Falling In Love With You

Chapter -13

Like most of the software companies in Chennai, Syntana was also situated in the biggest technology park ;the Tidel park which spans over a few acres in the heart of Taramani . Taramani is renowned for the presence of one of the biggest IT parks in Asia , and not only for that , but also for the presence of many government educational and research institutions.
        It gave a promise of a better and a secure future for those who step into the very threshold of Tidel park. The concrete constructions , tall buildings ,  some entirely constructed of glass which reflected the morning Sun , that it made one to shield their eyes from the powerful rays. The lush green trees and the well manicured gardens within the campus gives a peaceful ambience when the white collar workers step out for a break during their hectic work hours .
       Although it's an IT park , it also possesses a wide range of restaurants ,dhabas , South Indian hotels , it even features many cultural clubs for the  people who come from different parts of India to take upon the chance at having a bright future , to have something to relate themselves to and comedy clubs to alleviate their stress and anxiety that comes along with these high pressure jobs.
        Syntana was in the early days of its growth. They expertise mainly in Web application developing for the commercial organizations  such as banking , construction, marketing , etcetera. It was a five story building featuring a reception in the ground floor , the working space for the testing engineers and the systems engineers in the first floor and the product developers were given the second floor. The cafeteria was situated on the third floor whereas the fourth floor was exclusive for the big shots of the company and ofcourse it does have a basement for parking the swanky vehicles of the people who work there. The fifth floor was still under construction.
         After the altercation with her husband in his cabin , Vasudha went on to search for the guy who interviewed her as she didn't know anyone around there. Even though she got to know the guy through the interview, Vasudha thought she knew the guy from somewhere...he was strangely familiar , she felt the same way during the interview too. After a few minutes, Vasudha spotted him sitting in his cubicle intently reading a file, another  woman in a pink coloured kurta was also seated on his side of the partition on the aisle side cubicle.
       Vasudha stood there for a few seconds but he didn't notice her until she tapped him lightly on his shoulder. With a jerk he looked up ,
" Oh ! Vasudha I thought you were still in there. Sorry I didn't introduce myself properly , although I interviewed you ,I'm sure you must've forgotten my name. I'm Saravanan, the senior developer in the team , I'll be supervising you people. Speaking of our team ,come let me introduce you to our team members."
     Saying this Saravana took vasudha to the other side of the partition where two other people were seated , they were busy typing on their computers. When they heard Saravanan's voice they looked up from their computers.
    " Hello guys! She's Vasudha , she will be joining our team. And Vasudha this is  Rahul , Shreya ,Rithika and .... Hmm...Rithika where's Thara?" Saravanan asked the woman in the pink coloured kurta . The woman was fair complexioned with dark brown eyes , slightly crooked nose, full lips , her hair styled perfectly and subtle makeup in place, she was someone who would be called pretty .  She replied to Saravana with a straight face " Oh ! Thara is in the  restroom Saravana . Vasudha! welcome to the team." Rithika directed the last part towards Vasudha. Vasudha sensed a sarcastic subtext in Rithika's welcome ,although it irritated her she acknowledged her welcome with a small smile. Rithika just went on to work on her computer without even sparing a second glance on  Vasudha. Rithika's indifferent demeanor flared up her anger even more but she schooled her emotions and concentrated on what the guy in a gray shirt and khaki slacks was saying.
     " Hello Vasudha ! I'm Rahul and this one here is Shreya , it's good to have you here. Welcome to the team ." Rahul said to Vasudha. His skin was dark brown, like someone who spent the  better part of his childhood under the sun .  He was tall and slim he had a pointed nose with thin lips and his clean shaven face had a boyish charm .
  " Thank you Rahul " Vasudha said to Rahul . " Hello Vasudha , as Rahul  said I'm Shreya , you can take the space next to me , I kind of like you Vasudha ,I think we will become good friends." Shreya extended her hand to Vasudha. Vasudha shook Shreya's hand and said
" Thank you Shreya". Shreya had a golden brown skin tone with a small delicate nose and a perfect bow shaped lips. Her brown coloured eyes were sparkling with mirth .She wore a casual white shirt paired with formal black pants. Her hair was braided elegantly . She radiated comfort and warmth , she is the kind of girl who would keep the people around her happy.
