Chapter 104 - 103

Shreya's boots echoed through the corridors of the office bright and early. She was on her usual denim and a full hand t-shirt to cover up her wounds. She approached Madhu's desk.

"Is there anything I can do for you Shreya??" Madhu asked standing up politely.

Shreya gestured her to sit back and said, "Call Zeenath and ask her to meet me in my office now along with Sreenivas ASAP."

Madhu nodded her head instantly picking up her phone to make the call. But then stopped when Shreya did not move from her place.

"Is there anything else Shreya??" Madhu asked timidly looking at Shreya.

Shreya looked at Madhu and asked, "I saw you drive away with someone the other day. Who was he??" Her question was straight forward and unapologetic.

Madhu was taken back for a second. She did not expect the question.

"Why, madam??" Madhu asked back timidly.

That is when Shreya realized she was scaring the little girl. So she instantly smiled and said in an easy-going voice, "Nothing serious. I was just being nosy and gossipy I guess. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

Madhu shook his head frantically and answer, "It was nothing Shreya. He is my best friend. He just returned after studying overseas for a while and I got over-excited that was all."

"Hey, don't worry. I am not reprimanding you or anything. I was just curious." Shreya said honestly and left but then stopped at the doors all over again.

Shreya once again came back searching around in her backpack. She took out a pricy looking card and gave it to Madhu. Madhu accepted it and looked at it curiously.

"This the invitation to the New year's bash. You can bring your parents along. It will not be like a typical c.o.c.ktail party where people get dressed up and talk about business, I promise. It will be fun." Shreya said with a warm smile. It was a party of close family and friends that the Srivastav's host every year. They just gather around and have fun actually.

"Shreya… I can't accept this… I am just an employee here." Madhu refused cautiously. This party had been going on for a while and she knew that it was sort of a family gathering. So she felt very intimidated just to accept the invitation… imagine how she would be if she had to actually attend it.

"Bullshit. Of course, you can. I am the one inviting you. You know what… you should also bring your friend along. It will be fun I promise. Now I got to go. Bye. And tell Zee that I want to see her lazy ass in my office in 10 minutes." Shreya said and walked away like the wind without looking back.

Madhu first made the call to Zeenath and then sat back staring at the invitation. The invite was very pretty and simple.

'We heartily welcome you and your family and friends to this years 'New years celebration' at The Srivastav's Manor'

The message was crisp, straightforward, and was written in golden ink. The letters were in calligraphy making the whole thing look fancier than it actually was.

Shreya went to her office and got to work. Exactly 10 minutes later, she heard a knock and before she could ask the person to come in, Zee walked in and sat on the couch nonchalantly.

Shreya rolled her eyes. She took a file and kept it on the other side of the table and said, "This will be your next assignment. You will be reporting from today. If you have any doubts, ask me now." She was authoritative but also indifferent at the same time somehow.

Zee instantly got out of the couch and approached the desk.

"You can't do this to me Shreya…" Zee exclaimed flipping over the file. It was some surveillance assignment on some guy around Abimanyu. She hated surveillance. It was the most boring aspect of this job. Shreya picked just the right job to piss her off, Zee knew it. It was her punishment for disobeying orders. But she could not accept it lying down.

"I can and I am doing it. I gave you a chance. And I warned you not to blow it up but you blew it in just one week. Now you have to live with the consequences. You can go now and ask Sreenivas to come in next." Shreya ordered away without even bothering to look at her.

Zee knew she was not going to get anywhere with her. Shreya was as stubborn as one could ever be. Once she decided on something, heaven forbid she would end up doing it at all cost. So she huffed and puffed but still went out of the office with her file. She decided to lay low until Shreya cooled down a bit.

Sreenivas stood outside the door. Zee gestured him to go in. She felt slightly guilty towards him. She could clearly guess Sreenivas is going to be punished for her own foolishness. That day she actually tricked him and slipped away to meet Naren. From then on, Sreenivas did not even bother looking at her straight on her face. He had been way too polite and distant making her feel guilty and irritated. But she knew she had messed up and as Shreya said, she has to learn to live with the consequences.

Sreenivas knocked on the door and waited for the reply. And when he heard Shreya say come in, he walked in and stood in front of her table stiffly.

Shreya looked up from the files and gestured him to sit.

Sreenivas refused politely but eased his posture.

Shreya did not insist further. Sreenivas was former military and those guys liked to act a certain way. The mannerisms are engraved in their bones. So it was almost impossible to get rid of them.

So instead she asked, "You know you screw up right??"

"Yes, ma'am. And it won't happen again. I guarantee it." Sreenivas replied sternly.

"Call me Shreya. And you are right. It won't happen again. If it did, you will be looking for a new job." Shreya said casually sitting back on her chair.

Sreenivas nodded his head and said a single word of reply, "Understood."

"And if she ever evades you again, I want you to call me directly," Shreya ordered away once again.

"Understood," Sreenivas replied once again.

Shreya's lips slightly curved this time. She somehow found it cute. Sreenivas being so serious. She just waved her hands gesturing him to get out. But just as he reached the doors, "Hey, wait."

Sreenivas turned around and asked, "Yes ma'am?? Anything else??"

"Again with the ma'am. I asked you to call me Shreya so many times already. Is it so hard??" Shreya whined and complain.

"Sorry, ma'… I mean, sorry Shreya." Sreenivas replied uncomfortably. He was not used to calling his superiors by name. it was a hard habit to break.

"Forget it. I will just remind you until it gets drilled into your head." Shreya replied with a slight smile. This was the whole reason why she likes him so much in the first place. He was smart and precise when it came to working but extremely clumsy and naïve when it came to talking to people. And it amused her to no end.

"Is that all… Shreya??" Sreenivas asked when Shreya did not elaborate any further.

"Oh, yes. This is the invitation to the New year's celebration. It's at Srivastav's manor. Be there. No excuses." Shreya said sternly and gave him the invite. She was not trying to intimidate him or order him around. But she had known Sreenivas for a long time now and 'orders and protocols' is the language he understands and it would do him good to mingle with people a little. He talked way too little for a guy his age and had even fewer friends.

"Yes, ma'am…"Sreenivas replied but then corrected himself when Shreya gave him a look, "I mean… I will be there, Shreya." He then exited the office with slight sweat forming in one corner of his forehead.

Shreya let out a laugh shaking her head once the doors closed behind him.