" A male PA? " , Kalpita crossed her hands across her chest.

Devendra Chatterjee, who usually remained serious, had a smile on his lips today. Mostly because, he was probably getting a personal assistant after almost two long months.

He had faced quite a lot of issues with the last one though. Hence he had rethought, each and every time he was about to appoint a PA in the last two months, though it was extremely hazardous for him to handle everything alone.

" Yes. A male PA. That too, from Digha.
A lower middle class graduate, as far as I have been informed. " , he chuckled, settling on his chair.

Kalpita too dropped her body on the sofa in her dad's workroom.

" Like really?
How even? " , Kalpita rolled her eyes.

" What even? "

" You and your stigmas. Don't you believe that money and education goes hand in hand? And that, moneyless genius is an exaggeration? " , she ducked out her little tongue.

Devendra nodded sideways.
" I still do believe that.
And, a graduate, isn't a genius anyway. Are you alright? "

Kalpita stared at him.
She found her father a stubborn man who was not ready to change his notions (which were quite dumb many a times according to her), even after being proved wrong on face.
Who on this planet believes that poverty and brains can't come simultaneously? Her father does.

" When's your PA arriving? "
She asked.

" Any moment. But why are you so concerned? Also, why are you home? Today's Sunday. You should be on some mindless mission of yours by now. Isn't it? " , Devendra Chatterjee concentrated on his laptop.

Kalpita Chatterjee didn't like her father, to be extremely honest. That's mostly because, it was the other way round as well.

Devendra Chatterjee believed, his daughter was a peculiar creature, an utter outcast in this planet. Also, he himself was extremely disciplined in life, but his offspring was an utter chaos. Third, he believed women should be soft-spoken and outwardly submissive....but Kalpita was a rowdy.

His wife wasn't submissive, but, wasn't a rebel either. However, he mostly found her being protective of her daughter's weirdness, as if it was something to be very proud of. And Devendra hated it many a times.
Till date, most of the battles he had had with Suchandra, were centered around Kalpita.

" Wow. Now, my staying at home irks you too isn't it? " , Kalpita grinned instead of displaying resentment.

" Not so. But this much I can assure, if you preside over the interview, it'll be solely your decision, whether to appoint him, or not. " , Devendra shrugged.

Kalpita laughed out loud.

They shared one peculiar father daughter chemistry on earth, where neither of them could deny neither's existence, and impositions. She knew it very well, if her father, one day, boldly stopped her from spending nights in pubs, she would have no choice but follow him.
However, he had never asked for that till date, though he hated it to the core.

The door bell to their flat was ringing.

" They're here probably.
Ganesh will be bringing them. "

" Ganesh? You mean, our driver? " , Kalpita was literally having trust issues. How could her father all of a sudden appoint a PA through such unprofessional and substandard means? 

" Yes. Enough of appointment through online job sites.
Did you see how it failed last time? "

" Fine... But...
Someone more professional, qualified and strategic.... "

" No dearest. I need someone simple, and less cunning. And grassroots are the best to be trusted on, in this matter. "

Kalpita tried to calculate. Devendra Chatterjee was no fool, he had been running one of the biggest furnishing industries in Kolkata.

A staff came and informed.
" Ganesh, along with two men have come to visit. "

" Send them in here.
Rather, bring along the two men only and ask Ganesh to get my Rover cleaned. " , Devendra declared.

Kalpita began brushing her finger nails against each other. She did this when she was anxious about something.

She kept staring at the door, while her father got back to working on his laptop.

Chhotu and Shiva followed a man dressed in black and white, through a huge lounge of something that looked nothing less than a fairy tale castle to them.

Shivaji gritted his teeth. Gulped his saliva. His head hurt, and he chanted 'Hare Krishna' within, to calm his terribly anxious soul. He knew he would never on earth pass this interview, most importantly, he didn't want to.
Even if Kolkata could welcome him anyhow, these Urban Luxury would never do.
In fact, he didn't even wish for, to be welcomed. Rather, he wanted to run away, because his white cotton shirt and lose trousers, marked... how misfit he was in the world surrounding him right now. He gasped for Digha's cool breeze.

Chhotu mama however, looked unpurterbed.

They reached the door... to something that looked like an office. The door was framed, with what seemed to be a very costly wood, probably mahogany. Or teak. Shivaji was almost blinded by the glare that everything around him reflected. The glare of money.

He grabbed Chhotu mama and whispered,
" Mama, let's go back.
This is not for me... I swear. "

Chhotu mama glared at him instead.

