Chapter 7

Shit!!

Deepak Ashay, the senior marketing manager with the retail group.

Deepak is infamous in this office for his overbearing attitude, and unnecessary domineering over his subordinates. If we thought Nivedita is bad, Deepak is a lot worse.

But he also has an impressive track record when it comes to bringing significant business for the company. Deepak has his finger on the pulse of the market and his knowledge and expertise in the latest consumer trends has resulted in huge profits for the firm. He has many influential contacts, both within and outside the firm, which he uses to his advantage.

In his early 40's and divorced, Deepak is notorious among DeGlobal staff for sexual harassment of female employees. His department has the highest percent of employee turnover, especially among female staff.

He smiles his lecherous smile when he sees me right at the front of the elevator. He takes a quick glance at the people inside the elevator and seems satisfied seeing there is no one of significance inside.

He is shrewd and wily, careful not to make any overt advances much less do anything that can be used as proof of his harassment. Many female employees had tried unsuccessfully to complain against him, but they could not provide any substantial evidence. No proof - no crime. In fact, once Deepak found out what they did, he made life so difficult for them in office, that the poor girls quit the firm altogether.

I have heard rumors, that some girls have succumbed to his advances in order to fast track their careers, but most of us give him a wide berth and pray that we never cross paths. My prayers must be stuck in traffic today.

"Hi Tarana, long time no see," Deepak greets, his smile displaying the two crooked front teeth as he enters the lift, sidling up to me. I give a brief, forced smile and back up as much as I can, till I am wedged into the corner of the lift and there's no more place to move.

Deepak turns to me, his paunch touching my arm as I try in vain to dissolve into the wall of the elevator. "You never reply to any of my messages," he half-jokingly accuses while looking at me from head to toe, his eyes briefly stopping below my neck, making me with recoil with disgust. I pull my dupatta lower, covering my chest, mumbling some excuse of not checking nonwork related messages, hoping the lift would reach the first floor already.

"You are very shy you know... we should hang out more often, it will help you overcome your shyness. We can have fun," he says, winking at me. The tone of his voice and the look he gave me when he uttered the last words implied explicitly what he meant by fun. I feel nauseated and want to throw up right there.

Just as I open my mouth to tell him to leave me alone, I felt myself being pushed a little behind as Jeet steps in front, blocking Deepak from me. "Hi, I am Jeet, new trainee in the PR department. Are you also from the same department?" Jeet's voice was light but I sensed an edge to it.

Deepak looked annoyed to be interrupted. He glared at Jeet, but before he could say anything, the lift arrived at the cafeteria floor. Jeet did not budge, in turn, not allowing me to move either, as I was caged between him and the corner of the elevator. When the rest of the crowd surged forward, Deepak was forced to exit the elevator.

He looked back to see if I was coming but seeing that Jeet & I were prevented by the exiting crowd from moving out, he walked away.

"Thank you, that was very considerate of you," I said giving Jeet a grateful smile.

Jeet's eyes were blazing with anger, "Who's that jerk? Why are you tolerating this? Why has this guy not been reported and fired?"

"He's no one of importance to waste time on. Besides as ladies we face this everywhere and we have learnt to ignore them." I look at Jeet, his golden eyes flashing fire. I try to distract him, "Let's go, I am hungry." I did not want to give any more thought to what happened in the lift. Jeet still looked angry, but he dropped the subject.

We enter the humongous cafeteria, divided in sections by latticed, folding wooden partitions. I spot Purvi, Rohit and the rest of our gang already seated at our usual table. I wave to them and motion to add an extra chair for Jeet.

"The buffet counter is there," I point out. "All staff get meal coupons which we exchange for our lunch. Since you have not got yours as yet, you can use mine."

"That's so kind of you, I will return the coupon when I get my mine." Jeet gives a half smile but it doesn't reach his eyes, his dimples still in hiding. I wonder why he is so guarded.

"No, it's OK. I have extra, sometimes I get lunch from home, so I don't use up all."

All the tables in this section of the cafeteria are full, with staff sitting together with their own group of friends and colleagues. I love the atmosphere of the cafeteria – the smell of food, sounds of cutlery, people talking, laughing and for a brief time, forgetting the stress of work and enjoying their meal and company of friends.

We head to our table and take our place at the end of the table since we are last ones to arrive. An extra chair is placed next to mine for Jeet.

Purvi is chattering excitedly, "I have heard that he was dating some American actress. He's supposed to be quite a player." Purvi is gesturing wildly in excitement, "I googled him you know, but there is no clear picture of him anywhere. In the rare photo clicked by the paparazzi, his features are hidden behind sunglasses and large hats and that too clicked from such a distance that they are blurry. The only clear photos of him are as a baby with his parents. He is too adorable in them, by the way." She made a cooing sound as if a baby was in front of her.

"Who are you talking about?" I ask, wondering which new person is Purvi trying her detective skills on.

"Our soon to be new CEO, Vicky Grewal." Purvi gushes.

Pfffft, Jeet suddenly chokes on the water he was drinking, spraying water over me. "Are you alright?" I instinctively pat his back, noting that it feels so firm. He tenses at my touch and I quickly withdraw my hand. Junaid sitting opposite Jeet, also got up to pat his back.

A minute later Jeet composed himself, "Sorry! I didn't mean to do that," he says gruffly, pointing at the droplets of water on my sleeve. His eyes were hooded, and he averted looking at me directly.

I get it, he doesn't like me. Well, likewise! Snarky voice raises its sleepy head 'are you sure? Someone couldn't get enough of hearing his voice a while ago.'

Shut up voice, go back to hibernating.

Khushboo looks concerned "Jeet, are you OK? What happened? Remembered someone?" she teased." A corner of Jeet's lips twitched upwards, in a semblance of a smile and shook his head. "I choked while trying to swallow the rice. Is the food always bland and insipid like this?"

"It's not that bad, some restaurants we pay to eat, serve worse." I retort, a bit too sharply.

I don't want him thinking negatively of the firm especially on his first day of work.

It's also true, the food is not really very bad, just that sometimes the caterer cuts corners. I finally look at up at Jeet, and he is looking back at me again with that strange look in his eyes.

"Dude, do you go to a gym or work out? you have a rock solid back," Junaid verbalizes what I had in my mind.

"Now and then."

Rohit chimes in, "What gym do you go to? Even I want to start building my physique. These days girls only notice guys with a big physique," he winks mischievously at Jeet.

Rohit's statement stirred a hornet's nest at our table. Our new CEO's topic was forgotten and there was a loud cacophony of voices with the girls objecting to being labelled shallow and the boys giving counter arguments.

I leaned back observing the debate and camaraderie of our group.

Jeet was also watching with great interest, the lively discussions that was going on. Unaware that I was furtively watching him, he had let his guard down. He was genuinely smiling at the comments being passed, his deep dimples showing. He looked so young and carefree. I had this strong urge to tousle his ridiculously gelled hair.

With lunch break over, we went back to our desks. I went ahead with the girls while Jeet stayed back with the boys to come up later.

Nivedita has already left to the airport, which has everyone relieved. At least we all can work peacefully. I scroll through my emails reading them one by one. As I read the last email I gasp in horror.

Shit!!!