Beautiful disaster (completed)

Chapter 9 - Twisted Fate

I walked into the office building, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Today was my first day at my new job, and I couldn't wait to make a fresh start. Little did I know that fate had a twisted sense of humor in store for me.

As I made my way to the elevator, I couldn't help but notice a familiar face in the crowd. Maybe I was mistaken. I brushed it off, thinking it was just my mind playing tricks on me. After all, it was a busy building with many people coming and going.

Entering the elevator, I pressed the button for the 10th floor, where my new office was located. The elevator doors closed, and I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. The elevator jolted to a stop, causing me to stumble slightly. The lights flickered, and a sense of unease washed over me.

Maya scolded me when I finally mustered the courage to tell her about my layoff. I had kept it a secret for a month, not wanting her to worry while she was away for work. She couldn't understand why I hadn't reached out to her sooner. After her scolding, she insisted that I send her my CV, promising to use her connections in the IT circle to help me find a job. And true to her word, it was through her that I landed this opportunity.

As the elevator doors opened, I stepped out onto the 10th floor, greeted by the bustling energy of a new workplace. The office was a maze of cubicles and desks, filled with people typing away on their computers or engaged in hushed conversations. The air was filled with the sound of ringing phones and the occasional laughter.

I couldn't believe my luck! Finally, after three long months of unemployment, I had landed a job at this fancy IT company. Sure, I was a little nervous, considering I had been working from home for the past two years due to the pandemic. But hey, this felt like my first day at a brand new job all over again!

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves that had been building up inside me. It had been two long years since I last set foot in an office.

I walked towards the reception desk, where a friendly face greeted me with a warm smile. She handed me a visitor's badge and directed me towards my new cubicle. As I made my way through the sea of desks, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension. Would I be able to fit in? Would I remember how to interact with people face to face?

Finally, I reached my designated spot. It was a small space, but it felt like a sanctuary amidst the chaos. I sat down and took a moment to absorb my surroundings. The walls were adorned with motivational posters, reminding me to "reach for the stars" and "never give up." I chuckled to myself, realizing how much I had missed these clichéd office decorations.

A lady came to my side, a friendly smile on her face. "Welcome to Lumen Technologies , Kiara," she said with a warm smile. "My name is Neha Deshpande, I am HR here." She introduced me to my new teammate, Taniya. She seemed nice enough, with her warm smile and welcoming demeanor. I followed her as she led me through the maze of cubicles and conference rooms, my mind racing with thoughts and questions.

Taniya led me through the maze of cubicles, introducing me to my new colleagues along the way. Their names and faces blurred together as my mind raced to absorb all the information. I tried my best to smile and make a good impression, but inside, I felt like a fish out of water.

As we reached my desk, Taniya handed me a stack of papers. "Here's your onboarding package," she said. "Take your time going through it. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask."

What if I couldn't catch up? What if I didn't fit in? These thoughts swirled in my mind, threatening to consume me. But I refused to let them take hold. I had come this far, and I wasn't about to let fear hold me back.