Hide-and-Seek
Ananya
Anxiety buzzed beneath my skin as I entered my new office.
Over the weekend, I caught up with Maa, ate her delicious food and avoided the topic of marriage like it was a public gathering during Covid.
After I dropped her off at the railway station on Sunday evening, Rhea and I had a much-needed debrief session.
(Yes, of course I told her everything; she’s my best friend.)
We spent the night dissecting everything: Rekha’s revelations, the cab incident with Jai, whether he heard me call him a dick and my brief interactions with him at the office. I didn’t get a chance to apologise or explain myself, but I could do that today.
He seemed annoyed at best, hostile at worst. Would he fire me? The chai I had in the morning sloshed in my stomach.
You’re overthinking this. It’s going to be fine. Rhea’s words echoed in my mind.
I took a deep breath. Exhaled. It’d be alright.
Kavita’s desk was empty when I got there. I looked at my wristwatch. Eight twenty-four. Not that early. I spotted a black bag sitting in the corner. That had to be hers. She’d show up soon enough. I took a seat and fiddled with the notebook in front of me. If Jai …
The elevator doors pinged.
Please let it be Kavita. Please let it be literally anyone else …
Jai stepped out and walked down the hallway, typing on his phone. He didn’t even glance in my direction.
The door to his office opened. Closed.
Okay. Fine. So that’s how this was going to be. He was going to pretend I didn’t exist.
I wasn't sure whether that was better or worse than a confrontation.
At least I still had a job. For now.
I pulled out my phone and texted Rhea.
Kavita appeared moments later, dressed in a loose powder blue dress and carrying a tray with a steaming cup. She pursed her lips when she saw me. Without a word, she knocked on Jai’s door and walked in.
Just great. My first day hadn’t even started, and I’d already disappointed her.
‘You’re late,’ she said instead of offering a greeting when she returned. ‘But since it’s your first day, I’ll let you off with a warning.’
‘I thought the workday starts at eight thirty.’
I frowned. ‘I was here six minutes before that.’
‘The workday starts fifteen minutes before your boss gets here. You need to be here at eight fifteen,’ she said. ‘On the dot.’
‘But how was—’ I stopped myself. I needed today to go smoothly. And arguing with the woman who was going to show me the ropes wasn’t the way to do that. ‘I’ll be on time tomorrow.’
‘Good.’ She sat in her chair, a hand bracing her lower back. ‘Jai drinks a cup of chai at exactly eight thirty-five in the morning and at four in the evening,’ she said. ‘He is extremely particular about it.’ Of course he is. ‘You’ll need to make it yourself. I’ll show you how later.’
‘Noted.’
‘He checks his emails while he drinks his chai –
about twenty minutes – and doesn’t like to be disturbed during that time.
Your job is to keep people away. No exceptions, unless it’s an emergency.
His meetings usually start at nine. Before that, there is a five-minute window during which someone can speak with him.
The rest of his schedule varies; you’ll find it in his calendar. And always, always have it memorised.’
Was she serious? Who plans like this? A control freak, that’s who.
Just like that, for the next few hours, Kavita continued to give me an orientation. I got employee access to the company systems with a brief overview, completed a few online training and HR courses and learned how to navigate Jai’s calendar and the filing system.
I had to admit that despite her robotic tendencies, she was excellent at familiarising me with the role and even better at her job.
‘Lunch break is for an hour. Jai has his at one, so you will too,’ she said, logging off from the computer. ‘I’ll show you around the office, and then we can grab lunch.’
I nodded. ‘I need to use the restroom; be right back.’
When I returned, Kavita was back on her computer. She looked up. ‘Jai has left for his lunch meeting. He wants notes on the plans for this season’s festive line when he’s back.’
My shoulders sagged. I was glad I didn’t have to face him just yet, but I was looking forward to the break. I had a feeling they’d be a luxury with Jai as my boss.
We ordered in some sandwiches and spent the hour eating and making notes.
Once we were done, Kavita began proofreading the report.
This is as good a time as any.
‘What kind of a boss is Jai?’ I asked.
‘Hardworking. Driven. Just.’
Interesting. If Jai was doing something wrong and there were discrepancies, delays or other issues, Kavita would have known about them. She was too meticulous to miss irregularities.
Then again, she didn’t strike me as someone who’d cover for her boss. Not if it crossed ethical lines. I needed more information.
‘And as a person?’
‘I don’t gossip.’ She paused. ‘He is kind. Generous. And has strong values,’ she said, an uncharacteristic hint of softness in her tone. ‘You’re lucky to work under him. You’re going to learn a lot.’
