Naina waited for a few seconds for the person at the door to move aside. When he didn't, she took one step back. His impeccable clothes and confident stature left no doubt that he was someone of authority.

"Good morning, sir." Naina greeted him in a soft voice.

Sameer was even more mesmerised by the voice, though he had heard it the previous day. His eyes, however, were not ready to move away from her deep brown ones, where he could see his own reflection.

"Arre Sameer, aa gaya tu. Breakfast kiya na?" Nanu's voice seemed to be coming from far away.

Naina turned, looking at Mr Jai Prakash Maheshwari. The room loomed in view for Sameer finally... and he realised all eyes were on him.

"Uhh, woh main... I'll just come. Kuch kaam hai." Sameer needed some time.

After he turned and moved away from the door, Naina walked out. Instead of going to the lift, she went in the opposite direction and took the stairs for the floor above. By the time she returned with the file Rohan wanted, Sameer had somewhat controlled the storm that had churned up inside him. He entered the room a few seconds after her.

"Kya hua, bhai? Aapki bhi files reh gayi thi kya?" Rohan asked.

And it dawned on Naina that he was the other grandson, one of the owners.

Nanu looked up, "Sameer, Vikas kahan hai? Usse bol deta."

"Kaun Vikas?" Sameer said blankly.

"Tumhara assistant. Bhool gaye kya? Naina meri assistant hai, aur Vikas tumhara." Rohan waved a hand towards Naina.

Sameer couldn't help but look at her, "Naina?"

Nanu smiled, "Arre main bhi bhool gaya, tum log toh mile hi nahi abhi tak. Naina, yeh hai Sameer, mera doosra naati. Yeh marketing aur distribution handle karta hai. Aur Sameer, yeh Naina Agarwal... Rohan ki new assistant."

"Good morning, sir." Naina repeated her words, this time with a smile.

And Sameer was sure he had heard this voice before the previous day when he met her in the lift, along with nanu and Rohan. But he was also sure that this was the first time he had looked into such deep, dreamy yet mysterious eyes... he wouldn't have forgotten had he seen her earlier. The contrasts perplexed him.

Meeting started on time. While others discussed the points, Sameer marvelled at Naina's knowledge about their company, aware that she had joined just the day before. She confidently presented the sales figures of last quarter for different types of material, and showed the comparison tally of the same from previous year.

Though he tried to stop himself from looking at her directly, he couldn't help observing evey detail of her appearance discreetly. When she had stood in front of him, she was reaching his shoulders... with her heels, which he noticed now. So she wasn't very tall, just about 5' 2". But the outfit was giving her a tall appearance when she was making the presentation. Her smartly fitted pant and jacket suit and black shirt under it suited her exceptionally. Her long hair were in a tamed ponytail and he could see that it fell upto her lower waist. The smooth complexion and perfectly set features made her look beautiful but the most intriguing part was her eyes. He swallowed hard as he noticed her eyes again. They were magnetic... melted caramel brown in colour, weaving a magic spell as she darted them over everyone present in the room, without stopping at any particular face.

"Sameer, what do you say? Shall we restrict the distribution of these new materials to those states where we are getting good response?" One of the managers asked him directly after Naina took her seat.

Sameer was well versed with all points of today's meeting, so he could immediately switch his attention to the question. He opened the file in front of him, then stood up with it in hand, and turned to look at the projected display on white board.

"I feel abhi kuch months humein sirf safe segments mein hi push karna chahiye. Ek baar yahan hamara mark ban jayega toh new possibilities ki taraf badhte hain." He walked to the board, pointing at the highlighted portions.

"Lekin stock toh ready hai, bhai... uska kya?" Rohan gave a worried look.

Sameer went towards him, and closed his file, keeping it in front of his brother before speaking, "Toh hum inhi sectors mein saara stock exhaust karne ki koshish karenge. Yahan ki market mein acceptance hai bas thoda discounted price offer kiya toh order value badha denge yeh buyers."

The discussion went on for some more time before the meeting was concluded. After the others left, leaving behind only Sameer, Rohan and nanu, Naina waited till Rohan was ready to leave.

"Sameer, Vikas kyon nahi tha meeting mein?" Nanu asked again.

Sameer shrugged, "Pata nahi, nanu. Woh office mein kam aur leave pe zyada rehta hai. Keh raha tha koi family problem hai."

Nanu narrowed his eyes, "Family problem? Interview ke time toh usne kaha tha ki woh yahan akela rehta hai aur uski family doosre sheher mein hai."

"No idea." Sameer pursed his lips, eyeing Naina from the corner of his eyes.

After collecting the files on the table, she stood up with the bundle pressed against her, "Rohan sir, shall I leave?"

"I'll come with you. Stock ki details ka chart bana lete hain." Rohan quickly got up.

After a gentle nod and smile to both nanu and Sameer, Naina left the room with Rohan. Sameer felt a sudden emptiness in the room.

"Chal yaar, hum bhi chalein. Sameer, yeh Vikas aayega toh zara bhejna mere paas. Dekhte hain kya issue hai uska... aise toh kaam nahi chalega na. Agar koi genuine family problem hai toh we can help him par office ko neglect nahi kar sakta woh aise." Nanu pushed his chair back and walked to the door, talking to Sameer.

