CHAPTER 3
One strange evening…
I have no friends, no relatives. No one calls me except for tele-shoppers and my boss. My boss doesn't call me on non- office hours so the ringing phone means the tele-shoppers..
Angry at them for disturbing my peaceful evening, I barked into the phone, "Hello!"
"Ah, Miss Sinha?"
Well shit!
"a.a..Ah.. umm. y.y..Yes.. um.. Mr. Grewal?" I finally managed to stutter his name and instantly got caught up in the flashback of the elevator. A strange energy still hummed under my skin, waiting for his touch to harness it..
"… right now?"
Huh? What? Dipshit!! I missed what he said!! He hates to repeat!!! I am gonna be fired on Monday!!
"Umm.. I am sorry.. uh.. Could you aa… p.please re..Repeat that?" now since when did I acquire a stammer? Stupid me. Stupid me. Stupid me.
I heard a pause at the other side.. Quite obviously he was upset at my inattentiveness…
"Are you busy with something?"
I blanched at his words.. My neurons were going to be fried if I have to think that he might care for me..
"Uh.. I-"
"Well then drop it and listen please." Yah, that's him.. Thank god.. " Set up meeting with Lightworld Ltd. for tomorrow. Bring me the file of the last tender…."
My head stopped swooning from this surprise call quick enough to note down all the details he spoke.
"Um.. The files are in the office.. In my table.." , move your legs and take 'em yourself..
I heard the smallest pause over the phone and realized my own stupidity. Of course he wasn't in the office.. He doesn't care where the files are as long as they aren't in his hand.
"My servant will receive you at the door." please sit and wait till I decide to grant you an audience..I added in my mind.
"Yes si-" <sf# click #sf> right again a waste of breath. As if I could say no.. Silly me.
*****************
I got off my bike and ruffled my hair out of the helmet.
No, I don't ride to office on my bike.. It would be obscene to do that on a secretarial skirt. The bike is for weekend pleasures and rushing file delivery jobs like this one.
Securing the bike and brushing the dust off my leathers I rang the front door of the biggest house I have ever seen. You can call it a palace for its size, but its structure tilts it more towards a fortress..
"Please come in, Miss." A very elderly man appeared at the door and shuffled me inside.
I sat on the sofa with inner smugness. I had completed the errand in 20 minutes Flat. A feat not easily achievable. He can't fire me now.. HAHAA
I smiled and caught my reflection on the window pane,
YES, he Can Fire Me!!! Just for looking like some bike hopping, parcel delivery girl who needed a haircut last year.
Panicked, I tried my best to smooth down my long, wind-tangled hair and made sure none of the green gunk of my beauty mast remained on my face. Then I concentrated on calming myself down and lowering my heart rate.
I know this sounds insane but I think Mr. Grewal Can hear any1's heartbeat and find if they are anxious…
Finally relaxed I sat down and begin preparing myself for his entrance, simultaneously I worked on composing a mail requesting the meeting with Lightworld Ltd.
"Miss Sinha." I jumped from my seat and quickly saved my work before concentrating on him.
I wasn't actually worried about him seeing my nervousness. I know he wouldn't laugh or make fun. It would be too arrogant of me to think that he noticed me enough to feel a reaction..
"The files, Sir." I stole a quick glance at his hard set face and then looked down again.
He was staring at my clothes and hair.
Good. He doesn't seem angry or amused.. Yet..
"Miss Sinha.. " he gestured towards the sofa ==please sit
I sat down and then decided to openly stare at his face, as much as I wanted to. I mean, IF I am going to be fired.. At least let me look at something nice.
"About last night-"
"Itwasmyfault" Did I just say that? What?!! Was it??!!
I was surprised at my blurting but when he raised one dark eyebrow and the corners of his lips twitched ever so slightly I knew I was out of my mind.
"What was?" He asked me in his deep, baritone voice which always touched me physically.
"What ever is wrong.. It would me fault."
I didn't think he could raise his eyebrow more but he did ==what rubbish are you spewing? Please explain Miss Sinha..
"I mean.. What happened.. It was.. I was… It.. I.. " I stopped and concentrated on forming a proper apology.
"You can never do anything wrong, so iwasmyfault!" This was my proper apology!!!! I give up! I officially declare myself mad right now!! Handcuff me and throw me in confinement.
