GUYS THANKS A LOT FOR ALL THE ENCOURAGEMENT. SUIMI POOJA,RANJANA,PPTM,RAGAMTHALAM0,AND THE HOST OF OTHER READERS I CANT PUT DOWN RIGHT NOW,I CAN'T SAY THANKS ENOUGH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.I WILL TRY TO REPLY PERSONALLY NEXT TIME.FOR NOW,HERE IS MIRAGE PEOPLE!! ITS ON NOW! 😉 😉 😉
She was ushered into Jai Walia's office and was not at all surprised at what she saw. It was a black and grey affair with a splash of thick red to sort of brighten up the place. Not that it worked much, as the room still gave off and austere and imposing feel. He was on the phone and had absently waved her to a seat across the table from him. She dropped herself into it and arranged herself comfortably to wait for him to end the call.
"Will do. Have the report on my desk at the close of day," he said in a no nonsense tone to whoever was on the other line, and hung up without so much as a good bye or thank you.
This man really was something, she thought to herself.
"So," he said,turning to her finally and shuffling through the papers in front of him, "You are Miss Dixit?"
"I would think so," she said, raising her chin defiantly.
He looked at her, "I see you have worked just three years since you graduated."
He was not talking about what transpired earlier and she frowned at that, but answered his question nonetheless.
"My family owns a restaurant and caf back in America and I ran it for two years before trying my hand at something new."
"At The Pelican?" he asked with a raised brow.
"They are an accounting firm with branches all over the U.S I worked for them three years."
"And you want to apply for the post of Junior manager here at Walia Group?"
"Only seemed natural," she said, not missing a beat.
He raised his brow again to look at her, "Why?"
"I hear Walia Group is the best, and I want to work with the best."
"You think you have what it takes?"
"I'm sitting here aren't I?" she said, looking him straight in the eye.
He regarded her through those heavily hooded eyes and was impressed she didn't blink or look away or choke. Without breaking eye contact, he picked up the phone and called his personal assistant into the office.
He appeared at the door, "Yes?"
"Miss Dixit here is now an employee of this company. Please take her down to Human resources, take care of all the formalities, acquaint her with her duties, dos and don'ts and show her to her cabin."
"This way ma'am," the man said politely from behind her.
She just stared at the man sitting across from her. Just like that he had given her a job, no mention of what had transpired between them twice that very same morning…what was going on in this man's head?
He looked up from the file he had opened up after giving instructions to the man she assumed was his PA, "Any thing else Miss Dixit?"
She snapped out of it. If he wasn't going to talk about it, then neither was she. "Not at all sir. I'll be on my way."
He watched her exit the office and thought to himself, Smart girl. She knew nothing came that easy, especially after what had happened that morning. And if it did, there was something fishy about it. She would find out soon enough why he gave her the job.
Outside she tugged on the secretary's arm, "What does it mean when you challenge him and he does something totally out of character?"
He regarded her for a while, tyring to judge whether or not to give her an honest answer, and then deciding she needed to know, said simply, "Pray."
They were walking again and she sighed. This was not what she had in mind for a job, where she had to walk on egg shells even when it was not necessary because it looked like the boss was out to get you.
"I didn't get your name," she said to the secretary.
"Natchiket,' came the curt reply.
"Nice to meet you too," she said to his retreating back.
Within minutes he had her filling out forms and giving personal information about herself and then he took her to the office she was to share with another employee she was told, was away on leave at the time.
"Your job description is basically whatever Jai says it is," he informed her, "I suggest you get a feel of the place as I imagine he will start shooting bright and early tomorrow. Anything else you would like to know?"
"Just one question," she said, "And its probably none of my business but…you just called him Jai."
A shadow immediately passed over the man's face, "You're right. It's none of your business."
