"Dev beta, come home. Freshen up. Eat food and then go to office. What is the need for you to go to office straight from the airport?" Ishwari sounded apprehensive. She pleaded and Dev knew that she was missing him as she did not see him for the past 4 days.
"Ma, please. Try to understand. I will go to office and finish my work in an hour or so, and come back home to spend the rest of the day with you. Does that sound better?" he coaxed her into agreeing.
Dev sighed and as the car whirled into his office complex, he scanned everyone his vision caught hold of. It is not time yet. She might not be in yet. He was a bit anxious though. He remembered the day when he scolded Sona for dragging him into her cabin and shutting Ms. Chopra out. That was pretty rude of Sona he thought. Their conversation that day is still vivid in his memory.
"Ms. Bose, what are you doing, I am fine and let me go?" he tried to pull out his hand from her grasp.
"Mr. Dixit, I am sorry," she hesitantly let go off his hand. "But you are hurt and let me apply some medicine on your forehead." She offered, still not meeting his eyes for she was ashamed that she behaved a little unprofessional in front of Ms. Coy.
"Why did you do that? What will she think? This is not an accepted behavior in the office, Ms. Bose. Please remember that you will not repeat anything like this in the future." He said curtly. Sona was shocked. She knew she was a little rookie, but that was not so out of character that he had to react like this.
"Mr. Dixit, for your kind information, I am a doctor, and I do have the liberty to take action when someone I find hurt. I was only trying to help you. Not interfere with anyone or in their privacy." She had to vent.
"You don't shut the door on anyone's face within office, Ms. Bose. That is not an acceptable behavior at work place. Didn't you know that? If you didn't, please attend corporate etiquettes session. I will ask Tina to put you onto one at the earliest," Saying this he turned and walked towards the door, obviously to appease Ms. Coy. He could feel Sona boring his back that day as he walked away from her.
After that exchange, Dev knew Sona was angry with him for she did not come face-to-face with him and avoided him altogether. Why is she angry with me? What wrong was there in what I said? Never mind. Let her be. Someone has to tell her that she is not right all the time. But he wanted to see her and tell her that she was wrong but still she cannot be angry with him for her mistake.
As he walked in, Tina greeted him.
"Sir, are you coming straight here from the airport?" she enquired, surprised and anxious. "Is there anything important that needs you here?"
"No, Tina, relax. I just forgot some papers in my cabin. I have to take them back home as I intend to work from home today." He said.
"Sure, Sir."
"hmmm. Uh... Tina, has Ms. Bose come in?" he tried to be as prosaic as possible.
Smile lit Tina's eyes, and she said "No Sir. She comes in sharp at 9 AM. But today she will come in at 11 Sir."
"oh... I see.. but why Tina? Is everything alright with her? Any problem?" he enquired with knotted brows.
"Yes Sir. She is fine. But she is going to Deepak's house to meet his mother. So she told me that she will be a bit late today. She and Deepak are on permission for a couple of hours," Tina elaborated.
Dev's face darkened a bit. He gave a curt nod and walked straight to his cabin.
When inside, he suddenly felt anger build up. He removed his tie and threw it on the couch. Pushed the briefcase on the side table with a jerk and plopped onto his chair. Suddenly he felt exhausted. Repented and felt like a fool for not having listened to his mom and gone straight home.
What the hell? Why is she using the office time to deal with her personal commitments? How can she go to some other employee's house without letting him know. Doesn't she know that he was coming back from the US today? She just didn't care to drop an email about this to him. Anger and frustration was building pressure in his head. He started having headache.
He dialed the pantry number and barked into the phone, "one coffee in my cabin, please."
"Good morning, Sir. Would you like toasted bread or vegetable sandwiches with it, Sir? It is Dr. Bose's order that we must give you coffee in the early hours of the day only with some solid and no plain coffee," came the humble answer.
Dev lost his cool. "And why the hell are you countering me when I already told you what I want," he queried in his deep voice that gave away his anger.
"Sorry, Sir, but it was you who told us to take orders from Dr. Bose, when it came to health and diet for anyone and everyone in the office," came the reply humble yet clear.
After a pause, "Sandwich" he said and cut the line.
Ms. Bose, you got to explain. This is not how it works. Your time from 9 am to 6 pm is mine. I pay for it. You cannot put up a chart here, and go about your personal business, whatsoever. He flexed his knuckles white.
...
(see part 1 here: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kuch-rang-pyar-ke-aise-bhi/4619903/os-raw-nerves
Ishaani
Cricket
