Ishqbaaz – Rikara Support Chapter 13

Gauri walks to the lunch room when she saw the notice board. There was a new note there and she goes up to read it.

Attention: From on, employees are free to wear whatever they would like in this professional environment. There have been several misunderstandings where people have always thought that the western clothing is ideal in this environment as we are fashion designers. However, fashion is not in what clothes you wear but how you wear it.

Gauri smiles at the notice board and looks at the camera.

G( Thinking): Thank you, boss. I hope you are watching this.

Obviously, Om was watching her and seeing her smile, it made his day. She heads to the lunch room where her crew is. There are altogether 4 men in her crew along with Keshav. Their names were John, Sahil, Krish and Shahid.

J: So you are the new girl that changed the rules of the office.

G(Looks around): Me??

S: In most designers, the employees wear revealing clothes and treat salwars as a piece of crap. But, you have respected our nation’s culture. I am glad that sir has realized that and gave people the choice to wear salwars.

G(Smiling): I did not do anything. So what are your names by the way?

They all introduce each other and now it was Gauri’s turn.

G: I am Gauri Kumari Sharma from Bareilly.

S: Bareilly? Really? No way.

G: I am telling you the truth.

S: I am also from Bareilly as well.

G(Goes closer to him): So, do you need Sharma’s sweet shop? Their Gol Gappas are the best.

S: That is the only shop I go to in Bareilly but I am a fan of jalebis though.

J: Looks like soon in the office, they are going to start a sweet shop.

Om, in his office, uses his laptop to check for any recent emails. As he goes through it, he sees an unread email for Gauri Kumari Sharma.

O: Gauri sent me an email. At least she is willing to talk to me without even knowing who I am.

Om opens the email and it says:

Good morning, sir. I would just like to thank you for supporting me and watching my back yesterday. I also noticed that at the interview, you are the one that told the hiring manager to hire me. I am truly grateful for your help and promise you that I will surpass your expectations.

Regards,
Gauri

O: She is very observant. I need to be very careful. Gauri, the sole purpose of this entire façade is to support you to the best of my ability. If I would have just came up to you with this offer, I know that you would have threw back in my face. I need to respond to this but what can I say?

Om types: I can do anything for you… (he deletes the word, you) and types in “my employees”.

O(Thinking): No, I cannot be too nice to her because she will start to suspect me. I need to phrase this in a professional way.
He deletes what he wrote and writes,” Mrs. Gauri Kumari Sharma, as my boss, it is my job to look after my employees. You were not the sole reason why I implemented this decision. I have received complaints from other girls as well.”

Gauri receives the email and smiles.

G(Thinking): He is such a nice man. The fact that he cares about other people is so heart-warming.

G: Sahil, what is our boss’ name? Everyone refers to him as sir but no one has told me what his name is?

S: I think it is Shankar.

G: Hey, Shankerjii, he is named after you. Just like how you watch over me, he is helping me out. It looks like people who are named after you have always been helping me out.

And then her smile turns into a frown.

G(Thinking): Om is also another name for you, but all he has done is give me pain. But, that pain gave me the motivation to step out of my shell so maybe that pain was blessing in disguise.

Om instantly realized why his face changed as his name always represent her Shankerji.

O: You do not realize that this Om is also helping you out. Sooner or later, you will find out what I did for you and by then, my Parvati will be my side.