part 2 (First Day at Work')
riya's pov -
Here I was, standing right in front a building they called a hotline centre. To me,
it looked like a building ready to fall apart any moment. It was built of red,
crummy bricks and it was three stories high with a lot of huge windows. I really
hoped the building wouldn't decide to collapse just when I was in it.
Maybe it would collapse right now. I decided to stay out a minute more and
watch it intently, if it looked like it was going to stay, then I'm going in. I hugged
myself as a strong gust of wind blew making my hair messy again. I ran my
fingers through it in an attempt to fix it, I really needed to start tying my hair up.
The weekend flew by and before I knew it, it was Monday morning. After my
non-eventful day at school, I had to wait in the library till the boys were gone then
headed to the hot-line centre.
A minute had passed and the building was exactly as it was before. I decided
to just go in and if the building did collapse, it would be entirely Mr. mark's
fault.
As soon as I entered, the first thought that came to my mind was not bad!' The
floor was tiled entirely plain black, the walls were painted bright colors and the
furnitures looked in shape. I went up to the reception and told the lady there my
name, asking where I was supposed to sit. She smiled at me and said, "Ah, the
trouble-maker is here." I just gave a small smile and waited for her to carry on,
but instead she asked me another question, and I really wish she hadn't.
"Do you know my son, rohit? He goes to the same school as you," I gulped.
Oh my God, I really hoped she wasn't talking about the rohit I knew. The one
I'd just ran away from today.
"rohit malhotra?" I asked for confirmation and she nodded, smiling. "Yeah I
do. We're um.. Acquaintances." There was no ways in hell I could tell rohit's
mother that her son hated me more than anything else in the world.
"Ahh I see. Well dear, head up to the second floor and talk to Mr. James. He'll
guide you from there." She told me with a kind smile. Damn, was I grateful she
didn't know the exact reason I was here!
I thanked her than took the lift to the second floor, yeah I was too lazy to use the
stairs. Once I was up, I took a look around and grimaced. The place was filled
with oldies. I mean, couldn't there be a boy my age I could pass the time with?
Flirting would actually be the correct word here. In books the girl always has a
hot boy working in the same place and then they fall in love with each other and
get married. I could tell this was not going to be the case, unless I suddenly get
a thing for older men. Ew, never happening.
Suddenly I see a man, probably in his forties, approaching me. He was
dressed in a black suit and his hair was styled backwards, looking sleek. Once
he had reached me, he extended his hand towards me and said, "James Kelvin
here, the CEO. You must be riya , right?" I shook his hand and nodded. He
clapped his hands together, "Well then, let me show you to your cabin." Woah, I
had my own cabin? Awesome!
I walked with him towards the end of the room, where I saw plenty of empty
cabins ahead of me. On the way I heard bits and pieces of conversations that
were taking place.
"...oh no, sweetheart, slitting your wrists is not an option!"
"My dear son, please, put the pills away! It's not your fault..."
"Honey, your mother wouldn't want you crying like this, would she?"
The strings at my heart pulled, was it this bad? Does it always come to
suicidal? I was sure I was not going to be able to do this. I caught up with Mr.
James, who was walking swiftly ahead. I called out to him.
"Mr. James!" He turned and gave me a questioning look, waiting for me to carry
on. "I can't do this! I mean, these people are suicidal and I suck at giving
advice! I won't be able to do this!"
He smiled, "And how sure are you about that?" He asked. I gaped at him than
quickly closed my mouth, not wanting to look like an idiot. Here I am, so
confidently telling him I can't do it, and he's asking me if I'm sure?! Wow.
"A hundred percent sure. You can ask any of my friends, I absolutely suck at this
advice-giving business! I'm the last person you can come to for advice!" He
merely shook his head at me and smiled, "Well my friend, that's going to
change today onwards!
I sighed, annoyed, and followed him to my cabin, where there was a Chinese
lady waiting for me, welcoming me with a warm smile.
"Hello there, riha !" She said. I wanted to tell her my name was riy and
not riha , but I decided to let it go, I didn't want to look like a brat. She patted
the seat next to her and continued, "Come, sit. You will watch me talk a bit and
you will soon get the hang of this, okay? It is not very difficult, advice-giving is in
every one. It comes from your heart and from your soul!" She said, her voice
increasing an octave when saying the words heart and soul.
Okay, keeping in a laugh was very difficult at the moment. First of all, I couldn't
help finding her Chinese- American accent hilarious! And second, It comes
within your heart and soul!' Was she freakin' serious? What century was she
from? And besides, this wasn't The Karate Kid movie! I just smiled and
nodded at her, acting like the good girl I never was.
