When I was in the eighth grade, I had forgotten to do my Mathematics homework once. Given that my math teacher was really strict about home assignments, I had dreaded the whole day thinking of all those insults that he would hurl at me in quick succession when he discovered my lapse in punctuality, scheming a sick leave and nearly begging the school nurse to allow my parents to pick me up from school, which of course she didn't. After hours of fear and trepidation, I found out that the teacher was, in fact, absent and the class had been dismissed, with all the children being sent to the playground instead. As for me, I had almost danced, clapping my hands in glee and hugging Kittu to express all the joy.
Well, that's exactly what I did to Jaya now. To her extreme horror, I hugged her in front of practically all the company employees, with people gaping at us, amused. It didn't end there, for I dragged her in a complete circle, making a fool of myself as well as poor Jaya. I bet she would stay away from me for a couple of days now.
Nonetheless, she asked me to have a word with Mr.Kapoor, the manager, before resuming to work. At least that's much better than facing Mr. Megalomaniac. I say, life isn't so cruel to me after all. It can be nice, but only sometimes.
Ok, here's the thing Kittu, Why do you have to think about it so much? Just get over the whole thing, will you!!
After all he probably said thanks out of courtesy. Every gentleman does that. Why do you have to make such a big issue out of it? Why can't you behave normal for once?
But, then he said thanks twice and he even smiled, didn't he? That's not normal, not for a guy like Anand. In fact, it's quite unusual for him, for even the biggest comedians will think twice before pulling a stunt as dangerous as making Anand even move a decimeter of his lips.
Then why did he smile at me? And that too twice!
Stop over-analyzing it Kittu! Why can't you be happy for once! Why do you have to ruin the sweetest moment of your life like THIS?
You brought him coffee, he said thanks and smiled and then he probably forgot that he already thanked you due to some synaptic breakdown , so he said thanks again and smiled again!! Why can't you get that straight? Why do you have to think about it again and again and again complicating it, even after spending nearly the whole night thinking about his thanks and his smile?
I just couldn't bring myself to think that he thanked me for the coffee twice. It just didn't seem to make sense. While I arranged the pink Dahlias over his table in his cabin, I tried to guess what he really meant when he said Thanks for everything. Now, that was again out of the blue.
Did he say thanks because I bring him coffee every single day and he probably acknowledged my doing that only yesterday?
Or did he say thanks because I make good coffee and he probably liked it.
But then, how does he know I made it? I mean we do have a coffee machine here.
But Anand hates the machine-made coffee. I know he does, for he insists the peon to bring him tea instead of that "horrendous thing".
I didn't even realize in my solitary monologues that I had actually been in Anand's cabin for almost half an hour, debating his smile, thanks and coffee simultaneously. Realization only dawned upon my stupid brain when I heard footsteps approaching towards the room and then panic quickly set in like an uninvited guest.
Oh no, where do I hide myself now? If Anand sees me here, he will be so mad at me! No he can't see me, where should I go?
I contemplated hiding in the closet but that was too small for me, for it made was custom made to contain files and not trespassing girls like the one I looked now.
Ha...go one debating smiles and coffee mugs, it serves you right.
Maybe I could hide behind the curtains. He won't see me there. But what if he decides to pull up the curtains or he sees my feet peeping out from the bottom! I'll get caught. And that would be embarrassing as hell.
The footsteps sounded much closer now. He could come in any instant. And if he sees me, I am as good as dead.
Oh yes, his table. I can go hide under the table and he won't look because he usually goes on a quick round in the mornings after checking a file or two. Perfect! It'll buy me time to get out as soon as he goes out! I nearly hugged myself for the idea. After all, Kritika Sinha can be really smart at times!
I leapt out to dump myself beneath the table. At the exact same moment, the door opened with a loud bang.
"Kritika..." a familiar voice called out, the hint of surprise quite evident by the tone of it.
Oh No. Oh No. Oh No.
Crap.
DOOMED.
He saw me jumping under his table. He saw me acting so foolish. Please God, let the earth swallow me alive.
HOW WILL YOU FACE HIM NOW, SMART GIRL?
I peeped out of the table to see Anand staring at me from the door with a look of total surprise. It was obvious that he was trying hard to make out what had driven me to hide under his desk. Like the complete idiot I was, I flashed my teeth in a bid to hide how embarrassing it had become for both of us, especially since he was accompanied by Mr.Gupta, who looked totally befuddled.
"What are you doing here Kritika?" he roared, his surprised looks now replaced by infuriated ones.
Ok, what I was doing is technically called hiding and of course, I couldn't tell him that.
"Nothing sir, I was just picking up a file from underneath the table that had mistakenly fallen out of my hand and landed under the...the table of course...", I heard myself say.
And obviously, I was making a complete fool of myself by blabbering like an idiot.
His expressions didn't change. Plus he seemed all the more disappointed now. I am so dead.
"I mean, what are you doing in my cabin, Kritika? Did I call you?", he said, almost losing his cool.
