Kirti's voice quivered with remorse as she implored, "I'm truly, deeply sorry for this oversight, and I promise I won't let it happen again. Please, ma'am, I humbly request your forgiveness and a chance to prove myself. Please." She uttered these words with her head bowed, displaying genuine contrition.

Listening to Kirti's sincere plea, the manager found it hard to contain his laughter. With a grin on his face, he chuckled and said to Kirti, "You're certainly an interesting and honest addition to the team." His amusement hinted at a more lenient response to her honest admission.

The assistant manager shot an angry glance at the manager, who promptly fell silent and composed. In response to Kirti's explanation, the assistant manager expressed her frustration, saying, "How irresponsible of you! Arriving late on your very first day due to such a trivial mistake. What kind of impression do you think you're making?" Her scolding tone made it clear that she took the matter very seriously.

The manager, in a hushed tone, intervened, "Let's leave it at that. At least she was honest and didn't resort to false excuses. We need honest employees like her." Kirti felt a glimmer of confidence upon hearing his words. However, the assistant manager remained displeased and retorted, "You be quiet. Honesty won't cut it here. You need to be hardworking and determined to succeed in this place." The contrasting viewpoints of the manager and the assistant manager added a layer of complexity to the situation.

Despite the assistant manager's discouraging remarks, Kirti refused to back down. With determination, she assured, "Ma'am, I promise you this will be my last mistake. If I ever make another error, you're free to kick me out." Her commitment to improvement was evident, and she was willing to take responsibility for her actions.

The manager chuckled and remarked, "You see, she's demonstrating such determination. Let's grant her an opportunity and observe what she can achieve in the future."

After a moment of contemplation, the assistant manager agreed, saying, "Alright, but there is one condition: she has to work under Vishnu." A new chapter in Kirti's journey at the company was about to begin, with a unique condition attached to it.

The manager concurred with the assistant manager's words. "For today," he advised Kirti, "go and collect your materials and your ID card from the admin. Make sure to meet Vishnu as well. In the meantime, I'll take care of other important tasks. If you have any spare time, take a moment to introduce yourself to your new colleagues. Remember, starting from tomorrow, you'll be diving into your work," he emphasized, offering Kirti practical guidance for her first day at the company.

Overflowing with gratitude, she humbly expressed, "Thank you so much," with a respectful bow, and added, "I promise not to let you down." With these heartfelt words, Kirti left the manager's office. As she made her way towards the admin's area, she was pleasantly surprised to find Robin waiting there alongside other employees, eager to learn about the developments that had taken place in the manager's cabin.

As they all held their cups of coffee, Kirti initially thought they were taking a coffee break. However, Robin's question, "How did things go?" revealed their genuine interest in hearing about her experience in the manager's cabin. Eager to share, Kirti proceeded to explain in detail everything that had transpired during her meeting with both the manager and the assistant manager. Her colleagues were all ears, attentive to her account.

As Kirti finished her story, she couldn't help but notice a hint of disappointment in Robin's expression. He inquired, "Is that all?" Kirti nodded in agreement, and the others in the group seemed equally disappointed as they returned to their desks.

Robin couldn't resist a teasing remark, saying, "Well, it seems like you had quite a lucky day. You managed to escape the clutches of a witch." His playful comment lightened the mood, and Kirti couldn't help but smile at their camaraderie.

From behind, a voice inquired, "Claws of which witch?" Both Kirti and Robin immediately recognized it as the assistant manager's voice. They exchanged nervous glances as they saw her approaching, and beads of sweat formed on their foreheads. She repeated her question, sternly asking, "Who is the witch?" The tension in the air was palpable as they tried to come up with an explanation.

In an attempt to defuse the situation, Robin quickly offered an excuse, "We were just discussing the game she played yesterday, which had something about a queen of witches, nothing more. You know, ma'am, I'm also a fan of games, so I was seeking some suggestions from her." His explanation was delivered with a hint of nervousness, as they hoped it would suffice to divert the assistant manager's attention.

