Arpit’s POV

Having the dinner, I checked the email from 'The Exquisite'.

Hello

We are delighted to inform you that you have passed the interview with the HR Department of the company. There is the last interview with the company's MD who will be directly handling your project. The interview is scheduled on Monday, the 29th of July, 2019 at 11:00 A.M in the 'The Exquisite House', 12th floor. Kindly acknowledge your presence.

Regards

The Exquisite Team

I was utterly surprised at the third round of screening in a way as if they are hiring freshers. I doubt who the fool was the managing director of this company and how could this company be successful with such foolish leader. By the way, an interview for the post of Scientist by a Managing Director sounds unique. I wish I were abroad and my resume could speak for me. Unfortunately, I have lost all hopes. I am really saddened to see the state of my country after fifteen years. On the one hand, the leading institutions of my country are progressing a great deal and inviting me to collaborate over the projects and on the other hand, some stupid companies like this one in the industry are acting like a blot to the name of my country. I wish I could just bang the head of the MD. I am damn sure that stupid managing director would be someone who would know just numbers. Plant sciences would be totally a different world to him, but no, he has to make a fool of himself in front of me. I decided to mock him a great deal and take revenge for this not-needed interview.

Life has other plans or else my mother would have shifted with me in Australia peacefully. It is not that I don’t want to work in my country but I have worked abroad for years and I have a good reputation in the Australian industry. I had a wonderful job which I left upon my mother’s persuasion. I miss that perfect life, a great deal!

Anyway, I wrote an acknowledging email and planned to reach the office on Monday.

*****

29th July, 2019

I got ready for the interview wearing a navy blue business suit, mentally preparing myself to keep my head calm. I made myself realize that I am desperately in need of this job because I simply can't sit idle. I had a wonderful opportunity to work with a research institute under the government of my country but unfortunately, I had to let it go as my mother did not want to relocate. In my city, the chances for me were slim because the research institutes in my city focused on planetary sciences and other facets but not on plant sciences.

I reached 'The Exquisite' House and parked my car in the parking lot. The receptionist was a smart lady with a sweet voice. She politely asked me to go to the 12th floor and even wished me luck. I saw working professionals dressed impeccably and working in a disciplined way. I liked the ambience of the corporate office.

I was taken aback in the elevator when I saw an old man in his sixties. I found his face to be familiar as if I knew this man but as my luck would have it, I couldn't recognize the man. However, I was getting a strong feeling that I had met this guy earlier. Despite thinking a lot, I could not recognize him.

On the 12th floor, the man came out of the elevator followed by me. As I could not find anyone so I asked him about the office of the so-called Managing Director.

He too wished me luck and escorted me to the office. He asked me to wait outside and went inside perhaps to inform the MD about me.

Immediately I was called inside.

******

I entered inside and was surprised to see another familiar face. I immediately recognized her. She was my Niharika, my best friend during college whom I lost due to my stupidity. I was astonished seeing the dusky beauty dressed in a navy blue business suit, her hair tied in a bun. She was looking like a beautiful angel. Her elegance added to her captivating persona. I was just amazed at her alluring charisma. I was happy for her. It was then, I realized that her parents owned a cosmetic business and she must have made it reached the zenith such that I am standing for a job in front of her. Connecting the dots, I could realize why this managing director was eager to take my interview!

Firstly, being from the science field, she had immense knowledge about plant sciences and secondly, she must be wanting to catch up. She was indeed, a hardworking person despite life had been really hard for her. I was truly glad that she overcame all the difficulties and toiled hard to conserve the hard work of her parents.

Her authoritative voice asking me to take the seat startled me, taking me out of the trance.

"Dr. Khandelwal, kindly take your seat", I sat on the chair taken aback at her professionalism. Her voice had pain which made me guilty. I felt as if she was angry at me even after so many years. No doubts, I deserved her anger after all, I had committed a dire mistake in the past.

"So Dr. Khandelwal, you seem to have a great profile." She spoke with sarcasm in her voice.

I was offended at her 'seem to have' phrase.

"Madam, I beg to differ but I don't seem to have a great profile, I actually have an appreciable profile. I have a PhD from the University of Cambridge and my specialization involves the analysis of genes of plants for treatment of skin ailments." I answered her rather, arrogantly only to be interrupted by her.

Cutting me off in the middle, she said, "Well! I can see that. Kindly stop talking about your education and experience. It is already there in your resume. I believe in results instead of talks. Will you be able to deliver good results on the project? "

"Madam, what is the project about?", I enquired.

"Dr. Khandelwal, we are planning to launch a range of anti-aging cosmetics. So, you will work for the production of these cosmetics using phytochemicals organically. They should pass all the lab tests.", she concluded.

"Yes, I can try my best." I had genuinely as I remembered once she told me that it' was her mother's dream project. A genuine smile crept on my lips realizing that she had taken her mother’s dream to an amazing zenith in the commercial world.

"If I want you to try, why should I pay you? If only trials are needed, I can try by myself Mr. Khandelwal. I myself hold a PhD and enough research aptitude", she said quite rudely.

I was startled. I said, "Madam, I think you should hire me and pay me because it is your mother's dream project and I am the one who could deliver the best results in less time than you."

She was angry and vulnerable. I could feel her pain and then I realized that I should have not used her emotions by bringing her mother. She had told me this thing years ago and I should not have come up with this.

"Dr. Khandelwal, please keep your insider information to yourself if you want to work here", she said in a monotone masking her pain and vulnerability. I felt bad to hurt her. She had literally learnt to hide her emotions.

To make her mood a bit lighter, I said with a smirk, "So, I am selected."

"Not yet, Mr. Khandelwal", she said in a playful tone, "Why should I hire you?" She questioned. Truly she was a child masking her emotions behind her professionalism. I wanted to tell her that this is not an idle question for an industry-expert as her question was simply the one which was used by the interviewers to determine the confidence of the freshers but I chose against it.

"Madam, I beg to differ but I am of great help. I was working over the phytochemicals extracted from Aloe Vera and Fox Nuts. I have those patented under my name. So, I could use that to fulfill our friendship and your mother's dream", I smirked again hoping to get back friends again.

"Dr. Khandelwal, I think you are mistaken and as far as I remember we are strangers. We will have a relationship of employee and employer. I am not friends with any of the employees. Well! Let's talk about your expectations", she said in a monotone again.

I was shocked. I was compelled to apologize. She remembered the 'Stranger' remark still. She was hurt till now. I said, "Madam, we graduated from the same college in the same course at the same time. Anyway, talking about my expectations, I desire 4 lakhs per month and I will finish the project within six months. 24 lakhs is not a bad bet."

"Okay but just a question. Why are you planning to work here? ", she asked.

"Personal reasons", I answered.

"Report with your proposal within two days", she said without probing any further, asking me to leave.

I left the office and 'The Exquisite House' immediately. I went back home with plenty of thoughts racing in my mind.