by Varsha Dixit
‘Nandini, are you there? Earth to mars, earth to mars! Psst he’s gone, come out woman!’ Sneha’s urgent summons jolted Nandini out of her reverie .
Emerging out of the stall, Nandini launched a full-scale hug on her friend. ‘Thank you Sneh! You majorly saved my backside just now.’
‘No sweat! But Nandi what a jerk Aditya is; hitting below the belt like that?’ Sneha’s tone and face, both equally stormy.
Nandini splashed some cold water on her sweaty face.
‘Anyway what were you doing in there, for so long?’ Sneha asked, gesturing at the stall. ‘Building a house?’
Nope, just remembering one. The words darted in Nandini’s head, yet she flippantly replied, ‘Shitting bricks honey, shitting bricks!’
13
Majboor
T he next day, everyone at AAA, wrestled to settle to the regular humdrum. An impossible task though! Google, Yahoo and just every search engine had been tapped into and every internet screen minimised or brazenly open was about Aditya, his family and companies. Profound and trivial tid-bits floated all around, falling into blabbering mouths and snoopy ears.
‘Dude! Aditya attended the Oscars and that too with that Victoria’s Secret chick.’
‘Damn it, he is really rich... a stinking billionaire!’
‘Check out his beach house in Monaco!’
‘Colour me red! He has ten balls!’ the buzzing mouths skidded to a halt.
‘Just kidding! The look on all your faces was priceless,’ Tina chuckled.
Not to forget the few media vans, jostling in the agency’s parking, throwing their questions, mikes and camera at anyone and everyone who came in or went out of the building. The mail carrier, chaiwala getting tea or a lost bystander – all got their fifteen seconds of fame.
Sneha, her expression worried, entered their shared office. ‘Just hope no one gets a whiff of you two,’ she said, setting the warmed food on Nandini’s desk.
A mouth full of sandwich stalled Nandini’s reply. It was speedily chewed and gulped. ‘How would anyone find out?’
‘Digging dirt on the Sarins is all that everyone outside is doing. They and your folks were and are quite close. It is simply a matter of time, before some piece of archived crap surfaces.’
The phone buzzed. Nandini glanced at it – HR Department. She picked up the receiver. ‘Hi?’
‘Nandini, can we talk right now?’ A female voice, on the other end, requested.
‘Sure Simi, shoot what’s up?’
‘Mr Aditya Sarin has decided to make Rochak Chowdhury oversee the Design Department; you and Sneha will be reporting to him.’ Simi’s tone was sympathetic. Rochak and his deeds were infamous.
‘Can I resign?’ Nandini ventured, playing out her part. Sneha, curious, put her fork down.
‘You are under contract for another few months. In the past, we have never gone after anyone who resigned before the contract ended. But with Mr Sarin here, it might be different or not, I can’t say.’ Simi laid the neutral card.
Even if I think of resigning, Aditya will come after me spewing fire and guns blazing. Then I shall have no choice but to involve our folks, Nandini speculated. ‘How many months?’ she inquired .
‘Almost three months, for your two year period to complete,’ Simi replied.
‘Hell! Three months of suffering that jerk as my boss.’ Nandini loudly exhaled, cursing the agency contract with its department heads, binding them to their current portfolio for a minimum of two years.
Simi then casually dropped the bombshell. ‘Listen, you and the Sarins are family friends. You can appeal to Aditya on a personal level.’
Nandini fumbled taken back, ‘Ughh... where did you hear that?’
‘Somewhere, I don’t remember the details.’ Simi did the clichéd, ‘No one in HR dare give a straight answer.’
‘Our parents are close, but we aren’t. I barely know Aditya.’ Nandini lied, ignoring Sneha’s sarcastic and soft, ‘Yenna rascala!’
‘Oh well! But you could still talk to him,’ Simi persisted.
‘Maybe... I don’t know. Adi,’ Nandini, quickly, corrected herself. ‘Aditya doesn’t mix his personal relationships or lack of them with his work.’ She tried to feign crabbiness.
‘Okay! You do what you deem best. I just wanted to give you the heads up,’ Simi replied.
‘Thanks! Totally appreciate it. Whatever I do or don’t, you shall be the first to know Ms HR,’ Nandini spoke more lightly than she felt.
