Somi parked her trusty scooty in front of our office building, tilting her head dramatically as she squinted up at the glass facade. “One day,” she began with a flourish, “we’ll own this building, Rushika. People will bow as we enter, chanting our names. Maybe even lay down a red carpet…”

I grinned, catching her enthusiasm. “Oh, and don’t forget the royal fanfare—like in those period dramas. Big drums, flowers raining from the sky…”

“Exactly!” Somi said, clapping her hands. “We’ll walk in, dripping in designer outfits, and the office staff will whisper, ‘Ma’am, chai ya coffee?’ while nervously offering us—”

“Stop,” I interrupted, holding up my hand. “This isn’t the Raja-Maharaja era. Why would anyone treat us like royalty?”

Somi turned to me, her expression equal parts shock and betrayal. “Excuse me? Are you paying taxes for my dreams?”

“Sorry, Your Highness,” I said, throwing her an apologetic smile and tugging her toward the entrance. “Let’s go before you daydream us into a monarchy.”

Inside the office, we settled at our desks and got to work on project overviews for the new clients. By “work,” I mean I stared at my screen, trying to figure out what half the numbers meant, while Somi hummed to herself beside me.

As I was typing, I casually leaned toward her. “What’s your plan this weekend? Want to go shopping?”

Somi raised an eyebrow. “Shopping? What are we buying this time?”

“I saw this beautiful kurta online. I really want it, but it’s way too expensive. So, window shopping first, maybe?”

Somi smirked. “Window shopping is just pre-shopping. And yes, I’ll come. I’ll buy a bunch of random stuff to make myself feel better about life.”

We burst into laughter, and our mini therapy session was in full swing when a loud voice interrupted us.

“Ah, the chatterboxes are at it again!”

It was Subhash, our manager, walking toward us with a mix of mock annoyance and amusement. “You two never submit anything on time. Always ‘cha-cha-cha’ and no work!”

“Good morning, sir!” we greeted him in unison, flashing our best smiles.

Subhash raised an eyebrow. “So, what’s today’s topic of gossip?”

I leaned back in her chair, feigning innocence. “Sir, we weren’t talking. You’re the one asking about our conversation. Not very ethical of you, is it?”

Somi nodded vigorously. “Exactly. Gossiping on duty, sir? Tch, tch.”

Subhash straightened his posture, trying to regain his authority. “I wasn’t gossiping. I was… checking if you’re fools. Good. Now finish your work.” He spun on his heel and marched off.

As soon as he was out of earshot, I muttered, “Is he a bit loose in the head, or what?”

Somi snorted. “100%.”

We returned to our work, exchanging occasional comments about our weekend plans until lunchtime rolled around. After our break, we were buried in project outlines when a company-wide email popped into our inboxes.

Subject: New CEO Announcement

Message:

We are pleased to announce that our new CEO will visit the office tomorrow. All employees must gather on the first floor at 9:00 AM sharp to welcome him.

Note: No latecomers will be entertained.

The moment I finished reading, I heard Subhash’s voice behind me. “Read the last line again, Rushika. No latecomers will be entertained.”

I nodded, biting back a retort. As he walked away, I turned to my computer, my face twisted in irritation. “Thanks for the reminder, Subhash Sir,” I muttered under my breath.

Before I could dive back into work, my phone buzzed on the desk. It was Maa. I picked it up quickly, lowering my voice. “What is it, Maa? I’m at the office.”

“Rushika!” she exclaimed, her excitement palpable. “My wishes are being answered!”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, already wary.

“There’s a rishta for you!” she announced with the kind of pride one reserves for lottery wins.

I stared at my phone, taking a deep breath. “Maa, I’m at work.”

“So what?” she shot back. “You’ll forget us just because you’re in the office?”

I massaged my temple, trying not to lose my temper. “Maa, please. I’ll talk to you later.”

“But listen—”

“Later,” I repeated, cutting her off and ending the call.

I dropped my phone on the desk, exhaling slowly. First the new CEO, now this. My life was starting to feel like a sitcom.