PRAKRUTHI
✨

Today I feel like a jackfruit. Yep!!! I know is a weird comparison but indeed I do relate to its popularity outburst today.

Jackfruit was always our underdog fruit gem which was loved and adored throughout the country but today west declares it to be a superfood and boom now everyone likes a jackfruit. So much so that they ask for its snacks, chips and sweet dishes too. It's like it has got this celebrity status overnight.

This is exactly how I felt when I stepped into office premises. My initial shock came when the receptionist addressed me as 'Ma'am' and then when people who wouldn't even pass me a glance started wishing me Good morning and I was even more confused but the ultimate moment was when my co interns...the girls who bullied me got me coffee saying

'Prakruthi Mam do you want some cookies? We are going to the pantry!!!'

Believe me I wanted to spit out the coffee. Even Amit who would give me sarcastic replies had gone silent and Dharam looked super excited about my special treatment. He kept telling me all day about how lucky he feels being my friend. I initially thought that someone drugged the entire office staff but when Kripa Mam explained me that all this is because now I am addressed as Mrs Kedar Nayak.

And honestly I didn't like this special treatment. I am my own person. I want to let everyone know that I'm just yet another professional like they all are. Just because they know I'm his wife I don't want them treating me special.

✨

'Mam do you want some pastries...we are going to the cafeteria!!!' said Megha giving me her fake smile and I was now getting annoyed. We were sitting in the meeting room to have a status meeting about K-Shot's progress and expecting Kedar to join us anytime but in the meantime Megha had already begun her drama.

Just then Shankar Sir walked in and decided to discuss about the testing reports of the software. I belonged to the development team so I began giving my inputs and weirdly everytime Dharam had his arguments and opinions but this time he nodded to everything silently.

I lost my calm that very moment.

'Guys can we please stop it! This is getting on my nerves!' I snapped at them all. Kripa Mam tried to hold my hand trying to calm me but I nodded a no and spoke up

'Folks I know you guys might have never imagined me to be your CEO's wife and you might be thinking that Oh this is easy for her or She is here to simply get her degree and then a job. All this because I'm the wife of your boss but each one of you and infact everyone on this floor needs to understand that yes I am your boss's wife but he is also my boss in this office.

I'm just another employee like you guys! Without a special treatment!!! Tell me you guys have seen us working for last one and a half months has Mr Nayak ever treated me special or favoured me?

Dharam he has always appreciated your ideas and Megha you may not like me but I really like your designing skills girl and Amit yes Mr Nayak is my husband but that's just outside this organisation. He isn't our direct boss and we still are following the company norms where I am not working under his umbrella and my immediate bosses are Shankar Sir and Kripa Mam and that wouldn't change.

Guys you bullied me and that was wrong but what you are doing now is worse. I'm just another employee like you folks and just because I'm someone's wife I won't be hired as an employee after next one and half months. I will be hired only if I'm good at my job. So please guys let's keep this thorough professional. I hate it when the floor gives me a special treatment. Least I can expect from you folks is to behave normally with me.' I said and I noticed everyone's body stiffened as they looked past me and I turned around and looked at Kedar.

He huffed and I gulped.

✨

'This is to everyone in this organisation. I know partners, relatives, husband and wife work in this organisation and could be at any post, they shouldn't forget that they are nothing but another employee once they step into office premises. I expect everyone to treat every other person just upon their professional terms and set aside their personal agendas if not I would consider that to be violation of one of our policies.

Our company doesn't support favourism.'

He announced firmly in the video which circulated as an email saying 'Message from the CEO'. A smile lingered upon my lips. I never wanted anyone to ever point out saying I did achieve because I'm his wife. Yes I want him to be a proud husband but not by using his name. I want to achieve things upon my own.

✨

'Thank you!!!' I whispered during dinner and he raised his eyebrow asking

'Why?'

'For the video. Everything is back to normal now!!!' I said and he smiled digging onto his salad bowl saying

'I didn't do anything special Prakruthi. I only did what was right. And you know what I'm proud of you. Kripa told me K-Shot is at its final stage and you are doing excellent at developing the app. I'm mighty impressed and believe me it's not a husband alone...it's your boss speaking.' he said and I smiled.

'And ohhh...your money is getting deducted for your father's loan but I've decided I'm not going to give you all your salary!!!' he said and I narrowed my eyebrows asking a 'Why?' and he said

'Because we will be investing your money into shares. You know when I was working in dad's business assisting him, I would save a portion of my salary for investing into shares and mutual funds. Investments help you multiply your cash. I will help you understand how this works ' he said and I was glad he was so thoughtful.

Sexy, Kinky, Smarty!!!

'Thank you' I whispered and he slowly moved his index finger towards my chin and said

'Dont be...this is your husband doing it for us!!!' he said and that 'us' gave me hopes, butterflies and tingles. I liked this man for his good nature, I found him hot and sexy for his looks but now I had begun to respect him immensely for his balanced nature. He was perfect and just the thought that this perfect man is in love with me made me feel weird tingles.

Nowadays this tingling sensation is increasing day after day and I'm unable to explain what it is...but I helplessly think about him all day and admire him so much.

Earlier I wanted to pass out and secure the job at KenNeil's being the best intern but now I also want to secure this place because my husband would be proud of me and my boss would be lucky to get such a talented resource.

✨

'Heyyy happy Diwali in advance and enjoy your long weekend!!!' said Shankar Sir as he started packing his stuff and left.

'You are still here??? Get up madam go home... tomorrow is your first Diwali go go go...see you on Tuesday!!!' Amit said and I smiled nodding my head and started packing my stuff. I was excited. It is going to be our first Diwali together. Pattu is due day after tomorrow so our families have dropped the plan of a grand Diwali and Kedar is busy with his new deal with the Sehgals so we aren't going to Mangalore either.

I decided to go shopping today and buy colorful diyas, lamps and candles to make sure our little home radiates happiness only. It was going to be just me and Kedar with each other after a long time. I reached home early and started decorating our home. I lit up our home like a new bride. Once done I looked at myself in the mirror.

I wanted to dress up like a new bride too. I was feeling so many things that I was unable to express since last few days and to add on Avanthi wasn't picking up the call. I couldn't talk to Pattu or Mukta Vanni or Sanskriti because everyone was extremely worried about Pattu's pregnancy because doctor suspected complications in her delivery. Everyone was completely giving her the attention and I didn't want my silly emotions to bother anyone.

I took a look at myself. I decided to wear a saree myself. I looked at a couple of YouTube videos and struggled to drape a saree around my waist and after a struggle of 2.5 hrs I succeeded. I applied light makeup and brushed my hair leaving it open. I wore my wedding chain and took one glance at myself and I smiled in satisfaction. I continued waiting for him. Clock was ticking 9:30 pm. Food I prepared was getting cold now. It ticked 10:00 pm...11:00pm... 12:00am and all the Diwali lights faded. Now I had tears in my eyes. I simply tied my hair in a bun and started collecting all the diyas and put off all the candles. I dumped the food into fridge while tears started rolling nonstop down my eyes.

'Come home Kedar!!! Let me show you who's the boss here!!!' I mumbled curses at him when suddenly my phone rang and I noticed it was Kedar.

Being ready to yell all dirty curses at him from my favorite bollywood movies I picked the call...

'Where are you Taty-'

'Hello...Hi... Actually I'm calling from City Hospital Marathahalli Bangalore Mam...The owner of this phone had met with an accident. You were on his last dialled list. The patient is taken to emergency care...Could you please come down Mam!!! Hello you there??? Hello Hello??? Mam???' and my heart stopped.

It felt like my world had stopped.