‘Don’t worry Nandini. As far as that creep Roach is concerned, we all have your back,’ Simi vouched before hanging up.
‘I barely know Aditya.’ Sneha mimicked her. ‘Lying old maid,’ she accused, resuming her lunch.
‘Whatever! It is official. The slime ball is our new boss,’ Nandini muttered, tossing her lunch in the trash bin .
‘At least finish your food,’ Sneha rebuked, unfazed.
‘Lost my appetite!’ Nandini opened the bottom-most drawer of her table, and found the largest chocolate bar in her secret stash – kept for emergencies only. Taking big bites she asked, ‘When do we tell our troops?’
Sneha pointedly looking at the chocolate, Nandini was literally swallowing, said, ‘Hopefully never! Aditya will awaken from the delirium and revoke that order!’
‘Sure, and India will have a single party government! Let’s be real,’ Nandini mocked.
‘Before they leave for the day... I guess! And emotional eating is not healthy,’ Sneha suggested.
‘Yes and cancer sticks are,’ Nandini rejoined. ‘By the way, you had kicked the habit a long time back. Why the sudden charasi paana?
‘A married woman needs something!’ Sneha drawled. ‘Let’s get some work done here before something else threatens our sanity.’
Sometime later, Sneha’s cell buzzed. Kelly Clarkson’s song, Breakaway , resounded in the cabin. Nandini poured over her work, labelled Sneha, ‘Fraud!’ to her face.
The other girl snickered and answered her cell, ‘Hi Kit! What’s going on?’
After listening to Ankit, Sneha quizzed, ‘Can you baby sit Advey tonight? Kit has some plans for us.’
‘Of course woman!’ Nandini agreed, immediately. Time spent with Advey was precious... way better than any food.
‘Yup Nandi is in.’ Sneha resumed, conversing.
Soon, it was close to five. ‘Let’s do it now,’ Nandini said, stiffly.
‘Not interested, get lost!’ Sneha shot .
‘You wish! My standards are a little high,’ Nandini rejoined.
‘We all know how exactly high your standards are!’ Sneha gave her a slow, wicked smile.
‘If you say another word, I will have no choice but to kill you,’ Nandini threatened
‘Okie dokie. Let’s get them in. If you want I’ll handle it, you can jump in whenever you want,’ Sneha offered.
Nandini herded the three musketeers in their cabin. ‘You’re firing us,’ Riya said, cheekily.
‘Worse! Effective from Monday, Rochak Chowdhury is the new head of the design department. Over and above us!’ Sneha gestured at herself and Nandini. There was shocked silence for a few seconds.
‘No way! I won’t work for that pervert.’ Riya was the first to react.
‘Neither will I! I quit man,’ Tina quipped, frowning.
‘Same here, I won’t work for that lecher!’ Roy added.
‘What did he do to you Roy?’ Nandini teased, trying to ease the tension.
‘What is this... mutiny of 2008?’ Sneha hummed.
‘Look, it’s not as bad as it sounds. Everything shall remain the same. You will still report and work directly for Sneha and me. Your contact with Rochak will be minimal and never alone.’ The last part Nandini voiced gazing at Riya, who had a few acrimonious run-ins with the man.
‘We’ll deal with Rochak Chowdhury, and you’ll deal with us,’ Sneha asserted.
The faces still did not perk up. ‘Nandini, how could you of all people agree to som
ething like this?’ Riya demanded .
‘I don’t have a choice. I’m legally bound for the next few months.’
‘Rochak’s probably manipulated this. Aditya Sarin is obviously clueless to that man’s true character,’ Tina said.
‘Maybe,’ Nandini agreed.
‘Anyway, what’s done is done. Do not lose any sleep over this. As Nandini said, nothing much will really change!’ Sneha assured.
After much convincing, Tina, Riya and Roy agreed to remain with the agency. The three went out, unhappy.
‘I hope Aditya isn’t playing us?’ Sneha voiced a thinking crease between her eyes.
‘What do you mean?’ Nandini quizzed.
‘Just hope Aditya isn’t in cahoots with Rochak? Giving Roach free hand, to do his own dirty work.’
‘No Sneh. Aditya has no clue what a creep Chowdhury is. He will figure out soon enough.’