      " I guess that's all , I've something important to be clarified with Pallavan and Vasudha ,I'll call in our systems engineer, he will help you with arranging your workspace. And Rahul ,if the other two members come , please do help them settle in here da." Saravanan said this to both Vasudha and Rahul and walked away towards Pallavan's cabin with a file in his hand , on his way he met a man and a woman and directed them towards where Vasudha was standing. Vasudha ascertained that those people must be the other two  who will be joining the team along with her.
       A few seconds later a short guy with a drooping nose and a big moustache   approached Vasudha. His spectacles were so huge that it constantly slid to the tip of his nose which he guided back to the bridge of his nose with his forefinger.
  " Hello ma'am I'm Shyam.  Saravanan sir called me . I'm assuming you're Miss Vasudha?" Vasudha nodded her answer to his question. "I'll help you in  setting up your computer ma'am. Which station is yours ? " Shyam asked Vasudha . Vasudha pointed to the one next to Shreya, at the same moment the people whom Saravanan directed towards Vasudha, reached there. The guy was tall and burly , like a guy who  frequents the gym often , his fair skin tone accentuated his dark eyebrows and his dark brown eyes. His perfectly cropped hair and full beard was a statement in itself. The woman wore a formal orange coloured chudidar , her long hair was braided in a simple way and she looked a bit older than the rest of them . She had an average height with a hawk like nose and thin lips . Her almond shaped eyes revealed the years of effort she put in to reach where she is now.
     Rahul made the necessary introductions, the guy introduced himself as Harish and the woman's name was Nandini, Vasudha welcomed both of them. Harish took the station next to Saravanan's cubicle on the other side of the partition whereas Nandini occupied the workspace next to Vasudha's cubicle.
   Shyam assured the newcomers that he would help them in setting up their station after finishing up with Vasudha's computer.
         While Shyam arranged her station , Vasudha  took a moment to take in her surroundings. The cubicles for the developers were all arranged on either side of aisle with the respective team leader's cabin set up overlooking their team member's cubicles. All the cubicles were partitioned  into four on either side of the panel . Vasudha didn't get the chance to inspect the other floors but she noticed that the entire floor was color themed cream and torquoise blue . Apart from her team the other developers were seated in the same manner and they were all engrossed in their work.
         Like any other traditional software company the cream coloured walls were all subtly decorated with thought provoking quotes and famous proverbs. One end of the floor had the elevator which was situated next to the main staircase whereas on the other end , from Vasudha's viewpoint she couldn't make out what it is but it seemed like an isolated  room, spanning over entire breadth of the floor.The entire floor plan was set up in a relaxed manner but one could feel the tension in the air .
        Vasudha neither felt relaxed nor did she feel the tension , she felt trapped , she felt trapped in her own labyrinth. After all the carefull planning for months , she felt as if she wore the hangman's noose around her neck by herself by coming in here. Taking up this job was her last resort , now with her husband being her boss the future seemed bleak, this twist was completely unexpected ,it felt as if all her carefull plans dwindled down like that of a perfectly arranged dominos.
       All these years , Vasudha always took control of every difficult situation , she always had a solution for any  difficult scenario in her life . She never bowed before her fate , but the events of the last few hours frightened her. The uncertainty of the situation caused a chillness to creep into her bones. She never liked to be helpless , it irritated her , angered her even , and that anger got directed  towards Sathish , who brainwashed her into taking this job.
         Vasudha looked around her once again, no one seemed to notice what was going on around them. Rahul and Shreya laughed to an insider joke that Rahul told her. Rithika checked her phone constantly as if waiting for someone's text or call. Harish and Nandini impatiently waited for Shyam to finish with his work at hand so that they could settle in quickly in their respective stations.
     Vasudha realised being angry or agitated would take her nowhere , would not get her out of this mess ,so she took a deep breath to blow away her inner turmoil. It calmed her down to some extent. She saw that her computer was ready and Shyam was giving her the basic instructions. " So your computer is ready , there is an in-built application for  registering your sign in time . This app was developed by our own developers , it constantly monitors when the developers have signed in and signed out. Other than that everything is the same . If you need anything you can always call for me." Shyam said to Vasudha. Vasudha thanked him and he went on with setting up Nandini's station.
           Vasudha took a few steps towards her station but she sensed something was off . She felt as if she was being watched. She suddenly turned around and saw that Saravanan was standing outside Pallavan's cabin with his hand still on the door knob staring intently at her. Although she didn't understand his reason for staring at her , it did make her feel that her path ahead is going to be onerous.