CHAPTER-4

Minakshi and Abhimanyu return to the office. On the way, she dares not to say anything to him.

She was somewhat confused about him. There was something suspicious about the way he spoke to his client, Mr. Robert. She thought on one side he said he wanted the deal to be successful. On the other hand, he rejected it because he did not want it as a partnership.

When Abhimanyu entered the office, everyone became silent. The aura was devilish. Nobody dared to come in front of him thinking who wants to die.

Minakshi followed him into his cabin. She put the files on the table and asked him if she could leave now.

"Wait," Abhimanyu said without looking at her.

Minakshi stopped there and waited for his next order.

"Bring me a cup of black coffee."

"Now leave," he said snapping his finger.

"Yes sir" Minakshi replied and headed to the cafeteria to get coffee for him.

She went to the second floor and asked the woman at the counter to give her a cup of black coffee.

She gave her two cups of black coffee.

"I said one ma'am," Minakshi said

The lady told her she would need it. Then she told her to take the coffee before Mr. Abhimanyu became angry.

Minakshi took the tray and went to the tenth floor. She knocked on the door of his cabin before entering.

"Sir here is your coffee," she said placing the tray on the table. Abhimanyu was looking outside the window.

As one enters his cabin there is a table and three chairs arranged. In one corner is a sofa set, consisting of a three seater and two sofas of one seater in front of each other. There is a table of glass placed between the sofas.

There is a half wall and a glass window behind Abhimanyu's seat. To cover the window there is a strip curtain.

In the other corner is a small bedroom, where there is a bed and an almirah, and a washroom to freshen up.

When Abhimanyu works late he stays there overnight.

Abhimanyu turned to take the coffee from the tray and threw the cup in anger. The cup cracked beside Minakshi.

When he threw the cup Minakshi put her hands on her ears terrified. She thought that he was going to throw the cup at her for a while.

"Dammit," he said angrily and cursed at him.

He took the other cup. Minakshi thought he would break it as well, but he took a sip from it and sat in his chair.

"Sir, are you alright?" she asked him hesitating

"Out" he replied leaning on his chair with closed eyes.

Minakshi walked out of the cabin without saying anything. She was tired and hungry. It is almost lunchtime. She thought to go to the third floor and eat something.

There are two floors in Mickey company reserved for eating. The second floor is a cafeteria, where one can get refreshments. It is designed to make you feel as if you are in a café. There are tables in a circle shape, surrounded by 2-4 chairs.

There are also drinks available in a refrigerator for employees and the counter has some eatable items like pizza, burgers, tea, and coffee.

The third floor is for proper food like breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are long tables with a long bench on which 4-5 people can sit and eat.

Minakshi took a plate from the counter and started putting food on it. It is a self-service area.

Minakshi took a seat and ate peacefully. She placed the rice on a plate, dal, chapati, and mixed vegetables, along with curd and kajoo katli sweet. She was eating when she saw Ms. Lata coming toward her with a plate in her hand. She sits beside Minakshi.

"Hi, Minakshi" Lata greeted her.

"Hello mam" Minakshi replied while eating.

"You can call me Lata when we are alone," Lata told Minakshi with a warm smile.

"Okay," Minakshi said with a smile.

"So tell me how was your date with our sir?" Lata asked taking a bite of chapati and dal from her plate.

"Date?" Minakshi asked with raised eyebrows.

Lata laughed at her and asked to tell her how was her meeting today with their boss.

"I don't know Lata," Minakshi said sipping the dal with a spoon.

"What do you mean?" Lata asked looking at Minakshi with a furrowed brow.

Minakshi told her everything that happened in the restaurant.

"Oh, it is normal," Lata said as if it was a very small thing.

"Why is it normal?" Minakshi asked

Minakshi went on to say, "I used to believe two businessmen could be partners. but Sir does not want to be partners, rather he wants his clients to work under him," he continued.

"Sir does not want any partner. He is a person who does not want to work with anyone" Lata said while eating her food.

"He wants to work with a person who could work under him but not with him," she said further.

Minakshi wondered why he behaved this way.

"He is like this only. Even we do not know why he is like this. You can say he is dominating, maybe," Lata said thinking and smiling back at Minakshi.

Minakshi just nodded her head yes. She thought is he a loner?

"What do you think about him?" Lata asked Minakshi looking at her as if to know her thoughts.

"I think he is strange, maybe strict, arrogant, egoistic, and a lonely guy," she said looking at Lata with narrowed eyes to see if she is right or not.

"You can say that" Lata replied simply.

"But he has a kind heart as well, which he does not show," Lata said further.

"What?" Minakshi asked

"He takes good care of this company and his employees. He makes sure we are comfortable, as well as making sure we get our salary on time, no matter what" Lata said and winked at Minakshi.

Minakshi laughed at it and they both stood up to leave.

Minakshi walked back to her floor and took a seat in her chair. She wondered if Abhimanyu needed anything when she was not there.

Just then the phone rang. She picked up the phone and Abhimanyu asked her to come to his cabin.

KNOCK KNOCK

"Come," he said.

Minakshi entered without saying anything and stood there quietly.

"We have a meeting in a week. I want you to conduct it" Abhimanyu said looking at her.

"Me?" Minakshi asked confirming.

"Is there someone else besides you here?" He asked her as he looked around for anyone else besides them.

The woman shook her head in no.

"All right then, get ready," he said standing up and moving towards her.

"I want a positive response. right?" he leaned in beside her as he stepped out of the cabin.