The Tension and silence in the class were gloomy, while other students passed a glance at themselves, Meera was a bit pissed with what was written in every paper she collected from her team.
She looked up from the paper and passed them a glare, almost on the verge of crying in frustration.
"You can not tell me these are the questions you want me to ask him right? This is a joke" Meera said, annoyance dripping in her words.
"What's wrong with it? It's not bad" Pari, one of the girls in her team, said with an eye roll.
"What kind of soap do you use? Do you have a girlfriend? Can you please describe how your dream girl is? What are your plans in 1 year?" Meera gloomy read out a few questions from the paper and passed them a displeased look.
"Wow! Of course, it's not bad. It looks so professional and does not make me look like a creep, Mr. Madhav will answer right away and not kick me out. Yeah it's not bad at all" Sarcasm dripped
"Well what questions do you expect us to ask, the Dean said we should ask curious questions" Pari sassily said.
"He also said, questions are meant to be professional, curious professional questions. We are not fangirling here. It's an interview, not a dating site" Meera sighed as she cared for her temple. Already have a slight headache.
"Why are you so worked up, asking those questions still looks professional" Pari rolled her eyes
"And this is why entrepreneurship is far away from your reach" Meera sternly replied and others laughed.
"It's okay. We are sorry Meera, and I guess we need to recreate a few new questions then" Ishita, another team member buttered in and apologized while others hmmed except Pari.
"That's going to take time, I'm leaving now. Luckily, I have my questions set. I will use mine today and please you all need to recreate it and give it to me on Wednesday. That's my next appointment. Okay?"
A chorus of "okay" echoed within them
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"Thank you uncle" Meera hurriedly stepped down from the rickshaw and paid the driver.
She looked at her phone, the time read '5:01' She sighed in relief and headed towards the building.
She saw Maya in her seat and respectfully greeted her, but instead, Maya scowled at her when she passed by and all Meera did was grin, her teeth in the display, in a way teasing her. Maya rolled her eyes and mumbled words beneath her breath.
Immediately she stepped out of the elevator she came across Tara.
"Oh my dear, Meera. How are you? Nice to see you again" She gave a gentle smile
"I'm fine, Ms. Tara, and you? It's so nice to see you too" Meera smiled
"I'm good too sweetheart. Mr Madhav is expecting you. You need to go now. I have an angry Ceo I need to pass an important file to" she said heading straight to the elevator I emerged from.
'Angry Ceo?'
Merra shrugged and headed towards Siddhartha Madhav's office.
She got to the door and clenched her bag, despite her last visit here, for some reason she was still a bit nervous and scared. Not just about Mr Madhav, but everything about this place.
Maybe in her heart, she believes that she is in one of the most dangerous man companies and the whole place does not look legal or perhaps safe.
Shaking her head a bit, to brush off her thoughts.
Meera raised her hand to knock, but it swung open, Mr. Siddhartha Madhav's handsome face was in view and Meera's hand was still hung up.
"Meera?" He said with a smile and she hurriedly dropped her hand.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know-"
"It's okay Meera, I see you make it by 5. Come let's go" he said and stepped fully out of his office. He was a bit too close to Meera and she stepped back a little, keeping a safe distance.
It was when he stepped out she saw his suitcase.
'Huh? Is he going home? Did he forget the interview?' She thoughts
"Creases on the face are not healthy for your pretty face. What's on your mind?" He asked, her eyes fell on his suitcase and he got his answer.
"Oh. Haha! Don't worry Merra, the interview still holds. But not here" he said and began to walk away.
'Huh? Not here? What does he mean? Are we going to another branch?'
Her brain gloomy with disturbing questions, she walks after him.
"Mr Madhav, wh-"
His abrupt halt startled Meera, he turned around and this time, the smiling face vanished and was replaced with a stern expression.
"What did we agree on Meera? About the name-calling? Did you forget?" Is sudden change in a bit scared Meera, not trying to show how scared she was, she gobbled and replied.
"I'm so sorry....Siddhartha" she corrected. He hmmed and proceeded to walk away, leaving a confused Meera questioning the matter at hand.
Snapping out of her thoughts she hurriedly followed him again and they both got in the elevator.
The elevator dinged and slid open, they stepped out and curious Meera still followed him. Both of them head out of the company.
Suddenly a car stopped before them and the driver got out, respectfully passing the key to Siddhartha.
After contemplating in her head and she seems not to understand a thing, Meera out of frustration spoke up.
"Siddhartha? I'm sorry, but where are we going? Don't we have an interview session? Or are we going to a different branch?" Meera asked instead of getting an answer she heard someone laugh.
