Minakshi is sitting on her sofa watching a movie without any interest. Her interview was 2 weeks ago. When she left the office she was told that she would receive a phone call if she was selected, but to date, she has not received any calls.
She started looking for jobs elsewhere, but no response came.
"It is not easy to get a job," Minakshi's mom said keeping a tray of tea on the table.
"Mom, are you making me comfortable or mocking me?" Minakshi said picking up the cup of tea from the tray.
'Where does mocking come from dear? I'm just saying it isn't easy to get a job, but that doesn't mean you're not qualified to get one, her mom said.
"Come on you will get one, for sure," Minakshi's sister Roohi said lying on the spacious sofa. During her vacation, she came home. Roohi is doing a cooking course at City D. She loves to make various dishes as well as bake like her mom.
But it's been 2 weeks and there is no response from Mickey company or any other companies," Minakshi said worriedly.
Just then her mobile phone rang. She picked up the call and walked outside the sitting area to talk. Her mother and her sister, Roohi, looked at her going outside and then looked at each other thinking about who might be on the call.
After a while, Minakshi came and said "I have been selected"
Roohi jumped from the sofa and ran to hug her. Her mom was also happy.
"O my God…you got the job didi" Roohi almost screamed excitedly saying it.
"Who was on the call Minu? What did they say? Which company is it?" Minu's mom bombarded her asking not giving her a chance to say anything.
"Mom…let her speak…You are just throwing your questions at her and not letting her say anything" Roohi said narrowing her eyes.
Her mom made a face after listening to Roohi and then signaled Minakshi to speak.
"Mom, it is the Mickey company. I gave an interview there 2 weeks ago." Minakshi replied.
"They told me I got selected for the Assistant position, and I need to bring certain documents to the office." Minakshi smiled and continued.
"It was HR from the company. She told me that I must bring my passport-size photo and a printout of the form they have sent me in my mail Id" Minakshi told them further.
"Okay, then I have to do many things. I am going to my room…Do not call me until I am done" Minakshi told her mom and sister.
"Aaye Aaye Captain" Roohi teased as she saluted her.
A few minutes later, Minakshi came to her room and opened her laptop, and then opened her mail account. She saw a message from Mickey company in her inbox.
It was an appointment letter, stating that she had been selected, and below the letter was a form that she must fill out and submit to the office tomorrow.
She walked to the nearby cafeteria and brought a printout of both the appointment letter as well as the form. She started putting everything important in the file.
The next morning, she woke up early, freshened up, and got ready on time. This is so that she would not miss her bus and would also not be late on the very first day of work.
She also did not want to be late because she had seen her boss. Abhimanyu fired a girl who did not reach the office that day on time when she came to give an interview.
Minakshi is wearing black pants and a coat with a white shirt and styling her hair into a bun.
"Bye mom, bye Roohi" Minakshi said taking an apple from the table and rushing to the bus stop.
In vain, her mom called out, "Minu eat something," but Minu was gone.
After arriving at the office on time, Minakshi went to the receptionist to submit everything that was required.
"Ma'am please come with me," the receptionist told Minakshi.
Minakshi went to the 4th floor with her. Minakshi's form was submitted there.
"Hello, nice to meet you. I am Lata. The HR of this company. Welcome to our family" Lata introduced herself. She is wearing white trousers, a coat, and a pink shirt.
She styled her hair into a ponytail.
"Hello, nice to meet you too mam." Minakshi handshakes her.
"Come I will take you to your table." Lata directed Minakshi to come with her.
Lata pressed the lift button and when the lift came, they both went inside. She pressed the 10th-floor button.
Minakshi and Lata reached the top floor of the building.
"Here is your table. You will sit here outside the cabin of our boss Mr. Abhimanyu" Lata told Minakshi indicating toward the table and chair that was outside the cabin.
There is an almirah of glass and steel behind her chair, as well as a cabinet with two rows on each side of the almirah.
"Have a seat, the boss will be here at any minute. All the best" Lata said waving her hand and turning towards the lift to go to her floor.
"Alright let us see..huff," Minakshi said to herself huffing. Then she rummaged through her table to see what was there and what wasn't.
DING
The light outside the lift blinked indicating that the lift was on the floor, but wasn't the lift she came from. It was the lift from which the boss use to come.
Abhimanyu dashed outside and walked straight to his cabin without looking at Minakshi.
Minakshi wanted to greet him with good morning, but he did not give her a chance to speak. She was standing there as a dumb woman.
"Is he in a bad mood?" she thought to herself and took her seat.
Just then her landline phone rang, which had been placed on the table. She picked up the call.
