As Ananya Verma stepped into the vibrant, open-concept office of Apex Innovations, she couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. The startup's workspace buzzed with energy, creativity, and a sense of camaraderie she had longed for in her previous mundane job. She remembered her interview vividly, especially the grueling technical round conducted by Suresh Patel, the CTO, whose intense scrutiny and challenging questions had left her intimidated.
Ananya, a little chubby but not overweight, wore a bright smile and a pair of glasses that framed her intelligent eyes. Her brown hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail, and she clutched her laptop bag tightly as she looked around, feeling a bit out of place amidst the unfamiliar faces.
"Hey there! You must be Ananya, right?" A cheerful voice pulled her out of her thoughts. She turned to see two athletic women approaching her. Both looked like they could easily run a marathon or excel in any contact sport. The taller of the two extended her hand.
"Hi, I'm Priya Mehra, and this is my sister, Radhika Mehra," she said, gesturing to the woman beside her. Radhika gave a friendly wave. Both had the same infectious energy and toned physiques that spoke of their proficiency in sports.
"Nice to meet you," Ananya replied, shaking Priya's hand. "I'm Ananya Verma. First day jitters, you know?"
"Don't worry, we all had them," Radhika said with a reassuring smile. "Let's get you settled. We've got some login formalities to complete."
Ananya followed them to a desk where she filled out some paperwork and got her employee ID. The whole time, Priya and Radhika chatted with her about the company's culture, their love for sports, and the various team-building activities they did.
"Okay, Ananya, there's one last form you need to sign," Priya said, handing her a document. "This is about a special perk we offer here at Apex. It was hinted at during your interview, but now we need you to sign this NDA."
Ananya's curiosity piqued as she skimmed through the legal jargon. The document stated that she could stop the perk at any time if she was uncomfortable, but she could never disclose it to anyone outside the company, or face severe legal consequences. Spooked but intrigued, she signed it.
"Great, now let's introduce you to Suresh," Radhika said, leading her down a corridor.
Suresh Patel, the scrawny and physically weak man who had intimidated her during the interview, stood there, holding a tray with the typical Welcome goodies. The goodies included the Laptop bag and some other things. There was a timer clock. There was a pair of tailoring scissors. There was also a gift card. These items were peculiar. But, that strangeness nothing compared to the man who was holding the tray. For, he was wearing an apron.
Just, an Apron.
The sides were open and she could see very clearly that he had no other clothing underneath. The growing bulge indicated clearly that he was not even wearing underwear. Ananya's eyes widened in shock.
"Suresh, this is Ananya," Priya said, suppressing a grin.
Suresh nodded politely. "Welcome, Ananya madam. If you need anything, feel free to ask."
Ananya was speechless. Priya and Radhika burst into laughter at her expression.
"Okay, okay, let's explain," Priya said, still chuckling. "This whole startup was Suresh's brainchild. He sold it to our parents for a pittance, not realizing its potential. When it became a success, he had no rights to the rewards." Radhika continued, "Feeling guilty, we offered him a consultant role with high stock options. But there was a catch -- he had to take up the janitor job for no extra pay. He agreed, waiting for the IPO to cash in on his stock profits. In the meantime, he also acts as a personal servant to new employees as a unique 'perk'."
Just as Radhika finished speaking, the office door opened, and two more women walked in. Meera Sharma, with her short, curly hair and confident stride, wore a stylish but practical outfit that matched her approachable demeanor. Kavya Nair, with her long, straight hair and piercing eyes, exuded a calm and collected aura, her professional attire emphasizing her no-nonsense attitude.
Kavya walked over to Suresh, who immediately knelt in front of her. Ananya watched, spellbound, as Kavya extended her feet and Suresh kissed both her feet.