Sun rays were pouring through gaps in Arvind's blinds to create long shadows in the cluttered room. The clock read 10:00 AM, and Arvind, still groggy from having spent all night writing, reached for his phone and hesitated for a moment before dialing Aman's number.
"Hello, sleepyhead!" Aman's cheerful voice chirped from the other end.
"Aman, about this assistant thing… " Arvind said irritably. "I do not need an assistant. Seriously, cancel it. I can take care of all by myself."
Aman let out laughter into the phone. "Come on, Arvind, give her a shot. She's on her way now. You are going to love her, I assure you."
"She?" Arvind stood still. "You never said she would be a girl.
"Oops," Aman said, clearly play-acting at innocence. "Did I forget to mention that? Well, too late now. She'll be there soon. Don't worry, she's great. I'm coming over too, so I can introduce you."
Before Arvind could even protest, the call ended with Aman himself, leaving Arvind to stare at his phone, a mix of annoyance and dread swirling in his mind.
At 3:00 sharp, Aman knocked on Arvind's door. He was grinning from ear to ear and brought with him a young woman. She was full of energy; her bright eyes sparkled with excitement as she clutched a notebook and pen in hand to bounce into her new life.
"Arvind, meet Ananya, your new assistant," Aman declared with a flourish. "Ananya, this is Arvind, or should I say, The Silent Scribbler."
Ananya's eyes almost popped out at the sight of Arvind. "Wow, I am so honored to meet you, sir! I have read all your books. This can't be happening! I am going to work for you!"
Arvind nodded minutely, dark glasses hiding the irritation that welled up within him. He was not ready for this and definitely not for someone as ebullient as Ananya.
Ananya, unattuned to Arvind's inner squall, went on, "I have so many questions! How do you come up with your ideas? What's your daily routine like? And why do you always wear glasses indoors? Oh, and…
Aman was quick to act, noticing how uncomfortable Arvind had gotten. "Ananya, okay, give him some space, let him breathe a bit."
"Yeah, sure. Sorry," said Ananya with a guilty expression but still an air of eagerness. "I just love being here."
Arvind took a deep breath and restrained his annoyance. "It's. all good. Let's just get it over.
He ushered them into the living room. He motioned for Ananya to sit. However, he refused to sit as well, just crossing his arms with a frowning face, where frustration was being masked.
Not knowing what it was, Ananya asked curiously, "So, what should I do first? Arrange your notes? Prepare your schedule?"
Aman laughed aloud. "Arvind, give her something to do, or she'll explode with excitement."
Arvind took a deep breath and spoke for the first time in a low, steady voice. "Okay, Ananya. Why don't you start by arranging my notes? They're on the desk."
"Awesome!" Ananya jumped up and started walking to the desk.
While she worked, Arvind watched her through his dark glasses, feeling a mix of irritation and fascination. She was unlike anything he had ever imagined—too lively for his quiet, orderly world.
Aman leaned in and whispered, "Relax, Arvind. She's here to help, not disrupt."
Arvind nodded slightly, his mind still racing. He wasn't sure how this was going to work, but for now, he had no choice but to go along with it.