Not hearing any movement, he stopped at the door and looked back. Seated at the same place, Sameer seemed to be lost in something. He went back to him.

Placing a hand on his shoulder, he said in a gentle voice, "Itni tension mat le, beta. Yeh stock clear ho jayega. I'm sure tera idea kaam karega."

Sameer looked up with a jerk. Nodding absent mindedly, he got up and went to his room while nanu entered his own which was right next to his. He opened his laptop and started to pay attention to work for today... rather tried to, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Naina.

"Rohan sir, can I take a look at the previous years client lists and their records? Abhi ke orders ke liye help mil jayegi." Naina asked as she entered Rohan's room along with him.

"Of course. Ismein puchne ki zarurat nahi hai. Saare records aapke company laptop pe hain. Aap mera password use karke koi bhi data check kar sakti hain." Rohan offered.

Naina noted down the password in her phone, then looked up again, "Thank you, sir."

Rohan took a deep breath before speaking, "Dekhiye Naina, aap abse mere saath poora din kaam karengi. Agar itni formality rakhenge toh zara mushkil hoga. You please call me Rohan. Yahan hum sab ek doosre ko first name se hi bulate hain. Sirf papa aur nanu ko sab log sir kehte hain. Department heads, managers, jo mujhse dus barah saal bade hain unko bhi main naam se bulata hun toh phir aap aur main toh almost same age ke hain."

Naina tightened her hold on the phone, speaking in a clipped voice, "Sir, mere liye mere seniors ko sir bolna respect ka mark hai. I don't want..."

Rohan stalled her line of thoughts immediately, "Oh no no, take it easy. Naina, yeh company culture hai... in fact, yahan mostly offices mein aisa hi hota hai. I can understand your apprehensions but believe me, hamare yahan kisi female employee se kisi tarah ka misbehaviour tolerate nahi kiya jaata. Aapki jagah agar bhai ke jaise koi Vikas mera assistant hota toh main usko bhi yehi kehta. Hamare office mein koi harassment cell nahi hai, pata hai kyon? Because it's not the duty of only a selected few people to tackle such a shameful thing, we all are responsible for providing a conducive environment for women."

Naina stayed quiet. It was one thing to make such claims but actually having such type of environment in a work place was how much possible, she wasn't sure.

Seeing her furrowed brows, Rohan softened his voice, "Naina, hamare office mein har male employee ko sabse pehle yehi clause diya jaata hai ki agar kisi point pe unhe kisi female se, chahe woh office ki hon ya koi client, unhe misbehave karte hue pakda jaata hai ya unki koi complaint aati hai toh direct termination hai... without any explanation. Main aapko assure karta hun ki yahan aapko kabhi aisa kuch face nahi karna padega. Poora office iss conduct ko follow karta hai. Hum sab iss baat ka khyal rakhte hain ki hamare yahan koi uncomfortable na feel kare. Aur bhai ka toh pucho mat... agar unke aage kisi ne galti se bhi kuch bol diya toh bhai ke keher se uss insaan ko koi nahi bacha sakta. Aur agar koi badtameezi kare toh shayad bhai aise bande ka murder hi kar dein."

Naina could feel the sincerity in his voice. He had been extremely polite and respectful to her ever since she had joined.

"Okay sir. Lekin aap bhi mujhe tum kahiye. I'm younger in age and position, yeh aap sunna thoda ajeeb lagta hai." She smiled.

"Arre main koi papa ya nanu ki category ka thodi hun. I saw your resume... hamara bas ek saal ka difference hai. You're 23 and I'm 24." Rohan said brightly.

Naina nodded, feeling lighter at his chirpiness.

"Toh deal? Tum mujhe Rohan bulao, aur tum kehna... main bhi tumhe Naina kahunga aur tum bolunga... oh, lekin main toh abhi bhi tum hi bolta hun... phir bhi deal kar rahe hain toh saari terms clear kar lete hain. Acceptable?" Rohan stood up and held out a hand towards her.

After a moment's hesitation, Naina took his hand with a smile, "Deal."

"Great. Ab main nanu ke paas jaa raha hun, kuch discuss karna hai. Aap... nahi tum... tum jo figures check karna chahti ho woh dekh lo phir hum sales region ke baare mein baat karenge." Rohan beamed at her.

After he left, Naina was about to go back to her cabin when the intercom began to ring.

It was about an hour after reaching his room that Sameer started to look for the file. He was referring to it in the morning and now it seemed nowhere. After checking his drawers and table, he called Suresh, the office boy, and told him to search in the Conference room. When the file could not be found, he leaned back in his seat, trying to recall how he had misplaced it in just a couple of hours.

"Nanu ya Rohan ke paas toh nahi chod di?" He pondered, and dialled the intercom.

"Nahi Sameer, main na kuch leke gaya tha meeting mein na leke aaya. Tu Rohan se puch le." Nanu answered.

He dialled Rohan's room next.

"Yes sir, may I help you?" The voice was unmistakably her.

