After so much of encouragements from my close and good friends, I dare to post my little creative work in open. The most of the story line is portraying on me, however the main part is fiction.
Hope you would like something for a change.
Sour Candy!
Monday, she loved Mondays, she always wonder why people hate this day of the week? If it would be her, she would like to work seven days of the week. It kept her on the regular routine; in fact, she was more productive during the weekdays then on the weekends. It irked her when things did not go according to her plans or she act lazy, it puts her off the edge and she end up whining which she hated the most. Shaking her thoughts away, she turned on her computer upon reaching at her desk; she was the early bird as usual for little over 10 years. She was in the good mood today as she didn't encounter any maniacs on the road this morning driving to work. She loved her lonely time alone at work before people start coming in. While her PC was taking it's time to be functional, she got busy to take off her jacket and looked through the glass window. The sun was getting brighter now a days that means it's the sign of spring coming closer. She smiled at the thought of spring, new beginning. Plants will wake from the long sleep, new life will grow, flowers will bloom its glory around and the birds will return from their migration.
She turned her back and sat on her chair to log in to her computer. Again waited for a bit, and cursed as usual at it for being slow and noisy. Finally, it was up and running, she clicked on her daily applications to start and get ready for the day. She got up to make her tea and to eat her breakfast. Few minutes later, she got back to her desk. Too many logs INS, the technology, can't get away with it. She opened her inbox, and noticed quite few mails today. Got rid of some updates notification and allocated some to the folders to check on it later. She noticed few e-mails from her new manager smiled at her name Elaine Hunter, she liked her new manager. It was short though and her brows were concerned now, with the subject Announcement, Meetings, reschedules, etc. etc. They never had meetings on Mondays, it's always a busy day in service the nature of the business she worked in Payroll. She remembered the day when she was hired, she never knew that one day she would be the part of this company, one of the Best 50 Employers of Canada. Quickly she opened one of the e-mails that read Broadcast Announcement. Lately the company was on the verge of constant changes, with new management team and its structure. It never bothered her, she was use to of this changes. Her life has been on constant change whether at personal level or professional level. She was always ready; she has learned something during her 12 years of journey in Canada how to face the hurdles in life. Along with worry, start thinking how to work around it instead of sitting and crying about it and it has worked for her always. From a shy, timid girl she had become a woman of resolute character, who could no longer be frighten by the struggle with troubles.
She quickly started to scan through the message; usually she never paid any attention to the new upper level management. One of her ignorance or lack of interest whatever you want to call it, to keep her life easy as much possible, she always said, "I don't care as long as I don't have to deal with them." Today was not the same, as she passed through some names and the department, she paused and went back to the last name. It was the name of her department and there was a new name that she didn't recognized. There was a talk and discussion lately at the team meetings that there will be some new structure changes. Less she knew that it would be that quick. Her department merged with other group and they call it now L&D and the head of the group will be Mr. MSK short form of Maan Singh Khurana! She raised her brow in recognizing Punjabi name, "What a name Mr. MSK, it will be interesting to meet you." It was loud enough to hear herself. It was the lucky Monday for her, as she moved to the next mail her one on one rescheduled yet again. She accepted the invitation and moved to the other. It was her managers weekly schedules stating her where about. While sipping her tea and munching her breakfast she clicked on the last one that said, 'Please join to meet and greet with your new L&D team at 11:00 AM EST.' She hit the mouse to accept the invitation, what else does she has the choice and exhale noisily.
People started to come in and so the day begins. The phones were constant; it was closer to the yearend deadlines courtesy to those who waited for the last minute changes. No matter how much you try to educate these clients but they never learn. The morning went fast and it was the time for the meeting. Five more minutes, she decided to freshen up and quickly set her phone to meeting before she gets another call. She hurried to the washroom, on her way as she turned the corner her face collided with the flat surface. She cursed herself for rushing all the time and not watching where she walks. Immediately she realized that the flat surface is not the wall but a human chest. Her nostrils filled with manly cologne. She started to drift in the scent as if approving the taste of the person who carried it. One of her weakness scent not just any but specific, especially man colognes. Bringing, herself back on earth felt a strong pull but gentle at the same time to steady her. She mumbled a quick sorry at the same time fixing her glasses to look up at the face that had the excellent choice of cologne. She stared right into the unexpected face it was an Indian feature. Never thought this species would be the most handsome male she ever bumped into. She heard him then, "Are you alright?" All she could manage was a hesitant nod. He spoke again as if not buying what he notice, "Are you sure?" This time she found her voice back and said, "Yes, I'm fine thanks." He gently slid his arms away from her and walked passed her with a quick turn saying, "Watch your steps Miss." She stood there for few minutes staring at the fading back. She heard Noreen calling her name and she turned to respond her, before she continues to her original task she glanced, back just in case if she gets one glimpse of him, in vain.
