My Boss's Daughter

I met her on an ordinary day, with nothing extraordinary happening around me. It was a month-end, a day dreaded by all article assistants including me. My head was stuck in one of the files from the long stack of files in front of me. Denisha had just returned from a long vacation. Too long if you asked me. She would have been fired long ago if she wasn’t working for her father. One of the seniors just happened to mention her when she arrived. I popped my head out for a second, had a good look at her and then focused back on my work, not bothering myself to look at her again. She was beautiful; a bit tomboyish. But that wasn’t the reason for my disinterest towards her.

My previous encounter with her elder sister Melissa was. Melissa was snobbish and behaved as if she owned the world. When I had asked her a doubt initially, she had ridiculed me as if I was the dumbest person ever born on Earth. Since I was to be a future chartered accountant, she expected me to know everything beforehand. Her father Jack Sequeira, was the exact senior version of his daughter. So I assumed that Denisha was just like them. How wrong I was! I avoided all of them as much as I could. Even though I found Denisha too cute to resist.

I spoke to her at the first chance that I got. When one of my friends asked her a doubt, she was cordial and solved her query within a few minutes. Then another one gathered the courage to ask her. And another one till she actually became our knight in shining armor. We all went to her with our doubts. Nowhere could I see any sign of disinterest, irritation or frustration on her face. She was, in fact, happy to help all of us, at all times. Mostly, she muttered the same words.

“It’s good to ask doubts. It means you are learning. I’ll be worried when you stop asking me questions.”

I wanted to ask her if she was single. Even though she was my boss’s daughter and probably a few years older than me. I kicked myself in my head for even having such thoughts in the first place. Girls like her are hard to find. A perfect combination of beauty with brains and a caring heart. I tried my best to control myself around her but my friends discovered my crush on her somehow. Eventually, I became the butt of their jokes for all seasons. Who wouldn’t admire her? It was a blessing that she hadn’t inherited any of her father’s or sister’s qualities but had a stand of her own.

Melissa and Denisha were at loggerheads most of the time. Unlike other sisters who are mostly friends or partners in crime. If someone actually observed, Melissa looked quite similar to her father while Denisha looked different. Maybe she was just like her mother; looks and mannerisms alike. I could barely concentrate on my work when she was around. Studying chartered accounting had made my life hectic by keeping me busy all day. In the morning, I attended a few college lectures. My articleship kept me busy till early evening. After that, I had my CA classes. In the midst of all this hustle and bustle, how I managed to develop a liking towards Denisha is something I still haven’t able to reckon.

I always thought I had everything planned out for me. Since I was sure of my ambitions since a young age. My parents had huge expectations from me and I didn’t want to disappoint them. Moreover, I didn’t want to disappoint myself and let a silly crush distract me from my dreams. Getting involved with Denisha was like mixing business with pleasure. So what if it was one-sided? It was taking a toll on my studies and I had to bring myself back on track. Somehow, I managed to scrape through my final exams that year, giving me more reasons to stay away from her. I was unsuccessful in avoiding her completely since we had to talk about work. She would give me instructions and I would listen and obey like a good boy.

Not once did Denisha make me feel as if I was a junior. Even when I committed a few errors, she never discouraged me. She always helped me rectify my mistakes just as a friend would and not as a boss. It would have been way easier for me to avoid Melissa. All article assistants were authorised members of her hate group. Since we all hated her equally.

One Saturday, I was returning home from office. My classes had been cancelled that day and for the first time in months, I was actually going home a bit early. I was still at the bus stop when I realised that I had forgotten my charger at office. I quickly went back, hoping that the office wasn’t locked yet. Even though the lights were switched off, the door was open. As I went inside, I could sense the sound of someone crying. Unsure, I switched on the nearby light, only to find Denisha in tears. She quickly sprang up from her seat and wiped her tears before facing me.

“Oh! It’s you, Girish. Do you need something?” She behaved as if nothing was wrong.

“Are you okay? Is there something I can do for youuuuuuuuu?” I stretched the word ‘you’ on purpose. “I was actually here for my charger but I think I can help you as well.” I quickly grabbed my charger from my desk and kept it in my bag, only to prove that I had actually come all the way for it.

Denisha let out a fake smile. “Silly me! Melissa’s getting engaged tomorrow and I was actually missing my parents. So, that’s why the tears.” She wiped her eyes again, who were on the verge of breaking down. Even though she was upset, I couldn’t control my happiness at the thought or probability of Melissa leaving the company.

“Reallyyyyy! Is she leaving us for good?” On realising what I had just said, I made a straight face. Denisha smiled wickedly this time. At least, I managed to make her smile. Actually, that’s great news. You should be happy for her. Now you can have the room all to yourself. If you’re missing your parents, why don’t you just go home? I’m sure they need your help to prepare for the function tomorrow.”

“I wish I could, Girish. If only they were alive!” I could sense disappointment on her face as I looked at her, confused.

“I don’t understand. What do you……………?” She interrupted me.

“ ack Sequeira is actually my uncle. I’ve been living with them since I was 10. My parents died in a plane crash years ago. Melissa and I don’t really get along but my uncle is a good man. He has always loved me like his own daughter.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you with my words.” I looked down at the ground, out of sheer embarrassment.

“It’s okay. I know you guys don’t like Melissa. She can be a pain sometimes.”

“Sometimes!” I raised my eyebrow at her. We both had a hearty laugh.

“Well, always. She is getting engaged to my ex-boyfriend. That’s why I was a bit down, you know.”

“I am sorry about that. And I’m sorry as I had no idea that Jack Sir isn’t your father.”

Denisha pulled my cheeks and laughed again. It felt amazing and made me wonder if she thought of me as a younger brother. “ You don’t have to feel sorry about everything. Daniel and I have moved on. It just feels a bit embarrassing to see your sister and your ex together. But if she is happy with him, I should be happy for her. Right.” She looked at me as if she needed my worthy approval. In response, I just nodded. Out of nowhere, she hugged me and I appreciated her gesture.

“Thanks for hearing me out, Girish. I hope you can keep my little secret. Only Sushil uncle knows that Jack uncle isn’t my father.” I nodded my head again. Denisha smiled as I smiled back at her.

“And by the way, don’t get too excited. Melissa isn’t going anywhere after marriage. In fact, Daniel’s thinking of joining us. He is a CA too.” I looked at her, flabbergasted, my eyes literally popping out.

“Is your dog a CA too?” Denisha roared hysterically as she locked the office door, staring at me and my absurd sense of humour.

“You’re lucky we don’t have one, Girish. Otherwise, you never know.”

We both chatted and laughed our way to the bus stop. Good grief! What a day it had been!