*Jiya Pov*
“Ms.Sarin! ” I heard someone calling and looked up to see the finance department manager.
“Yes, sir? ” I asked politely.
“Err... Boss is asking for you.” He replied.
“Ok! ” I said, nodding and he left actually rushed away.
I shook my head and then glanced at the phone through which he could have called me and not by some superior to me.
I locked the computer and got up holding the notepad and pen. Walking towards his cabin, I knocked on his door and entered when asked me to ‘come in’.
“Mr.Mehra!” I said when he continued to work on his system.
“Is the time for the meeting still the same?” he asked not looking up.
“It is, Sir! But if you want me to change it, I can do it.” I replied staring at his forehead.
“No need for that.” He said and I nodded, even though I know he is not going to glance at me.
“Shall I leave, Sir?” I asked him.
“Sure!” He replied.
I shook my head and walked outside his cabin only to meet a few stares glancing at me. I stared back at them, and they immediately glanced down to work.
After some time, I heard the phone ringing, and I lifted it to see that it is the receptionist.
“Yes? ” I asked her.
“There is another personal call, and I am forwarding it to you.” She replied and hung up.
“Hello! Mehra corporations.” I said politely.
“You are such a lousy secretary. Are you hiding my messages from him? ” I heard the shouting.
“We are extremely sorry for the inconvenience Madam, but we are doing what we were told.” I said politely, and I can see a few heads turning towards me from the corner of my eyes.
“I will complaint against you to him and then cry over the lost job.” She threatened.
“Sure, Madam.” I said with as much force as I can but with politeness and heard her slamming the phone.
I calmly put the receiver properly and continued to carry out my work.
I walked toward his cabin looking at the time and knocked on the door. I entered and said, “It is meeting time, Sir.”
“Let’s go!” He said looking up from the system, and we both walked outside his cabin.
Getting into the meeting room, he took his place, and I sat beside him opening the notepad. A few minutes later the room filled with the client and the staff belonging to us and them.
“We are glad that you are free for this meeting today.” The client said shaking his hand.
“Well, my secretary knows properly what I need to do for this company.” Mr.Mehra said.
“I am sure she knows.” The client said seductively or that’s what he thought.
I glanced up from my pen and looked at him, raising my eyebrow. He immediately gulped and said, “Er... shall we start the meeting?”
The meeting went well, and client got satisfied with the presentation given by Mr.Mehra.
Exiting the conference room, I walked into his cabin along with him. He glanced up after sitting down and asked, “Yes?”
“Sir, personal calls are piling up.” I replied.
“Ms.Sarin! You must have already known in these two months that I will not take any kind of personal calls that come to the office phone.” He said staring at me.
“Women are throwing more tantrums, and it is disturbing everyone’s work.” I said still standing.
“You can sit.” He said, gesturing at the chair.
“No need, sir.” I said and stared back at him.
“What Women?” he asked me confused.
“Your lovers, Sir.” I replied.
“I don’t have any lovers.” He said frowning.
“All the Women are saying the same for the last two months from when I have been working for you, Sir.” I said, opening the page where I wrote the names and their numbers along with the messages.
“I don’t have any.” He shouted in rage.
But I just placed the book in front of him ignoring his rage. He looked at each page and asked, “Why are you doing a receptionist job?”
“The calls are getting transferred to my phone.” I replied.
He took the phone and called the receptionist to be in here fast. I stood there, and he continued to look at me and then at the book.
“May I come in sir? ” Receptionist asked him, frowning.
“As far as I know your job is to receive the calls and do as per the instructions.” He said, and she nodded.
“Then, as per the instruction no personal call should be entertained, but why are you transferring to this floor and that too to Ms.Sarin?” he asked.
“I am so sorry Sir. It was my mistake.” She replied looking down.
“If you don’t tell me the real reason, then you can forget about your job.” He said calmly.
“I… we... few people decided it would be fun to irritate her by transferring the calls.” She stuttered and he immediately glanced at me, but I stood calmly.
