The Abyss-Ishqbaaz FF by Aashi
Chapter – 5
Gauri smiled slightly looking at the appointment-cum-joining letter in her hand. Her smile grew wider as she recalled her interview with “the SHIVAAY SINGH OBEROI”.
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She arrived at the office at the allotted time to see a large group of candidates already gathered there. She wasn’t too sure of herself but gathering courage she sat down with them. The interview was to be held from 9:30 a.m. but the time ticked by without a trace of it going on. The candidates cursed under breath, some went to the reception to inquire about the delay. They learnt that Shivaay Singh Oberoi was in his office but was busy. This word spread quickly in the waiting-room resulting them straightening up, younger girls to add a touch-up to their make-up in order impress their soon-to-be boss. Gauri observed all these with a bored expression looking at the time tapping her feet occasionally on the expensive floor-board of the room. Another ten-minutes passed by when she suddenly noticed a blue-green-grey eyed face watching everyone intently at them from the “boss’ ” cabin through slightly parted blinds, which closed immediately as he caught her eyes. Without paying any heed to the calls & pleas of the other candidates and the receptionist she directly went up to the cabin knocked sharply & entered.
“Yes?” asked the man behind the table with his back to her. “Sir I’m here for an interview” she answered confidently. “Did I call you?” he questioned. “No sir you didn’t but you were supposed to start your interview at 9:30 but its 10 already. As if at her cue, the clock begun chime. “What do you think of yourself, miss, that you can question me in MY OWN OFFICE” he said emphasizing the last three words. “I don’t think much of myself ,sir, and neither have I any right to question you nor I expect your answers but as a reputed company with the clause of punctuality for staff-members I expected YOU to be punctual as well”, she replied with a certain degree of coldness & turned to leave. “Sit down Miss Gauri Sharma” called the authorative voice from behind her. As she turned, the chair swung around & she faced the hazel-eyed man. “Don’t you know that it’s bad manners to barge into somebody’s cabin without permission”, he said raising an eyebrow with an air of high-classed haughtiness. “I know it is, but on THIS contrary, I don’t think it was.” “Care to explain” he said, pouring himself a cup of Americano as he watched her sit down. “You were delaying the candidates without any proper reasons” she replied in a cool & confident voice. “It’s my company; I can do anything I want.” “Of course It’s your company, when did I disagree with that, but those people outside are not your property; even if they turn out to be so, you do not have any right to mistreat, you understand,”she shot back bitingly.
For a moment he looked astonished then began questioning her to whom she answered accurately & professionally. After some time, he told her to go out & wait along with the others. Gauri came back with a pale but composed face and sat down staggered due to the unexpected encounter. The others looked pityingly at her as they whispered among themselves. A moment later the intercom buzzed & it was announced the interview as over but Miss Sharma was to stay & meet Mr. Oberoi. The others shuffled away, some sorry that they had to wait so long for nothing, some sorry that they could not meet the Shivaay Singh Oberoi in person. With a thudding heart Gauri went to the cabin where she had fought with the hazel-eyed some moment ago. Taking a deep breath, she knocked at the door & entered. The man looked up from the file he seemed checking, stared at her intently for a minute, and then said with a smile “Miss Sharma I’m glad to inform you that you have been selected for being my secretary” & forwarded a sealed envelope towards her & smiling more widely at her startled face, added “I hope you don’t have any problem with joining tomorrow. Have a nice day Miss Sharma.”
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Late that afternoon, Anika parked her scooty outside a small but hospitable looking house on the city’s outskirts. The day was unusually hot for the season. Taking a Tiffin-carrier out, she went to the door and pressed the bell. A sweet-looking girl peeked at her. She waved at her & the girl reciprocated then ran back calling for her ‘mumma’. After a wait of almost half a minute a young girl with shoulder length hair and a pretty but tired face opened the door. Behind her, holding her gown, trailed two kids- a boy & a girl peeking glances at the visitor, whispering & nudging each other as their mother made the payment. Thinking for a moment, the mother invited her in for a glass of water & for a short conversation. Without any resistance, Anika went inside sat down on the sofa & began talking to the young woman who asked for two boxes of snacks from Monday till Saturday every week at about 4 to 5. She gave her a bottle of refrigerated water which she took instantly & chugged down the whole content. Keeping the bottle down, she looked up to see the kids staring at her wide eyed, she said indifferently “Wo baahar garmi zaada hai na aaj to….waise bye, kal milte hai.” Giving the children a warm smile Anika moved to the door. The mother paid the initial amount & signed the bill. Anika looked at the paper before putting it in the scooty’s boot. It was signed plainly “Gauri”.
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Hi everyone, It’s me Aashi. I know I’ve not been able to post for the last few days so I hope this chapter is satisfactory. I hope you all liked ShivIka meetings with Gauri & I’m really very eager to know your views on it. Another thing is that I haven’t introduced RuMya yet so am planning to do so in the next chapter & will try to right some ShivIka chemistry as well. Thank you all for reading & commenting.
Thank you Everyone.
By Aashi.
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