*Kalpana Pov*

I sigh in relief when I glanced at the clock the moment I sat down. I just missed by a few minutes before being late for work.

One memo is fine, but if I get another one, then I am gone of any appraisals. I cleared my head not wishing to dwell into the matter again.

So what I got Memo? I mean, yeah, we had a good chat for so many days, but that doesn't make him my friend just because I think him like that.

The shrill sound of the phone made me jump out of the thoughts and I lifted it giving the introduction of the company in a polite tone.

"It is me, Ms.Kalpana! Didn't you see the light?" his voice came out as a response.

I glanced down to see that the light is at the boss name. I took a deep breath, knowing well I made another mistake.

"Sorry, Sir! Is there something?" I asked, hoping he will not make this into big.

"Come to my cabin." That's all he said making me jump up from the chair.

Who knows, he may have time limit for even entering the cabin? I thought and stilled in my steps.

Why am I acting like today is my first day? It is like one year since I passed the first day scene, then why am I behaving like this like all this is new for me?

Come on, Kalpana! You know you didn't do any big mistake, then don't act like you did. Keep aside your emotions from now on. Yes! He is... no, he was your friend, but not anymore.

"Yes, Sir?" I asked entering his cabin after knocking.

"Take this." He said, gesturing the envelope and my mind whirled around many possible thoughts which definitely involves finding some new job but I don't want to.

This place became a second home after all these years of working and I don't want to leave.

"What is it, Sir?" I asked, holding the envelope.

"Memo!" he simply replied.

"Again?" I asked before I could stop myself in shock.

"Okay, I mean! But can I know what mistake I made this time, sir?" I asked, composing myself.

"This is not a new one, but the yesterday's one." He explained which didn't remove my frown.

"I think I have made a mistake yesterday." He added and I stopped myself from saying 'You think?'.

"I just let something else rule my mood and made me attack you. It was wrong and I want you to take it back." He said when I didn't say anything.

"I did come late and in a few times. It is the right thing to do." I said, pushing forward the envelope to which he shook his head.

"I know many others who come even later." He said, pushing it back towards me.

"However, according to the company's rules I did mistake." I said, shaking my head and pushed back towards him.

"You work hard and you deserve a few minutes of grace period. You were not late for hours." He said with a hard expression and pushed it back towards me.

"I am fine with it, Sir." I said stubbornly and pushed back, but this time he snatched it from my hand.

"I am not fine with it." He said, raising his voice before tearing it into half and then each half into another half.

"Is there anything else, Sir?" I asked not showing any confusion or any other emotion on my face due to his behavior.

"Yes! I am again wrong with my behavior for the past few days. I hope you will not remember that time." He replied to which the confusion increased.

"Sir! You are my boss and I don't know what you are even talking about." I said not wishing to let him know that I actually got affected by his weird behavior.

"Really?" he asked, narrowing his eyes and stood up.

"Yes! If that's all, then I will leave." I mumbled nodding at him but he frowned immediately.

"Ms. Kalpana! I am not used to all these, just don't be so hard." He said walking away from the table.

"I don't know what you mean, Sir." I said, feeling uneasy with the tone he is using with some emotion.

"Ms. Kalpana!" he said, sighing and turned around to stare at me, but I turned around to walk away.

"Ms. Kalpana!" he called again but I shook my head, hoping to rush out of here before all these effect my head anymore.

"Kalpana!" he called, raising his voice and I immediately turned around to stare at him in shock.

"So, all I had to do was call you in an informal way?" he asked smiling leaning on the window.

"I... I..." I couldn't form any words still feeling shock hearing him say my name like that. It's not like I never heard it before, but without prefix to it, it feels like something else.

"Fine! Today onward no formals with you." He said, continuing taking the advantage of my shock.

"You can leave if you want." He added and I did in the next second.

What got into his head? I thought, shaking my head and concentrated on the work to my best.

"Ms.Kalpana! I am in a hurry for a meeting downstairs with the managers, can you make our boss to sign these papers?" Mr.Girish said rushing towards my table.

"But..." I opened my mouth, however, he already turned around to walk away.

"There is some fraud in the HR department, Ms.Kalpana. I am in a hurry." He said and continued his walk.

"Sir?" I asked, knocking and walked inside.

"Mr.Girish wanted your signatures on these, Sir." I added when he glanced up.