"Come inside" a voice came from the other side of the phone.
"Yes sir" Minakshi guessed it was her boss and went to his cabin.
KNOCK KNOCK
"Come" a loud male voice came from inside.
'Sir, you called me,' Minakshi asked, using a low but confident tone.
"So, here you are. How are you?" Abhimanyu asked, entangling his fingers while keeping his elbow on the chair's hands.
"Very well, sir" Minakshi replied awkwardly.
"I want honesty in this job. As I made clear in the interview that there is no time to go home. I expect it from you." He made himself very clear.
"Yes sir," she said in response.
"We are heading somewhere. Take these files and come. NOW" he ordered her.
Minakshi took the files and followed him. He stood in front of the lift and looked at Minakshi.
Minakshi asked with raised eyebrows, "What happened?"
He tilted his head and instructed her to press the button for the lift, which she did.
'How arrogant' Minakshi said in a low voice that he could not hear.
She entered the lift after him and pressed the ground floor button.
"Where are we going, sir?" Minakshi asked hesitatingly.
"You will know" Abhimanyu replied without looking at her.
"Minimal words…he could speak more," Minakshi thought in her mind.
"Minimal words are my habit. Get used to it" Abhimanyu said heading out of the lift as they reached their selected floor.
Minakshi was shocked thinking does he know how to read minds?
She also stepped out of the office following him. They stood near the entrance of the building. A car came and they sat together.
Minakshi thanked God that Abhimanyu did not ask her to open the gate for him.
After about half an hour of driving they reached a hotel, Hotel Saya
The car stopped right at the entrance gate of the hotel building.
"Let's go," he said getting out of the car.
Abhimanyu was standing there looking at the entrance door, then he turned toward Minakshi
"There is a client waiting for us. I want this meeting to be successful no matter how. Just do as I say" he ordered her and headed inside the hotel.
Minakshi saw him leaving and said to herself "as if he is willing to give me a choice"
"Just do as I say." She mimicked him and went inside before he called.
Abhimanyu and Minakshi entered the dining area and Abhimanyu started looking for his client.
He waved his hand to a person and Minakshi looked in the direction he was waving and followed him by going there.
"Hello Mr. Abhimanyu," the client said
"Hello, Mr. Robert" Abhimanyu shakes hands with him.
"This is my Assistant Ms. Minakshi" Abhimanyu introduced her gesturing his hands toward her.
"Hello," Mr. Robert said bringing his hand forward for a handshake.
"Hello sir" Minakshi replied with a smile on her face and a handshake to him.
"Please sit," Mr. Robert politely asked.
"So without wasting time let's discuss what we are here for," Abhimanyu said looking at Robert and then Minakshi to which she shook her head yes.
After a long discussion, Mr. Robert said "I am ready to do business with you."
Minakshi is happy to hear this. She looked at Abhimanyu. He was looking at Robert seriously.
"I am sorry what did you say?" Abhimanyu asked as if confirming whether what he heard was right or not
"I am ready to do business with you," Mr. Robert said again
"You mean as if becoming partners?" Abhimanyu asked to confirm.
Minakshi looked at Abhimanyu confused.
"Yes," Mr. Robert replied.
"No Mr. Robert…not partnership," Abhimanyu said
"What do you mean by not partnership? If not, what do you mean by not partnership?" Mr. Robert asked Abhimanyu confused.
Minakshi was also waiting for Abhimanyu to say what he meant by it.
"I want you to promote my business by working under me, not as a partner" Abhimanyu stated.
Robert was shocked when he heard this, and so was Minakshi. She wants to make sure what she hears is right. He wants Mr. Robert, who has big business in other countries to work under him. It would be a shame for him.
"What did you just say?" Mr. Robert asked as if confirming whether what he heard was true or not.
"What you heard just now" Abhimanyu replied sitting comfortably and sipping his glass of water.
Mr. Robert laughed and asked, "Are you kidding?"
Minakshi is sitting there uncomfortable and awkward thinking this conversation is going somewhere else.
"No" was his reply.
"Then I am sorry I have to leave now Mr. Abhimanyu. You wasted my precious time" Mr. Robert said standing from his seat.
"I thought we were here for some business topic," he continued and walked away.
Minakshi looked at him going and turned to Abhimanyu
"What have you done sir?" she asked Abhimanyu
"You wanted this meeting to be successful and now it is gone from your hands," she said further.
"Shut your mouth," he said with a serious face looking at her.
"How dare he? How dare he want to be equal to me?" Abhimanyu exclaimed angrily and walked away from there.
Rather than being confused, Minakshi was shocked.
"What is he?" she wondered.