An Affair In Summer

2. 'New Job'

"Are you there Miss?" Dev Dixit walked towards her and snapped his fingers before her.

"I'm sorry." She took a step back and calmed herself down.

He was still grinning wildly. "What brings you back? How are you anyways?"

"I'm fine thank you." He was so nice! But she had to be professional with him, he was a married man after all. "I'm Sonakshi Bose. I'm the new Nanny for your girls, I believe."

"Oh!" He was astonished and he didn't try to hide. "I was expecting someone older. You seem very young."

"I am Mr. Dixit. In fact, even I was expecting an older man with gray hair and a wrinkled face. You're quite... handsome."

He chuckled. "Take a seat Miss." He pulled out the chair and after she was seated he went back to his own chair. "Well. You can decide. I'm a thirty-three year old man with three young girls."

"You're only thirty-three?" Her eyes were wide and she couldn't hide the shock in her eyes even if she wanted to.

He threw his head back and roared in laughter. Sonakshi's mouth closed and she straighter shoulders. "Yes Roshni and I got married right out of high school. We had Shivani exactly ten months later." He sighed as the dazed look replaced with a sad one.

"That's amazing Mr. Dixit." She noticed the sad look in his eyes that looked like marbles. "Where is Mrs Dixit?"

"I'm surprised you don't know, Miss Bose." He looked at her with the sad look leaving him slowly. "She passed away in a car accident three years back. It was a terrible accident."

Something hit Sonakshi right in the gut, strong and hard. She felt his pain right away. "Oh. I'm so sorry." She was shocked how sympathetic she felt for him. "It must have been tragic for the girls."

"Yes," he looked at her again with a lighter mood. "Specially for my youngest one Sia."

Sonakshi frowned, and then turned at the door opening. The old lady Mrs Jones stood in the door with a warm smile.

"Hi, Miss." She recognized Sonakshi. "How are you? Feeling any better?"

"Yes. Thank you." She looked at the little girl who came running beside Mrs Jones and right into Dev's arms.

"Hey sweetheart." Dev kissed his youngest daughter and scooped her into his arms. "Sonakshi this is Sia. Sia that is Sonakshi."

"Hi Sia." She looked at the little girl, who acquired her father blue eyes and beautiful rich brown hair.

"Hi." She said in a soft, low voice. Followed by a small smile.

Sonakshi smiled back and looked at Dev. "Mr. Dixit I'll take the job."

"Thank you." Dev smiled relieved. "We can sign the papers then and Mrs Jones can show you your room." He placed Sia back on her feet and took out the contract paper. She read them and singed them quickly.

"Sia would you like to show me around?" Sonakshi asked holding her hand out.

At first hesitant, she took her hand and walked away with her.

Dev Dixit stood in his room alone. Shocked how quickly Sia was able to leave with her unlike every other lady he had appointed for the kids in the past three years.

Holding Sia's hand Sonakshi walked up the stairs and they both turned into a corridor. The walls were made of windows, and so was the ceiling. Out the windows there was a small windowsill built that held flowers. Millions of different types of flowers all around.