Nishika
It's honestly interesting—and a little awkward—to sit in a place that's completely new to you, especially when it comes with a whole lot of nervousness. For someone as impatient as I am, staying calm in a sea of unfamiliar faces feels like a personal challenge. Sometimes I'm literally fighting to breathe normally; crowded places and I have never been friends. The last time it got serious was—
Never mind. That's not important right now. I haven't had a full-blown attack… yet.
So here I am, sitting in the massive hallway of the company, surrounded by workers and ambitious participants who look way more put together than I feel. All I can think about is how badly I want to run back to my dorm, collapse on my bed, and enjoy my peaceful, drama-free sleep.
And of course, my beloved teammates haven't arrived yet. Naturally. Looks like they have everything else in the world to worry about except the project we practically sacrificed our souls for. I still don't understand how people become so lethargic at the last moment after giving their absolute fullest.
Amidst glancing, I catch a sight of a six-two or three man walking, no almost rushing through the corridors of the waiting hall when I notice something falling off his pockets as he mindlessly tuck it. Looking close, I discern it is a car key. Acknowledging the significance, I walk towards the man who's face I haven't seen yet and get the car key lying on the ground abundantly. By the time I look up the man seems to have moved far away than before, causing me to literally run behind to follow his strides, which was casual for him considering his height.
After Continuously calling him to turn back he seems to hear me after few yelling which I'd never do even if I got paid for.
As soon as the man turns back, my throat goes completely dry and my heart skips a beat, no probably several beats in a row which I assumed due to how I ran just now considering the yelling and distance to catch up to the MD himself, Mr Shashank Sharma. Never knew would run into him or more exactly run after him.
He turns around to look at me with an obvious frown which flickers as he completely notices me more earnestly. The former confusion replacing with a foreign expression, a softer one than before indeed. I stand there, waiting for him to question my sudden appearance out of nowhere.
Atleast he must've recognised me, no? I'm not so different from my childhood. Come on, say Hi atleast like you say to your acquaintance. Rather, he too stand there staring as if I'm an oddity in this atmosphere. or something better. Maybe?
"I was calling you so many times.. You didn't hear me?", yeah, it was me who initiated the conversation considering he was just standing there, staring as if I was a nuisance here. After few more minutes of contemplating he points at himself almost as if to confirm if I was talking to him. Does he think I'm joking around? I just nod in response.
"Here", I shove the keys in his hands which he didn't even bother to look at. Can he just stop staring and talk instead? I didn't even shout or yell at him, Why's he staring at me? Was he zoned out? Again, he can atleast look at what's in his hands or at least thank me right?
"Don't you have something to say?", A MD lacking basic manners of thanking people. Wow. He again just nods, is he really zoned out or perhaps.. Is he.. Mute? By any chance ,maybe. I raise my eyebrows gesturing him to say expecting he'd say the most expected thanks and I'd leave soon.
But what he says next completely steals my breath away right there, "You're so beautiful". Can he speak? Girl, he absolutely can. Haven't you seen his interviews? I curse myself.
He waits for my response for a while, tilting his head slightly and damn– did I say he has a mole on his left cheek? It's almost like god himself marked his face to ward off evil eyes.
Before I can get out of my trance and snap something we hear chaos at the entrance. When we both look at the source where I see a man almost six-foot, off limits for people like vertically challenged Neha,got bumped by another woman of around my age furiously typing something on her mobile making him almost stumble infront of everyone who had cursed. It didn't take me a second to say it's her afterall, Neha. But again, Why was she here though?
Promptly, I start to walk towards them trying to diffuse the tension emerging as the man who just cursed loud was glaring at Neha who didn't seem to acknowledge him and continues to look back at her mobile.
Mr Shashank also seems to walk by my side as I rush towards the entrance and burst into series of laughter looking at the guy who's glaring at neha. "Neha, What are you doing here?", I nudge neha.
On the other side he nags the man who just stumbled, "Searching for something, bro?" Neha lets out a giggle at the comment before shutting herself as she notices me and the man who fell.. No, whom she pushed glared at her.
"Apologize to him, neha!", I say to her and the man passes a smug smile at her side while Mr Shashank seems quite amused and enjoying the drama. "I didn't do anything!" Neha defends, pouting. "Yeah you didn't do anything, I wanted to stumble and slip on the floor by my own" the man complains glaring at her.
