Lost | ✔

Chapter One - The Termination Notice

"Listen Khushi, I know it may sound rude but there's no other way to say it. I have to fire you."

Mr. Shashi Sharma went on talking-an apologetic expression intact on his face as he explained the reasons behind his crude decision. But Khushi was no longer paying attention to him. She zoned out the second she heard the word 'fire'; something that she should be accustomed to, for she was being fired for the third time but unfortunately, she was not, and that's why she felt the same flood of panic in her stomach.

Unpleasant thoughts of her own future heavied on her mind and, with rising heart rate, she blundered out whilst Mr. Sharma was still talking, "You can't fire me!"

Mr. Sharma paused and looked at her with raised eyebrows, his voice going from soft to steel in mere seconds. "Excuse me?"

Realising her tone, Khushi made an attempt to calm herself down but when she spoke, she sounded just as panicky, "I'm, I'm sorry, I didn't mean that you can't fire me. What I meant was, please don't fire me." She inched closer and griped the edge of the table across which her employer was sitting. "Please Mr. Sharma, I really need this job. I can't lose it, I can't get fired again. Please, please understand me!"

"Khushi, haven't you been paying attention to what I said?" Mr. Sharma said, irked that he was being put in such an uncomfortable position. "I told you, you are a really talented girl, but, but you just seem to attract trouble." The old man shrugged tiredly. He seemed to have realised that his reason would seem, well, unreasonable. So, he went on explaining, "Everywhere you go, every task that's given to you has only brought us on the verge of going out of business. Sometimes you end up spilling hot food on the interviewee, sometimes you almost cause accidents in events and sometimes you humiliate reputed people for things that their employees have done?" He finished with a tone of incredulity and looked at her with an expression that asked, how am I supposed to help a case like you?

"Hey, that happened only once!" Khushi retaliated, uncomfortable under his stare, "That was a mistake. I thought it was Mr. Roy who harassed that girl, but it was Mr. Rae. That was not my fault, their names are so similar!"

Khushi knew her excuse was idiotic and that's why she was not surprised when Mr. Sharma burst into a small chuckle. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to smile. She knew that nothing she says is going to help her keep her job. She indeed has a knack for messing up and that has always cost her big time. So, she sulked back on her seat and waited whilst Mr. Sharma sobered himself and looked at her with a sympathetic smile. She squirmed, for sympathy always seemed condescending to her.

"I know you were not at fault, Khushi. You never are, and that's not me being sarcastic but the point is, it's always you. You are ultimately the one who does these things and if I let you in this company, it is going to be unfair to others." Mr. Sharma tried to explained in the fatherly tone he thought would make Khushi feel better, but deep down he knew nothing as such would happen. Realising her lost battle, Khushi pushed her chair back-her shoulders slumped and her eyes almost teary.

"I understand." She tried not to croak and without lifting her eyes, stood up to leave, "I get it, it's okay. Thanks anyways."

A grim look spread across the face of Mr. Sharma as he watched the usually bubbly girl of his office walk away with such a defeated stance. Something perhaps clicked in his heart that made him say, "But if you want, I can give a month's time. You can find a new job in the meantime?"

An ironic smile grew on Khushi's face. With the thought that she was most probably going to remain unemployed following this third termination, she turned around and said in a polite tone, "Thank you, Mr. Sharma. That's very kind of you." And with that, she left the cabin.