Shape of the Sun

It's a man, man's world

Content Warning: This chapter contains depictions of sexual harassment, violence, and distressing situations. Reader discretion is advised.

Manmeet Chatterjee was hardly alarmed, but this time, she was, a hand gripping the invite Rajkumar had given her. It was only when she got to her destination that all her doubts would be cleared and the server that was leading the way was starting to feel slower than ever.

And Manmeet knew that it was more of her fault than his. How could his speed be faster when people from all over the place were repeatedly cutting off the path, struggling to get a good look at her? Even those up in the gallery were crooning their necks too, one particular gaze trailing her so pointedly, that she could feel it from behind, and she couldn't say she was surprised. No, it was the opposite. She'd have been surprised if she had gotten no reaction. At first, Manmeet found it flattering but it had happened so many times now, she had finally gotten numb.

And so, that could not have been what was troubling her. It was the atmosphere in the main hall that felt irritating. Everyone was chatting in circles, giving off a feeling that the pitching event was already over and that it was time to relax. Manmeet was not a newbie and understood this, what she didn't understand was why the event was over before she even gave her pitch? So what the hell had she even come here for in the first place if she could not attract investors for  Arora's newest project?! 

Hell no. She needed some explanations from the organizer why he had told her their meeting was before the event, which caused her to opt for sitting in the garden outside until they met. Otherwise, what would she be doing outside when the pitching was going on inside? Manmeet squeezed the invite in her hand harder while her face was the perfect picture of tranquility as if the remaining warmth of the previous holder there could give her the strength that she needed when she couldn't even vent her anger in the open. She couldn't help thinking that if only Rajkumar was here, he'd tell her the right thing to do...

Fortunately, the server finally came to a stop as they had gotten to their destination and she thanked him, watching him leave before knocking on the door. She was so tired and after this meeting, she just wanted to go home and take a warm shower.

A round-faced, stout man had been the one to answer the door and his eyes conveyed his excitement on seeing her tinged with a lot that made Manmeet uncomfortable. This Mr. Abir was the damned event organizer that apparently forgot to send her an invite and only contacted her yesterday when Rajkumar had given her one. He had said the event committee wanted to go over some details about why Arora's invitation was delayed and she had seen no reason to not attend, afterall, it was in the company's best interests. But why didn't she see any other person, the supposed committee, in the cramped office interior? Plus, something about this man just felt off.

Still, Manmeet suppressed her misgivings and smiled politely at him. She was taken towards being cautious, as she didn't know what the committee had in mind and didn't want to escalate any company troubles that Arora seemed to have with them right now. If this man tried something crazy, she'd just scream and they were people just behind the door who would hear her. Just in case, she had already informed Hussein in the morning about this meeting.

"Mr. Abir, can I come in?"

"Oh yes, yes. Don't mind me." he hurried to the side to let her come in, "Please have a seat."

But Manmeet didn't want to sit down, especially in this office that had a smell of something that wasn't supposed to be there in the first place. She politely shook her head.

"No please, Mr. Abir. I'd rather stand since I don't think I would be here for very long."

He gave her a meaningful look that left her feeling more ominous with each passing second she spent there.