Almost Love (ON HOLD)

CHAPTER 19

On Wednesday morning I woke up with a huge smile on my face and a pep in my step. Pawan didn't take any notice of it but Yuv did when I served him breakfast.

"Mummy you look very happy today." He pointed out.

"That's because I am happy."

"Why?"

"Because I'm finally going to do something I like."

Yuv didn't ask any questions as Pawan came down for breakfast and I was glad. After sending Yuv to school, I quickly ironed Pawan's clothes for office and after patiently waiting for some more time, he finally left for office. I quickly took a shower, deciding what to wear today. I didn't want to wear a suit today, I was doing something that I've wanted to do ever since I was young so i decided to wear something that would bring me closer to my youth.

I pulled out a tee shirt with three-fourth sleeves and an old pair of jeans. I didn't really have much of the modern clothes as Pawan didn't like them. He had always liked me in my suits only.

I quickly got dressed and after looking at my appearance, I decided to put some light makeup. I applied some mascara and kohl, and a pink lipgloss. I combed my hair and left it open with a middle parting. I stared at myself in the mirror, I was pleasantly surprised with what I saw. I looked pretty, but most of all I looked younger, way younger than I was. I could probably pass as a twenty five year old.

I hailed an auto and gave the address of my destination. As i waited in the auto, my nerves took the best of me. What was I doing? All of this was so silly. I should probably just go back home.

No. I steeled myself. I will go inside. If I don't like it then I'll come out again.

After the mental pep talk I gave myself, I stepped foot inside the huge intimidating building. I walked to the front desk and plastered a smile at my face when a cheery looking woman welcomed me.

"Welcome. How may I help you?"

"I'm here for the internship?" It came out more as a question.

"Right. Please go to level four for the programme."

"Thank you," I replied and she nodded.

I walked quickly to the lift and stepped inside. When I got out at level four, I was pleasantly surprised. I saw a young man in a fancy suit, his hair perfectly gelled back and a five o clock beard on his face. He turned around just then and I blushed as he caught me staring.

He walked a few steps towards me and smiled. "Hello, you must be Meera Singhania? Welcome to Miranda Publishing."

"Thankyou." I couldn't count how many times I had even said thankyou ever since I contacted Miranda.

Then he backed away and cleared his throat so that everyone paid attention to him. "I am Kartik Goenka but of course until you all get a job here, you can call me Kartik," he joked. "I will be leading the internship, and you all will directly answer to me from the first day of the internship to the last. Today, we will go through all the departments that we have here, and at the end of the day you will decide under which department you want to work. Sounds good?" He looked at all of us.

"Yes," someone replied and we nodded. He led us towards the large lift and all of us got in.

"First stop, the legal department."

He led us to level two where cabins lined one side of the floor. "A book publishing is an intellectual property. You must always remember that an author's contract is an important and critical part of publishing. This department is key in working with editors and literary agents to negotiate terms such as publishing rights, advances, royalties, due dates and other legal issues. This department also ensures that the company is protected from potential law suits that might arise from sensitive material."

"Wow," someone from the group exclaimed and Kartik nodded.

"Yes, this department is very important for the firm. I would suggest only those people to apply for this department who are well versed with law."

"The next department is the sales department which is of course critical to getting the books to the market and into other formats and media."

He took us to the third level where there were cabins and people were in front of computers. "This is obviously the IT department. And that is the finance department which monitors the profits, losses, margins and all that stuff. You know, where the boring stuff is done." He winked.

Someone from the group laughed and I smiled. These were all the boring departments according to me and I couldn't wait to finally choose my department.

"The publicity department is responsible for reaching out to the print, radio, television media. Setting up book signings and book tours also falls under this department."

"That's interesting," I said and Kartik nodded.

"It definitely is one of the interesting departments. Now, the marketing department. It is responsible for the marketing strategy of individual books. It also works very closely with the advertising department to create ads as dictated by budget and strategy."

Then he led us to level five, which was clearly the creative department, as the walls were in bright colours and had a comic book kind of design. "This department creates the cover of the book which forms the first and foremost impression of the book. You know when they say never judge a book by it's cover? They're lying. The first impression is the last impression, always remember that."

"Now, the department which I am the head of— editorial." He said as he led us to level four. There was a huge cabin on one side and the other staff on the other side. "In this department, you perform all the duties necessary to acquire and edit books, seeing them through to publication."

"Wow, that's a lot," a young bubbly girl next to me spoke.

"I have given you a brief of all the departments, so now when you go back down you can give your names and the departments you would like to intern in to the receptionist. And, well if you don't want to continue forward with the internship then you may go as well. Have a nice day all of you, see you tomorrow morning." He said before walking off into the cabin on the side which now i noticed had his name on the door.

As all of us got down to the ground floor, the chubby girl from earlier tapped my shoulder. "Hi," she smiled at me.

"Hi."

"I'm Eesha."

"I'm Meera. So will you continue with the internship?" I asked casually.

"Yes, I'm thinking of the editorial department. What about you?"

"Wow, me too!"

We quickly told the receptionist our names and the departments we were interested in. As we walked out of the building, Eesha pulled my hand. "I'm going to the mall after this, do you want to come?"

It was almost two and I should go home as soon as I could, I had to prepare the lunch and then get Yuv from school as well.

"I have to get home early today, I have some work. Next time?"

"Sure," she smiled and got into her car before waving.