Posted:
Thank you for all the positive comments; they really motivate me to keep writing. Shout out to everyone who got the hint of the letter and who gave it. And to answer this question, yes, this series is loosely based off of IPKKND - which I recommend you watch if you have not.
Chapter Two: Espresso
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Oberoi Industries HQ - 9:34 am
"Enough!" A hand was raised to silence them. Annika interrupted the nautanki duo. Annika was irritated. It's bad enough none of this is making sense but these dolls are now going to play 20 questions with her. Annika looked straight at both at Simran and Pamela. They could see her irritation. "What kind of questions are these? Do you guys not have anything better to do or are you just going to sit on top of my head to irritate me? Because it looks like instead of doing what Tia ma'am said, you want to take the responsibility of interviewing my on top of your head. You act as if you have the ability to be able to interview someone."
Annika was aggravated. Ever since she entered this office these ladies have been painfully annoying. They kept judging her for who she was. Annika wasn't much for patience, in fact she had little patience as was it, and these two just destroyed the last of her patience with them. Annika was not furious, but it was safe to say that she was more than willing to be equally rude to them as they were to her.
"Listen you-"
"Simran, let me handle the desk for a bit. You should take a break." Before Simran could speak any further, she was interrupted. A short, chubby woman came into the scene. Annika, Simran, and Pamela stared at her. The woman walked up to Simran, dismissing her. The woman looked at Annika. "Come with me. I'll get you your appointment. By the way, welcome aboard." The woman spoke sweetly; she called Annika over to book the appointment. Simran groaned and promptly left, Pamela followed her calling her name. They left.
The new woman over the counter went over to the computer and one thing led to another, Annika got her new appointment letter. "Tia said you're her new assistant, so that means you work here, but only temporarily until the actual interview. Tia will then decide whether she'll let you stay or not, but with this recommendation letter, I'm sure you'll be alot harder to get rid of. All the best!" The woman explained. She was really delightful. Annika found her much more competent than the other ladies. Atleast someone in this office had sense.
"Thank you so much, um.. err.." Annika spoke cheerfully, thanking the woman for her help. Annika didn't know the woman's name. She paused making a nervous face.
"Saumya," The woman revealed her name. She smiled at Annika. "Nice to meet you."
"I'm Annika, nice to meet you too." Annika cheerfully brought her hand forward for a handshake. The two girls pleasantly shook hands. Saumya grabbed the printout of the appointment paper and handed it to Annika. "Thanks for this; I'll be back in a second." Annika squealed, she was so happy to have gotten the job. Sure it was weird how, but who cares? Atleast now rent gets to be paid. Annika turned around and took out her phone. She immediately called Ishana to share the good news.
Chaturvedi House - 9:38 am
The phone began ringing. "I'm coming, I'm coming." Ishana saw the name of the caller, it was Annika. Ishana quickly picked up the phone.
"Ishu!!! Guess what!" Annika spoke before any greetings could be spoken, typically Annika. Ishana moved the phone away from her ear as Annika started screaming out of joy
"What happened..? And why are you screaming?" Ishana asked begrudgingly
"I got the job. They gave it to me straight away." Annika said giddily
"Really? How?" Ishana inquired.
"Where do I begin? The moment I entered, the nautanki starts. I don't understand even how it happened. Tia ma'am just saw the paper and hired me after she fired her assistant." Annika began to explain the story in very vague detail. Ishana made a frown. What kind of story is that? One was fired, another was hired?
"Oh, really...? So, no interview then? And here I was worrying for nothing. Chalo, atleast you got the job. The money will come in handy." Ishana smiled. Ishana heard a noise in the kitchen, she knew who it was. "I'll hang up now, before Baandari Bua starts yelling again." She muttered disgusted with the she-devil aunt.
"Fine, besides I have to get started here. Talk to you later, okay? Bye!" Annika frowned.
"Bye." Ishana said, hanging up the phone and getting back to work.
Oberoi Industries HQ - 10:02 am
It was that time of the day. The staff started moving out of the way. Anyone who stumbled in his path would be crushed. The atmosphere became filled with fear and anxiety. Shivaay Singh Oberoi had entered the office after all, and those who messed with him didn't exactly tell story of their victory. The billionaire donned a fancy black suit, it was likely designer. As he walked into the office, making his way to his cabin, his shades came off revealing his icy cold glare. His kanji eyes. Feared by many as they stare into you, striking you down at mere gaze. He's the Tyrant King, an unmatched presence.
"Those who are dealing with the Singhania deal come into my cabin, immediately." Shivaay scowled as he left the scene. Those four, who were in charge of the Singhania files, gulped. Everyone knew atleast one of them was going to get fired today.
"Looks like someone is going to get fired today. Besides, SSO looks like he's in a horrible mood" Someone spoke after Shivaay left.
"He's always in a horrible mood. If he's ever in a good mood, that'll be a day to remember." Another said
Annika was walking through the office; she held a coffee for Tia, who specifically asked Annika to get her one. Annika never thought she'd have to be someone's servant when she was trying to get a job here. Tia had already given a list of thing Annika had to do by the end of the day. Of course, Tia was no slacker herself, but she had reduced Annika to meager jobs. Passing by, Annika heard everyone talking.
"I remember that one time SSO fired an employee for trying to explain himself."
"Yeah, I remember that, he fired him right away."
"He's pretty cruel."
"And scary..."
"Let's just get back to work before he starts yelling again."