"Uh... main... mujhe... woh main..." He was suddenly at loss for words.

Naina waited patiently.

Sameer rubbed his forehead, admonishing himself for fumbling like a teenager, and cleared his throat, "Meri ek file hai, blue colour ki. Shayad galti se Rohan ke paas chali gayi. Could you please check and let me know?"

"Which department, sir?" Naina asked in a polite voice.

And Sameer realised she hadn't recognised him.

"Distribution sectors ki file hai. Agar mil jaaye toh Suresh ko de dijiye. He knows where to take it." He was disappointed.

"Sure." Naina answered and put the phone down.

Sameer slumped in his chair, "Yahan main uske alawa kuch soch nahi paa raha aur usne meri awaaz tak nahi pehchani. Kya baat hai, Sameer Maheshwari, tum toh yaad rakhne layak bhi nahi ho."

With a shock he stood up from the chair, confounded at his own reaction.

"Enough. Main bohot zyada soch raha hun. Kal raat ka resolve bhoolna nahi hai mujhe. No more of these silly thoughts, Sameer, kaam pe dhyan de." He paced the room for a while, before sitting back on the chair and opening the laptop... he needed distraction.

Rohan looked at his phone screen when it started ringing. Seeing the name, he instantly picked up as he was about to dial the same number.

"Kya hua, Naina? Account mein login nahi ho raha kya?" He wondered if he had given the wrong password.

"Nahi sir, sorry Rohan. Woh distribution department ki ek file ke liye kisika phone aaya tha. Woh file tumhari table par mil toh gayi lekin kisko bhijwani hai yeh nahi pata mujhe. Jinhone call kiya tha unhone kaha the Suresh ko de dena par Suresh hai nahi yahan." Naina explained.

"Oh. Tum aisa karo, meri black file aur yeh wali, dono leke neeche aa jao, nanu ke office mein. Nanu ne bhai ko yahin bulaya hai, usse de dunga." He told her.

Holding both the files, Naina knocked slightly at the door before entering nanu's cabin.

"Naina, mujhe Rohan ne bataya ki tum thodi pareshan thi. Dekho beta, hum iss office ke logon ko apna parivaar maante hain. Waise toh Rohan ne sab bata hi diya hai lekin phir bhi kabhi agar koi problem ho... kisi bhi tarah ki... toh seedhe mere paas aa jaana. Main sirf Rohan Sameer aur Deepu ka hi nana nahi hun, yahan sabka nana hun." Nanu looked at her fondly.

Naina felt a sudden warmth at such affectionate words from the person she met just a day back.

"Thank you, sir. Aap sab bohot achhe hain. I hope main bhi aap sabki expectations poori kar paun." She said in an overwhelmed voice.

Sameer opened the door of nanu's cabin to again see the same face that he was trying to block from his thoughts. Nanu had tilted his chair to the side and Rohan's back was towards the door. Naina stood facing nanu... and Sameer stood in the doorway, unnoticed, watching her.

Nanu was talking to her, "Of course. Itni choti umr mein tum itni easily yeh responsibility utha rahi ho, yeh sab show karta hai ki tum mein bohot capability hai."

"Aisa kuch nahi hai, sir. Rohan bhi toh 24 years ki age mein poora unit sambhalte hain." Naina said modestly.

Nanu turned to say something when his eyes fell on Sameer, "Arre Sameer, wahan kyon ruk gaya? Andar aaja."

Rohan and Naina together looked at him. Sameer shifted his gaze to nanu, and walked in.

"Come bhai. Aapki file mere paas chali gayi thi galti se. Naina le aayi hai." Rohan picked up the blue file, and placed it in front of Sameer on the desk.

Nanu waved a hand at both him and Naina, showing them the chairs next to Rohan. Sameer stepped aside, expecting her to take the center chair.

"You sit here." Rohan vacated his corner seat and shifted in the center.

With a sigh, Sameer settled next to Rohan.

Nanu started where he had halted, "Haan toh Naina, main keh raha tha ki Rohan ko teen saal hone ko aaye yahan ka kaam shuru kiye hue. Tumne toh ek saal bhi poora nahi kiya tha apne pichle job mein. I'm sure teen saal ka experience toh tumhe aur bhi perfect bana dega."

"Teen saal? Tumne college ke saath hi office join kar liya tha?" Naina was amazed.

Nanu shook his head, "Nahi beta, padhai poori karke hi aaya tha. Rohan 25 saal ka hai."

Naina gave Rohan a surprised look, who pouted, "25 ka kahan hua hun abhi."

Sameer frowned, "Agle mahine ho jayega... sirf barah din bache hain tere birthday mein."

"Haan lekin tab tak toh 24 ka hi hun na." Rohan gave a sheepish smile to his brother, avoiding Naina's questioning look.

"Achha ab yeh sab chodo, let's get back to work." Nanu turned his laptop screen to them.

After a short discussion on the report that Vivek had sent from Mumbai, nanu ended the meeting as it was time for lunch.

All Sameer got was another small nod from Naina before she left the room.

One more surprise for my lovely and patient readers... next update on Wednesday 😊