This time he actually smiled!! Not his client fake smile, he smiled for real!!! Holy god!!! I have definitely lost it now!!! God!!! He has dimples!!!
And I felt my traitorous lips curve into an embarrassed smile instead of maintaining the stone face, which my brain had ordered.
"Miss Si… What is your first name Miss Sinha? If you don't mind my asking…"
Went mad. Died in asylum and went to heaven!!
Idiot! He needs a name to put on resignation letter..
"K.. Kashish. Sir."
He was about to say something but didn't. Instead he looked me in the eye and nodded his head == good name or something like that.
Then he got up and moved towards the door == meeting over. Get lost.
As we got to the door I realized it had gotten pitch dark outside, there was a slight drizzling rain too. Tugging at my cotton shirt I brushed my hair back and prepared to get soak on the way home.
Something must have gave away in my discomfort coz he seemed to realize it. He glanced out and stared briefly at my bike. I feared if his eyebrows may permanently disappear into his hair tonight.
"Sir, madam may catch a cold." The butler/ servant spoke from behind me, scarring me to death. I swear he had appeared out of thin air.
He again looked at my clothes and stared a bit longer at my hair. I bowed my head to hide my flush. My hair may hide my neck, but not the memory of him touching me there.
While I had been dying in my embarrassment, some non verbal communication happened b/w the master and the servant coz seconds later I was offered a red leather coat, which went with my Boots and Tee!!
When I Thought of protesting, refusing the coat, he just stared at me harder and I realized it would indeed be foolish to not take the jacket. I can return it tomorrow. No big deal.
Shrugging into the perfect fitting jacket I nodded at my boss and he nodded back, then I ran out of his home to my bike.
As I got on and pulled my helmet, I admired the coat and wondered at my luck for him having it.
Ofcoure he has it!!! He can produce a full set of women's clothes if needed, the no. of women he fraternizes with, this coat should be no surprise!!
Suddenly I was repulsed by the thought of all the women and idea of wearing a coat that had may have belonged to one of them. I quickly took it off and bundled it up.
I may act like a mindless wimp, but I don't mean I am!
*************************
I was pretty sure he had seen me not using the jacket he had offered, I also wondered if he knew why I did it. He always seems to know what every1 is thinking around him.
I squirmed in my taxi seat and glanced at my watch. Here I am at brink of getting fired and I am going to be 30 min late for the first time!!
God why me?!! This is not fair!! Why me!!
When the taxi stopped I ran inside the building and into the elevator, instantly regretting my actions. My stomach performed a summersault and things lower, applauded. My lowered body contracted painfully once and I had to grab the walls.
Why god? Why women?!! Why not men?!! I hate pms!!
I managed to gather myself and walk in smoothly into my office. The red light on the intercom blinked, indicated my awaiting doom.
Gulping back panic, taking a deep breath I walked down to his office and knocked. No use trying to avoid his wrath..
His voice form inside said, "Yes." Come in=2 words, yes is just 1. Besides, I am sitting outside to check that the visit isn't unwanted.
I mentally revised my graceful exit speech in case I get fired right now and gathered enough courage to look at his face..
Yikes!!!! He is frowning!!! Hard. Only at me.. This is bad. Sooo bad.
Well then I as well may enjoy my last moments in the office. I lifted my head and stared at his handsome face openly and guess what he frowned hardened.
He took a deep breath and then abruptly turned around and walked over to his floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
Ok… So I repulse him this badly..
"You r late.. Sick?"
"Umm " not exactly.. "Yes, I am slightly"
He raked his hand through his hair as if he was having a headache too. Without turning around, he said
"Then take a week's leave."
"No! I .. Please.. I won't be late again, I was.. Please give me another chan-"
"I am not firing you Miss Sinha.. Kashish"
Oh!!! The way he just said my name right now… I won't mind getting fired if he'd just say my name again!!!
".. It's a paid leave.. Sick people aren't useful.."
Of course!!! It hit me now what he was trying to say- I won't be working at my full capacity, but if I take a leave then I'll back refreshed and recharged!! Silly me.
"Thank you sir!" I nodded my head at him even though he didn't turn around and left for home.
*******************************
Avatar and Signatures Shop
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Hindi TV Shows
CID