“Can you name them?” He asked her.
“I am sure that they must be a lot that she forgot the names and the people. Am I right?” I asked her, and she nodded.
He sighed and said, “This will not repeat, and if it does, then you all can say good-bye. Pass this message to those people too whose names you have forgotten.”
She nodded and rushed out of the cabin. I nodded at him and started to leave, but he stopped me asking, “Do you know what they wanted to do?”
“Yes, Sir! But I am just doing my job.” I replied and walked out.
In the evening, I decided to have some coffee. I walked inside the coffee room to see few people already there.
They gazed at me while I just nodded at them politely. Grabbing a cup of coffee, I stood near the window and glanced outside.
“So you are coming to the party, right?” I heard the conversation between a group of people.
“I don’t know! I need to prepare this presentation.” One girl started complaining.
“Come on! This is the weekend, and we need to enjoy our life more than some job.” Another girl said, making me go down the memory lane, which I don’t want to.
#Past Beginning#
“Jiya! There is no rush.” I heard my friend saying, but I shook my head and pulled them to the dance floor.
“We have finally graduated guys, and we need to celebrate.” I shouted loudly and started jumping for the music.
“But we still need to get jobs to celebrate.” Another friend said.
“This is just one life guys. Who cares whether we get the job or not? We need to enjoy our life first.” I said and made them dance along with me.
“Woah! ” I shouted excitingly hearing my favorite song.
“There is a life which we need to think about.” They started their as usual discussion.
“Jasmine! When we enjoy our life, then we do not have to think about the life because life starts thinking about us. And I hate this boring talk about the job and seriousness of life. We are graduate's guys so for the god’s sake enjoy.” I said grinning at them.
“Drinks are on me.” I shouted at my classmate who went to bring everyone drinks.
“No need to do that when you don’t drink in the first place.” Jasmine said scolding me.
“Do I have to shoot myself to sell guns?” I asked her laughing, and she shook her head laughing back.
“Excuse me? ” I heard someone calling me, and I turned to seeing a guy standing behind me.
“Yes? ” I asked him smiling with awestruck looking at him who looked like he just walked out of a magazine for sure.
“Dance? ” He asked forwarding his hand.
“You are asking me to dance?” I asked him shocked.
“I guess I am.” He replied shrugging.
I nodded, and we both started dancing together. I just smiled at him and said, “I am Jiya.”
“I am Ajay.” He said smiling a little.
We enjoyed those three hours talking about ourselves, but more than that we are looking right at each other.
“I had too much fun. Thanks for making it special.” I said when it was time for me to leave.
“Phone number?” He asked.
“What if you are a stalker?” I asked him back.
“Don’t you know that already?” he asked and I laughed.
“Here!” I said saving my number on his mobile.
“Bye Ajay.” I said, shaking his hand, but he pulled me to him and kissed my cheek making me blush.
That was meant to be the most beautiful day for me, but I never thought I would regret that day.
#Past End#
“Are you fine?” Someone asked, and I came out of my thoughts.
I turned to see some co-worker standing with a question in her eyes.
“I am fine!” I mumbled and threw the coffee into the sink.
When it was time to leave I noted my Boss that I was leaving and took a bus from the bus stop which is near to the office.
“We need groceries.” That’s what my Mom said when I entered.
“I will bring them tomorrow.” I said, walking to my room.
“I know we don’t have that much money but can you talk to a good lawyer?” She asked making me stop in my tracks.
“No! I am not going to do that.” I replied, turning towards her.
“I have been asking you for these few months, and now you are working too, so what’s the matter?” She asked fuming.
“I don’t want to help him.” I replied like every day.
"But he is your brother.” She said glaring at me.
“I don’t care! Let him sulk in the jail.” I said turning away.
“Go and eat. We already had our dinner.” Dad said entering the living room.
“I am not hungry.” I said walking inside my room and just plopped myself on the bed.
I closed my eyes, wishing to go far away from each one of these people or at least die…