Chapter 3

*Kalpana Pov*

“Are you Ms.Kalpana?” someone asked, startling me when I opened my mouth near the reception desk to introduce myself.

“Yeah!” I replied, turning around to see an old man smiling at me.

“Great! We were waiting for you.” He said turning around and gestured with his hand to follow him.

“For me?” I asked, clutching the file to my chest.

“Yeah!” he replied, turning around with a frown.

“But I am just a normal clerk right?” I asked, not taking a step ahead and he just stared at me.

“Our clerk left the company and made sure to leave lots of work. So, we are in dire need of a clerk. Any other questions?” he asked after a few minutes and I shook my head.

“Good! Now, the timings will be from morning ten to evening five.” He added again walking.

“That’s it?” I asked, remembering the timings of eight to six.

“Yes! Will you continue to get shocked with everything?” he asked, turning back with a frown covering his face.

“I am sorry, Sir! I am just little overwhelmed.” I replied, hoping I stop my doubt mind to question each and everything.

“You can call me Girish, Ms.Kalpana. I am just a manager and not the boss.” He said and I nodded this time following him without saying anything except listening to him.

“This is your desk and the files are already here. You can start working now only while I go and bring any details or rules you have to follow. We were told you are dedicated to your work by your old boss. So, we are hoping to get some productive work from you.” He said and walked away before I could open my mouth.

My boss praised me? That too near them? Well, looks like he really liked my work. It’s not like he ever complained, but he never praised too.

“That’s it?” I asked myself looking at the files and what I should do.

I shrugged and started entering the details in the files, typing of the system. Along with the work I let all the doubts leave me and consider myself lucky for getting this job in the first place.

“Hello!” I glanced up to see a girl standing near my table.

“Hi!” I greeted back smiling.

“Glad that you are here. It will be helpful and hope you are good at this. It’s not like the boss will allow any inefficient people into the company. If anyone got a job here then they must be best.” She continued to ramble making me remember Jhanvi.

“Thank you!” I mumbled and for the next five minutes we talked before she returned to her desk without even telling her name.

I too didn’t give my name to her. Great! I just forgot to do minimum manners. I will just ask her the name later and introduce myself too at that time.

“Lunch?” the same girl asked, walking near to me after a few hours.

“My name is Kalpana!” I replied and she stared at me with a frown.

“Okay! That is totally wrong. I forgot to introduce myself and thought of doing it the next time, so it came out like that.” I explained and she chuckled.

“Fine! My name is Pallavi. Come on!” she said, gesturing to some room and I nodded switching off the system and followed her holding my box.

“You need not bring that from tomorrow onwards. Boss started a free lunch scheme from the last one month.” She said, gesturing my box and opened the door which is the canteen.

“Really? That’s nice of him.” I mumbled and she nodded gesturing me to go to the table that seemed to be empty.

“I will go and get my lunch.” She said walking away.

“So, are you liking your job? I am actually a step above yours in the job criteria.” She said after a few minutes when we started having our lunch.

“I just joined.” I mumbled and she nodded understandingly.

“Are you married?” she asked, glancing at me.

“I am divorced!” I replied and saw the evergreen pity expression.

“I am not going to give anything to her except this money.” Jay said gesturing fifty thousand on the table.

“Jay! Do you really believe them?” I asked, staring at him.

“Yes! I don’t have a reason not to. My Mom is sick because of you.” He replied shaking his head.

“Can we go forward with the procedure?” his lawyer asked staring at us.

“Just tell me why you cheated on me and then remove his baby.” Jay suddenly said turning towards me when I kept quiet.

“What?” I asked, jerking back with his words.

“Yes! We will go to some marriage counselor and all I need is no mark from your deception.” He replied staring at my face.

“You can proceed! And use this money to spend on getting the truth.” I said, staring back and stood up after signing the papers.

“Fine! I can’t do anything if you choose your lover.” Jay said with disgust.

“Yes! You can’t do anything if I choose our baby. No! My baby.” I said and walked away knowing well it is for my own good.

“Kalpana?” I came out of my thoughts when I felt someone snapping their fingers before my face.

“Sorry! Bad memory lane.” I said, smiling at her.

“It must be hard.” She said sighing.

“Actually, I have an amazing son. He is three months old and nothing can come even near to him.” I said and she smiled.

“Then it must be completely hard for leaving him at home.” She said but just kept on smiling.

“Yeah! But need to do this for his well caring only.” I said and she nodded before we both finished our lunch.

“Who is taking care of him now?” she asked when we walked outside the canteen while I was giving a small smile whenever someone is giving a greeting smile at me.

“My best friend! She is a nurse, but works evening and night shift. I will take care of her kid at that time.” I replied when we reached my desk.

“That’s great! And please do show me your baby photo.” She said eagerly.

“I don’t have now, but I will bring it tomorrow.” I said smiling.

“Sure! And put it on the desk. When the work gets tiring, our family is the one who will take the stress away.” She adviced before walking away.

I smiled at her back liking this girl. I immediately decided to bring his photo tomorrow because she is definitely right.

“Kalpana!” I turned around to see Pallavi rushing near to me.

“Where are you going?” she asked frowning.

“Bus stop!” I replied, frowning back at her.

“Don’t you know that we have transport facility?” she asked and turned back gesturing the bus.

“No!” I replied, frowning.

“I will tell you everything tomorrow. Our boss started looking for the employee development and introduced many schemes.” She said and dragged me to the bus.

“That’s really nice of him.” I said, feeling surprised and overwhelmed with all this.

“I know! We have to work hard, but he will never forget that and help us in his own way. Tomorrow I will give you the list of benefits.” She promised.

Maybe Girish Sir forgot to give the list! I thought and settled properly on the seat after giving the address to the conductor who notes them and adjust it in an order for driver and inform him.

“Bus!” I heard the scream the moment I opened the gate to see Harsha staring at the bus which is going to move with wonder and my son too blinking his eyes at it from Jhanvi’s shoulder.

“Now, this is something.” Jhanvi said while I turned to wave at Pallavi.

“So, how was it?” she asked the moment I walked in.

“I will tell you everything but I just need some water.” I replied smiling and walked inside.

“Did you miss me?” I asked, taking my baby after cleaning my hands properly.

He smiled and snuggled into my hold. I chuckled and settled down on the couch.

I calmly told her everything while she listened to everything without stopping me like always.

“Wow! That’s some boss you have there.” She mumbled with an amazed look.

“You are not having any doubts and any questions right?” she asked frowning at me.

“No! I think everything is going on nicely and maybe this is our time to have a good life.” I replied shrugging.

“Now this is more amazing than all. I never thought you will accept like this.” She said laughing.

“What can I say? You opened my eyes.” I said laughing with her and shook my head.