12 Working Together

Rishi just eagerly awaited to see Aliya signing her contract with the company.

_____________________________________________FASHION AND THE CITY

9 AM

Rishi didn't returned home. He slept in the office itself. But before sleeping he had sent an email to Aliya. He informed her to come to office at 9 AM sharp.

Aliya reported the office on time. She saw Mr.Gera sitting in the waiting hall on a sofa. She went in there to ask him what were the results.

"Good morning Mr.Gera. You had said yesterday that my two conditions are impossible to fulfil. Then why Mr.Rishi had sent an email to me to come to his office?"

"I was wrong Ms.Sharma. We have completed your both conditions in a night. You may ask boss."

"Where is he?"

"He is in his cabin."

"Aren't you coming?"

"I'm waiting for our expelled employees. I've to greet them first."

"Ok."

Aliya headed towards Rishi's cabin. She knocked on the door to ask his permission. No one replied. She repeatedly knocked the door for almost 5 minutes. Still no one was responding. When she opened the door, she found a man sleeping on a sofa. His back was facing Aliya, so she couldn't recognise him. When took some steps ahead to look who was it, to her surprise he was Rishi.

'Was he sleeping here the whole night! I think he has really worked hard to bring me back. But no matter what you do I wont appreciate you Rishi. Sorry.'

"Good morning Mr.Rishi." Aliya tried to wake him up.

"Whose that?"

"Aliya Sharma."

As soon as Rishi heard her voice, he jumped and sat on the sofa. He was smiling widely.

"It seems that you're pretty happy seeing me here." Aliya said mockingly.

"I've seen your first seen your face in the morning. It seems that I'll have a good day." Rishi whispered to himself.

"Did you say something?"

"Nothing. Good morning Aliya."

"Good morning."

"So you Mr.Gera may have informed you that we're done with our work."

"Yes, he said me."

"Then are you ready to sign the contract."

"Not now. I think let all the expelled ones come first, also I've to see if you have fulfilled my other condition."

"There's the laptop. You can check the outbox."

"Okay."

Aliya started to check the emails one by one. The format and content of the email was the same. Only names were changed. Aliya was smiling inwardly. She expected this. Rishi sensed her satisfaction. Even he was happy.

*knock knock*

"Come in." Rishi said.

"Sir all waiting outside."

"Let them in."

One by one, every employee looked at Aliya. Aliya felt nervous. She thought that they all may be angry with her. Because she was the reason behind their termination. And the main person behind all this mess, Mr.D'souza was standing at the last staring at her. For Aliya it was a spine chilling stare. Even though he had misbehaved with Aliya in the past, still he was senior to her, both in work and age. Aliya was tensed. She didn't knew if they'll hold grudges for her or not. But to her surprise, her interviewers apologised to her.

"I'm sorry Aliya. What happened to you shouldn't have happened."

"Even I'm sorry."

"Being a woman, I shouldnt have tolerated those actions. I'm sorry. And thank you for giving my job back."

One by one they all said sorry to Aliya.

Aliya gave a smiled to all of them.

"Of course, I was hurt.But I can't expect sorry from you. You'll are my seniors. Moreover, there's no need to thank me. I thought that expelling everyone like that was not reasonable. So I asked Rishi sir to call you'll back. I hope no one will hold grudges for me."

Everyone nodded. Rishi looked at Mr.D'souza as he hadn't apologised yet. Mr.D'souza was unaware of his stare. He suddenly spoke

"Aliya, I'm the main culprit behind this. Before you, I had offered the same contract to every woman. I had been doing this since I've joined the company. When Mr.Rishi threw me from his office, I was angry. But when I heard that you have requested sir to bring us back, I am repenting. So now, I request Rishi sir not to bring me back to the office."

"Mr.D'souza, I've already forgiven you." Aliya replied calmly.

"But Mr.D'souza I've already taken the decision to bring you back." Rishi argued.

"No sir, please change your decision. I'm a culprit and I deserve to be punished."

"Are you sure?" Rishi asked.

"Yes I'm sure."

By saying this Mr.D'souza and others left the cabin.

Rishi, Aliya and Mr.Gera were the only people left. Rishi had a doubt that what if Aliya refuses to join because Mr.D'souza didn't come back.

Aliya didn't say anything. Rishi wante to ask her but he instead signed Mr.Gera to talk to her.

"Ms.Aliya! So I think you're ready to sign the contract."

"Yes I'm ready." Aliya politely said

Rishi's doubts were cleared. He was up in the airs. Aliya noticed his expressions.

'You can be happy now Rishi. But I hope you still remember what were my last words 10 years back.'