He briskly turned and walked away from her, leaving her at a loss of where to start and who to ask for directions. Was everyone in this company coming down with an ulcer? She walked over to the receptionist, "Excuse me, I'm new here and I was just hired as a junior manager in this company. But no one will tell me what exactly it is I am to do here."
The receptionist smiled, "Oh you poor thing. The last one quit after Mr. Walia Jnr. Asked him to leave his wife's sick bed and travel to Hyderabad for a conference."
"And the good news just keeps on coming," Bani said, rolling her eyes, "And to think vI don't even work here yet!"
The receptionist laughed at that, "It's not all bad I promise you. You've just got to put your back into it, cos the scope of your job is going to need a lot of improvising and you jumping through hoops."
"I don't jump too good," Bani said worriedly.
"You'd be surprised what you can do when you're pushed to the wall," the woman said knowingly.
"I'm Bani. Bani Dixit," she said extending her hand with a smile.
"Kaveri Singh, and the pleasure is all mine," the woman said, "For some reason, I think you are going to be a lot of fun in this office."
"I wouldn't bet on it," she said dryly, "Can you give me a run down of what and what I could be expected to do?"
"Well, there's planning, running, catching, fetching and basically jumping out of moving airplanes to fulfill the boss's desires.'
"That makes me feel so much better."
"Think about it as an adventure. You married?"
"No."
"Then half the problem is solved. The problem is usually having to get home before the kids go to bed and having time for your spouse whom you haven't seen all day."
"Glad I don't have to worry about all that then."
"I think you need to go home and get a good night's rest, cos truth be told, you're going to need it."
"I think so too," she nodded, pushing off the counter, "Okay Kaveri, it was nice to meet you."
"Same here."
"And I will see you bright and early tomorrow."
"Will do."
"You don't mind if I bug you for tips on how to work this place, do you?"
"It'll be my pleasure to help," Kaveri assured her.
"Thank you so much. See ya!!"
"Bye!" Kaveri called.
Bani had just gotten home and her mother was emerging from the kitchen at that exact moment.
"Back so soon?" she asked, frowning at the wall clock which showed she had just been gone for two hours.
"Yes ma, I'm back."
"So," her mother asked coming to stand in front of her, "How did it go?'
She looked at her mother and then sighed dramatically, "I got the job ma."
Kiran squealed in excitement, "Congratulations beti!! Oh my goodness, what happened? No, how did it happen? Come, I want to know everything."
"You would not believe it if I told you," she said to her mother as they settled down to narrate the events of the day to her mother who sat openmouthed until she was done.
"Wow," her mother said, exhaling deeply, "I'm almost scared for you."
"I don't have to take the job mom," Bani said, rising to go to the kitchen.
"Since when do you run away from a challenge?" her mother asked with raised eyebrows.
"Oh I'm not running away," Bani said in her usual flippant manner, "I just don't know why but he creeps me out."
"And that's a bad thing?'
"No, just weird," Bani said, "Wonder how the rest of his family copes with a man that…spooky."
"That is not your problem. You have a job to do, and if I know you well and I do, you'll do it marvelously well."
"You can say that again," Bani said, heading for the kitchen with her mother in tow.
Kiran made a mental note to call Krishna and fill her in on the day's happenings. She would sure love to know how well their little 'push' had worked.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~'
The following day she arrived bright and early at work, seeing as it was her first day and she didn't want to leave anything to chance. Kaveri had shown up a half hour after she did, much to the latter's amusement.
"Trying to impress the boss are we?' she teased.
"Trying not to get into it with the boss today," Bani replied.
"Good idea. He's awful to work with when he gets mad," Kaveri said.
"Ok, I'm here now," she said, spreading her hands, "Now what?"
"Oh I think you'll find out soon enough," Kaveri said, indicating the direction of the elevators from which Jai Walia had just stepped and was purposefully walking towards them.
"Good morning Sir," they chorused, and Bani had the strongest urge to laugh, for some reason.
