The next day, we are all gathered to welcome our new CEO, Mr.Khanna's son, he is a young rich dynamic person, 25 years old and after studying in the US and working in a reputed company for so many years, he is finally back to take over his business. We all are assembled at the entrance with bouquets. We see an AUDI arrive and the man who steps out is none other than a model himself. I hear few girls giggling behind me, murmuring around themselves.

"He is so handsome", Riya says while adjusting her dress and her hair.

"I don't think I can ever look in his eyes, I'm going crazy," says another girl.

Everybody is frozen to their spot and nervy. Seeing nobody approaching him, I take a forward step "Hello Arjun sir, we are glad to have you" I give him the bouquet.

He has a friendly smile, "Finally a warm welcome after a lot of stares."

He smiles and thanks to everyone for the heartfelt welcome and goes to his cabin. We are all settled in our cabin and then I get a call from elder Mr. Khanna. As I enter the office, I see son and dad talking.

"Hey son the gem I was talking about is this girl, her name is Vasuda Arora", Mr. Khanna speaks.

"Yup I meet her dad; she is the only one to greet me properly" Arjun sir gives his friendly smile to me.

"Dad I'm must say you're working style is pretty boring and rigid, and half of the girls are ogling at me, which is pretty annoying ", Arjun sir says while going through some file.

I don't want to interrupt their conversation but I feel like an intruder.

"Sorry, sir you asked for me?" I ask.

"Actually yes, son "he looks at Arjun "I have chosen Vasuda to be your secretary, she is a hard-working girl and smart on too", Mr. Khanna says.

"Ohh thank you sir for your kind words and I won't disappoint you" I smile and go back to my cabin.

One month has passed, Mr. Khanna's son Arjun Khanna is a good hardworking person, and every day we get to learn new things from him, he is the guy who knows how to work, he understands I'm not trained and he continuously makes an attempt to improve me.

While passing by the cafeteria, I hear mean colleagues talking about me.

"Hey Vasuda, we have heard you're quite busy with Arjun sir" I sense negativity and taunting tone in Riya's voice.

Ignoring them, I resume my walk.

The mean girl Riya blocks my way and pulls me rough by the elbow, "I'm talking to you, don't show me this crap attitude of yours".

"Riya it's hurting", I try removing my elbow which she is holding.

"So have you seduced Arjun sir ha?" Riya speaks with a lot of venom in her words.

I just look at her, has this girl going nuts.

"No Riya", her friend Shannon says, "Just look at this fatty, do you think Arjun sir will ever be interested in someone like her? She is poor, fat and a single mother, Just look at her damn clothes, these clothes are fit for some lower-middle-class worker, sorry Vasuda but reality stinks. Poor girl may not even know what it's like to be rich, nobody would take a second glance at her ever, with those spectacles and hair tied in a messy bun" and they all start laughing.

I can't bear it anymore, "Are you girls done insulting me, so I can go?".

"Ohh poor girl, did we hurt you? "Riya says laughing out loud.

"Riya, right? I forget names. Listen Riya I don't care for this nonsense, I have come far away from all these things; don't need people to make me realize my shortcoming because I already know. If you can feel you can break me, you know what try it, but I won't give a shit around you girls. Take my advice, be nice that is the only thing that can make you pretty, the world has tons of ugly people, don't be one among them."

I have kept half of the cafeteria open-mouthed but being stronger was my only survival mantra against this big bad world for years, which is helping me to protect my Zia.