"I was walking properly, he's the one who came on my way!",I sigh can she be more logical anyday? "Yeah you were walking and I came on your way and deliberately let my shoulder get hit by your head!" The man takes a step closer and I see Neha completely taken aback at their height difference when he towers over her.
"Come on , Apologize and I might forgive you, little missy", he says but neha doesn't back down. "You brat- I'm not little okay? And if it were in my hands, I really wish I'd have hit your face and broke your nose instead of your shoulder" This woman, I swear.
Shashank bursts into fits of laughter but masks it off with a cough as soon as that man glares at him.
"Neha, just say sorry and let's get off with it, okay?" I try convincing her, she didn't pay any heed to my words and continues shooting daggers at that man and he isn't anyless, though.
"I'm glad you're being honest about your height, darling" that man smirks and neha jumps for another quarrel,"Darling? Whom are you calling darling you brat!", he didn't seem to back off either, Shashank grabs his arm and that's when I notice his height, he seems to be taller than me as well I didn't get to notice his height in those interviews, though.
"Don't be so rude, man. They seem sorry", he says glancing at me briefly before turning to the man who scoffs, "She? Do you think this woman is sorry for hitting me? She even called me brat!", he glares at neha.
"That's because you really are one. If not brat what else you'd prefer? Bas-", she retorts and my eyes widen, "God woman, I'm here for a presentation, why are you ruining every chances in my life!?". "Cool down, babe! I was just saying 'is he a basket?' look his head indeed looks like one-", she says waving her hands and I snort, "You're abusing him, we're gonna get throwed out".
That's when Shashank pops in puffing his chest cutely and tapping on it with a smug expression, "Don't worry! He's not the MD, I'm the MD here!" , I just pass him an awkward smile and nod my head. He thinks I don't know? If only he knew the amount of browsing I did on him...
"Of course how can a person like him become a MD? One who can't even respect girls!", Neha once again nags at the man who seems like he's lost interest and even energy to argue he just gives her a bored expression, "Well that's why I didn't respect you, darling" he winks and walks away.
"Please don't mind him anyways All the best for your presentation, babe!", Shashank bumps his fist with me and walks away even before I could decipher what he said, "Babe?" I ask in confusion when he turns around with his hands tuck in his pocket as he answers back, "Isn't that what your name is!" he shrugs like it was a matter of fact and continues to walk away. Hope he doesn't lose his keys again.
"I told you to stop calling me names!", I turn around to look at her who passes me a sheepish grin. "And I said I love to call you names, sweetheart!" I knock her head, "What are you doing here?" "Ah, that! I came to deliver our room keys!", handing me keys.
I frown, "Why?" "Krithi's mom called her home, so she's going home straight away after college and I might get little late today. We have practicals and those who stay in dorm must finish it after day scholar students it seems!", she makes face at the end, "Oww, you must have fun, then!", she smacks my shoulder, "I'm leaving!".
"Hey wait! Do me a favour, okay? Call Krithi and tell her to ask when that junior boy Shreyas will come. I wanna know who that other participant is as well.", I see her nod as she starts typing again, "Careful on your way back and Thanks for the keys!", she just blows me a flying kiss and I look away.
"Hi sis! I'm Shreyas!", the boy whom we met earlier at the library beams, "Hi". "Sorry I got late, weekend so had few chores at the dorm", he scratches his nape smiling awkwardly and I nod, "Understandable". Weekends when living alone is really tiresome. It's not like a fancy weekends of dayout and parties. Rather washing clothes and drying them before rains.
"Did you try understanding the source code?", I ask and he nods enthusiastically smiling, "Yup! I even took few notes for my content delivery.. Will you take a look?", he shifts nervously on his foot and I pass an encouraging nod, "Sure" and with that he opens the notes app and shows me the content he had drafted, he looks so excited for the presentation than me.
"It's really good, I did draft a content for you guys but I guess you've done it better than me!", the tips of his ear turn red as he smiles cheekily at me, "Thank you so much, sis" I tap his shoulders, "You can call me Nishika, no need of sis" and his eyes widen, "Nono you are...my senior, I really don't think I could call you by name!", I just pass a smile "I guess you can call me when you get comfortable enough".
