It was a quiet afternoon, with some or no movement in the air, making it a slow day. There were scarcely any movements on the ground too. Everything and everyone appeared stagnant. However, inside a Mall, things were different. The atmosphere had more energy as there were many people, all talking, some eating and some celebrating. It did not resemble the world outside those walls.

"No, that is not what I meant," Anya said as she started walking, with a frown on her forehead. "No! I want all the paperwork done by five, today. " She took the coffee that was ready on the counter and said thank you then turning around she started walking towards the sitting area, again. She was working on a presentation which was to be presented in a few hours. She did not have much time in hand and her surroundings were not helping her mainly because she was guilty of being late which resulted in her leaving the office and coming to a nearby mall. "You don't have much time. I want it for five. Five! "

"I heard you the first time, Anya," Her colleague, Ali said.

"Then stop wasting time and start working! We do not have time. We need to do this and we will do this."

"Do not worry. I am working on it. We all are. But I have a question to ask. "

"Go ahead, I am listening. "

"If I compete for all the work on time and the meeting goes well. Then." he paused for a moment before continuing, "can I take a leave tomorrow? "

"I guess you can. You don't have to ask me. I am not your boss nor HR. But why do you need a leave? "

"A new mystery slash thriller series is releasing tomorrow and I want to see it! " Anya closed her eyes as she stopped in her tracks, "plus, I bought a new mystery book on my way to office today, and to really want to read it. "

"Ali, " she said calmly.

"Yes? "

"We are running late and you think this is an important topic to discuss? "

"Mystery is the most important topic, Anya. There is nothing called life without mystery. "

"Ali! "

"And that's the cue. See you soon. Have a nice time at the mall. Bye, bye."

She sat on a chair as she disconnected the call. Her laptop, her wristwatch and few files where all scattered on the table leaving no room for her coffee, which she later placed on the chair next to her. Soon she was typing furiously on her laptop, trying her best to complete the presentation while frequently reminding herself to not subside the quality of the presentation.

"What are you doing? Don't do it like that." A man's penetrating voice caught her attention. Soon after that, a woman apologised him.

"Sorry," he mocked her, "you are embarrassing me. How do you not know how to use a fork?"

"Sorry."

"Eat fast. We have a long journey ahead. We do not have time for you to waste."

"Jerk," Anya could not stop herself from whispering which they heard clearly.

"Excuse me? " She ignored him and kept typing as she did not have time for an argument. "You are a very rude woman."

She chuckled, "I am sure I am."

"Stand up. We will not sit next to her," he ordered. The lady who Anya assumed was his wife stood up almost immediately and soon they were out of Anya's sight. Rolling her eyes she resumed her work. Nearly an hour after that incident she took a deep breath. Her presentation was ready and there was another hour in her hand. She closed her eyes to give them some rested which did not last for more than a minute as her phone started ringing and she was compelled to answer.

"Anya! Where are you?! Why are you not in the office?"

"I am at the mall. "

"MALL!? Why? When did your working hours end? Anya, we have a meeting in an hour!"

"I know sir. But you..."

Before she could complete her sentence he exclaimed, "where are you!? Why are you there? Anya!"

"Breathe. Take a deep breath," Anya tried to calm him down. "Calm down sir. I am done. I will be there in fifteen minutes," she said as she started packing all her stuff. Baskar, her boss was superior both in his age and experience, however, he often found refuge in Anya.

"You will come on time, right?" He asked just like an infant asks his mother upon their separation.

"Yes. You know the mall is just fifteen minutes away from our office. I just have to find an auto and then I will be there."

"I will send you my car!" He stood up from his chair with a force that led the chair to crash in the wall behind them.

"Sir." She tried to calm herself by taking a deep breath, "sit down, please. " He followed her order and was about to sit on the chair when he realised the chair wasn't there. He pulled the chair towards him and sat on the edge of the seat. She, on the other hand, kept the laptop in its bag, took a file in her right hand, her earphone in the same hand and then kept her laptop bag on her left shoulders and was then holding her phone between her right ear and shoulder. She then took her empty coffee cup in her left hand and started walking. After taking a few steps she turned around to check if she had left anything behind and saw her diary on the table. Quickly picking it up she started walking towards the exit. "I will be there in fifteen minutes."

"Promise?"

She threw the empty cup in the trash can before saying, "yes" 

"Come soon."

"I will." She was lucky as the lift opened as soon as she reached there. She disconnected the call after assuring her boss that she would not be late. In the lift G and B1 button were both red. G was her destination. She was replying to her mother's text when someone apologised. It was not until she had looked up the second time to see voice when she realised it was the same lady who she had encouraged earlier. "What happened?" Anya asked her only companion.

"I'm sorry for my husband's behaviour. I'm really sorry. He should have not behaved like that to you."

Before Anya could form a reply the lift door opened. "True. He should haven't behaved like that to you." She walked out and then turned around again. Despite her intention to smile her face held an intense frown. "Take care," were the last words exchanged between them

Anya never understood why girls allowed their boyfriends or husbands to control them, and what she never liked was how they allowed them to insult them. She strongly believed that people treat one the way one allowed them to. Which was why she was furious not at the man but at his wife. A small incident with a stranger had little or no impact on her, however, it was different that day. Unconsciously she was upset about it the whole day. She had managed to keep her compose and do her work right, not giving anyone a chance to suspect her state of mind. However, her mind was due to act oddly.

