you going too?” I asked looking at him.

“Yep, can’t wait to see Archie” He said smiling creepily with his mouthful.

“Dude, that’s nasty” I exclaimed closing my eyes. Richa and Keith laughed at his antics.

“Sorry” He said with his mouthful, he had a mischievous look.

“Argh!” I said turning towards Keith with my plate on my lap.

Richa and Keith cackled more.

“Sorry Akshara, now I’m very decent” He said giving me an apologetic smile.

“Your plate is empty” I said with dead eyes.

He chuckled winking at me.

Oh god, these guys have like zero workplace ethics. Company policies are so tight about these things but maybe I’m being too uptight because in my old job everyone was that decent and work oriented that I got wired in that way. Before I joined my old company, apparently there was a s****l harassment case filed against some manager who was found guilty so there were very strict rules there.

They treated everyone for who they are, colleagues not friends. I was okay with that since I have my own friends. Here the dynamic is a bit different. What I have seen in these few days is that these people enjoy each other’s company and have a good aura around each other. They work hard and at the same time have fun with the team. I guess it is because of Rahul since he is the coolest and most laid back team lead I have seen.

“Then I guess, I’ll see you in the evening” I said just to mess with them.

“What?” All three exclaimed. Ashish and Vani joined us at the same time.

“What happened?” Ashish asked look at these three who were gawking at me.

“Apparently Akshara was invited to today’s Varun’s dinner party” Richa said all confused.

“That can’t be true, it’s a private family dinner” Aarav said confused as well.

“Unless there is something going on between Varun and Barbie here” Keith said with his eyes twinkling with fun and excitement. My eyes widened at that.

How can he even think that?

It’s completely absurd!

It’s what Sheldon Cooper would say ‘Preposterous!’    

I mean, Varun sir is handsome no doubt but he is a bit too grumpy for my taste. I like my guys’ fun and chilled. I like laid back guys who can take a joke.

Most importantly, he is Richie Rich rich. He would get some model or some business’s daughter as his girlfriend. Why would he be interested in me, a nobody?

“Really?” Ashish asked raising his eyes.

“Oh god, hell no” I said moving my hands around.

“Then?” Richa asked waiting impatiently for my answer.

“Chill you guys, I live in Varun sir’s apartment building” I said rolling my eyes.

“Wait, really?” Aarav asked in excitement.

“Yeah” I said shrugging.

“That is so cool, I’m jealous” Richa said pouting.

“That means, it gives Barbie more chances to win Varun’s heart” Keith said chuckling. I know he is just saying it for fun and to tease me but my heart flips every time he insinuates it.

“Dude, come on” I whined covering my face.

Everyone laughed except Vani who had a ‘These guys have no other work then talk useless things’ look.

Ahh, she’s a sour wuss.

“They as per our tradition, on Monday after project work start we are going to the bar. Rahul told me to inform you guys” Ashish said while eating his food.

“Yes! I need some alcohol” Aarav said looking at the ceiling.

“Bro that’s because you can handle it, I can’t” Keith said with a disgusted look.

“Calm down. Levi’s ambience is enough for us to have a great time” Richa said getting excited.

“But drinks on Monday night? Don’t we have work on Tuesday?” I asked them confused.

“We do but it’s been a tradition since this team for formed. Our first project meeting was on Friday and we started this tradition” Richa said shrugging.

“Where are we going?” I asked her.

“There is a place called ‘Levi’s bar’. It’s amazing” Richa said with a huge smile.

“Amazing to pick up girls” Keith said wiggling his eyes to which both him and Aarav laughed.

“Disgusting” commented Vani and I agree with her.

“For once, I agree with her” Richa said giving both the boys a reprimanding look.

“Chillax, we were kidding. This is not America” Aarav said shaking his head.

“Exactly, here if we go ask a girl out for one night she will hit us with slippers for sure” Keith said laughing loudly.

We all joined in.

That is true though.