Chapter 19

MUKTA

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'Miss Kalindi and team...This is Mukta, she would be working with you in the greenhouse project for Nayak's'...she will be the Green house Manager for this project' he announced while sipping tea from his mug while stealing a glance at me and I looked elsewhere...

Everything had suddenly turned so...so intimate after how he reacted yesterday. My body still got goosebumps recalling how sensual his touches were...My waist and stomach still felt the touch closely and I shivered trying to hide my nervousness.

'Miss Joshi...this is Kalindi and her team...Asad, Meher, Abhimanyu, Bani...and Kalindi is the project head. They have been looking into various elements of going green but I would want you to mainly look into planning the horticultural unit...the garden area and ideas on how to make this tech park go green. Mangalore is abundantly blessed with greenary but it's our responsibility to protect it...I would expect the progress of this project every day by EOD and Miss Joshi you would personally give me the progress report...clear!??' he asked and my eyes finally met his. Although he spoke in a serious tone the minute his gaze met mine butterflies erupted in my stomach.

A sudden gushing fear that I may get too nervous around him made me shudder.

What if while presenting him the daily report I look into his eyes, he looks back with the same gaze and I shiver and loose my senses and faint in his arms...

And then what if he carries me in his arms, places me on his glass table and sprinkles some water on my face? And then because my lips are plump some droplets settle on my lips which tempts him and he bends down and kisses me non stop and the minute he realises that I cannot survive without eating raw onion along with my rotis in afternoon...if he pukes on my face??? Ewwwww!!!!' I screamed a bit too loud and suddenly realising that I was imagining stuff again!!!

And my embarassing 'Ewww' gathered enough attention. I quickly covered up saying...'Ewwww my my stomach is hurting...ummm probably I ate something unhealthy...ummm I...I will be back ..let me have some water' to which Kalindi smiled saying 'Sure' but Omkar was giving me wierd questionable looks.

I quickly left to the pantry and gulped a glass of water feeling better while I went to capture another glass of water I didn't realise I switched on the hot water tap almost flinching as I burnt my hand while I heard two women chuckle...

'Godddd!!! How do these types get hired...I mean look at her clothing...I mean that salwar kameez and those earrings with that never ending long braided hair...like someone is getting married here ...'. The other girl giggled giving her a hi five while I closed my eyes. I simply left the pantry and went into the washroom and stood infront of the mirror. I didn't understand what was wrong with me. I wore a simple salwar kameez, I tied my hair well, I wore simple jhumkis and looked decent.

Wasn't Indian wear enough formal? Suddenly doubts started forming in my mind if I could manage in this office. It suddenly felt so different here.

I washed my face and came out as I heard Kalindi talking to one of the girls in the pantry who made fun of me. I was about to walk away while Kalindi stopped me saying...

'Mukta stay...this is Manisha Mam...our unit head' while she passed me a look from top to bottom and smirked.

'I need to ask Omkar...what kind is he hiring...she will groom our tech park...let her groom herself first!!!' she said laughing out loudly while Kalindi passed me an uncomfortable smile and I felt bad. I didn't know what to say but suddenly I heard...

'Well Miss Manisha...you must know it's not external beauty which makes people beautiful...it's the inner beauty and Mukta is an extremely beautiful soul' I turned around to see Rudra Dada standing next to me looking at Manisha in the eye like he challenged her.

To which she smirked saying...

'Huhhh...this coming from the man with the ugliest soul in this office!' she says while Rudra snaps at her in one go saying...

'Miss Manisha... just because I quit the CEO position doesn't make me any less of a Nayak? Nor it makes me any less powerful... what you are doing to Mukta is called 'verbal harrasment' which wouldn't be tolerated as per company's policies...I hope you wouldn't want to be facing the anti harrasment board tomorrow morning!!! So kindly apologize to Mukta!!! Now!!!!' he said softly while she looked sharp into his eyes and then looked at me like I was a piece of unwanted shit and spat a 'Sorry' and walked away.

I looked at Rudra Dada and said...

'Ummm Dada...I mean Mr Nayak...It wasn't necessary...I am fine' I said while he huffed saying...

'Policies are same for you, me, everybody Mukta!!! Learn to speak up and don't take this from anyone! You are here to work...no one is doing you a favour get it?' he asked and I nodded.

Kalindi was a warm person, we started working immediately while I tried to understand the projects and planning. Clock ticked 1 am and Kalindi asked me to join her for lunch. She said we can have a team meeting to discuss pointers post lunch. So I nodded and went downstairs with her to the cafeteria.

