‘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,alwayshave 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 employeeaccess 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.’
