chapter 29

SerendipityEpisode-29Rajeev stormed into his cabin, his phone nearly crashing onto the table as he set it down.Over the intercom, he ordered Geeta to bring coffee. “Strong coffee,” he emphasized.He walked to the window, gazing out at the endless Arabian Sea from Supreme House—the last office at the seaside edge of Cuffe Parade.The water shimmered under the sun, waves crashing against the shore, mirroring the turbulence of his thoughts.‘Who does she think she is? Megha Joshi… She talks non-stop, like a machine gun, barely pausing to breathe. I even tried to interrupt, but of course, she wouldn’t listen.He sat down, took a sip of coffee, and felt himself relax slightly.His gaze shifted to his laptop screen, where an unread email from Megha Joshi awaited him. Despite his frustration, a faint smile crossed his face.That fifth slide... She made sure to point it out.When I entered the meeting, she was already halfway through her ten-slide presentation. She kept glancing at the clock, then back at me… sighing, shaking her head, even closing her eyes in exasperation. She was gripping the presentation pointer so tightly,I thought she might slam it on the table. How furious she was! Is she always this intense?Even at the award ceremony, she was irritated… She arrived late as if it was nothing.But when I was late, she noted every second—exactly 29 minutes, in fact.Still, I have to admit, her presentation skills are extraordinary. She knows every technical detail by heart and even pointed out things the Supreme team might have missed. I’ll keep that in mind; it might come in handy once the project starts.But does she have to be so animated? The way she nods her head constantly—it’s distracting. She can’t stay still. Two steps forward, two steps back… then she turns to the screen, walks back, and keeps talking. It’s exhausting just to watch.But ultimately, she impressed the VPs. And as for me? I’m sure she reserves her irritation just for me.She completely ignores me, as if I don’t exist. And I’m the CFO of Supreme Group! What an attitude!Oddly, though, it suits her. Yes, I asked that question on purpose, just to see how she would react. I knew she wouldn’t answer since I was late. Yet, I still gave her the go-ahead to continue the presentation. Why? I don’t even know.If it were someone from Supreme, they’d probably have a termination letter waiting. Miss Joshi, you’re lucky you’re not with Supreme.In front of Sanyal Sir, I was even ready to apologize. What is it about those eyes of hers? Raised eyebrows, wide and curious… those honey-brown eyes, such a unique color. At the award ceremony, they glowed in the warm light—innocent, reflecting an unguarded mind. I suspect she doesn’t want to discuss what happened before the ceremony. But how should I know what she’s thinking? We haven’t worked together long enough for me to understand her unspoken words.She smoothly switched topics right to the last second, finishing just five and a half minutes late.Can you believe that? It felt like being back in school: “You’re late. Stand outside.” Luckily, SHE didn’t throw me out of the conference room.And how small is she? Not something to judge someone on, but I’d guess just over my shoulder—around 5’2”.And I’m 6’2”. My neck aches from bending down just to talk. I noticed her avoiding eye contact in the lobby… Why does that bother me? Why do I feel like striking up a conversation? Her presentation’s done. That’s it.But Sanyal Sir was thoroughly impressed. Honestly, no one from SWC has given such a good presentation before. I didn’t even want to attend today’s meeting, but she’s different—an excellent presenter. Now I regret not arriving from the start. Maybe her 29 minutes of frustration would have been less.Just then, Geeta entered the cabin, placing a printed contract from JPM & Co. on his desk for signing.As he flipped through the pages, Megha’s face drifted into his mind again.She said I wasted her time—a direct accusation, without even listening to me. I wanted to tell her the presentation was good… and to apologize for being late earlier. Even for the incident at the award ceremony. If only we could sit down in a cabin and talk quietly.How did she know the JPM contract was finalized? Someone must have mentioned it during the meeting. It’s true; the SWC team shouldn’t have been called. Her time was wasted. That’s on Supreme. But what was Sanyal Sir doing there? Gupta Sir, Sanyal Sir, and Megha—they chatted as if they’d known each other for years. What were they laughing about?And what was I supposed to say? She looked at me once or twice, maybe expecting me to speak. But how can you talk to someone who’s practically a stranger? If I said anything, I’m sure she’d get angry again. She’s so unpredictable.She probably thinks I’m arrogant. But she clearly respects Gupta Sir—a father-daughter bond, maybe. I even saw Sanyal Sir smile today for the first time, thanks to a joke about his diabetes pills.Megha smiled sweetly at that, too. Thankfully, she declined the lunch invitation. I couldn’t spare another hour for lunch either.Did she say no to avoid me? Sanyal Sir mentioned she should lead the project. And again, she mentioned Purab—not once, but twice.Why does she give him so much importance? And why did it irritate me to hear Purab’s name? I don’t know…But working with her? It’s impossible. We can barely stand five minutes in the same room without arguing, let alone work together. Impossible.Just as he was about to sign the JPM contract, the phone on his desk rang.Sanyal Sir’s voice came through on the other end.“Yes, Sanyal Sir?”“Rajeev! We need to talk about the Technosis project. Please come to my cabin.”To be continued....© ®️ Meghna_Yadav 2021Special Thanks to friend Gayatri and my loving daughter, my buddy.Hello Readers,Illuminate the five stars of ratings with your gentle touch. Do let me know your thoughts via comments..Thanks and Regards,Meghana Yadav...