He nodded and took the file from me, but gestured me to sit down. I followed, but kept quiet while he started reading and signed after reading everything carefully.

"Mr.Girish gave me the papers, Sir." I added stressing his name when he is taking so much time reading the paper.

"I heard you when you mentioned before, Kalpana." He said, glancing up with a smile and I stopped my cough which was on verge hearing him saying my name directly.

I kept quiet but couldn't remove my confusion as fast as I hoped to and he understood it immediately to my luck.

"Mr.Girish worked with me from the beginning of the time I started this company. However, I do not take any risk no matter what." He said which made me frown more.

How can he say he doubt Mr.Girish and at the same time saying he was here for that long? I thought not understanding his logic.

"I know it is weird as usual, but it is just like that for me. That is part of me and I can't do anything about it." He added.

"Why?" I asked, staring at him.

"Tell me, Kalpana! Suppose someone comes near you whom you already know and ask you out, will you go out with him?" he asked diverting the conversation to a whole new level.

"Sir!" I said in shock and moved to get up, but he shook his head before gesturing me to stay.

"Will you?" he asked, leaning forward the file completely forgotten.

"No!" I replied without a doubt.

"If it was before everything, then?" he asked, to which I frowned.

"Before?" I asked, to which he nodded and I immediately understood.

"Maybe!" I mumbled and he gave a smile.

"See, your actions change based on any experience and that's the same with me." He said shrugging.

"But... but these both are completely different." I said not believing him joining two opposites and declaring them as same.

"If it involves feelings, then every situation is similar to other." He said not looking up and continued to sign along with reading them.

"At what time, I have meeting?" he asked and I glanced at the clock.

"After one hour, Sir!" I replied and nodded closing the file finishing the work.

"I will leave now only. The traffic will be too much at this time." He said getting up and I followed his suit before taking the file from the desk.

I turned and started walking towards the door, but stopped hearing his words and turned back to stare at him in shock.

"What?" I asked him frowning.

"Tomorrow onwards you will be involved in all these meetings. I want you to come with me today only but I know you are not prepared." He replied.

"What?" I asked him again, feeling the words more personal than some office conversation.

"Yes! I forgot a few things in the last meeting making me lose a client and it is better to have extra help." He explained and walked near to the door where I am standing holding the knob.

"We will discuss later." He added and placed his hand on the knob over mine making me stare at him and see his eyes widening a bit.

"Okay, Sir!" I asked, trying to take my hand away, but it is becoming difficult.

"Wish me luck!" he mumbled and then I felt a light press of his lips over mine.

Before I could grasp at the situation that occurred, he already left the room and I am standing like an idiot with the door opened a little with my hand still on the knob.

"Oh god!" I mumbled, trying to stop my fast breathing and assuring my mind to stop jumping so that I can think what just happened.

"Are you okay?" I glanced up from my food to see Pallavi frowning at me.

"Yeah!" I mumbled clearing my throat.

"Pallavi!" I said remembering an important thing.

"What is it?" she asked immediately.

"Do... you like our boss?" I asked to which she gave me a curious look.

"Yeah! He is a nice person and mainly nice boss minus his behavior for the past few days." She replied.

"Do you like as in like him?" I asked, stressing the word like.

"What? Eww... I mean, no." she repaid raising her voice and immediately gave a smile to others who glanced our way curiously.

"I just asked! What is that reaction?" I asked, smiling at her, feeling a little relieved to know she will not get hurt.

I mean, it's not like something is happening here, but he kissed me. I mean, it is actually not a kiss. Maybe he was aiming for cheek and got the wrong place.

But why would he go for cheek too? I thought, shaking my head. When will he stop messing with my head? I think I am also mad to still feel the minute tingle for maybe a millisecond kiss.

"Sorry! You caught me by surprise." She mumbled and I nodded before we finished the lunch with her still giving me curious looks.

"Did the problem got solved?" I asked the moment, Mr.Girish came out of the elevator.

"Yes! One of the employee is taking money from innocent promising for the job here." He explained.

"That's bad!" I mumbled and he nodded.

"Boss will not like it." He mumbled and walked away.

"How was the meeting, Sir?" I asked gathering the courage when he gave me a small smile passing me.

"Good! And I didn't forget anything today." He replied with a lift at one corner of his lips and walked inside while I kept the whole lot thoughts away from my head not wishing to show any reaction.