Sneha logged off. ‘We’ll see! I’m calling it a day. Are you coming?’
‘I still have some work, maybe another fifteen or twenty minutes. What time do you want me to come tonight?’ Nandini asked, attempting to organise the strewn papers on her desk.
‘I think eight, should be fine!’
‘Sounds good. Adios Chiquita and tell my friend we shall have fun!’ Nandini called out.
Finally, when Nandini stepped out of her cabin, the floor was completely empty. ‘Crap, what time is it?’ she muttered peeping at her watch. Close to 6:30!
‘I better rush!’ she breathed, sprinting towards the elevator. Nandini turned the corner and rammed headlong into someone. The body was familiar!
14
Yes Boss
‘T his is not your bloody house. Look where you are going!’ Aditya snapped, steadying them both, and the clutter in Nandini’s hands.
Nandini quickly attempted to disentangle. Aditya promptly pulled his hands away.
However, it wasn’t soon enough. Nandini’s body hummed with awareness from the fleeting touch. Focusing her eyes somewhere near his shoulder, Nandini sassily mumbled, ‘Sorry! Hope I didn’t hurt you.’
Aditya narrowed his eyes. This girl definitely has a death wish, he harshly reflected. ‘Where are you going?’ he barked.
‘Home!’ Nandini chose to roll her eyes of the wall, rather than look at him.
‘I don’t think so. Come with me!’
‘We’re going for dinner?’ asked Nandini, clamping her lips to thwart the grin. Getting under Aditya’s skin and irritating the life out of him was as natural to her as salt to a Bloody Mary or kanda to pavbhaji.
‘Even worse!’ Aditya shot back, beckoning her to join him in the elevator.
Eye balling Aditya, Nandini fidgeted where she was.
‘Hurry up!’ Aditya liked the wariness, belatedly evident in the petite face.
‘Fine!’ Nandini’s tone was defiant, as she got in. Now what has taller version of Hitler planned for me, she wondered. Her head bent, she slouched away from him.
Aditya kept his eyes on the elevator doors; disgruntled by his response to the soft pliant form, he had briefly held. Shortly, the heaving elevator doors opened to the lion’s lair... 3rd floor.
Relieved, Nandini sighed. Aditya’s PA and several workers milled about. The floor was a flurry of activity. Walls being painted, furniture and plants carried in and out. The place was getting spruced up to match the grandeur a Sarin head honcho deserved.
‘Wait for me in there!’ Aditya tersely ordered, motioning at the smaller conference room. Nandini did as bid, tentatively smiling at Simone who turned her face away. Budhiya is loyal to her boss, Nandini silently ridiculed, as she waited in the conference room.
A few minutes later, Aditya reappeared carrying a folder and his laptop. ‘Sit!’ he snapped lowering his form in a chair facing her.
Nandini shrugged her shoulders and did so. I will die if I have to be so subservient to him, she meditated.
‘The performance of your department is crappy! Why?’ Aditya barked, unexpectedly putting Nandini on the spot .
‘Well, because... umm...’ Nandini was caught off guard.
‘In the last two years, since you and Sneha took over the department, you have made a total of thirty-three presentations to prospective clients and were able to convert only seven. That is less than three percent. How do you justify that level of inefficiency and incompetence?’ Aditya further insulted.
With the sharpness of Chacha Chowdhury (the tiny old man, with a sari-clad Babooshka doll for a wife and a giant minion, whose brain functioned faster than a computer), Nandini answered, ‘I think the convertion rate is so low primarily because of lack of adequate research and supporting infrastructure within the company. Identification and complete understanding of clients’ needs was missing among the top brass. Also, we face heavy competition from bigger and better rivals.’
‘How easily you pass the buck on. I am sure your failures are always someone else’s fault,’ Aditya spat at her.
Nandini opened her mouth to educate Aditya of her persistent request for more resources, research and head count. However, she closed it; discussion with a frothing saand was pointless. Nandini offered a no-brainer solution, ‘Fire me!’
Aditya’s scowl deepened. ‘You would like that wouldn’t you? You will stay here and earn every cent of the salary you take. I’ll work you to the bone if I have to, but you will deliver. This degree of oafishness shall not be tolerated,’ he thundered.
