"I don't want any mistakes, clear?"

The voice was so stern, so bossy and so commanding, that with nothing in my mind, my head jerked in a nod.

Till now, I considered Shivay Singh Oberoi, the head of Oberoi Empire, worthy enough to be called a king. But after meeting him, I think Ice king would define him better. His surrounding, his gestures, his words, or even a look from his eyes were so cold that it could send shivers in your spine. Literally.

He leaned a little backward, as his eyes drifted across my documents. "Any queries?" He asked without looking up.

I wanted to say, "Yeah, why do you have to be so scary?" Or, "Can you make even water freeze with your touch?". But instead, I shook my head in a no.

"Good." He said and looked at me. "You'll be provided enough perks within this job. Healthcare, vacation, family allowance, accommodation. But...." He paused, "the work must be up to the mark. Even a single mistake- and you'll be fired within a heartbeat."

I closed my eyes in dread as his each single word stabbed me about thousand times. I shook my head multiple times, trying to convey him that such thing won't happen.

"It must not happen." He replied as he heared my promises, "You are the first one whom I'm hiring without experience. If you know me well, you must be aware I don't such thing, even if I'm requested to do so."

Something churned inside me over his words. What was he trying to day? After I got this job, I assumed it was my good luck. But was someone else behind this?

Unfortunately, I couldn't gather courage to ask him this bothering question. Hence, when he dismissed me with a wave of his hand, I headed towards my cubicle without a single word.

***

I remember my first day of school. Being surrounded by kids of my age and teachers who, unlike me father, actually knew how to smile, the day was spent with giggles and laughter. Only if the first day of office could be like that.

My cubicle was waiting desperately for me, so that I could sort numerous data from the folder, make the drafts of current project, arrange the routine of upcoming events and answer the damn telephone which rang every five minutes. As a result, by the time of lunch break, my whole energy was drained.

From my bag, I took out the tiffin which my mother packed this morning. Tomato and cheese sandwich. I raised my eyebrows at its sight. So today I am going to eat food prepared by my mother's hand for the first time. Yay today!

"So you're really Mallika's sister."

I sat up straight, and turned my gaze towards my new colleague. Tia Kapoor, that's the name she said while introducing herself. She seemed a pretty nice lass when she initially stroke conversation with me. But once she got to know about my relation with Mallika, she didn't stop to look at me as if I were a dead slug.

"Yeah, I am." I replied her in an off-tone, as my eyes lingered over the glass in which she poured out a liquid from her thermos. I wasn't sure what it was, but its grimacing green colour made me guess it was bitter gourd juice.

Gross! Is that why she is so bitter?

"So, any special reason for leaving California?" She asked.

I narrowed my eyes. "Personal reasons." I said firmly.

"Is that so?" She looked at me as she flexed her fingers, "Due to your personal reasons, you left California to come India and work for Shivay as your first job? Thats not a very smart move."

"Why are you talking about him like that?" I asked, frowning a little, " He is your old friend, isn't he?"

"How do you know that?" She questioned immediately.

I shrugged a little. "Maybe Mallika didn't use to live with me." I said, "but she never failed to tell me about her friends."

"Yeah, whatever." She said with an eyeroll, indicating she didn't want to talk about my sister. " About Shivay, maybe he is my friend, but relations means nothing to him when he is on the office desk. And that's why I would day it wasn't a good idea to work for him when you have no experience. Heck! I don't understand why he hired you at the first place."

"Yup..." I muttered, recalling his words, "I don't understand either."

"To sum it all..." She continued, "if you managed to survive even a month in this job, I'll probably throw a party for you."

"Did I just heard party?"

I glanced behind as the third voice broke in. Few feet back, a muscular chap was grinning at us sheepishly. He drifted towards us, pushing aside another guy who was arguing with a girl over some folder, and stood in front of us.

"Did Tia just said she'll throw a party?" He repeated.Tia's lips twitched. "Oh yes Rudra, I did." She said calmly, " you seem to have sharp ears."

"Of course, I have the sharpest ears." He said and glanced at me, "Right Nisha?"

Wait! Did he call me Nisha?

"Apparently you eyes needs some sharpness too." Tia muttered, " She is Gauri. Nisha was fired a week ago."

"Oh! A new personal assistant." It was the girl behind me who spoke this time. With a bright smile, she shoved the folder towards the man with whom she was arguing and came towards me.

"Hi Gauri." She said excitedly. " I'm Priyanka. Priyanka Singh Oberoi."

I smiled back, feeling a little ease. "You mean you are Shivay Sir's sister?" I asked her, as I tried to remember Oberoi siblings.

"Oh yes!" She replied, and pointed towards Rudra, "this is my brother too. Rudra. And that dumb standing behind, he is Raj."

Tia leaned a little forward. " And she is Mallika's sister."Synchronously, everyone glanced at Tia with wide eyes, as if she had just dropped a bomb.

"What did you say?" Raj said slowly, as his startled eyes continue to scan me.

"I said, " Tia replied, "That she is Mallika's sister. Remember? We met her in the wedding. Did it ring the bell?"

And in a fraction of second, a change came across everyone. Raj started looking at the folder again, Priyanka walked away with an excuse of some work and Rudra started discussing side effects of bitter gourd juice with Tia.

I diverted my attention back at my Tomato and cheese sandwich. This day was just getting better and better. Sarcasm intended.