"Where is Ahaan bro? He said he was on the way when I called him!", Shreyas mumbles to himself, "Ahaan? But I saw a female name as participant in the mail...", I frown, maybe he was the senior Professor mentioned "Yeah! He's third year PG student as well! The other participant couldn't make it so he got swapped by our professor.", I just nod my head when he points at the entrance where a man dressed formally more like us, not like a working man comes in view. Guess, he's the senior.
"Hi bro! You're late..", shreyas complains his voice sounding almost like he's pouting when that man ruffles his hair, "Aww, I got struck in traffic kiddo!", he turns towards me, "You must be Nishika?", I nod, "Yeah" and he immediately forwards his palm and gives a firm shake, "Ahaan, sorry for making you guys wait and Thank you for letting me join the group in last minute!", he smiles brightly and I shook my head, "It doesn't matter, just a source code anyways!", I shrug.
"Guess we'll have a final rehearsal?", the senior suggests and we both comply as he practice for the next twenty minutes and the announcement for assembling in the hall is made and soon we find ourselves settled in the lavish hall which seems like no less than an Auditorium.
After settling down, I notice the same tall man who-wasn't-the-MD and got bumped by Neha and I decide to apologise to him on her behalf. Excusing myself from the guys I start walking towards him all the while my eyes searching someone who should've been here already considering his love for his job like he announced earlier. I huff, seems like he doesn't actually love being a MD.
"Excuse me?", I stand near the man and he turns around, "Yeah?", he sounds casual and calm as if he forgot he was disrespected by my dear friend. "I'm so sorry for the earlier incident, She didn't mean to use such words-", he passes me a friendly smile before shooking his head, "It's really fine, I didn't get hurt besides it wasn't your mistake".
"I hope you didn't get offended, she isn't like this always even I don't know why she behaved that way", I'm not convinced whatever it is she badmouthed him while he just chuckles, "I didn't mind any of the thing, Anyways it was fun getting your friend all worked up!"
"I'll get going then", I say as I shift to walk when he asks, "Oh you're here for this competition? Your name?", before I could tell anything The MD himself comes to the stage and the presentation is about to start, "Sorry, guess we'll catch up later. Hopefully you may get selected as well", he mutters in a rush and I've got no choice but to settle back in the same place with my teammates.
The Programe starts and a beautiful lady stands in the podium to address the gathering as she welcomes the guests of the show. That's when I get to know the Man who wasn't the MD is actually the company's partner's heir. Guess, Neha has created enemies in higher places.
Just when I think this day couldn't be more exhausting I notice Mr Shashank anxiously looking around the area. It seems like...he's searching for someone. Wait, don't tell me He knows I, as Nishika am participating here? Noway. He just knows Nishika is participating but he doesn't know I am Nishika. Otherwise he wouldn't have said I was... Nevermind.
My lips quirk up, this is gonna be fun.
I sit there watching him anxiously glancing back and forth at the entrance. Poor boy, just knows her name. Now how will you recognise her?
Shreyas notices me smirking as he lowers to whisper, "What's funny, sis?" I lean to his side, "just thinking of what we'll do if we win" and he raises his hand for a high five, I awkwardly forward my palm when my eyes catch Mr Shashank staring at our table or more like staring at my forwarded palm and Shreyas's.
His eyes flicks down to our palms and then back to meet my eyes, an unsettling feeling written all over his face. His button nose scrunches up lightly and lips form an almost invisible slightest pout which you can't notice if you don't look up closely. Whenever Shreyas leans to talk to me Mr Shashank would look at our side with the same expression, unbeknownst to the fact that he's younger to me just because Shreyas looks mature.
This back and forth games continues till I decide to end it, once again when he looks at our side when Shreyas whispers something to me I catch his eyes and raise my eyebrows when he sulks and turns his face away at the speed of light, his eyebrows settled in a frown and lips still pouty, like a kid sulking who's favourite chocolate was snatched away leaving me amused and absolutely adored by his action. I chuckle, shaking my head at his tantrums.
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This is it for today's allowance of Shash's Adorableness😭🤏🏻
He's so cute, isn't it?