Dressed simply in a modest white salwar kameez, she was quite ordinary. Her face was rather pretty; but her large eyes, almost permanently fixated on the floor, seemed brimming with sadness. Maybe that was what had caught his attention as she had looked up, the depth of her moist eyes and the mystery behind them. Maybe that mystery was the reason her cheeks were wet, nothing to do with the heavy evening shower. She seemed alone, risky at this time of night. And what was she waiting for, with that small pile of baggage at her feet?
What was he thinking? Who cared about her? Why should he, Robbie Sabharwal, concern himself? He shook his head, trying to clear it of the strange, unusually considerate thoughts he had been feeling.
***
Sabharwal Enterprises, the next morning
"Devika ma'am, the applicant for the post of Robbie's secretary is here"
"Is she pretty? Is she exciting? Is she under 25?"
As the secretary nodded her head, Devika groaned and flourished her hand.
"Well then, she's not suitable. Find someone else"
With a flourish of her hand, Devika swept out of the office. The girl leapt up from her seat, thrusting forward her bundle of papers.
"Please ma'am, mujhe ek mohkha dijye. Main aapko shikaayat karne ka?"
Devika held up her hand, her keen eye sweeping over her and noticing the girl's plain and traditional salwar kameez and the gold Ganesh pendant hanging from her neck. "Are you here for the secretary's job. What's your name?"
"Kasturi, ma'am"
"Do you always speak Hindi? And wear these clothes?"
Slightly confused and taken aback but thankful the boss was paying her attention, Kasturi answered truthfully, "Yes, ma'am, I never wear western clothes but I can speak a little English, and I can learn?"
"No, no that's perfect," Devika replied quickly, her mind already moving on. "The job's yours. My secretary, Kiran, will give you the details."
Kiran steered Kasturi into the office and handed her a contract.
"Main?I mean?Devika ma'am parishaan hain, unka behavior thoda ajeeb sa?"
"Oh yes, don't worry about that. You see, it's quite simple. Every secretary Robbie sir appoints, he goes out with for a while, then dumps her and she leaves. But you, you're not Robbie sir's type at all, like you know, short skirts, Western ways, and all that so there's no chance of that happening.."
"Oh" was all Kasturi could manage, slightly concerned and also a bit embarrassed. But she bit her tongue, because she knew very well the importance of this job for her.
Index
Ch 1 - pg 1
comment:
p_commentcount