That didn’t match what Rekha had said. Or what I’d seen so far. Either Kavita was blind to his faults, or Rekha was wrong about him.
Or I was missing something. I needed to pay closer attention.
The elevator pinged, and I saw him before the doors even fully opened.
Instinctively, I dropped a pen on the floor and ducked under the desk ‘in search of it’.
I was aware this was ridiculous. But I needed time to come up with a plan to fix things with him. Maybe then, I could keep this job long enough to be transferred to the design team.
Kavita looked at me like I had grown a second head. Her eyes flicked upwards.
That could only mean … no.
‘If you’re done crawling on the floor, Ananya, get back to work.’
I grabbed the pen and scrambled up, face burning.
Jai leaned on the desk, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
‘I dropped my pen,’ I said, placing it on the desk and then smoothing out my dress. ‘I was just looking for it.’
‘And during lunch time?’ He raised a brow.
‘I went to the restroom.’ A mix of irritation and humiliation prickled under my skin. ‘I realise how it looks, but let me assure you they were coincidences.’
His expression didn’t shift. ‘If you say so. But moving forward, I expect visibility from you. Your job is to assist me; you can’t do that if you continue playing hide-and-seek.’
He wasn’t wrong; this job demanded presence. And while I truly did go to the bathroom earlier, I’d just made myself look incompetent as well. On day one.
Note to self: Jai notices everything. Don’t give him ammunition.
‘It won’t happen again.’
Jai looked at his phone, and a small crease formed between his brows. ‘Come with me,’ he said and headed back down the hallway.
Kavita immediately grabbed an iPad and fell into step beside him, jerking her head to signal me to follow.
‘But … the notes,’ I said. ‘Aren’t you going to read them?’ We had spent our entire lunch break working on them. What was the point if he wasn’t even …
Jai paused and looked over his shoulder. ‘As your boss, I tell you what to do. Not the other way around.’
I forced a smile. ‘I was simply reminding you. In case you forgot.’
‘I don’t forget,’ he stated as if it were impossible, and turned away.
Argh!
I scrambled to catch up with them.
‘Has the packaging vendor for the festive line confirmed the new delivery dates?’ Jai asked.
Kavita scrolled through the screen without breaking stride. ‘Yes. Final shipment is in six weeks.’
‘Tell them they have four. If they miss it or delay again, we’ll fine them and find someone else going forward.’
‘Consider it done.’ She pulled out the stylus and made a note.
‘How are we looking for the marketing meeting next week?’
‘They have two concepts to pitch. Reports and presentation decks are in progress, and they are prepared to proceed once you approve one.’
Jai certainly valued productivity. He wasted no time, not even on a three-minute walk.
We ended up on the first floor and entered a design studio straight out of my Pinterest fantasies – colour swatches on the desk, sketches, mood boards on the walls and curated chaos. But what took my breath away were the mannequins.
Standing in a semicircle, they were draped in the most exquisite bridal outfits I’d ever seen.
Sculpted silhouettes. Jewel-toned fabrics. Hand-embroidered designs on tulle.
Warm lights from the ceiling bounced off the gold threads and intricate beadwork, making them sparkle.
This wasn’t a workspace; it was a museum of art.
I paused as my eyes fell on a beaded peacock curled along the hem of a lehenga, its feathers forming a train that fanned across the floor in a dramatic flash of colours.
‘What do you think?’ a voice – sounding equal parts nervous and excited – asked.
I turned towards a back room. Oh my God.
I couldn’t believe I was meeting her again, not that she would remember me.
It was Meera Kumar, the lead designer of House of Advani’s bridal line.
I had attended one of her workshops years ago.
While it made me realise that bridal designs weren’t for me, I had enjoyed the class and thought that she was brilliant at her craft.
She had only gotten better since then, if these outfits were any proof.
Jai remained silent until he finished studying every design. ‘There are still lots of things to be considered from a business standpoint.’
‘I’m sure you’ll take care of it,’ Meera said, waving her hand. ‘What’s important is if you like them.’
Jai smiled. ‘I do. Good work, Meera.’
‘Thank you.’ Her smile brightened.
‘But you didn’t call me here urgently to see them,’ he said. ‘What’s the problem?’
‘It’s the beadwork on the peacock,’ Meera said, the concern evident on her face. ‘The Hyderabad workshop can’t do it. A few of our best karigars have left the team. Rumour is that Lehenga Bazaar made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.’
Jai pressed his lips together. ‘Kavita.’
‘I’ll get right on it,’ she said. ‘Stay with him,’ she mouthed to me and then left the studio.