"No sir...you didn't.", I replied, my head hanging down. I couldn't tell him that I had come to keep the pink Dahlias on his table, the way I always do in the mornings. Except that I had forgotten to sneak out before he comes because of my own foolishness. Would Anand believe anything of this sort? Of course he won't. He would think I am insane.
"Then why are you here? "
I couldn't say a word as I had no answer to his question and so I just stared at my toes waiting for his anger to subside while Mr. Gupta excused himself on pretext of doing some unfinished business. I guess he didn't want to be the next person on Anand's fury radar.
"Answer me damn it. I am asking you Kritika and for heaven's sake, look up.", he nearly shouted now, exasperated by my not answering him.
I did. I looked up to see those bloodshot eyes staring at me with a look of both anger and disappointment. God, he was really mad, like really...really mad.
"I...I was...", I tried to say, fumbling with words, feeling a strange sting in my eyes and then to my extreme shock, a tear rolled down making its way through my left cheek.
What? Am I crying? Like Really!!
I was and I guess he saw it too, for his eyes suddenly softened. He gazed at the Dahlias for a moment and then he looked at me.
I didn't want him to see me crying like this, like a maniac. To see me so weak and vulnerable. And so I decided to run away.
"I am sorry sir but I need to go."
And saying that, I darted right out of the cabin, away from him, away from all the eyes that had suddenly turned their attention towards the poor girl who had just been shrieked at by her boss.
I gazed out of the window of my sixth floor office to find a splendid view of the industrial landscape of Gurgaon. Apparently, there was nothing really special about this place except that it was one of the top industrial areas of India, cradling the innumerable dreams that had been born and now grown into all these big companies that stood smartly in the neighbourhood, each possessing a sense of individuality of its own.
I, for one, was now a part of my dream company, Srivastava Enterprises, the best among all of the Jewellery Designing Corporations that could have been born. How nice could things have been if only that creep hadn't entered my life, the megalomaniac, Mr. Kunal Srivastava!
Why am I even thinking about him now? He is not even here and he'll not be here at least for a week.
Oh yes. He is not even here!! My dear God! I am now certain that you exist and that you do care about me after all. I can't be more thankful.
Mr. Kapoor is such an angel. Fortunately he didn't kick me out of the job as I had reckoned. With just a little warning for the next time and a silent promise to myself for never being late...like ever and here I am, doing what I love the most, designing.
Reclining in my chair, I gazed at the designs that were lying all around the desk. I have never been a tidy person in all of my twenty three years old life, which, by the way, is quite evident with the fact that papa keeps complaining about my stuff lying recklessly all around our house. As if I care. I have more important stuff to do than think about such petty things.
Aaah. Peace at last. Life can be a total bliss when a stupid CEO is so not around playing dirty games with your brain.
"Are you coming for lunch Shraddha? Jaya called out without even knocking on the door, almost startling me from my state of bliss. She is totally impossible.
I sauntered into the canteen following Jaya's usual gossiping self. Well, as expected, of course everybody recognized me from yesterday's winking debacle. At least, I think, that was the reason I kept on getting all those death glares from the hip fashionistas sitting among themselves at the corner table. Chaya waved at me with a sweet smile, followed by Chhavi and all others whom I had befriended only yesterday. I walked over to them, ignoring the glares. This place is seriously so weird.
"Hi" I said in a small voice, squatting on one of the chairs. No matter how friendly they all were, I still had my reservations from my past experiences.
"What's this Shraddha? You come to us with such a cold Hi'. Not fair" Gaurav began, almost teasingly.
Shirish choked on his coke. "Dude, what happened to YOU? Can't believe you are saying this, like you have known her since childhood. "
"Whatever. I just said it since she belongs to our gang now and everyone knows how open we are in greetings. "
"Oh Really!! Well some of us are still trying to learn how to flirt with that level of ease, Gaurav. Apparently you can give us tuitions for that." Tanya added, coolly sipping her diet coke.
Gaurav flushed red while Chhavi started giggling. Shirish smirked whereas both Chhaya and Jaya exchanged confused glances with each other. I guess I was the only one sitting like a fool with my mouth open.
"Can anyone tell me what's going on? " I said, a little offended by all the giggling.
"Nothing Shraddha. Certain people really need to find some new tricks in the art of making an actual impression, since the usual I-Am-So-Cool-And-Flirting-Is-My-Birthright is so YESTERDAY!! "Tanya remarked.
Everyone at the table broke into fits of laughter, even Ashish who was sitting next to Jaya like an obedient school boy all this while. Except for me, of course, as I was yet to figure out the joke and Gaurav, who had now become red with embarrassment!
"You guys carry on with your jokes! I'll get myself a diet coke. ", I said, excusing myself from the happy group. Gaurav volunteered to bring the coke for me but I declined, seeing the giggles that had started again. Sometimes, I really don't understand people.
