Chapter 2
Kalpi jumps out of bed at the crack of dawn like an energiser bunny, excited to begin her first at work. Eager to begin the new chapter in her life, she decides to head to work early so that she has time to settle in before her boss arrives. Waiting for the elevator she gasps and yells, "oh no!" As she runs back into her home calling out, "Aai, baba, I forgot to take your blessings." She stops in front of their Framed picture, a garland of flowers across it, the family portrait of her parents and brother, caressing the glass as she gazes at them lovingly, says softly, "Aai, baba, bhai, wish me luck. It is my first day today at work." Not wanting to get caught up with the pain of having lost her family in an accident five years ago, Kalpi quickly turns away from the picture, takes a deep breathe, shakes her head as if to clear her emotions and rushes to work.
Kalpi stops several meters away from the entrance of the head office of Singhania Group, beaming with pride she stares at the 27 storey building not believing that fate would be kind to her after all these years. "I am an employee of one of the most prestigious companies in India. Wow. P.A. to the CEO. Five years and I am on the fast track to a senior management position in this company." She whispers in disbelief.
Walking in with a glint of excitement in her eyes, looking around in awe admiring everything around her, from the chandeliers to the vases to the aquarium to... Yesterday she had been too nervous to look around, her total focus had been in making sure she had a successful interview. Walking around in a daze as she takes in the beautiful architecture of the inside of ground floor. She heads for the elevator only to have her gaze fall onto a stack of booklets at the reception. In disbelief she reads the title 'SINGHANIA GROUP' under it 'HEAD OFFICE' under it 'INFORMATION & MAP'. Intrigued she takes a copy thinking, "omg! Wow!"
So lost was she in the beauty of the building that she bumps into somebody. "Oh gosh, I am so sorry", Kalpi says. The girl she bumped into smiles at her warmly and says, "you are new here. I can tell because you are busy looking at the ceiling rather than where you are going,"she teases. Flushing with embarrassment Kalpi apologises once again. "Hi I am Priya." "Kalpana." Both girls share a warm smile as they shake hands. Seeing the place filled with people some walking in and others walking out, Kalpi exclaims, "oh gosh am I late," and quickly looks at her watch for the time. Relieved that she was in fact early, she says, "is it always this busy. It is not even seven yet." Priya laughs saying, "this place can be quite the zoo. People are always coming and going. Depending on deadline, you can end up pulling an all-nighter." Seeing an empty spot near the elevator entrance, Priya grabs Kalpi's hand and says, "come" as she squeezes between people.
Once inside the elevator Priya asks, "what floor?" Kalpi replies, "27 please." Priya raises an eyebrow in surprise and says, "the bosses floor. Lucky you newbie. It took me four years to reach the 27th floor," and adds, "I too work on that floor. It should be fun, we can hang out together." Kalpi smiles and nods happy to have made a friend.
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Ragav's home.
Ragav walks out of a room shutting the door behind him heading for the dining room, his mind already thinking about the meetings he has lined up for the day. Seeing his father at the dining table, he sighs deciding to forgo breakfast for he is not in the mood for another argument with his father, the last one was still ringing in his ears. He picks up his briefcase and says, "dad I shall see you at the office." His father gives him a calculative look, huff and mutters, "coward" as he watches his son walk away. Daima, Ragav's childhood nanny gives Ajay a scolding look, takes the glass filled with orange juice and rushes after Ragav. Moments later daima walks back into the house with the orange juice, glares at Ragav's father and says, "you cannot resist can you!" And heads towards the kitchen angry because Ragav has left for work with an empty stomach. She calls Ragav's PA.
"Hello. Singhania Group how may I help," Kalpi says chirpily into the telephone, excited to take her first call. "Who is this?", the voice at the other end snaps. Her smile faltering, Kalpi stands up and says, "ma'am I am Kalpana, Mr Singhania's PA." "What happened to Prakash?", the voice says less harshly. Hesitating, Kalpi replies honestly, "I don't know ma'am." "So you are new. I am guessing your first day." Kalpi nods at first, then realises that the lady cannot see her though the phone, she replies, "yes ma'am." Chuckling the voice replies, "you have much to learn. For now you can thank the stars that Ragav sir did not hear you. I am Ragav's daima. Now listen carefully. When you answer the phone say your name, because whenever you receive a call it will be for you or for Ragav Singhania's PA or for Ragav. You are not the company receptionist." Relieved that her error was not caught by her boss she thanks daima and promises to make Ragav eat breakfast.
Kalpi heads off to the kitchen on her floor in search of something to give Ragav to eat. Finding nothing she decides to give him her lunch, cheese and tomato sandwich. Placing the plate of sandwich on his desk she heads off to brew some black coffee for her boss for it is nearly half seven. Grinning happily she walks towards Ragav's office with a hot cup of black coffee, just the way he had told her he drank it. A few steps away, she hears a thud and a voice yelling, "Ms Jhadav" from inside the office. Instinct kicking in she rushes into the office, scalding her hand as hot coffee spills onto her skin. She stops for at the centre of the office, is her lunch. Too shocked she stares at the floor, there is glass and food everywhere. It was pretty obvious to her that Ragav had thrown the plate in a hissy fit. She looks up to see her boss angrily glaring at her as he points at the sandwich and yells, "what is the meaning of this? Clean it up."
Too shocked, Kalpi says, "that was your breakfast. Actually it was my lunch first, but your daima called and said that you had not eaten breakfast and that you might be hungry. I did not find any food in the kitchen so I..." Kalpi leaves her sentence incomplete as she bends down to pick up the Brocken glass that was once a plate and pieces of food that was once a sandwich.
Waiting for Kalpi to finish clearing up. Ragav says in a cold voice, "lesson number 1. You do what I say not what others tell you. Now get out."
Edited by angelpureness - 10 years ago
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