The staff left, asking them to get inside the room.

Devendra Chatterjee kept staring for long, at the documents the older man amongst had put forward.

While Kalpita Chatterjee, thoroughly examined, the young man who now stood right before her eyes.

A white cotton shirt, with collars not very clean. Trousers, oversized. Brown. Very tall, and hence a bit sunken. However, the sunken shoulders looked more like that of a man who was underconfident.
Added to the fact was, how he constantly rubbed his hands, silently staring at the ground. But, his face....had a devastating aura.
Simplicity, was it?

Kalpita wondered, when was the last time she had observed a man this keenly. Not even the men she spent nights with did she ever look at properly.

" So, Shivaji Majhi.
Age - 24.
Qualification - BA.

Do you think you can handle my job?
It's not as easy as it looks like, you have to keep track of each and every little detail. Though I'll guide you initially, but give me one reason I should appoint you. "

Devendra stared at Shivaji.

Kalpita too kept looking at his face.
Something inside her, unusually waited for a very smart answer from this charming.... yet odd human.

However, disappointing her, he looked at the elderly man, and spoke nothing.
Kalpita frowned.
So, she was right. He was typically underconfident.

Chhotu mama knew, this wasn't good news. Because, both the people sitting in front... were waiting for an answer from Shivu, which he would in all possibilities, not come up with so easily. Hence, anyhow, he needed to sail the sinking ship for Shivaji.

" Sir, actually, he's very introvert.
He hardly talks, but.... I assure you sir, he's very intelligent. He will learn everything you teach him in no time. "
Chhotu smiled wide, praying within that this worked, and cursing Shivaji as to how a boy was so hell bent in ruining his own life.

Devendra looked at Kalpita, heavily dissatisfied. She, though, did not shift her gaze, even for a second from Shivaji, however with frowns on her temple.

" Is it?
But a PA is the mediator, the connection between the boss and his clients, in fact, with the world that's involved in his business. How can a silent PA who doesn't even talk for himself, be of any help to my Dad? "
Kalpita Chatterjee spoke.

Devendra nodded, completely agreeing.

Chhotu threw a hopeless glance at Shivaji, who was sweating even in that air conditioned chamber. He spoke nothing, even though he knew he was supposed to. He kept staring at the ground deliberately, so that he had to meet no awkward gazes.

Chhotu murmured,
" Re Shivu, why do you have to ruin everything this way? Why do you have to insult me with all your might? "

Shivaji frowned big time, and looked up at him again.

Then mumbled back, his words slightly audible to both the Chatterjees.
" I have been telling you, a billion times over. I cannot do this. Not everyone can do everything.
A degree can't help me when I'm not mentally prepared to get into a world that doesn't suit me a tinge bit.
I didn't ask you to do me a favour, why are you blaming me now? "

Chhotu didn't react. Because deep down he knew, this depressed, heavily tested by life, frustrated boy... was capable of doing everything abrupt. And he couldn't blame him even a bit.

The one who reacted however, was Devendra Chatterjee.

" Seems there's a big confusion out here. If the candidate himself isn't interested, why has he been forcefully brought along, and my time wasted? I don't even understand. "

He thrashed the documents..
" Please, leave. I'm not jobless enough to bear some utter nonsense.
My daughter was right. I should have thought twice before trusting foolish people for something important.. "

" Dad...  " , Kalpita softly spoke, still not shifting her gaze from Shivaji.
" I think he deserves one chance. "

" What!!!?
But, why even? " , Devendra was completely taken aback.

Chhotu's eyes glowed.

And Shivaji, for the first time, noticed the woman, who sat before him, properly.
His insides screamed, ' I don't need a chance. '
But all he did was hurriedly intermingle his fingers.

" Mr Shivaji Majhi.
Seems you aren't mentally prepared to get into a world that doesn't suit you a tinge bit.
You know what?
We should try new things. If you don't, life will stagnate.
We are new to you, and you're new to us. My Dad is a bit primitive and doesn't like new trials, but he's a great teacher. He'll teach you new things.

And me? I'm always ready to cultivate the newest possibilities on earth.

So, you are appointed.

Please dad, I know you're doing it. For me? "

Kalpita grinned.

Devendra passed a huge sigh..

So did.... Shivaji Majhi.

Who was she, and why was he given a chance he didn't want?

Why even?

Kalpita began brushing her nails against each other.

What exactly was in his face, that she chose to give a chance to this boy, who, otherwise looked completely unsuitable for her choices of humans till date? 

What....even?