"What are you doing.?"
Pooja asked, noticing how Vartika was emerged in her laptop since an hour ,and hadn't complained about the lunch either.
"Looking for job."
Vartika answered, not diverting her attention from the laptop.
"What? You are quitting your job.?"
"Not exactly quitting.
But there is a possibility of company shutting down very soon, so I have to be prepared at least."
"Oh."
Pooja nodded understanding her point, while Vartika continued speaking.
"But you know changing a job is the real pain.
New place, completely new environment, and bunch of strangers as co-workers."
"You are talking as if you have so many friends in your current workplace."
Pooja shook her head.
"At least they are bearable now."
Vartika sighed.
"Don't you think it would be easier to make friends than bearing people.?"
Pooja raised her brows at her.
"No. I don't want to make friends."
Vartika shook her head vigorously.
"And what about the guy who often offers you his lunch box.?"
"Vivek? What about him.?"
"Won't he be sad if you switch company.?"
"Miss I think you didn't hear me properly.
There is a chance of company getting shut down, and then everyone is bound to switch company.
Although he asked to recommend me to some good companies."
"Really? What did you say.?"
"I refused."
"Ah she is heartless."
Pooja muttered under her breath.
"What did you say.?"
"Nothing. I said he would be very lonely."
"Do not worry about other's loneliness.
Worry about your studies, how is it going.?"
Vartika enquired.
"Everything is fine except Mathematics. I suck at it."
Pooja sighed.
"Everyone suck at it , except few maniacs."
Vartika Chuckled.
"I know right?
Like my online tutor.
She literally solves a hard problem in a lightning speed and gets irritated when I try to clear my doubts."
"Really? Why would she get irritated though."
"I don't know.it was only the 7th time I was asking and she looked like she was ready to pull her hair out "
Pooja replied, earning a blank look from Vartika.
"You really suck at math."
Vartika commented with a sigh.
The next morning when Vartika arrived at the company it was unbelievably quiet, in comparison to the other day.
She hurriedly ran past the reception desk , stealing a glance at the wall clock and the people working under it.
The speed of typing on the keyboard and ticking sound of the wall clock were the same, like time bombs.
Running upstairs she halted her speed a little to catch on her breath, and suddenly felt a number of eyes on her.
To her surprise everyone in her department were staring at her direction, before they went back to their respective works.
She wondered if she was the topic of the topic of the discussion just because she was late.
"Hey why did you come so late.?"
Vivek asked as soon as she approached her desk.
She didn't mind him, instead took the water bottle out of her bag and took a sip of it.
"Manager was asking for you."
Preksha whispered beside her, that grew her curiosity more.
Did the manager lecture everyone early morning?
She wondered.
"In short you are dead."
Jenny chuckled and Vartika rolled her eyes.
Jenny was known to be the most dramatic person in the department, and she never leaves a chance to prove the statement right.
Not like the manager was going to hang her for being late for half an hour ,when she had already messaged him.
"Vartika, in my cabin right now."
The manager's firm voice came from a far grabbing her attention, and the pitch of his voice made her wonder if her colleagues were right.
Sighing she went to his cabin and lightly pushed the door open , standing idly facing her manager.
"Yes sir.?"
"Out of all the 365 days you had to be late today only, that too for half an hour.?"
The manager shouted.
"Sir I'm really sorry, there was a strike today and I didn't get a cab so I had to wait for a lift."
She explained in a low voice.
"You could have told me in advance.
And you travel by cabs every day, how come you didn't know there was a strike today.?"
The manager sounded furious, thus she bit her bottom lip lowering her gaze.
"Sorry sir.
I tried calling you but you didn't pick up so I messaged."
"Yeah right.
Miss emperor I got your message right after the damage was done.
Just because of you my reputation is at stake."
The manager looked frustrated, and
She stared at him confused for a moment.
"Uh sir, I don't know what are you-"
"what? Didn't you check the group messages?
What were you doing since last night .?"
"Huh? I--"
She paused herself realizing she had put every work group on silent and was yet to check them.
