This Time, Her Turn [Completed]

Chapter 14

Outside the house his assistant was waiting for them. Geetha learned his name only that day. It was Veeru and he was a year older than her.

In the car, Veeru started speaking. Talkative guy, he was. "Madam, I was in-charge of your plant. I'm sir's primary assistant." Ramit had two assistants and it seemed this one was quite a competitive guy.

"I just got out of an accident." Ramit said, effectively shutting up the guy. He did not talk anymore and put his complete focus on the road.

Geetha thought he was flustered, just how he would be if everything was normal, but soon she saw that he wasn't. She was also in no mood to talk to Ramit. It was harder than she thought, but she had to get him back. Win him back. Slowly, but surely, she told herself. Just not at the moment.

They reached the company in silence. When the car was parked, Ramit got out and went ahead without waiting for her, who was new to the environment.

"Why is he like that? That isn't my boss at all!" Veeru said when Ramit was out of earshot. "This is the first time he scolded me." 

"That's a scolding to you?" She looked at the assistant in pure and genuine confusion. Isn't this guy just as sensitive as her husband? He was more talkative, that's all. Or, she had pretty thick skin.

Veeru did not continue speaking. He did not expect the wife of his employer to be so blunt. "Let's go in," he said.

"Thanks for taking care of the plant. It's grown ½ an inch." The plant was a home plant meant to be grown for aesthetics. It grew in the shadows and it grew very slowly.

Veeru, who was oblivious to the details, did not understand how to respond. He felt she was being sarcastic but her expression was plain. He gave her an awkward and ill formed smile.

"Take me to him," she said and Veeru took her to the elevator of the building. They found Ramit there. He said nothing and they went to his company together. His company occupied a portion of the 5th floor in the huge complex.

"Good morning sir, madam," Ramit's other assistant greeted them along with three more employees. Two of them were security guards and the other seemed to be an errand boy. They greeted them back and walked further.

The company was situated to the far end of the floor. She looked at the name on the entrance. The font was unnecessarily decorative even for a game, with unruly strokes and the vagary of their offshoots. And this... was a journalism company. It was too much of an incongruity. The exaggerated serifs seemed to almost hide the company's logo above them. Even if this was a concept, it was nothing but heinous to her eyes. She sucked in her lips with a sharp breath.

Ramit looked at her, feeling that something was odd. But she just turned to look elsewhere and he could not read her face.

As Geetha looked around, the whole place felt like a circus. It was worse than any place she had ever been to. She closed her eyes for a moment for the peace and calm of nothingness. Every wall was sickly repulsive. She looked up for some solace, but put a hand on her mouth lest she curse out loud.

Just why would anyone paint all sorts of colours? That too so bright and gaudy? That too in such irregular shapes? That too including the ceiling? This was psychological harassment.

Ramit looked at her again. This time she was caught. She quickly fished out two chocolates from her bag.

"Do you want one?" She tried not to show any difficulty.

Ramit scoffed at her and continued walking. Was he really so easy all these days that she thought a chocolate would solve all their issues? With gloom, he walked down to his office.