Beautiful disaster (completed)

Chapter 10 - Difficult Work Life

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest, as I prepared to confront Kabir about the daunting task he had assigned me. The weight of anxiety settled heavily on my shoulders, threatening to crush my confidence. But I couldn't let my fear hold me back any longer. I had to face him head-on.

"Um, Kabir," I began, my voice trembling slightly. "I wanted to discuss the task you assigned to me. I'm finding it quite challenging, especially since it involves front-end technology, which I have no experience in."

Kabir let out an exasperated sigh, his frustration evident in the lines etched on his forehead. His eyes narrowed, and I could sense his impatience growing. "Kiara, we've been over this," he replied, his voice tinged with irritation. "We have a deadline to meet, and I need you to step up and deliver. We can't afford any delays."

I nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation, but I couldn't help feeling overwhelmed. "I understand that, Kabir," I said, my voice wavering slightly. "But I'm afraid I won't be able to complete it within the given timeframe. I need more time to learn and understand the front-end technology."

Kabir's frustration grew, and he ran a hand through his hair in exasperation. "Kiara, we don't have the luxury of time," he replied, his voice strained. "We need to get this done. You should have informed me earlier if you were not comfortable with the task."

A pang of defensiveness rose within me. "I didn't know I would struggle with it until I started working on it," I retorted, my voice tinged with frustration. "I've been trying my best, but it's just not coming together."

Kabir's sarcastic tone cut through the air, causing my anger to flare. "Well, maybe if you had focused on improving your skills instead of relying solely on your backend expertise, we wouldn't be in this situation," he said, his words dripping with condescension.

My eyes narrowed, my fists clenched, and my heart pounded in my chest. I could feel the heat rising within me, threatening to consume my rationality. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to give him a piece of my mind, to unleash the fury that was building up inside. But I knew that losing my temper would only make matters worse. I had to remain composed, even in the face of such blatant disrespect.

As I took a deep breath, I reminded myself of what had happened in the café just a few months ago. Kabir and I had gotten into a heated argument, letting our emotions get the best of us. We had created a scene, drawing the attention of everyone around us. I didn't want to become the gossip topic in the office, the one known for losing control and succumbing to anger.

So, I swallowed my pride and pushed down the bubbling anger within me. I knew that reacting impulsively would only give Kabir the satisfaction he sought. Instead, I chose to respond with grace and professionalism. I mustered all my strength to maintain a calm demeanor, even though every fiber of my being longed to unleash my pent-up frustration.

I walked out of the conference room, my heart pounding in my chest. Every team meeting had become a battleground, it seemed like he took pleasure in making my work life miserable. Every line of code I sent him for review was scrutinized, and he never missed an opportunity to find faults, no matter how small they were. It felt as if he was intentionally trying to undermine my abilities and make me feel incompetent.

From the moment I stepped foot into the office, Kabir made it clear that he had no intention of letting bygones be bygones. He took every opportunity to belittle me, criticizing my work and finding faults in even the tiniest details. It felt as if he was on a mission to prove that I was incompetent, that I didn't deserve to be a part of the team. I couldn't understand what had caused this sudden change in him. Was it because of what I had done in the past? It's been years, and still, he had not forgotten those things. Or was there something else going on in his life that I was unaware of?

But I refused to let his actions break me. I knew I had the skills and the determination to succeed in this job. I decided to channel my frustration into proving him wrong. I worked tirelessly, putting in extra hours and going above and beyond to ensure that my work was flawless.

I tried my best to stay strong, to not let his actions affect me. But it was hard. Every day, I would come to work with a knot in my stomach, dreading the encounters with Kabir. I would spend hours perfecting my work, only to have him tear it apart with his harsh criticism. It felt like a never-ending cycle of disappointment and frustration.

Deep down, I knew that Kabir's words held a grain of truth. Perhaps I had become too reliant on my backend expertise, neglecting the opportunity to improve my skills further. But that didn't excuse his condescending attitude and lack of support. We were a team, after all, and teamwork required understanding and encouragement, not belittlement.

As I scrolled through my emails, I couldn't help but notice the subtle jabs and snide remarks Kabir had been making during team meetings. The once jovial and caring Kabir had transformed into a cold and distant figure, leaving me feeling isolated and hurt.

Unable to bear the tension any longer, I made up my mind. I would confront Kabir and try to resolve our differences. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I couldn't let our past ruin my present. However, the question of where to have this conversation lingered in my mind. The office seemed like an inappropriate place, filled with prying eyes and the potential for further conflict. But would Kabir agree to meet me outside the office? I didn't know what to do.

Should I really confront him? What if it only makes things worse? Doubts and fears swirled in my mind, threatening to hold me back. But I couldn't continue living in this constant state of fear and frustration. I had to try.

That's when a thought struck me. Tanaya, my colleague who had an undeniable crush on Kabir, had mentioned once that he lived nearby the office. She often raved about his handsome looks and charming personality, much to my annoyance. But perhaps she could be of help in this situation.

Gathering my courage, I decided to pay him a visit at his apartment after work.