"Ah, Anya, What is up with your hair?" Rohit, one of her colleagues said. She had combed her hair barely ten minutes ago and they were neatly pulled back in a ponytail making it clear that he was ridiculing her like he often did. On that account, she initially decided to avoid him and continued working. There were six people in the meeting room at that moment, and they were all occupied with some of the other things."And your shoes? Don't you earn enough to buy a good pair of shoes." She looked at her foot to check what she was wearing. They were black formal court shoes with no special features, not polished but not dull either. She looked back at her laptop screen again avoiding him. Their clients were scheduled to reach the meeting room in a few minutes which gave her no time to spare "You are going to ruin our reputation."

"How?" annoyance was evident in her tone.

"Everyone will think that we are just like you, boring, cheap and well. " He looked at her with a frown. "not so good to look at."

"Oh really?" Anya could not stay calm following that.

"May God bless him," Ali whispered to others.

"Well about my looks," she smiled," don't worry about that. Your opinion doesn't matter. In fact, I'm glad I don't approve of your opinion. I don't want to be that deep in the mud." Kabir and Himani exchanged glances before smiling. "And about my presentation. Wait, wait, before my presentation tell me why you did not contribute to it? We both were supposed to make it together, but where were you? Why did I do it all alone?"

"I was," he was confidently talking, however, Anya did not wish to entrain him.

"I do not want your excuse. I am glad you did not help. The presentation got some class because of your absence. Thank you."

Everyone smiled except for Rohit who was insulted and their boss who was extremely nervous to smile.

"You can leave brother," Ali said patting at Rohit's shoulder.

"Can you go and check where are all the bottles that are supposed to have on the table?" Himani tried to make things easy for him.

"Sure," Rohit said before leaving the meeting room. Once he was out of the room all four of them looked at Anya who was very alive to notice them.

"You know he can be your boss one day. What will you do then?" Kabir said after a while.

She looked up with a frown, "Why can't I be his boss one day? Am I not capable of that?"

"That is not what I meant."

"And let's not forget the fact that he . the boss's pet," Ali said with a shake of his head.

Anya and Himani looked at their boss, who was sitting on a chair, restless And nervous. Kabir and Ali followed their gaze and found Baskar. It took Baskar a few seconds to realise that everyone was looking at him.

"Me? No! He is not my pet. I don't like him."

"The big boss. His boss." Ali motioned towards Baskar.

"That is true," Anya wrinkled her nose while saying that.

"It is always the pet who wins. No matter how talented you are and how much you work," Ali said before looking up. Anya's face was blank but alarming. Ali shook his head, "That's how usually it is in books and shows but in the end, a good person always wins. "

Anya looked away and resumed her work. After a few moments of silence, Himani went closer to Anya before whispering, "what happened to you?"

"How can anyone have a good mood around him?"

"I am not talking about him. You came back from the mall in a bad mood." Anya looked at her colleague ."Why?"

Anya hesitated for a moment however when Himani raised her eyebrows she gave in. "I meet a couple in the food court."

"And the guy hit on you?" Ali asked, narrowing his eyes.

"No!"

"Then?" Himani asked curiously.

"That husband was really rude to his wife."

"Why does that bother you?" Kabir asked before adding, "Your husband is rude to you too?" Anya narrowed her eyes making him smile.

"Who will dare to be rude to her? She will eat him raw," said their boss making everyone except one smile.

"Who will dare to marry her?" Ali whispered.

"What happened? Why did you get offended by that?" Kabir asked.

"I thought I was having a private conversation with her." Anya motioned towards Himani.

"Come on."

"Say it already."

"Ani."

Was the reply of her colleagues. She rolled her eyes. "Okay! My mother informed me a few weeks ago that my cousin was in the hospital because of her abusive husband."

"Oh, God!" Himani furrowed her brows.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Kabir said, sympathetically. "Which cousin? "

"Dia," Anya informed Kabir, who raised his left eyebrow as high as he could.

"How is she now? " Himani asked.

Anya gave a shrug to her shoulder," last time I checked she was fine. Physically."

"When was the last time?" Ali asked.

"Two or three weeks ago."

"Why?" Himani asked. "Why didn't you ask again?"

"Because that idiot went back to her husband!"

"Maybe she had no choice," Himani said. "Maybe your uncle and aunt asked her to go back."

"No way! My chacha-Chachi are the most modern and cool people I know. As a kid, I used to feel jealous of my cousin because her parents were so understanding and supporting."

"Then why did she go back?" Himani asked.

"Because love is blind and stupid! He might have said her, I will not do it again and blah blah."

"That is so sad." Himani sympathised.

"That is so stupid."

"You know what I am thinking?" Baskar suddenly said. He was deep in his thoughts unaware of his surrounding. "What will happen if Rohit becomes Anya's boss. Will he be my boss too?"

Anya frowned deeper, Ali raised his eyebrows and Himani closed her eyes.

"Is it true ?" He asked again.

Anya and Himani looked back at the laptop screen resuming improving the presentation, Ali and Kabir ignored him and started talking about the meeting leaving Baskar alone. After a few minutes, he stood up with a frown on his forehead. "He will not be my boss, right?" He looked at everyone one by one, nevertheless, none of them paid attention to him. "Say something!"

"Today is such a nightmare," Anya whispered looking at her presentation.

"Someone tell me!"

Like always, although being the boss Baskar was ignored and had to deal with his own miseries. Leaving the office Anya assumed she had left the topic too however that was not the case.  The day which she thought was a nightmare was a trifle in comparison to the night that followed.