The tick was faster than her, good thing the meeting was on her floor and was near by. When she entered the room, it was almost full with the faces she knew. She greeted some and reached to her manager's side. Elaine looked at her and asked her, "Is everything ok, you look as if you have seen a ghost?" She knew it was obvious; her ears were burning already since that encounter. She quickly replied, "Yaa, yaa I'm fine, it's that I was running late so ran to get here." She smiled a bit. Elaine asked her to get something to eat and drink there was some snacks. She nod and turned to the snack table, Noreen was already there and was grabbing a plate for her. She thanked her and filled her plate with some fruits and they walked back to their manager and waited to meet the head of the new group. Finally, everyone was here. Our head of the department Franka started to speak; she gave a quick speech to thank everyone who was present and to welcome the new team that's when she heard her calling Mr. Maan Singh Khurana in her French accent. Her head jerked up with his name to see who detained such a strong name. The view was not clear enough to see the complete face, all she could picture him was an aged man with a turban and beard. Well common can you blame her, he held the biggest position no young man could have at the early age. Less she knew then, what she knows about all this she never cared about it. That's when she heard his voice, "Please call me MSK, I don't mind." "Noreen I know this voice." She turned to her right to whisper in her friend's ear. Noreen just looked quizzically at her and turned back to pay attention to the gentle man.
First, it started with general greetings and the introductions; slowly it turned with serious notes and structure changes and announcements on people moving in and out. There was some hassle among the audience. She became more attentive, more she heard the man talking she started to dislike him already. His tone of voice was icy; enough to send chills to anyone's spine. Softness was nowhere to be trace. Finally, it was concluded and people started to leave the room, that's when her view was clear enough to see him. She noticed the familiar back; of course, the image she created few minutes ago was nothing close to what stood across the room. Some were talking to him personally and shaking hands. She gasped sharply when she noticed him turning his face to her clear vision it was the same face. How could it be possible? No it can't be he couldn't be? She was throwing these questions to her mind right after another. The room was almost empty, she felt the tug on her arm and she looked at it. It was Noreen who was trying to get her out of the room. She blurted out in a whisper that she thought was, "Damn Noreen, I don't like it, I don't like him." "Miss what you don't like it?"
She stopped right in her spot, muttered something in her breathe. "Great you did it again." One of her another famous trade, not to think first and then talk. Her words are always ready to leave its sockets to shoot the bullets. Slowly she turned to that handsome face to answer. Good thing she was quick in covering her mistakes. She spoke in confident tone to match his, "Nothing, I was giving my feedback on the candy that my friend gave me earlier." She could see his expressions were changing; it encouraged her more to cook up something to convince him. From the corner of her eyes, she noticed Noreen sneaking away. Well Noreen knew that it would not be that quick as once she starts talking it hardly stops at the quick note. She always wants to prove her logic and to never leave incomplete, so here she goes talking with her tongue and hands. "The wrapper was interesting, so I had to try it, to my delight the colour was even tempting and it smelled even great. The moment I put it in my mouth it was sweet enough to agree my taste. As I continue sucking on it, sweetness turned into sourness and towards the end, it completely turned into bitterness. So there I was trying to tell her for how long the bitterness will last in my mouth." She caught herself, babbling again and ended her banter. "So if you could please excuse me I need water to get my taste bugs back." Ending her wit she turned to leave, she heard him again calling her Miss. Turning side way, she looked at him with a sharp glare and said, "Handa, Geet Handa." She notices a glint of warmth in those icy russets as he spoke, "Pleased to meet you Geet." "Pleasure is all mines Maan." She hurried out before she could make pun of her retrieval self, leaving speechless Maan behind hoping not to see him again.
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