The entire KKN was abuzz with gossip this morning. Even though exciting things happened here every other day but this hearsay became a smash hit among all the staff in a jiffy. The gossip had been spread by the most efficient nosy parker of KKN channel, Trisha, who had heard Khalid and Malvika rapturously discussing about the new EIC joining the channel today. No one among the staff was aware of the identity of the new EIC except for Khalid and Malvika who were beyond themselves with excitement and happiness.
Ananya dressed in a crop top and shorts rushed into the office space in a breathless hurry, she was late for work again. She stood at the entrance for a few seconds twisting a strand of her bright crimson colored hair around one finger and deeply observing the same old displeasing look on Khalid and Malvika's face that she has been recurrently facing since she joined the channel almost a year back.
Some co-workers looked at her and raised their eyebrows as Ananya took her seat after putting down her bag and a semi-formal black jacket that she was forced to use in order to coat her casual garb during reporting. In response she wrinkled her nose and showed her head, making a circling sign, like her head was reeling.
A while later the gang (Ananya, Baby, Richa, Ronnie, Sunny and Trisha) made their way to the cafeteria and got themselves some snacks with coffee. Even though Ananya never made any efforts to make friends in KKN, and yet almost by default she ended up becoming a part of this group - a mostly odd part of it but a part nonetheless.
Sipping her drink, Richa asked Ananaya: Did you see the list of colleges I have shortlisted for Armaan as per Aunty's preference?
Ananya slapped her forehead: Crap! main ekdum bhool gyi... mom toh mujhe iss baari chodengi nahin...DAMN!... ek kaam kar, mujhe text ya phone kar ke yaad dila dio, nahin toh main bhool jaoongi fir se, aaj itni der se uthi ki sab kuch golmaal ho gaya!
Ronnie laughed: Kya baat hai? Sab baatein bhool rahi hai...raat ko neend nahi aayi hogi? Kahin tujhe pyaar toh nahin ho gaya?
Ananya chortled: Tub hi na Ronnie! FYI Meri neendein kabhi koi bhi nai udaa sakta hai!
Baby teased her this time: Kyun? Tera Manav sir ke baare mein kya khayal hai?
Ananya made a face: YUCK!! Manav aur main? Tera dimaag toh kaharab nahi ho gaya?? Mujhe uss mein koi interest nahin..
Trisha: kyun kyun? Manav sir toh dekhne mein itne bure toh nai hai and acha kamate bhi hai and he is a senior here too...
Ananya giggled: You guys give way too much importance to office hierarchies...mujhe yeh sab matter nahin karta...waise, kahin tu toh unpar latto toh nahin ho gayi? bol, baat chalaoon tere liye? She nudged Trisha's arm...
Before Trisha could answer Sunny blurted out loud: woh Malvika ma'am isse zinda dafan kar dengi agar issne Manav sir ki taraf aank utha kar bhi dekha toh
As they were laughing and giggling, there was a slight commotion in the cafetaria. Everyone was being called back to their work desk urgently to meet the new EIC who was about to arrive in next ten minutes.
Ananya gulped down the residual beverage with an uninterested expression and rambled behind the others who seemed to be overly enthusiastic to meet the new EIC.
Whilst everybody gathered near their respective work desks, Khalid stepped up to make an important announcement.
Ananya firstly shrugged in response and then with a small amused smile face she tried to follow the instructions that Khalid had just provided but with a personalized touch. She picked up the blank sticky paper that was kept on her work desk and neatly scribbled "I'm awesome" onto it instead of her name.
Amidst a combination of a grins and scowls that she was receiving, her attention was drawn towards the man who was making his way towards Khalid and Malvika.
She just stood there, one hand on her hip, looking him up and down with a mixed-up expression.
Debate Mansion
