SIXTY TWO
Maya woke up early next morning. It was one of the few days she had seen the sun rise, for she was a lazy and late riser. Esha just entered the room. “Where were you last night?” Maya asked.
“Didn't I tell you that I'd be going clubbing with Sunil?” Yes, she had, Maya remembered.
They had breakfast and Maya left for work. Esha wanted to take a nap before she started her day.
“I have to reach on time. I need to meet the boss,” she told Esha.
“What for?”
“He didn't say!”
Sit down, he said, as she went into his room.
“I heard you bought a car?” he said.
No, I've applied for a loan to buy one she said correcting him.
“HR is working on your appraisal,” he told her. “Mr. Chatterjee has been talking quite highly about you. In fact I have come across some feature writing that you did last month.
Mr Chatterjee was her immediate boss. She always thought she disliked her. She was surprised that he conveyed positive things about her.
“Would you be okay if I ask you to go to Italy to attend this seminar for a couple of days?” he said, passing on a brochure to her.
“Of course. Yes! Thank you so much!”
“Oh, you deserved it,” he smiled.
“So Esha and I are going on this trip?” she asked.
“Why should Esha go?” He stared at her.
She stood looking at him.
“I…I thought she was going to Italy. I heard so.” He shook his head and hoped she would have a pleasant trip.
She walked back with a heavy heart. She now knew why Mr Chatterjee would have done it. He was jealous of her proximity with the boss. Esha was waiting for her when she returned to her workstation.
“What was it about?” Esha asked.
Maya didn't know how to break the news to her. She stared at her screen.
“He wants me to go to Italy.”
“That's supposed to be nice. We both will have fun together.”
Maya's heart sank d. First Reva and now Esha.