Seasons Of Love

#2 : Strings Unattached

Vicky's POV

🎶🎶
When you put two and two together
You figure out love's got four letters
I shoulda known that when I met her
But she had to spell it out for me
🎶🎶

            I was pulled out of my gawking due to the interrupting pat on my shoulder, it was time for the 'Welcoming the Client' meeting with the management team. I followed my fellow executives from the senior management and walked to the video conference room blocked for it. They showcased presentations on strengths of the team and tried to reinstill the faith that we would succeed in delivering the project with the newly formed team of talented resources. They didn't go overboard in trying to impress the client, as it could backfire if not met. We were already under the bridge and didn't want to take chances. This was so refreshing, unlike my previous client meetings. I guess, we dance as the situation calls for.

            Now it was time for our team's stand up meeting with Ms. Ria Sehgal, deprived of the higher official's shadow. Our ten member's team assembled into the discussion room and formed a circle. Until now I haven't had the opportunity to interact or talk directly to her, not that I was looking forward to it.

🎶🎶
After all that second guessing
It's been a long hard history lesson
Hell that's a class I got an f in
But now I understand perfectly
🎶🎶

           One glance at everyone and one could easily judge who's who. Some of the team mates stood in nervousness, freshers for sure; while some other's stance depicted respect, the professionalism radiating from them. Then, there were some naysayers casually leaning against the wall, clearly the team's slackers who could be from the middle to senior most resources. I stood confidently with my hands tucked in my pants, beside my newly arrived client side counterpart.

            Ria was well aware of my closeness, but didn't let my presence affect her. I could sense her internally thanking God that she didn't have to meet my eyes as I was beside her. It amazed me that after all this time, I could still read her like an open book. 

Was she ever able to read me?

Did she ever try?

Did she ever love me, like I did?

Looks like love in her dictionary had a different meaning than in mine.

These were the questions starting to do the rounds in my head.

🎶🎶
Yeah all the words I thought I knew
They got a brand new meaning now
🎶🎶

Without wasting more time, she led the meeting and broke my chain of thoughts.

           "Hi, Good morning to All! I'm Ria Sehgal, your offshore client representative". She gave them a tight smile, trying to break through the tension filled air. It felt like we were already standing in a escalation meeting, even before kick starting the project.

            "I'm going to be your first point of contact in case of any issues, concerns or points to ponder on. I know we are meeting in a not-so- amicable circumstances but trust me when I say, I'm not your enemy here. I'm just going to be the bridge between the offshore and onshore team. Feel free to reach out to me for any kinds of project related queries or issues. We all are one team, pulled in to Uplift the almost sunken ship, that's this project."