She glanced at Siddhartha and saw him laughing.
'Did I say something funny?' She thought to herself tilting her head a bit.
"Meera? No, we are not going to another branch. Now get in the car, or do you want princess treatment?" Siddhartha smirked and Meera at this moment was more confused.
"Then where are we going?" She asked ignoring his question.
"To the Madhav mansion," he grinned and all color drained from Meera's face as they turned pale with her eyes widened.
"Why do you look like you've seen a ghost? Come on we have to go"
He went to the other side of his car and opened the passenger door, gesturing for Meera to get in, but instead, she stood rooted in the place.
"I can't" she whispered but Siddhartha heard her.
"And why not?"
"I'm sorry Siddhartha, but I can't. The school stated we interview professionally and going to your home is not part of professionalism" She spoke up, although she seemed scared but the idea of going to the mansion was a No! For her. The idea of coming to the company alone was terrifying. Now the House??
Siddhartha sighed and closed the door and walked up to her.
"Your last visit, I told you, if you want this interview to work we do it in the friendship level. My working hours were over and I didn't want you to take a break from your side hustle. And I know how tiring college baggage can be. I also told you to work at your comfortable time. I get off work at 5, and I know how important this interview is to you" he explained
"It's okay m- Siddhartha, I can manage really. Getting a cut from my workplace in a month won't really affect me" She smoothly lied through her tongue.
'Lies! You need it, you moron'
She ignored her self-consciousness.
"Stop lying, and if you are scared. Don't worry, I will assure you you safely 100%. I don't want you to cut your work short and affect you gravely. After the interview, my guard will drop you home safe, I promise."
"But it's still not appropriate to go to your home, we can just stay at one coffee shop or something and talk on it" She was still resisting and Siddhartha sigh
'She is one stubborn young lady '
"Meera, the mansion is the safest place. And you know very well that the Madhav Family is recognized as a mafia. Do you want neighbors to talk ill behind your bad? And you know the Madhav has a lot of enemies you want to be a target?" Siddhartha raised his perfectly shaped right brow and Meera gasped, clenching her bag.
For one thing, a good reputation is what Meera values most and the idea of society speaking ill about her engagement with bad influencers will ruin the image of her parent in society and she does not want that.
She knows how gravely careful and hard her father tends to keep the reputation of the family clean, and she is not ready or ever ready to ruin that.
And the fear of being- a target??? Is he crazy?
"O-okay, we can go," she said and he smiled in trumpet.
He opened the door for her and she sat in, immediately he slammed the door.
'God I just hope, time flies fast'
Siddhartha got in and instructed her to fasten her seat belt before igniting the car to life and revving out, driving away.
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They drove past the city and into the restricted area of the city, the way still tile to the road, and the view looked like a different place entirely.
No ordinary person ever comes to this side of the city! It's well known to be for the dangerous mafia family and powerful people.
Meera was left stunned, with how big the estate was, the paved way that was secured with big and long trees, giving it a forestry view.
They drove for 10 minutes before Meera was able to spot a big mansion upfront, painted in gold and white, standing in its glory.
The gate automatically opened itself, but as they drove past she saw a security guard there, who bowed as they drove in.
They drove through the pavement and stopped beside a water fountain. Both stepped out and Meera was astonished at the sight before her.
Although she admires the place, but a part of her didn't, because of the thoughts of them building this house with illegal money or the spot of being in the mafia.
"Let's go Meera" Siddhartha called as he walked up the mini stairs and into a queue the large golden door opened and he walked in.
Meera sighed and silently prayed before heading inside.
"Welcome to Madhav Mansion, make yourself comfortable. Vid, will take care of whatever you need" he indicated staring at the Vid and then back at Meera.
Meera passed a small smile and nodded.
"I will be right back," he said and went up the spiral stairs
"Ma'am, do you want anything?" Vid asked
"Just water"
"Okay ma'am"
Meera gently sat down on one of the couches and decided to get the questions ready for him. She brought out a file from her bag and began to do a few checking on it. While at it, Vid brought the water.
She let out a thank you and placed the water on the table before her and continued with her task.
20 minutes later
While engulfed in her phone, having a little chat with Jiya, also letting her know where she was.
The idea to call her parent and inform them mixed in her mind, but she kept it at bay and decided to talk with them when she got home. It's a long day after all.
So lost and carried away the little gossip with her best friend, she didn't realize the presence of the person who got in.
"Who the hell are you?" A voice growled and in fear, she stood up abruptly and heads up to see the culprit, and her eyes widened in fear.
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I'm so sorry for the late update. Aside from writing, I have other work I'm engaged in.
I will update more from nowðð