I grabbed a glass of coke from the counter and turned to join my new found weird friends. Ok fine! I agree they were weird but so was I reserved. When life dealt me with problems none of my old companions had been available by my side. Thus making friends again was not my priority at the moment. And if some of these colleagues willingly joined me in cafeteria then who am I to complain? From no friends to five charming but a little weird ones. Did I have a choice?
And till the time they are better than that megalomaniac everything is good! An involuntary smile crept up on my face. Yes the megalomaniac is gone and that too for two weeks. Happiness!
Nobody messes up with Shradhha Shergill! And who is he after all? So what if that self-centered creep is the CEO, my boss' boss' boss! I, for one ,am an independent woman myself, right? He must have heard about women empowerment surely and would know better than messing up with me again.
Something just clicked inside me as if an auto narration was playing right in the background with the perfect setting of the company's cafeteria:
Suddenly the confidence deprived Shraddha Shergill was reaping the joys of womanhood. With back straight and chin held up high she was ready to face any challenges, no matter how trivial they may seem with insurmountable strength, which she believed, she definitely possessed.
I desperately controlled the sudden urge to waltz on the white marble floors and shout from the rooftops. I AM AN INDEPENDENT WOMEN AND THAT KUNAL SRIVASTAVA WOULDN'T STAND A CHANCE BEFORE ME. There was no way he could embarrass me again. Nope. Definitely not in this life.
I am sure my feeling were in semblance with the emotions of those respected freedom fighters after India gained independence. Actually mine were more intense!
Casually walking back, with a big idiotic grin covering my face, I swung around in a 360 degree circle in pure unabashed joy , oblivious to my surrounding , indifferent to all the bustling around the cafeteria and...well...collided!
The contents of my glass splashed around in slow motion and landed on someone's crisp white shirt. Behind me someone gasped, and somebody else swallowed loudly. But wait! How come I was able to hear such sounds in this undoubtedly loud noisy cafeteria seating almost 50 employees?
And then suddenly I realized. The cafeteria wasn't noisy and bustling anymore. In fact it had miraculously transformed into a public library with a strict NO NOISE rule at the moment. And apparently the reason was standing right in front of me!
There he was, with a no-nonsense expression and a big red blotch on the shirt, the CEO of Srivastava enterprises, Mr Kunal Srivastava, looking down at the big red stain which was now sitting coolly on his perfect Armani shirt.
There I did it again! Pray tell me, Dear Almighty, what's my fault? Why do I get myself in such situations!
No matter how much I tried to summon the independent woman who had promised to fight no matter what, she just won't come. My self-confidence was apparently hidden behind my frayed nerves and thumping heart. As for me, I remained there, frozen with rock solid legs.
Just behind this man who had me rooted to the spot was the gang of my weird friends.
What is it with friends ditching you at the last moment?
Jaya lifted her palm and brought it to her neck , swiftly moving it to and fro, depicting a knife and apparently my fate.
Gaurav on the other hand had his jaw wide open, staring at Mr kunal's head as if he had suddenly grown two horns. Chavi and Chhaya were shaking their head in denial, and suddenly I had this feeling that I was standing in front of the public executioner waiting for him to strike.
I was so dead.
Finally after what seemed like eternity the megalomaniac spoke in a gruff voice.
"Why miss Shraddha? Was I mistaken or were you really dancing in the cafeteria?"
"No...not ...dancing...i was not...no..." Damn my stupid tongue.
Slowly the corners of his mouth lifted in I found myself being smirked at. Again!
But despite all my attempts, my voice still could not be found. Why God why? Suddenly with all my strength I managed to speak in a small voice,
"You were supposed to come back after a week"
"Did my secretary ask you to prepare my itinerary and book my tickets?" he asked feigning curiosity.
What? Why would she do that?
"No. She did not."
"Then how come you know about my plans when I myself have no such idea?"
The alarm bells were ringing loudly in my ears. My mind was shouting at me, asking me to run or murder Jaya, whichever seemed easier.
Behind him Jaya had her face neatly hidden behind the curtains of her dark chestnut brown hair. Yes I would definitely kill her today.
"I am sorry...sir"was all I could manage after a long pause.
He smiled in return, which seemed strange. I waited for a more meaningful reaction from him, like asking me to leave the company at once or worse, calling the guards to throw me out of the building. He didn't do any of it, for he kept smiling at me.
Damn, that smug smile of his is so irritating as if secretly mocking my helpless state.
I swear, each and every soul of Srivastava Enterprises was staring at us with intent eyes. There was an eerie silence and you could have heard a pin drop. And here, he just didn't seem to budge from his stupid smile. I realized that my fate was sealed along that smile. I bit my lip in anticipation, preparing myself for the upcoming doom. If this won't kill me, I don't know what else will.
"I am really sorry sir...I didn't mean to..." I tried to say but words failed me.
"Ms Shergill, I want you in my cabin in two minutes."
And saying that, he left, leaving me dumbfounded, rooted to where I had been since like forever, and subjected to the incredulous eyes of each and every employee of Srivastava Enterprises.
Fan Fictions
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Cricket