The assistant manager considered Robin's explanation and asked, "Is that so?" Robin nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, ma'am, that's all we were discussing."

Turning her attention to Kirti, the assistant manager inquired, "Have you collected your materials from the admin?" Kirti responded with a regretful tone, "No, ma'am."

Robin stepped in to assist Kirti, explaining, "She was on her way, but I thought it would be helpful to provide her with some guidance and introduce her to the office."

The assistant manager responded, "You don't need to trouble yourself with these matters. Vishnu will handle the logistics. Kirti, your priority is to collect your materials and take these documents." She handed Kirti a set of documents signifying her acceptance on their floor. Kirti nodded in acknowledgment and proceeded to carry out the assistant manager's instructions.

Robin, with a hint of doubt, asked, "Excuse me, ma'am, but she was supposed to work under my guidance, right?"

The assistant manager replied, "She would have been, but based on her behavior today, it's become clear that Vishnu is the best option to help instill discipline." Her decision was firm, and it seemed that Kirti's actions on her first day had influenced this change.

The assistant manager gave final instructions, saying, "Now, guide her to the presentation room and then return to your desk to work. Wandering aimlessly won't get your tasks completed, understood?" With that, she turned and headed toward her office, leaving Robin with the responsibility of helping Kirti settle in and get started with her work.

Robin couldn't resist making a playful gesture by sticking out his tongue in jest behind the assistant manager's back. He then turned to Kirti and remarked, "Just when I thought you were lucky, it seems like you're not." His words were met with agreement from some of the other employees who had gathered around, nodding and chiming in with comments like, "Yes, he's right." Kirti found herself at the center of some light-hearted banter from her new colleagues.

Both Robin and Kirti were startled by the unexpected gathering of their colleagues. In a raised voice, Robin directed them, saying, "Please return to your desks and concentrate on your tasks. Take a cue from Michael over there; he's deeply engrossed in his work and hasn't even taken a break. There's much to learn from his dedication." He gestured toward a long-haired coworker as an illustration of unwavering commitment to their work.

As Robin concluded his sentence, Michael unexpectedly stood up, grabbed his bag, and headed towards the restroom. The unexpected turn of events left everyone present trying to suppress their laughter. Growing annoyed, Robin raised his voice once more, commanding, "Get back to your desks right away." His authoritative tone urged the colleagues to refocus on their work.

With a mischievous display of tongues, the other colleagues departed, leaving Robin and Kirti behind. He beckoned Kirti, saying, "Come on, follow me." As they walked together, Kirti, still wary of her encounter with the assistant manager, couldn't help but ask, "Is Vishnu just as intimidating as the assistant manager?"

Robin shook his head, replying, "No, he's even worse. Actually, he's quite strict. Let me tell you a bit more about Vishnu. Before you joined, there was another new recruit who happened to be an incredibly attractive woman. She embodied the quintessential corporate professional, and her presence left many of us in awe. Every guy in the office couldn't help but admire her beauty. However, the manager made a rather interesting decision by assigning her to be trained under Vishnu's guidance."

Robin continued with a hint of frustration, "Sadly, she wasn't the hardworking type, and that's when Vishnu, well, that inhuman Vishnu, the rascal Vishnu, filed a complaint against her, stating that she didn't work with enough concentration and dedication. As a result, she had to leave the job. It was a real disappointment for many of us, as he shattered quite a few dreams we had about her."

Robin's words carried a weight of seriousness, "Now that you're under his guidance too, your success here depends on working diligently. It's worth noting that she was considered ten times more attractive than you, and even her charisma couldn't influence Vishnu. With the assistant manager closely monitoring your performance, it's crucial to take your responsibilities seriously."

Deep down, Kirti couldn't shake the feeling that Robin's words might not entirely encapsulate Vishnu's character and strictness. She suspected that his frustration was rooted in the disappointment of the woman who had left the job, rather than providing an accurate picture of Vishnu's true nature.