Everyone went back to normal. Annika watched them all. What a man. Annika wondered who they were talking about. It was probably the boss. Annika sighed in annoyance, whispering to herself. "Really... God, please keep me far away from him."
The four people in charge of dealing with the file stood in Shivaay's cabin. They were shaking. Shivaay started going through the file. Only after a few seconds of reading it, he looked up at the four. "What is this garbage?! We are the best of the best. Fix this. Make this better NOW!" Shivaay threw the file at the people standing in his office. The papers flew everywhere. "Go." Shivaay's voice turned cold.
"But sir-" One the employees tried to speak, but was cut off.
"Fired." Shivaay pointed to the door. The employee was shaking. "And you pick all this up." Shivaay turned away; dismissing the other employees after their mess was cleaned. Saumya stood outside, hoping she wouldn't be noticed through the glass walls. Saumya was going to tell Shivaay about the new hire, but he was in such a bad mood that she immediately left out of fear.
"Oh God, maybe now isn't a good time to tell him anything. He'll find out when he will. Why am I getting worried? Saumya nervously walked back to the reception desk to resume her work.
Oberoi Industries HQ, Omkara's Cabin - 11:30 am
Omkara was in his cabin, he was finishing his write up. Work needed to be done still and it was almost lunch time. Omkara gazed at the clock, taking his glasses off. He began to lean back on his chair. Time passed slowly. Omkara felt as though something was going to happen today. Omkara could feel it in the air. Omkara's phone began ringing, he looked his phone smiling. The caller's name read 'ISHANA'. He answered. "Hey."
"Hi, how are you doing today?" Ishana responded, rather sweetly. Ishana was sitting on a chair, in front of desk, in her and Annika's room. Ishana was looking outside the window as she spoke.
"I'm fine, and you?" Omkara smiled.
"I'm doing fantastic! I'm so happy. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!" Ishana jumped off her chair in her excitement.
"Why are you thanking me? I haven't done anything yet." Omkara giggled, shaking his head.
"Don't be so modest, you got Annika the job. I know already." Ishana pouted.
"How? I haven't seen Annika all day, and she's two hours late for her interview." Omkara confirmed, curiosity in his voice.
"But Annika said some Tia ma'am gave her the job."
Omkara froze for a moment. "Annika is already here and working? How did that happen? Wait, I'll call you back."
"O-Okay, bye! Love you!" Ishana responded worriedly, saying bye to her boyfriend. Ishana sat back down.
"Bye. Love you too." Omkara hung up and got out of his desk slowly. He went to go look for Annika, worrying for her. Omkara knew the type of person Annika is and that worried him.
Oberoi Industries, Saumya's desk - 11:30 am
Saumya sat at the reception desk. She was nervous and worried. What if one day she got fired that way. The situation made her feel tense. That's why Saumya always tried to stay on the boss's good side, if one even existed. The poor girl questioned the sanity of working here. Saumya took a sip from her mug filled with water, she began trying to concentrate on her work again. As Saumya started, Annika approached her.
"Hey Saumya, do you have stapler?"
"Huh? Oh, yes, give me a second." Saumya looked around the desk for a stapler. She knew she had one around here, where did she put it?
Elsewhere, Shivaay was walking through the area. The blue-blood was holding a cup of espresso in his hand, it was cold, and he was furious. Who has the nerve to leave cold espresso at his desk. He asked for a hot espresso. "Could no one do anything right in this office..." Shivaay muttered to himself in irritation. The staff saw him walking by, they immediately scurried out of the way. Shivaay took at his phone as he walked, looking to see if there were any messages.
"Here you go," Saumya handed Annika the stapler. Annika took it happily. "Bring it back though, there aren't that many good staplers in the office." Saumya informed Annika of the tragic fate of horrible staplers. A shame really.
"No worries, and after I'm done with this, let's get some lunch together." Annika winked, inviting a new friend to lunch.
"Sure." Saumya bubbly accepted the invitation.
As Annika was leaving, Saumya noticed SSO walking by. Saumya panicked, she barely able to form words. "W-Wait!"
Before Saumya could do anything, it was already too late. The calamity had occurred. Annika bumped into Shivaay, stepping into his way. Many who were in the area, gasped collectively at the accident. Because Annika bumped into Shivaay, his espresso fell on his suit. Shivaay looked down to his suit, his anger reached the sky in this moment. "You-"
"Watch where you're going!" Annika yelled before Shivaay could speak, Annika started wiping the espresso that fell on her arm, with her own hand. The spectators gasped. Who was this brave, stupid soul who had the nerve to talk to Shivaay Singh Oberoi like that. Everyone was surprised, including Shivaay himself who was left dumbfounded by the girl who was too busy cleaning herself off.
"How DARE you..." Shivaay said in a deadly low voice.
Annika looked up at Shivaay. Their eyes met. It's as if time stood still for a single moment. Their eyes said the same thing. They were filled with anger and irritation. Who was this person and how did they have the nerve to speak to me like that? Similar thoughts crossed each other. And thus a relationship of hatred began between two souls that could not be more meant for each other.
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Precap: Shivaay is seen throwing the rest of his espresso on Annika.
Well that's it for now. I hope you liked the chapter. I tried to make it as best possible. Remember to please leave any feedback, I would like to improve. 😛 Till then, stay flawless my dear forum-wasiyon. Love you!
- Jesal
Next - Chapter 3
Tum Se Tum Tak
Ganesh Kartikeya
