The air in the office seemed heavier than usual as Naina tried to process what Anamay had just told her. She sat frozen at her desk, staring blankly at her computer screen, her mind replaying his words over and over again.
"Starting tomorrow, youâll be working as Rivaanâs assistant."
What fresh nightmare was this? Rivaan Raghuvanshiâthe man who had reduced her to a bundle of nerves in mere secondsâwas now her new boss.
She slumped back in her chair, feeling like the world was crumbling around her. "Ee ka tamasha hai? (What kind of circus is this?)" she muttered under her breath.
Her stomach churned at the thought of working for Rivaan. It wasnât just that he was intimidating; he was a complete enigma. In their few interactions, he had barely spoken more than a few sharp words to her, but his piercing gaze and that infuriating smirk said more than enough. And now she would have to deal with him every day?
Naina groaned and dropped her head onto her desk. âBhagwan, ee ka kar diya? Hum to bas normal kaam karat rahi, aur ab Rakshas ke assistant ban na hai? (God, what have you done? I was just doing my normal work, and now I have to become the demonâs assistant?)â
---
Anamayâs Conviction
Anamayâs voice still echoed in her mind:
"He might seem difficult, but I think youâll be surprised by what youâre capable of."
Was he serious? Surprised? The only surprise she could foresee was how quickly she would lose her sanity. Rivaan was known for his no-nonsense attitude, sharp criticism, and impossibly high standards.
âSurprised by my capabilities? Haan, hum surprised tab honge jab hum uske ek din bina fired ho ke nikal payenge. (Yes, Iâll be surprised when I survive even a single day without getting fired by him.),â she mumbled, glaring at the stack of files on her desk as if they were the cause of all her troubles.
---
At Home
That evening, Naina trudged back to her apartment, feeling like a prisoner on death row. She kicked off her heels and collapsed onto the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling.
âEe din kabhi khatam hi nahi hota,â she muttered, her Bhojpuri accent thickening in her frustration.
Her phone buzzed with a notification, but she ignored it. No amount of mindless scrolling or Bhojpuri songs could distract her from the impending doom of the next day.
She dragged herself to the kitchen to prepare dinner, but even stirring the dal didnât help calm her nerves. Rivaanâs smirking face flashed in her mind again, and she groaned.
âEe Rakshas toh humre sapne mein bhi aake torture karega. (This demon is going to torture me even in my dreams.),â she muttered, slamming the lid on the pot.
---
The Next Morning
Despite her sleepless night, Naina arrived at the office early. Her stomach churned with anxiety as she stood outside Rivaanâs cabin, clutching her notepad and pen like a lifeline. She glanced at the clock on her phoneâ8:57 a.m.
"Bas, bas. Teen minute aur, aur Rakshas ka darbar shuru ho jayega. (Just three more minutes, and the demonâs court will begin.)," she muttered, trying to steady her breathing.
At precisely 9 a.m., she knocked on the door.
âCome in,â came Rivaanâs deep, commanding voice.
Naina pushed the door open and stepped inside, her heart pounding. Rivaan was seated behind his massive desk, his sharp eyes scanning her as if she were an intruder rather than his new assistant.
âGood morning, Mr. Raghuvanshi,â she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
He didnât respond right away, his gaze lingering on her for a moment too long. Then, with a curt nod, he said, âYouâre late.â
Late? She glanced at the clock on his deskâit was 9:01.
âI... I thought I was on time,â she stammered, clutching her notepad tighter.
Rivaanâs lips twitched, but whether it was amusement or annoyance, she couldnât tell. âWhen I say 9, I mean 8:55. If youâre not early, youâre late. Understood?â
âYes, sir,â she said quickly, biting back the urge to roll her eyes. This was going to be worse than she thought.
---
The First Assignment
Without wasting a moment, Rivaan handed her a folder. âI need you to review this report and identify any discrepancies in the financial data. I expect a summary on my desk in two hours.â
Two hours? She flipped through the folder, her eyes widening at the sheer volume of numbers and charts. This wasnât the kind of work she was used to doing.
âUh, sir, isnât this something the finance team should handle?â she asked hesitantly.
Rivaan raised an eyebrow. âYouâre my assistant now, Miss kumari. If you canât handle basic tasks, let me know, and Iâll find someone who can.â
Her cheeks burned with humiliation, but she nodded. âIâll get it done, sir.â
---
The Realization
Back in her cabin, Naina stared at the folder, trying to make sense of the data. Her head throbbed, but she refused to give up.
âEe aadmi sach mein Rakshas hai. Ek din mein hi proof kar diya. (This man is truly a demon. He proved it on the very first day.),â she muttered, scribbling notes furiously.
Yet, as the hours ticked by and she worked through the report, she realized something surprising. Despite his harsh demeanor, Rivaanâs instructions were clear and precise. He wasnât just being difficult for the sake of itâhe had high expectations, and he wanted results.
By the time she handed him the summary, her nerves had settled slightly. But as Rivaan scanned her work with a critical eye, she held her breath.
âNot bad,â he said finally, setting the report aside.
Not bad? That was practically a compliment coming from Rivaan Raghuvanshi.
As she returned to her cabin, Naina couldnât help but smile faintly. Maybeâjust maybeâshe could survive this after all.