Once Upon A Mr. Goody Two Shoes

Chapter 4

"Come in, come in and sit down both of you," Mr. Chaudhary's toad-like face broke into a toad-worthy grin as he welcomed us in his office. I fought to keep an eye roll in check. 

He was extra chirpy that morning, contrary to my dreary mood. My grumpy self was a lot because of lack of sleep from last night. The rains had got me late, and Abeer Sen had got me sleepless. 

Last night played on my mind like a tape recorder on repeat. It drove me insane. I had resorted to ordering pizza and binge watching Netflix. Which meant I hadn't had a blink of sleep since last night, and I was positive I wasn't going to get any work done today. I watched the oldie with masked suspicion as he guided us both to chairs opposite his. What had happened that had made him this happy with life?

"So... you both must have got to know each other by now. How is your chemistry?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. I sat up wide awake at the innuendo, as if a jug full of coffee was dumped down my throat.

Background? Yes. As soon as I had made my not so eloquent entry in the office - owing to me accidentally emptying my piping hot tea on an intern's desk - I was greeted by the peon's toothy grin and the sad news of Mr. Chaudhary requesting our presence in his office. He had also mentioned a certain 'exciting' something my bone head boss was planning. The last time the peon had said that I was handed an appreciation letter instead of a promotion letter. I had no expectations from this one either.

But I hadn't paid attention to the peon's 'our'. Major mistake. As soon as I entered the gaudy cabin of my boss, my eyes flew to the muscular figure standing beside Mr. Chaudhary's desk. Abeer. I had greeted him with a brief nod and strode in, determined on ignoring his presence from then on.

My boss had other plans, it seemed. I stared at the toad-like face of my boss, dumbfounded.

What was he on? Heroine, steroids? Sleeping pills?

Sensing I wasn't going to reply anytime soon Abeer said, "Aashi works very hard, sir, she is a very good team member." 

Typical professional answer. I didn't mind that at all. Our business was our business, and none of his business.

Is there a 'our business', Aashi? Goddamnit! My mind just can't keep quiet.

"Yes yes," Mr. Chaudhary said, waving his hand dismissively. "That is why I want to make a team of only the two of you." I felt like banging my head on the desk. My boss sounded like the married friend whose matchmaking mission ends only when everyone around them is set up with someone.

And to think he is my boss.

"The Tirany project I had spoken about with Aashi, I want the both of you to work on it." I balked. He was finally talking some sense but it didn't make any sense at all.

"But sir, Natasha and I were gonna work on that! You had said so yourself!" I nearly cried out, a headache on its way to ruin my day. Abeer had turned to look at me, but Mr. Chaudhary was unfazed by my exclamation.

"Two girls on a project leads to more attention on office gossip than on work," he said, leaning back on his chair, revealing his protruding belly. My hands balled into fists as I fought to keep my anger in check.

Too bad, it felt someone else was way more interested in office gossip than me right now.

But I didn't say that out loud. "We don't gossip sir," I bit out.

"Come on now, Aashi, it's a fun fact everyone knows. Bad driving and gossiping are vices women just can't get rid of!"

That chauvinist son of a bachelor! I swear I will...