"Sir I know what is about.
I am sorry I didn't come in time."
She murmured lying through her breath.
"You knew about it?
Then why didn't you congratulate in the group.?"
Congratulate?
Someone got married?
Pregnant?
Promoted?
Left the company?
What is it about?
She thought, when the manager scoffed at her.
"Don't tell me you are going to act all ignorant to your new director also."
Vartika stared at him for a moment before it hit her.
"New director.?"
She didn't realize when her pitch went above than normal ,that her manager looked a little startled too.
"You said you read the messages."
"uh I yes I did.
New director I know -but can you please tell me what happened here in the morning.?"
She looked at him desperately, fearing her lies would be caught if stretched further.
"Goodness you are really clueless.
The new director took over last night.
Even if the Paperworks are not completed yet ,but the old director refused to show up.
Instead he allowed the new director to take a brief look around the company."
Her manager explained.
"oh."
She murmured slowly processing each and every new information.
The old director must be on a real tight spot to allow everything.
She thought, while her manager continued speaking.
"So the new director was here on time.
He made a visit to every department and you were absent.
You know how humiliating it was when he said I need to change my manager attitude to keep my employees under control.?"
Her lips parted a little in shock ,then she closed it falling short of words.
"The new director came and already left?
Am I fired.?"
She asked , hesitating a little.
"Not yet.
I told you he came only for a visit .
But you need to mark your presence.
So go and visit him, he is in the 5th floor now probably in the director's office."
"Huh? Me?
Uh sir, as the department manager how about we go there together.?"
She suggested, feeling anxious to go see the new director alone.
"No you should go alone.
He-already lectured me about your absence and uh also about my untidy tie.
That's enough humiliation for a day."
The manager answered, making her groan inwardly.
Someone who is already lecturing on a tie, she wondered what he would say for being late.
"ok I will go alone then ,sir."
She nodded her head walking out of the cabin and walked past her desk towards the stairs , ignoring the curious gazes on her way.
She bet most of them were probably waiting for her to be fired.
On reaching the 5th floor she could see few of unfamiliar faces around, that she assumed the team of new director.
She showed up her id card to a man who led her to where the director was, the director's office.
"Let's get over with this."
She murmured to herself knocking on the door, but no reply came from inside much to her dismay.
Exhaling a deep breath she knocked on the door again ,and to her relief she got an answer this time.
"Yes."
She pushed the door lightly getting inside wishing to meet with the person, instead heard a loud sound followed by sound of books falling down one after another.
"Ow."
He groaned at the pain of his palm twisted due to the sudden fall on the ground, and put another hand over his head to prevent the hit of books that kept falling from the rack.
"What the heck."
He growled.
"Whoa whoa ! Sir are you alright.?"
She asked staring at the back of the man on the ground, and watched him stop moving for a while then trying to sit up straight on his own.
"Who are you?
And how did you come inside without permission.?"
He asked in a firm voice ,while she fidgeted with the hem of her top anxiously.
'Why does she sound familiar?'
He thought and heard her answering.
"uh sir -I'm from the marketing team.
I knocked on the door and you said yes so I came in."
"Oh.
That wasn't for you ,I got this book from the upper shelf so-leave it.
Are you going to just stand there? Can you help.?"
"Oh right. Sorry sir."
She rubbed her sweaty palm on her pant rushing to him, and kneeled beside him putting away the books scattered around him.
"I really sprained it."
He groaned unable to move his right palm, when she turned to face him.
"Sir let me see--"
She held back her hand that was almost there to inspect his palm as she stared at his face , sitting still.
The very familiar face was staring back at her almost in disbelief for a moment before it was replaced by distaste, and he spoke up breaking the silence.
"You.?"
She blinked, blinked again parting her lips then shut them ,looked away from him and looked up to him again ,before quickly moving away from him realizing how close they were.
Falling short of words she collected the books, while he stood up staring at her head down.
The room was suddenly filled with silence that she feared her thumping heartbeats would be audible to him, or even worse he would notice how his presence affected her.