It was a lavish cafeteria with all kinds of unique items. Kalindi ordered pasta which looked delicious but too pricey. But she got a office call so she parceled it to her desk and suddenly I was left alone. My other teammates brought their tiffins and ate upstairs in the pantry by themselves. I regretted not getting tiffin. But I didn't want to be bothering Nayak's. Staying at their home was already a favour they did to me.

I looked around and preferred to take a simply roti curry meal which although looked expensive to me. I mean 50 Rs for 2 Rotis and a bowl of curry looked too expensive but everything else was more expensive. So I simply ordered it. While I placed my order, Manisha along with the other girl...Whose name I believe was Amrutha began laughing among themselves. I was already feeling very conscious about my clothes and looks as everyone here wore office formals and I stuck out like a sore thumb. To add on were my anklets which made loud 'Ghal Ghal' in the office gathering enough attention.

I wanted to run away from here. But I went to place my order and even the person who took my order receipt was shocked seeing 'Roti curry'. I wondered if Roti curry was such a foreign item here. I waited for my order to be served when I heard a

'Akka (sister) ordered a roti curry is itttt???' and then I heard her friend saying

'Ohhh maybe she doesn't know what all were the rest of the items in the menu...'

While I heard someone saying...

'I heard she's from a village...and now stays at O.K's house'

'Must be their new part time househelp!!!' and they all giggled to themselves while I heard a ...

'Ignore them!!! The one who could answer them left the office unfortunately...if she was here...they wouldn't have been able to utter a word' and I turned around to see Karthik picking his salad meal from the counter...

'Annnnd you don't need to worry...we are here for you... this is our lunch break...we can give you company' and I turned around to see Sameer smiling at me.

I don't know why I felt happy. They both were like a breath of fresh air. I walked along with them to the table and sat with them. Sameer and Karthik shared their items with me. Karthik ordered a Greek salad, he was a fitness concious man while Sameer being the perfect Gujrati loved potatoes and was binging on French fries. Karthik was more silent but Sameer kept cracking jokes making me laugh. They lightened up my mood and I didn't know when the time had passed.

That's when I saw the clock ticked 1.50 pm. There were ten minutes for my meeting to start. Lunch break was about to get over however Sameer's jokes didn't end. But I had this meeting with my team today and I wanted to make the best of the impression so I told them I had to leave, Sameer decided to stay back but Karthik told he would join me back upstairs. Karthik worked on 6th floor while mine was 7th floor. We took the elevator to 7th floor but unfortunately the elevator stopped in the middle and the lights went off. I started shivering in fear. I started feeling claustrophobic while I began to sweat profusely. Seeing my breathing gone erratic Karthik held my hand...

'Mukta...it's fine ..they probably took time to switch to generator...we will be out in no time...you are not alone here...I'm here...cool down' he said pulling me closer while suddenly elevator moved with a jerk and in fear I clutched his shirt hiding my face on his shoulders while he comforted me in a side hug saying...

'It's ok!!!' and the elevator opened on 6th floor and I saw Omkar standing there. His eyes fell on me and then on Karthik. His eyes darted on something by my left side and that's when I notice... Karthik's hand which had pulled me into a side hug and I suddenly take a step ahead trying to jerk off Karthik's hand and walk out of the elevator in one go. Omkar stands there like a rock while I run out carelessly as unknowingly my body brushed against his rock like structure and I ran to take the staircase.

I quickly went to the washroom and splashed water on my face. I was claustrophobic since childhood. I couldn't fit myself in smaller spaces which were dark. I would get panic attacks which however got better with time but even now triggered when I was in such closed space. I went to the pantry gulped in two glasses of cold water trying to calm myself down. I felt better after few minutes.

It was my first meeting with my team today for the 'Green House' project. I took deep breaths and walked into the meeting room. I saw everyone had sat down across a oval shaped table on business chairs. While I was about to take a seat I heard...

'Its ok Miss Joshi!!! I think you have some 'VERY' important people to attend!!! Extremely important commitments to fulfill!!! We wouldn't need your expertise in today's meeting! You may join us when you make time for us from your 'BUSY' schedule... please leave'

I look up to see Omkar standing near the large framed glass window looking outside.

'But I...'

'I don't have time for those who don't have time for their WORK Miss Joshi...so kindly get out please!!!' he says bitterly..

'Whattttt' I ask but then he screams ...

'I said ..OUTTTTT' and I flinch at his voice such that even Kalindi is shocked.

My eyes are filled with hot tears and I quickly leave the meeting room cursing him.

Everyone is right. He is a Demon!!!

I hate him!!!