Part 5
"You took your files? and your sandwich? and your phone? You did charge it last night well..." Kamla was fretting around Kalpi as she calmly tied her buckle shoes.
"aai, please calm down. Yes, everything is done and taken care of. I'm fine. My phone is very well charged and I'll give you a ring as soon as I get out the interview room. Okay now?" Kalpi smilingly told her troubled aai.
"yes, you call me. And God's blessing is always there with you and there is no way that you won't bag this job." Kamla was now getting emotional and tears were starting to brim in her eyes.
"aai, don't! don't cry now, please. Now hurry up bless me quickly but nicely and I'm off as I'm getting late already, look it's already 8 am!"
An hour later
Kalpi stared at the huge contemporary glass and steel building, with an elegantly RS logo ornamented in deep blue and gold. Then, she went straight to the information desk to present herself and soon she was being escorted by a lady in the lift to the top floor.
The ping of the lift door almost made Kalpi ran away from there. The door opened in a room where several girls were sitting with files in their hands and laps. On shaky legs, Kalpi went to sit on the nearest available chair she got.
A look around made her uncomfortable. The girls were talking in a hush. Some were looking so professional with their black fitted dress and stilettos whereas others were looking so confident just by looking at their poise.
-don't worry Kalpi! You too look your best today! What's wrong with your dress? Self thought Kalpi.
She wore a navy blue blouse and black pants with black buckled shoes. Her hair was let loose and it run smoothly down her back, slight makeup and no overpowering perfume. Simple, elegant and classy.
Just then a girl entered the room and came to sit besides Kalpi. She was a sweating profusely and had a panicked look on her face.
"Are you okay?" asked a concerned Kalpi.
" urrmm, no, I don't think so. I mean I'm not fine. I need some water, no I think some air, yes, some air won't do me any harm." The girl rushed to say.
"We can go to the washroom. Come, let me help you."
Kalpi and the girl went out into a corridor and searched for the washroom.
"So you here for the interview too?" asked Kalpi to calm the girl down. Clearly she's fretting and is in panic mode.
"Yes! And I'm really hoping to have this job. My dad and brother are waiting for me down in the lobby. You know, it's my very first interview! And I'm starting it all wrong!"
"Don't worry dear. All will go well. You calm down and refresh yourself, I'll wait for you here only." Kalpi pointed to the washroom and the girl went in.
Kalpi stood outside and heard the ping again. She turned towards the lift area and was stunned to see Raghav enter the room. His raw physical impact hit her and swept her rational thoughts away. His fabulously tailored black suit oozed designer style. Meeting eyes as dark as the wings of a raven, Kalpi frowned at him.
-what is he doing here? Thought Kalpi.
Somewhere in her numb mind, a small voice was whispering to her RS Companies, RS, RS...no! she wasn't dwelling on the possibility that RS was Raghav Singhania. Not at all. There are other RS...as in Ram Shyaam, or Rajeev Sharma, or...okay, lots of RS in this world. No chance that it's him.
"Look who's here" exclaimed Raghav and halted only inches away from her.
"Same goes to you."
"You are here for the interview,right? It's there, third door to your left, you know." showed Raghav with the lift of his eyebrow.
"Thanks but I already know where the venue is. I'm waiting for a girl; she's not doing well and is in there." Kalpi showed the washroom and then showed him the way.
"Well then, good luck for your interview."
Having said that, he shoved his hands in his pocket, took out his phone and strolled off further down the corridor and went into one of the rooms.
-thank God he didn't go in the interview room. Keep calm Kalpi, he is not The RS. Silly you! Kalpi started to giggle at her own thoughts.
Just then the girl emerged, fresh and way calmer than previously. They went quickly to the interview room and sat down as discreetly as they could.
"Miss Shimmer Sharma? Your turn, now." called a lady with a list in her well manicured hands.
The girl by Kalpi's side started to hyperventilate and stood up. She was reciting some mantra under her breath since when. Kalpi smiled at her and gave her a thumb up.
"Best of luck, dear...I mean Shimmer."
A quick thank you and she was ushered inside the conference room. Another girl emerged from there at the same time. She was furious.
"Arrogant!" she spat before leaving the room in a puff of expensive perfume.
Ten minutes later, Kalpi was still gathering herself and she was starting to feel awkward somehow. She was feeling light headed. Stress, must be it.
"Miss kalpna Vitthal Jadhav? Your turn, now." Announced the secretary in a no nonsense voice.
"It's me, coming" Kalpi gathered her files and bag and stood up quickly, too quickly that she swayed on her feet. In a flash, she saw the room spin but then came back to herself.
She went towards the room and crossed Shimmer. She had tears in her eyes.
"oh dear, are you okay? Is he really that much of a tyrant in there?" asked a concerned Kalpi.
To her surprise, shimmer smiled from ears to ears and hugged her quickly and whispered to her:
"I'm in!" she said with so much joy and pent up happiness.
oh congrats then. Wish me luck" said Kalpi with a smile at her new found buddy.
"oh it's going to be fine my sweetie. An advice from me, you know, since I've already got there and been there: don't look at him. Just don't..."
"who?" interjected Kalpi as she was ushered in by the secretary.
" him, Mr Rrr..." the door muffled her voice totally that Kalpi didn't catch the name.
Kalpi turned to look at the panel of interviewers. A man in his late twenties was smiling at her and another was sitting looking at the bay window in his chair, giving his back to Kalpi.
"Welcome Miss...Miss Jadhav. Take a seat please. I'm Mr Raizada. Certificates please?"
"sure Sir." Kalpi handed him the certificates and was wondering who is the other one sitting there. This Mr Raizada ain't the boss here. Too polite, too polish. Then, its him, the famous Mr arrogant RS.
"So, you have graduated recently, a topper. Good! This is a PA post for the CEO's of RS Companies. Tough job. Are you ready to work under pressure. And I mean it, lots of pressure?"
" yes sir, I'm ready to work hard and I like to work under pressure. It brings out the best in me. Let me know my limits and strive to get past them.Improve myself. I promise sir, I will do my very best for this." Said fervently Kalpi.
Mr Raizada nodded approvingly at her and leaned forward
"It also means working at odd hours, doing multitasks at a time, handling projects file, attending calls, travelling a lot, organizing events and meetings..."
"and making me hot Coffee." ended a deep voice.
A voice that sent her heart on a drumroll and she could only stare when the chair turned around and it was Raghav sitting there with a huge smirk on his face.
" Miss Jadhav, let me present you Mr Raghav Singhania, RS Companies' owner, CEO and your future boss, onwards. Congrats Miss Jadhav, you are welcomed to RS Companies...
The rest of Mr Raizada's words were dimmed to her. All she could grasp was that she is here and Raghav is The RS. Her breathing was stuck, somewhere.out. need to go out, she thought.
She stood up but the room was spinning so fast and she felt her knees give away.
It all happened so fast. She heard someone shout her name and then just before she hit the carpeted floor, she felt strong arms catch her. The 'Kalpi' she heard whispered in her ears was so heart wrenching, so full of concern and worried but she couldn't dwell much on it as darkness engulf her.
...
Edited by mehr05 - 11 years ago