After I was sat beside her, James had left us alone and proceeded with his
work and Isabelle, the Chinese woman was teaching me the basics.
1) Let them talk and don't interrupt.
2) You don't have to think hard to give an advice. Say what you think is
right.
3) Don't be too direct in the speaking approach.
4) Don't be too friendly with them.
The rest of them? I don't remember because I tuned her out as she beacme too
boring.
After watching her take a few phone calls, I knew I totally wasn't up for it, but I
had no choice now.
We were waiting for another phone-call and this time, I would be talking and
she'd be watching. A shrill ring made us both jump and Isabelle quickly picked
up the phone. I could hear a crying person over the phone.
"TalkToUs and know we're always here for you. You will now be connected to
your speaker," With that, she handed me the phone.
I took the phone in my hand and gently placed it by my ear, "Hello?" I asked. I
was responded with heavy sobs and all I could do was just mutter calm down'
and It's okay' in what I thought was a soothing voice. She finally stopped crying
and said, "He cheated on me! I saw him with a other brunette!"
Okay, this was easy. "Were they having any.. action?" I asked. I felt weird
asking if they were making out in front of Isabelle, who was probably my
mother's age.
"No but they were very close! Too close!" She screamed. Whoa, this chick was
going to make me deaf!
"Well, talk to him about it. You can't just come to a conclusion! Have the benefit
of doubt! You see? This is how couples break up, they just don't trust each
other." I told her.
She hiccupped and mumbled something but the only words I could catch were
Yeah', I should', Thank you' and before I knew it she had hung up on me. Way
to go, hang up without thanking properly. I should get paid for this!
I looked to my side and saw Isabelle smiling at me. "You did it! Now was that so
hard?" She asked. I grinned and shook my head. Then she said that I was
prepared and she left so she could go back to her own cabin.
I was playing Temple run' on my phone when the phone rang again, surprising
me. I took a deep breath and answered the call and repeated exactly how
Isabelle had started, "TalkToUs and know we're always here for you." I waited
for sobs but they never came. Instead..
"Hey there, sexy!" A deep masculine voice greeted. I frowned and said, "You
don't sound depressed!" I heard laughter from the other end.
"How can I be depressed when I have a hot girl talking to me?" Despite the fact
that he called me hot, I scowled at the phone and decided to mess with him, just
a little.
"Oh really now? What makes you think a fat, thirty-nine year old woman is hot?
Unless you like older women.." I trailed off. I heard him gasp.
"But.. you sound like a teenager!" He said, shocked. I would have messed with
him a little more if I hadn't found the situation so funny and started laughing out
loud. I heard him growl a little.
"Look here Ms. , stop laughing, it's not funny! I really need help!" He said
a little angrily. I giggled and replied, "Oh that you do!"
"Hey! You're supposed to help me here, not make fun of me!" He complained.
Aw, he sounded so cute.
I laughed and bit my lip, "Okay troubled sir, tell me how I can help."
he wanted help getting a girl. Like, seriously?!
"Look here! This hot-line is for depressed, suicidal teens. Not guys like u who
can't get laid." I said annoyed.
"Please?" He pleaded, ignoring my sarcasm, "I can't ask any of my friends, I'll
be doomed! And there's no else I can turn to here! Come on, you'd rather help
and talk to me than talk to depressed people. And I'm guessing you'd rather sit
home alone on a Friday night then sit here, right?" My deep sigh was enough to
show that he was right.
I asked him about the girl and came to know after a few minutes of
conversation that she was his best friend and that she was funny, witty,
sarcastic and loved causing trouble.
Hmm, I had to admit, this guy had good choice. And so I told him..
"Wow, I have to say you've got good choice. If you'd have told me about a
cheerleader, I swear I'd have hung up on you already. I hate them, they're whiny
and just plain stupid.
He chuckled, "That's exactly how she describes them."
I laughed with him, "So tell me, is she a blondie?" I asked.
He denied, "Nah. She's a brunette and she has this deep,brown eyes." Whoa,
was this girl my twin or what?! I too had brown hair and deep green eyes. Also,
we shared similar characteristics..
I asked for her name and my heart nearly skipped a beat when he said it.
"Her name's riya mukhrjee ." He said in his deep, husky voice.
so who s on the phone.to know more wait for next episode.
hit like and comments
thnx
love all
aarti
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