Chapter 13

"What's this?"

I ask Khushboo, pointing to the envelope left on my desk.

I somehow managed to make it to office before 11:00 a.m., rushing through my morning routine. I grabbed the first set of ironed clothes that I found in my closet, which happened to be a sleeveless cotton silk, deep red kurta with thread and mirror work and navy blue churidar.

I had immediately fallen in love with the outfit when I saw it on display in the shop. The saleslady said the color set off well against my light brown skin and that I looked like a bride.

I haven't worn this outfit earlier, as I was waiting for a special occasion to wear it. Well, the special occasion turned out to be me getting late for work.

I did not have time to fix my hair, so I just pinned it at the sides and left it open.

Khushboo swivels her chair towards me. "That's why I was calling you this morning. It came from the GM's office. They said it was requested by you."

I quickly opened the envelope, curious to see what was inside.

Inside were four passes for the launch with a note, 'Additional passes for Mr. Vishwas Aumi, Editor of News of the Nation, as requested by you.'

Strange. I didn't send any request for passes and that too, to the GM. I remember I told Nivedita about it yesterday. Perhaps she had sent the request on my behalf.

Yes! that must be it. Maybe that was what she was talking to Mr. Kashazgi yesterday after the meeting.

She told him personally what actually happened and requested for the passes and he had obliged.

So Nivedita was not really the horrid person that she projected to be. She is like a secret Santa who likes to do good in hiding. Maybe I was wrong about her all this time.

I spot Roshni, the GM's secretary chatting with Purvi. "Hi Roshni," I wave as I walk up to them. Roshni smiles in return.

"Please thank your boss on my behalf for acting on Nivedita's request immediately and sending me these passes."

Roshni's furrows her brows in confusion, "What has Nivedita got to do with this?"

Now I am confused. "I don't get it. Didn't Nivedita ask for these passes to be sent?" I ask.

Roshni shakes her head. "No. That new trainee, Jeet spoke to my boss to send these passes to you."

Oh! So now I get it. It was Jeet.

I did hear that he joined the office through a recommendation from the GM. But I assumed it was some distant link. I did not realize that they were close enough for Jeet to personally make a request and the GM to immediately fulfil it.

And it wasn't Nivedita who arranged for the passes. She is no secret Santa or a closet benefactor, she really is a terrible person and I need to have my talk with her.

I go to Nivedita's cabin, but she isn't in yet. Not surprising. She hardly ever comes on time and she's high ranking enough to get away with it.

I look for Jeet, but he's not to be seen either.

"Where is Jeet?" I ask Purvi.

She looks around the room, but not spotting him, shrugs her shoulders. "I saw him a while ago, maybe he's gone to some other department."

I'll thank him later when I meet him.

I get busy with my work. I send the passes to News of the Nation office. The new logos have been finalised, the final draft of the invitations have been sent to the Chairman for approval. I have sent the reminders to all our business units to send their guest list.

While I am compiling the list of guests and attendees for the launch, Purvi walks over and perches herself on my desk.

"Hey, I got some news for you," I can see that as always, she is just itching to discuss the latest piece of gossip she has heard.

My interest is also piqued. "What? What? Tell me!"

"I will, but before that.... damn girl!", she says rolling her 'r', once more imitating Nivedita's fake accent. "You should leave your hair open more often, you look so pretty and that color is so you."

I would be blushing if I could and my hands automatically reach to my hair to tie it up, but Purvi grabs my hand.

"No Taru, don't be silly. Leave it open, it suits you. Don't be surprised at the extra attention you might get today. In fact, I would have asked you on a date you if I swung that way," she adds winking.

"Oh gosh, Purvi," I cover my face with my hands in embarrassment and hope no one heard what she said. "Anyways, what were you going to say?" I ask, wanting to change the subject.

"Oh yeah!" Purvi's eyes gleam with excitement. "Apparently Mr. Madan Uppala, our VP has resigned. And the HOD's under him are being considered to succeed him."

"What? really? How do you know?" I ask incredulously.

"Roshni was telling me this, when you passed by, but I didn't want to tell you then. And guess who is trying her hardest to get that job?" Purvi asks.

"Nivedita!" I answer instantly. Now it makes sense. No wonder Nivedita made all those tall claims of getting all the jobs done herself during the meeting last night and her urgent discussion with Mr. Kashazgi later. She is trying to pitch herself for the job of the VP.

"Yes!" Purvi exclaimed, "and it seems she may just get the job as well, since her father and Mr. Dev Grewal are good friends."

O wow! this is news to me. No wonder Nivedita gets away with a lot of crap. No one wants to cross her as she has connections with the Big Chief himself.