"I will go and inform him." Mr.Girish said wearily after a few minutes holding a report.

"I am sure he will understand." I said, frowning at his weariness.

"You don't understand, Ms. Kalpana. This is a small matter for the company, but a lot for him." He said and walked inside before I could say anything else.

I sat calmly waiting for the shoutings or any raised voices after seeing the reaction of Mr.Girish. However, after a few minutes he stepped outside with too much shock covering his face and turned towards me.

"Is everything okay, Mr.Girish?" I asked slowly.

"Yes!" he replied and smiled at me before shaking his head and walked away chuckling.

Great another weird man was added to already weird man! I thought, shaking my head. This office is worse than some fairy land to create a madness in a person's mind.

"Kalpana!" his voice brought me out of my thoughts when I lifted the phone.

"Yes, Sir!" I said, standing up pressing the phone to my ear.

"Can you make me some coffee?" he asked and hung up while I sighed before walking inside his cabin after knocking.

"Make yourself one too." He added when I started walking towards the machine.

"I am fine, Sir." I mumbled, not turning to gaze at him.

"Give me some company, please." He said and that word 'please' made me take out another cup before preparing the coffee for both of us.

"So, how is your son doing?" he asked when I brought him his cup and gestured me to sit down.

"He is fine, but is busy with the exams." I replied and he nodded smiling.

"Holidays will be there soon and I am sure he is excited." He said and I chuckled remembering Sudhir's expression.

"Actually, he is sad regarding them. He likes the school too much and mainly because of his friends." I explained.

"Really? Doesn't he have friends near home?" he asked frowning.

"My friend's son is there, but they don't play unless we both are there with them. The age difference is less but there is a lot of difference in the way they are so they don't play much. However, when they do, they enjoy a lot." I replied blabbering lost in the moments.

"Do you know something?" he asked and I glanced at him with a curious look.

"What is it, Sir?" I asked, to which he chuckled.

"I sure hope you will not mind my words, but your face glow when you talk about your son." He replied and is at still not knowing what to say.

"I know this is not on my schedule, but I have to go and talk to the people who got fooled. So, if you want to, you can leave as it will take time for me to return." He said getting up finishing his coffee and gestured me to stay seated when I moved to stand up.

"What will you do with them, Sir?" I asked still sitting.

"I will see what they are capable at and will try if they can be set somewhere for the job if there are suitable and vacant jobs or at least put them at waiting list." He replied shrugging buttoning his coat.

"That... that's great, Sir." I mumbled, staring at him when he started walking but stopped beside me when I said the words.

"I am not doing anything amazing here, Kalpana. They will be hired only when they are qualified and there is a vacancy. All I know is, no one should get fooled." He said, leaning on the table and I glanced up to see a far away look on his face.

"Okay, Sir." I mumbled, not knowing what to say.

"However, it is nice to know you think it is amazing." He joked, looking down at me and I chuckled at his words.

"Very bad at flirting, right?" he asked chuckling.

"Very!" I mumbled and stood up finishing my coffee.

I turned to step away, but them felt a small press of a hand on my wrist, making me turn back only to feel at again another press of lips to mine.

"Sir!" I mumbled in shock and stepped back, but he already moved away.

"I know I am risking here and may get some slap some time, but you only said you will not go out with me." He said shrugging and walked away making me feel confused with his words.

But then I remembered our morning conversation. Does he think it is right for him to just kiss me like that because I will say no? Then why didn't I slap him?

Because he is your friend!

I never let my friend kiss me like that! I thought when that reply came into my head.

Because it was not actually a kiss!

I know, but still it is and we are not even close for it to be a casual thing! I replied to my reply.

Because you like him!

Oh please! I never thought of him like that and how can I like him?

Because you never took a chance!

So, now I am taking a chance? What rubbish! He is my boss and I am just his secretary and nothing else.

Because he likes you!

Yeah, right! I didn't slap him because he caught me by surprise. I thought deciding the answer.

Next time, I will slap him for sure. I decided and then stilled realizing I just thought of next time.

Stop it! Stop it! You a mother and not a teenager! I said scowling at myself and walked out of the cabin closing a gate on the thoughts.

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so, he finally decided to take a chance and jay is looming over... hmm... what will happen to our kalpana...

how is the chap???

comment plz and vote...