He acknowledged them with a brief nod and headed in the direction of his office, breezing past the few people who greeted him and giving them much the same treatment.
"Is he always like that?" she asked Kaveri, "All arrogant and aloof?"
"Sometimes, worse," Kaveri said, "Better get to your office before he rings and you're not there. He's got a new rabbit to hunt so it'll sting for a while."
"Roger that," Bani said spinning on her heels and heading to her office.
No sooner had she entered the office than her phone began to ring. She already knew it was him so she rushed to it.
"Yes Sir?' she said in a professional tone.
"My office, two minutes," came the curt voice over the phone.
She poked her tongue out at the receiver in her hand before replacing it on the cradle and heading out of her office to his own. She knocked politely, and on his brief 'come in' ,entered the office.
Once again, he was on the phone and motioned her to seat across from him, and she settled into the same chair she had sat in just twenty four hours ago.
"What do you know about Spas?" he asked, as soon as he replaced the receiver on its cradle.
She was taken aback, then took a deep breath, "Well, its basically a home away from home given the right locations and the right product lines and a healthy regiment of…"
"Walia Group is interested in a piece of land up in Hyderabad and would like to purchase it for purposes of building a world class Spa in the space of eight to twelve months. Do you think it is possible?"
Was that a trick question? What did he expect her to say, that it was impossible? If she did, there went her so called enthusiasm and ability to believe she could get the job done. And if she said it was possible, it would take running a tight ship to pull it off in that time.
"Well Sir, nothing is impossible, but a project of the magnitude of which you speak will take a tremendous amount of attention to detail and countless sleepless nights if I might add,' she looked him in the eye, and started to really get into what she was saying, "I mean we would need contractors, surveyors, legal advice, to search for the perfect location, architects…."
"Good. I trust you can get on it right away. Every single detail needed to pull off the preliminary stages of the project is your responsibility."
She felt the wind rush out of her lungs. What the hell did he just say? She was going to man this project all by her lonesome? Was he in his right mind at all?
She inhaled sharply, "One question Sir. What architectural style are we going for?"
He looked up at her, clearly not expecting that question from her, "A cross between British and Chinese architecture."
"Got it," she said, spun on her heels and walked out of the office, her mind already five steps ahead of her as she began to calculate in her head.
As she exited the office, Jai relaxed in his chair. This one had a lot of guts. A fighter. Didn't flinch at all, he thought as a sardonic smile played on his lips. He would love to see how this played out.
****************************** *********
Kaveri was talking to someone when she walked up, "Hey you, anything new?'
"Yes, even I don't believe what I have been given to do."
"What?" Kaveri asked in hushed excitement.
"You are looking at the new co-ordinator of the project in Hyderabad."
"No way!" the man standing with Kaveri said in shock, "The Spa project?"
"The very same," Bani said.
"Wow, he must really not like you," the man said.
Kaveri slapped his arm, "Shut up Ranveer!"
"What? Even you know why he gave her this job."
"Why?" Bani asked.
"So you could fail," Ranveer said matter of factly.
"Ranveer!" Kaveri hissed again.
Bani was pensive, "That would mean this isn't the first time he's pulling this stunt?'
"No, it's not," Ranveer said.
"Look, you might want to speak to Natchiket Uncle. He could be of great help," Ranveer advised.
"So the uptight PA can report me to the boss? No, thanks."
"Who's who's PA?' Kaveri asked.
"This Nachiket person," Bani said, frowning at the look they exchanged, "What's wrong?'
"What ever gave you the idea that Nachiket was Jai sir's PA?"
Now she was more confused, "Well seeing as he was the one who Mr. Walia asked to help me fill out my forms, draw up my appointment letter and all what not…guys,what's going on?"
Ranveer looked at her serious faced, "Nachiket uncle is Jai mama's half-brother. He's my step uncle if you will."
It took a moment for that to sink in, "What?"
"Long story, not enough time," Kaveri said, "You do remember you have a job to do right?"