"I hope whoever the management chooses, will be a good leader," I sigh.

Purvi leaves after a few more minutes of small talk, while I get busy with the billion things, I need to complete today.

OK maybe I am exaggerating a little. It's nine hundred and ninety-nine million things.

I was so engrossed in my work that I did not notice Jeet come up behind me. "Tarana?" he says softly behind me.

I let out a soft yelp before I turn around, startled. I must look like a deer caught in the headlights as I take a few seconds to calm down.

Jeet, on the other hand looks visibly taken aback. A look of surprise and if I can dare say, appreciation crosses his face for a split second.

He immediately looks down at his shoes and mumbles something very inaudible, but my ears catch a word that sounds very similar to duck.

He runs his hands vigorously over his face, mumbles "Sorry I will be back," and hastily walks towards the exit, presumably to the toilets. I guess he had an urgent call of nature.

"Tarana?" Rohit calls out as he approaches my desk.

"Hi, Rohit what's up?" Rohit is two years older than me but we joined the firm about the same time as junior PR execs. He's the joker in our group, always cracking jokes and making us laugh, but dead serious when it comes to work.

He is charge of our monthly news magazine and I assist him by sending reminders and collecting information.

I must say he does a pretty impressive job. Unfortunately, he never gets the credit which always goes to Nivedita.

"I know you are trying hard to impress me, but you know I am taken," he frowns in mock regret. Everyone in our group knows Rohit is in a steady relationship with his college sweetheart.

But that does not stop him from joking and making fun of his "taken" status. I play along with his charade. "Ah Rohit, a girl can always hope," I deadpan. "You must reconsider, else what will happen to us poor damsels in distress? After all you are the last eligible bachelor on earth."

As we laugh at our joke, I spot Jeet coming towards us, glaring at us. He seems upset, like someone stole his favorite candy from under his nose.

Rohit notices Jeet approaching us and must have caught on the cold vibes emanating from him; he quickly gets up ready to leave. "Catch you later Tarana. Wassup Jeet?" Rohit smiles at him but gets a grunt and a nod in return.

I smile at Jeet, but that seems makes him all the more angrier as his face sets in a scowl.

My smile falters, did I do something to piss him off?

"Hi," I greet him smiling weakly, unsure what I am supposed to make of his sudden change in attitude.

"Thank you for helping with the passes for Vishwas Aumi," I continue, ignoring his scowl.

"It's OK," he says gruffly.

"I came by to ask you to give me the list of items for the press kit, and the budget. I need it to discuss with Marketing and the GM," He says, avoiding looking at me.

Shit I forgot about the press kit, but I won't ask Jeet for help. If he can act snobbish, so can I.

"I haven't prepared it as yet, but I'll have it ready today and give you first thing tomorrow morning," I tell him as icily as I can, looking at my computer.

When he doesn't reply I turn to look at him. Jeet is giving me a weird look.

"Why don't we just finish it together?" Jeet finally offers before adding "Mr. Asif will be on leave from tomorrow and I want to run it by him today, before it goes to d.. the Chairman."

"But I can't send it to the boss, without showing Nivedita first," she will make my life miserable, if not fire me, if she knows I bypassed her and sent the draft kit to the GM directly.

"Asif, I mean Mr. Asif has already spoken to her and she has agreed. Now let's just finish this," Jeet pulls an empty chair and sits next to me, leaving no room for argument.

Does this guy ever take no for an answer?

The stubborn kid in me wants to argue and tell him to stop bossing over me, but then better sense prevails. Time is short and the sooner we have everything planned and ready, the better it would be for all.

For the next three hours we brainstorm and throw around ideas for the press kit. By lunch time we have got the components in place and we have the rough draft of the press release.

Jeet looks pleased. His angry mood from the morning is lifted. He even gives me a smile with a hint of his dimple, when I show him the finished version of the press release I wrote up detailing all the latest innovations that our Company would be introducing in the businesses.

"Hey guys, its lunch time. Come let's go?" Junaid looks at us, expecting us to get up. Jeet and I look at each other and like some telepathic communication we both know the answer, without saying a word.

I shake my head and Jeet replies on my behalf.

"No, we still have some work to complete. You guys carry on, we will join you in some time."

"Are you sure?" Junaid narrows his eyes.

Again, we both look at each other and this time I reply, "Yes."

"OK, then see you soon." Junaid waves, as he saunters off.

We look at each other and Jeet gives a small smile, but before I can say something, he abruptly turns around busying himself looking at all the papers lying on my desk.

He picks up one sheet of paper and thrusts it towards me.

"What's this?"