Another ten minutes passed, and still no one had invited Anushka inside. Growing impatient, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She stood up and knocked on the door.
"Be my guest," came a voice from within.
The door opened smoothly as Anushka pushed it, and her eyes immediately wandered to the right side of the room. She stood frozen in awe.
The computer setup was unlike anything she had ever seen. It was a futuristic design, radiating technological sophistication. Ten ultra-wide screens were arranged in a three-tier curved formation. Five screens lined the base tier, three in the middle, and two on the top, creating a stunning arc that felt like stepping into a digital realm.
Each screen showcased mesmerizing visuals of high-tech data interfaces, harmonizing perfectly with the RGB LED lights that outlined the desk. The desk itself was a sleek combination of polished glass and metal, blending aesthetic appeal with cutting-edge functionality.
At the center of the desk sat an ergonomic chair, as if it were an invitation to enter a world of limitless possibilities.
Bundled cables snaked from the desk through a conduit, leading to an enclosed server rack on the wall. Another conduit extended from the rack, disappearing through the wall and leading cables outside the room. On her left, another desk stood, mirroring the setup with a similar array of screens and high-tech equipment.
Anushka was left speechless. This was the kind of setup she had always dreamed of. Mark, on the other hand, sat at the desk just opposite her, completely absorbed in his work, his eyes focused intently on the screen in front of him.
"I'm I expecting you?" Mark asked without breaking his focus on the screen.
The girl, startled, muttered, "Oh... Sorry, Mr. Bendilani."
"Call me Mark, just Mark," he replied, his tone casual.
"Anushka Ruhi Shar," she said, extending her hand for a handshake.
Mark's focus shifted briefly to her, but instead of shaking her hand, he gestured for her to sit down. Anushka didn't mind and lowered herself into the chair.
"So, Miss Ruhi, how can I help you?" Mark asked, his eyes returning to the screen.
"I prefer Anushka... Anyway, I'm here for the intern trainee program," she muttered, feeling a bit nervous.
"CV, please," Mark demanded.
What?! Anushka froze. She hadn't prepared a CV. Was this the deal-breaker? She couldn't believe it. "Actually... I... I didn't... Pre... Prepare a CV... Care to look at my portfolio... at least?" she stammered, her face flushing with embarrassment.
Mark remained silent for a moment, studying her. Finally, he sighed. "Never mind. Let me look at your portfolio."
Anushka quickly grabbed her laptop from her bag, opened it, and handed him the link to her Behance profile, feeling a bit clumsy. She couldn't stop glancing at the two desks in the room, her fingers nervously fidgeting as she scanned the futuristic space.
It felt like a dream. The room was so cool, a stark contrast to the hallway outside. Thanks to the AC units around the room, the atmosphere was a perfect escape from the heat.
"So you work with BYTEWAVE," Mark's voice startled her out of her thoughts.
"Yeah," she sighed, relieved he didn't seem disappointed.
"Wow... Quite impressive," he replied, smiling genuinely.
"That..." He pointed to the desk on the right. "Will be your workstation."
Anushka's heart skipped a beat. That was it. She had made it. She'd gotten in. She wanted to giggle and jump with joy but tried her best to stay composed, holding back her excitement. Inside, though, she could barely contain her happiness.
"Anyway, I already have an assignment for you," Mark said, extending her laptop back to her. He then scribbled something down in a notebook and handed it to her as well.
"Scan that URL, find out the vulnerabilities, and come up with a report on how they can be addressed," he instructed.
"Piece of cake," Anushka muttered under her breath, her confidence shining through. "Can I...?" she said, pointing at the desk.
"Oh yes, please," Mark replied absentmindedly, still focused on his work.
Anushka rushed to the desk, her excitement bubbling up as she settled in and began her assignment.
Just as she was getting comfortable, the door opened with a soft click. Jerry entered, closing the door behind him, then paused as he looked around.
"So, you got yourself a partner? Is that why you invested in a second setup?" he asked, nodding toward the desk on the right, where Anushka had now settled in.
Mark didn't look up from his work.
"Anyway, tell me, how do you see if we had a gaming branch?" Jerry asked as he resumed movement.
"Hello," Jerry called as he waved to the girl now looking at him.
"Hi," Anushka replied with a smile.
"The question should be addressed to the CEO," Mark responded dryly, his attention still focused on his screen.
Leaning in slightly so Anushka wouldn't hear, Jerry whispered, "Who's the Indian beauty?"
Mark glanced over at her, now absorbed in her work, then responded, "Go ask her."
Jerry, somewhat amused and curious, he looked over to her.
Mark looked up, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Hey Ruhi! My brother here wants to know who you are." He called.
Jerry tried to get hold of Mark's mouth, but it was too late. Anushka had heard and turned her attention to them.
Embarrassed, Jerry moved toward her, sitting on top of the desk where she was working. "Hi... I'm Jerry," he said, extending his hand for a handshake.
"Anushka," she replied as she shook his hand.
"Anushka... Nice name. But why did he call you Ruhi?" Jerry asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Oooh... Ruhi is my other name... actually my middle name. The last being Shah," she explained.
"I see... but I think Ruhi sounds best," he said with a grin.
"Right," she hesitated. "But I like Anushka more," she added with a soft laugh.
The two continued chatting, their conversation filled with lighthearted giggles and laughter which seemed to piss off Mark.
"Hey!" Mark called out, his voice breaking their moment. "She has work to do," he said, directing the comment toward Jerry.
"And you." He addressed Anushka. " If that's how unfocused you are, then I'm afraid I may not see you after here."
"He's a cold one," Jerry whispered to Anushka, which sent her into a fit of giggles. "Anyway, nice meeting you," he said, standing up.
Mark shot Jerry an intimidating look as he moved from the desk to the door.
"Anyway... Thank God I've remembered, we have to go visit Mom at 10," Jerry said, his tone suddenly more serious. "Dad told me to tell you." He addressed Mark.
At the mention of their mother, the room fell into a somber silence. Mom had been in the hospital for six months now, and her absence had weighed heavily on everyone at the company. They missed her deeply.
"How is she doing?" Anushka asked softly, her voice filled with concern.
"Actually, it's complicated. I don't really know," Jerry replied, his voice dropping with a note of uncertain.