Nithya

Chapter 6: Briefing and Bonding

After lunch Sandra called Kathir, the new guy and I into the conference room and gave out a folder to each of us that was heavy with paperwork. Sandra was at the presenting side of the room.

"Right everyone. Everyone in this room will be working together on a big project that we have six months to work on. So from here it is jammed pack. We've got plenty to do. Trust me on this guys six months isn't that much time. "

She guided us through the powerpoint slides explaining how our team is comprised of people of different strengths. Our project was to design an amusement park that would be built on the coast. After the presentation Sandra made us clear the chairs and tables to the side.

"Come on everyone. Sit in a circle so we can all introduce eachother." She was squealing again. I honestly don't know how she gets people doing jobs while she is such a fun person to be around. As I reluctantly stood in the middle of a wide gap waiting to be ignored, I felt my arm being pulled. It was Sandra linking arms with me.

"Don't worry Nithya. I know this is new for you. Our office is a bit different. We take personal approaches to everything so just be yourself and it'll be fine. Now I wanna see a smile on that face of yours my friend. "

She looked away raising her voice. I realised that Kathir was standing at my other side. Hurray! Complicated situation here. I have to play intro game with a boy who has known me without me knowing him. Pfffft. This situation has even messed up my sarcasm.

Somewhere during the time I had zoned out while collecting my though hence all I heard was

"Hello Earth to Nithya. You there?" Sandra shook me all the way while saying that. She was a woman of power that my body was still moving when she let go. Kathir caught me in time before I fell face first to the ground.

"Hey -" Kathir said but I had a line I was waiting to quote for a long time.

"Hay is for horses. " I said rather excitedly before appologising for my immaturity.

Way to go Nithya. Unless your nerd attack on innocent souls.

"Hi Kathir. Um I need to work out stuff about how I have no memory of you so can we avoid that subject for a while even though technically I was the one who brought it up and stuff..."

"Yeah Nithya. Don't worry yourself. It is a wierd situation but we are friends right?"

"Yeah sure Kathir. That seems cool-"

"Run around in circles until I blow the whistle then converse with the closest person. Different person mind you. Go!" Sandra was starting to remind me of my P.E. teacher.

She blew the whistle and I ended up next to that friendly ginger hair guy. Oh yeah his name was Ed.

"Hi Ed. I'm Nithya as you might remember?"

"Hi. Well. Cool. Um. Right. Wow I am great at conversations. So how are you getting on here as this is your first project? You can ask anyone here. Seriously I love explaining things to people. I've been here for two years so I think I can help with stuff. "

"Well so far I have felt really welcome here. I really like it here. The atmosphere is great and Sandra is a genius. She has everything arranged so perfectly. "

During the next run. I bumped into the green eye guy. The whistle sounded on cue.

"Hi Nithya. I'm Felix. We didn't get aquainted that well yesterday. "

"Hi um. Yeah. So. What? Ok. Um." I was going into Ed mode except I was distracted by those green eyes. They looked so green yet brown. Two distinct colours. Yet merging.

Now Nithya CLEAR THOSE THOUGHTS.

"So Felix what department are you in? I'm in materials engineering. "

"I'm in mechanical engineering. So we're gonna be working together quite a bit huh?" he smiled as he said those words. I was glad to see that the number of cocky guys didn't exceed the number of nicer people here.

That was apparently the perfect moment for my stomach to growl. I had only had lunch half an hour before.

"Sorry. I promise I ate lunch. Running around just extracted all my energy."

He brought a packet of snack biscuits out if his pocket and placed it in my hand. If only all boys could be thoughtful like this. I mean they are always given enough space in their pockets. I can't even fit my phone in mine. My parents did tell me not to accept food from strangers but who could stop me when my stomach beckons the food to be consumed.

"Thanks."

He nodded back to me.

Awww. I value this. Though it'll disappear the moment the others aren't looking.

His parents raised him right. He would probably have a girlfriend because of his modern chivalry and looks. He doesn't have abs or anything which I am glad of. His hair is brown like the bark of a chestnut tree. How does he get effortless smooth skin like that? Instead we get pimples and periods. How unfair.

"Nithya, you haven't said a word and you look like you want to kill someone. Did I do something?" he chuckled.

"Nope I'm ok." Sandra motioned for us that we were allowed to leave. The way we did intro exercises made me feel like I was on the NCS Challenge again .

...

I answered the ringing home phone.

"Hello?"

"Hello Nithya, how are you?"

Eurgh it is so annoying when Tamil people expect you to recognise their voice as try talk.

"Aunty I am good. How about you?" I asked in Tamil.

"Have you been helping your mother around the house? Can you cook yet?" she asked endlessly as my mum was staring me off as she was waiting for the phone.

"Um Aunty, Amma is waiting to talk to you."

"Ok Pillai. I have good news for your mother."

...

"Nithya, come here I need to talk to you. Kamala aunty has informed me that she knows a boy who is looking for a proposal. The boy is a doctor and Kamala aunty has invited us to her grandson's birthday party so we can meet the other family-"

"Wait, what are you talking about me?"

"Yes Nithya. You're not getting any younger. "

"But I'm only 21! You speak as if I'm in my 40s! Can't you just tell them that I'm too young to get an arranged marriage! "

So Kamala aunty was excited by a proposal for me but instead told my mother before me. Seriously when are my family going to realise that I am my own person with my own decision.

On the brightside, they aren't horrible and forcing me. Oh well maybe I'll find a friend in the guy that I'll meet. Aaah I don't even know his name.

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Hoped you liked it. Sorry I haven't uploaded in a while.

Big revelations in the next chapter but Nithya's forgotten life.