"Yes!" Bani jumped into action, "So I talk to your uncle right?"
"You better," Ranveer said.
"Great, good place to start. Where do I find him?" she asked.
"It's three doors down from Jai sir's office," Kaveri said.
"Right, fill you in on everything later," she said and trotted off to find the answers she needed.
"You didn't have to tell her all that Ranveer," Kaveri said as they watched Bani walk away.
"She was going to find out soon enough," he shrugged, "Besides, I like her."
"Me and you, both. Can't wait to see how she handles this one."
"She's smart, she'll do fine."
"You know, I do believe that," Kaveri said.
Bani knocked and entered Nachiket's office, 'Good morning."
He regarded her a while and then waved her to a seat, "Good morning. How may I help you?"
"I've come in respect of the Spa Project in Hyderabad."
He stopped tapping away at his laptop keyboard, "Oh?"
"I was told I could talk to you about it as Mr. Walia just put me in charge of assembling the team that is going to work on the project."
"Jai asked you to handle this alone?" Natchiket asked, a slight frown creasing his forehead.
"Yes," she said slowly, now not so sure she had done the right thing by coming here.
He stared intently at the door for a few seconds and then focused on her again, "What exactly would you like to know?'
"Well first of all, I would like to know how far the company has gone in the acquisition of the land."
"It is still in the pipelines, as we are still trying to ascertain the devolution of title to the land."
"Has anything else been done in respect of getting an architect to design the Spa?"
"Well, we have contacted a few people but no one person has been picked."
"Do we have a surveyor?"
"Yes, Malhotra Expert Surveyors, and they have already done their part as far as the land is concerned."
She ticked that off her list but made a mental note to contact them and find out what the company knew about the land in question.
"Do we have a building contractor?" she asked.
"We have always used the French based company Dupont Construction Company."
"And their job is always satisfactory?" Bani asked.
Natchiket regarded her openly. This one was not going to leave anything to chance. He knew Jai was only testing her but even Jai had never put such a sensitive project in the hands of a newcomer before. This was all new even to him, but he could see why Jai would want to test her this way. She wasn't the jittery type. She was tackling this head-on and seemed to know exactly what she was doing.
"Sir?" she said,seeing he was staring at her without even blinking.
"Yes, they always seem to satisfy Jai," he said slowly.
"Ok," she said, frowning at his reaction, then shrugging it off as she had her own stuff to worry about, "What about a landscaper?"
"We don't have one of those yet,' Natchiket said and watched her scribble.
This one was going to be a source of amusement around here, he thought to himself.
"Can I have the contact address of Dupont Constructions and Malhotra Expert Surveyors?" she asked again, bringing him out of his musings.
"I'll e-mail you the report," he said.
"Thank you so much sir," she said, rising to her feet.
"My pleasure. If you ever need any help, I'll be right here."
"Thank you again," she said, and quickly exited the office.
Natchiket smiled to himself and thought, This one is a keeper.
"Any luck?" Ranveer called.
"More than I expected," Bani called back on her way to the office.
"Good! See you at lunch break?' Kaveri asked.
"We'll see," Bani said, a little skeptic as she thought of all the people she had to get in touch with over the next few hours.
"She's not coming to lunch," Kaveri said.
"No, didn't think so either," Ranveer said, shaking his head, "And so it begins."
"Yeah, another trial of another soul."
"I'll pray for her," Ranveer said in mock sadness and Kaveri slapped him over the side of the head, "Ouch!"
"Back to work with you," she said, "Your family may own the company bhut you've still got work to do."
"Don't remind me," he said, rolling his eyes, "See you at lunch then."
"See you."
Bani looked at al the things she had listed to do in the next three hours before lunch. She would have to get right on it. The mail Natchiket had promised was blinking on her system and she went immediately to check on it. It was a lengthy report, so she settled down to read it. This was going to be a long, long day!
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