Her…

The white colored Maruti Eco was slowly making its way towards the office gate. He was late by almost an hour and was still groggy, his mind not still fully awake from its slumber.

“Bhaiyya, stop the car next to that gate…” He said to the uber driver, as the car slowly ground to a halt.

Mechanically paying off the driver, he slid the car door open and got down. As he got out of the car and stared out at the big blue board above the gate, it dawned on him.

It had been exactly a year since he had joined the place, a freshly minted arrogant and ambitious MBA.

A year had passed by and he was left with mixed feelings. It is not that there had not been highs and it had been quite eventful, but many a time, excruciatingly frustrating as well. Also, as he got used to the ebb and flow of life in that somnolent city, it had started to become drudgery. He wished for some kind of change, some energy and newness in life.

In a similar sullen mood, thinking back about the year that had passed, he strode on across the graveled road bounded by a beautiful lush green lawn on one side and Hoardings of brand campaigns, with celebrity models old and new, staring out at him, on the other.

Making his way towards the main building’s entrance, he quickly climbed up, trying to shake off the sleep with a quick energetic run and reached the reception, where he stumbled upon a surprisingly large group of young people sitting all around the usually empty reception.

It was an odd and unusual group, to spot at the factory. All of them were smartly deck up in full suits and as one they looked up at him, as he entered.

Hiding his surprise at the sight in front of him, he crossed the reception and walked on towards the main office lobby.

As he made his way along the long hallway, which lead to the main lobby, he noticed an alluring young girl with dark black slightly curled hair, also wearing a similar black suit, walking in front of him.

“Who are these people and who is she.”, he started wondering, now fully awake and all his troubling ruminations, washed away.

The girl in front of him was fixated on her mobile phone and was staring intently at it, WhatsApping someone, or so he spied from behind her.

In a couple of more strides, they both had neared the pathway leading towards the main lobby.

He was suddenly hard-pressed to catch a glimpse of this mysterious woman’s face, curiosity getting the better of him and he quickened his stride, speeding up intentionally.

As he drew level with and then crossed her, he turned around and caught a glimpse of her face. Her pitch black pupils, behind the black rimmed oval glasses, were still locked to the screen. Not once did it give him a chance glance or look, walking on as he stood there, staring at her, forgetting for a second to breathe.

She was captivating and he stood there rooted to the spot, his mind racing with questions and possibilities.

“What are you staring at now!”, a familiar female voice behind him questioned, with unsuppressed mirth.

“Nothing… Who are these new people, walking around in suits…” he asked nonchalantly, not even turning around to look at the source of the voice.

“You will get to know, soon. Don’t worry!” the voice replied, laughing out at him and dragged him away from the main lobby and her.