Chapter 2

Niharika's POV

Closing my eyes and relaxing a bit on my office chair, I went back to my college days.

It was 3rd August, fifteen years ago when I first saw Arpit. He was my classmate during graduation. Sitting alone on my college desk and waiting for the professor to come, I had been checking my emails, when he entered the class and sat down beside me. I observed his movements as he kept his almost empty bag near my bulky bag which had many books.

"Hi. Actually this is my first day and it's been a week since college has begun, I am a bit late to join the course. Please could you share your notes with me? I want to know what all topics have begun. Please guide me", he spoke timidly to me with a slurred speech as I looked at him wide-eyed.

I helped him with the notes and we even had our lunch together in the college canteen, wherein, he asked, "By the way, what's your name?"

Smiling at his innocence, I said "Niharika Sehgal" and embarrassed at my foolishness, I enquired his name.

We both laughed at our deed that we exchanged our names after sitting together for four hours.

I was happy that I got a friend in college. Being an introvert and depressed at my current state, I never made friends in college and no one came to talk to me.

*****

Mr. Bose knocked at the door of my cabin compelling me to come out of my thoughts. He enquired if I had shortlisted some candidates to which I asked are there only six applications.

"Madam, we got others too but they didn't clear the interview with the team. Out of these six, you can see since you will be heading this project. Otherwise we will publish the advertisement again", said Mr. Bose.

"Okay then, call Dr. Arpit Khandelwal for the interview at 11a.m on Monday."

"He is the best choice, madam. Having graduated from your college, he got his doctorate degree from the University of Cambridge. He had been working over plants since fifteen years in the industry. He was previously working with Jurlique in Australia", Mr. Bose began to blabber.

"Call him. Let's see if he would work with us or not", said as I picked up my bag for leaving the office.

*****

During the ride back home, I remembered the days of our college when Arpit and I used to spend time together taking classes, studying in the library and sharing our thoughts, our fears and our plans of life. People thought we were into a relationship but he was inclined towards his career and I had a responsibility for my parents' business after them. Though I had planned to propose to him on the last day of college but it never happened.

Thinking of the altercation between us, I stiffened with anger. I don't know the reason why he reacted that way even till today.

"How could he speak to me like that?"

I will definitely teach him a lesson now, I mentally planned. After all, I had a chance to show that I am his employer.