Nandini looked away. That accusation pricked. Mind-numbing and backbreaking work was all she had been doing for the last couple of years. Nandini strove to remain at the other end of the table and not lunge for Aditya’s collar and jugular. If only the grouch had seen the conversion rate before us, he would not be so upset; Nandini reasoned trying to calm down.
But Aditya had! Comprehensive research and strong analytical skills were part of his work ethic. However, here his agenda was entirely different.
Tired and emotionally fatigued, all Nandini wanted were a relaxing bath and a cup of coffee. ‘Fine! Just tell me what and how you want me to do it and I’ll do it.’
Nandini bit her lip in utter humiliation. Her interior monologue never ceased to desert her though. Dharti phat jaaye so that I can take cover! What double meaning crap am I saying to him?
Just for a fraction of a second, Aditya seemed to lose track of the constant scowl, stuck on his face when he was around her. Clearing his throat, he said, ‘To begin with, I want a complete list of all the presentations made in the last three years. The companies they were made to, and the research done by the agency. Also, I want to know on what grounds were they accepted or rejected and the follow up, if any, done.’
Nandini nodded. ‘Sure! You shall have that report on your desk by end of Monday.’
Smirking, Aditya hooked his arms behind his head and leaned further back in the chair. Nandini averted her eyes from the rippling toned torso in the silk shirt.
‘I don’t think I made myself clear. I want that report before you leave for the day... today ,’ Aditya crooned.
‘You’re kidding, it’ll take hours!’ dismayed, Nandini shot back.
‘So, the sooner you start the better,’ Aditya pointed out, caustically.
‘I have plans for tonight. ’
Aditya surging to his feet, bit out, ‘Cancel them!’ He turned around and walked out of the room into his office, beckoning Simone to follow.
Nandini, open-mouthed, stared after him. ‘Will he come after me, if I run out of here?’ she asked the silent table. ‘This Aditya probably will, and the chances of him indulging in kambal kutai minus the kambal are very high,’ Nandini herself answered on behalf of the silent furniture. Peeved, she flopped on the nearby chair.
‘Yes Aditya!’ Simone asked, watching Aditya lower his frame in his chair.
‘I need you to do two things before you leave.’ Aditya loosened his tie and unbuttoned the topmost button of his shirt. A definite sign he was done for the day.
‘S
ure.’
‘Firstly, please make a good pot of coffee!’
‘Will you be staying back?’ Simone inquired.
‘No, not for me, for Ms Sharma! She’ll be here for some time. Secondly, with all these workers around, direct the security to station one guard on this floor and one on the second,’ he finished.
‘I will be locking your office and the cabinets outside. Do you still want to station guards on each of the floors?’
Reluctantly, Aditya explained, ‘Ms Sharma will be working here all by herself. Tell the guards, after she is done, she should be escorted to her car. I don’t need any lawsuits!’
‘Of course, is there anything else?’ Simone asked, not buying the lawsuit part a bit.
‘Are the arrangements for my mother’s arrival in place?’
‘Absolutely, the house and the gardens were in impeccable condition. The other arrangements have been executed as you requested. ’
‘Thank you! You have a car, full time at your service?’ Aditya probed. Simone nodded.
‘And, your accommodations are satisfactory?’
‘A deluxe room in a five star hotel can be nothing but satisfactory. Thank you for that,’ Simone replied, gratefully.
‘Simone, I promise once things get settled here, I’ll have you back to your family.’ Aditya’s face lost some of its stiffness.
‘Don’t worry; my two teenage sons don’t require a mother to baby sit them. Moreover, with my husband flying in every weekend, again thanks to you, I’ll be fine here. But thank you for asking.’
‘Anytime!’ Genuinely fond of his dependable assistant, Aditya smiled.
Simone exited the room. She passed the conference room where she saw Nandini getting ready to call someone. ‘Aditya despises the girl yet he thinks of security and coffee for her. What is going on between these two?’ she voiced to the file in her hand.
Nandini dialled a number on her cell. After few rings someone answered, ‘Hi, it’s me. Listen, something has come up at work. I’ll be late.’ She glanced at her watch, ‘Around nine. Would that be too late?’
‘Nine is fine but won’t you be tired? We can cancel our plans. Sneha and I will go out some other night,’ Ankit offered.
