Office Politics 12

Note: English is not my native language. Please excuse my grammar and basic vocabularies.

*****

Good morning, Aisha," she could sense the enthusiasm in my voice.

"Good morning, Karan," she replied casually.

I wanted to talk more, but I didn't. I could see a smirk on her face, as if she had successfully conditioned me to greet her in the way she liked. (No small talk, no office gossip, just a simple good morning.)

Her cubicle is next to mine. Despite sitting next to each other, we don't talk during office hours because she is very serious and disciplined about her work.

Despite her stoic behavior during work hours, she is very soft-spoken and sweet. She is nice to everyone in the office and always there to help people.

I stole a glance at her. She looked gorgeous in a formal office suit. She has a perfect figure and appeared really tall in her high heels.

While I was secretly staring at her, a girl in her early 20s came to me and asked in her squeaky voice, "Are you Karan?"

"Yes," I replied.

"When are you going to submit the presentation? The boss wanted it by tomorrow." she yelled. She seemed like a new intern hired by the company. I didn't like the way she told me this.

"Tell the boss the presentation will be submitted today itself and get the hardcopy of this page for me." I gave her a taste of her own medicine

She seemed pissed off. "Excuse me, maybe if you stop ogling her, you will get enough time to print this paper," she retaliated

I felt the ground slipping under my feet. A wave of embarrassment flowed through my body. I briefly exchanged glances with Aisha. She was snickering at the comment.

"I wasn't ogling her. And you mind your own business," I replied in a shaky voice.

"It is my business to manage my team. I forgot to tell you, I am the new marketing head. You will be working under me."

Her face exuded authority and confidence.

"I am sorry. I will submit the presentation file ASAP," I stated in a low tone.

"Good. Do apologize to her as well."

"Sorry, Aisha," I said embarrassingly.

Aisha didn't utter a word. I was expecting her to defend me, but she kept quiet.

For the rest of the day, I did my work quietly without staring around.

Before leaving, I went up to her cabin with the presentation file. Aisha was already in there. I knocked.

"Wait there," she called out.

I stood there holding the presentation file for almost half an hour. I felt like a kid punished by his teacher.

"Come in." There's something about her squeaky voice that drives me crazy.

I went in there. She was sitting in her chair. "Tanya" was written on the nameplate on the desk. Aisha was sitting opposite her. They both seemed to get along very well.

I gave her the file. "Completed, and sorry Tanya for my earlier behavior," I stated.

"Karan, I checked your record. You are good at your job, but you need to work on your attitude towards women. The way you were staring at her and talking to me is just not acceptable."

I felt really ashamed for being rebuked by a younger woman. I glanced at Aisha; she was smiling.

"Sorry, Tanya. This will not be repeated."

"Yes, you better not repeat it. And at least have the courtesy to address your senior as ma'am. You know what? You are going to address all women in our office as ma'am. This will be a great lesson for you. Is that clear?"

I had no other option but to agree with her.

"Yes, ma'am."

I immediately left the cabin after saying this. In the corridor outside, I could hear both of them laughing over something, probably me.

The next morning, I found it very difficult to get over the previous day's embarrassment and show up again. I did it anyway.

I arrived there. Aisha was already there. I quietly sat in my cubicle.

"Good morning, Karan," she said teasingly.

"Good morning." I didn't want to call her ma'am as I felt betrayed by her. She gave me a sharp look. I feared losing my job. She could betray me again.

"Ma'am," I uttered in a low tone. She looked satisfied. She had a big grin on her face.

I didn't have much work to do today. I was mindlessly scrolling through my social media when I heard her say, "Can you bring me a cup of coffee?" in her sweet voice.

She must have spoken for the first time during office hours. I felt annoyed. She cannot boss me around like that.

"Actually, I am kind of in the middle of something important." I don't know why, but my defense mechanism came up with such a lame excuse.

Out of nowhere, Tanya appeared. She seemed to have overheard our conversation.

"What's with you? Can't you be a little nice to her and useful for the firm? I don't need to remind you about your shameful acts. You have a chance to redeem yourself. Don't throw it away. Bring two cups of coffee, one for her, one for me."

Tanya did seem to have some sort of vendetta against me and men in general.

"It's fine, Tanya. I just asked him casually. I'll bring it myself later," Aisha insisted. I rolled my eyes. I knew her sweetness was nothing but a facade. And how come she gets to call Tanya by name? But I wasn't in a position to point out this hypocrisy.

"No, Aisha. You do your work. Let him do his." I know she was trying to get under my skin. I didn't give her that satisfaction.

"Yes, ma'am," I responded positively.

Both of them were at Tanya's cabin. I went there and knocked at the door.

"Come in."

I went inside. Tanya was all into her work while Aisha was on her phone, chatting with somebody.

I kept the tray on the table. "Keep it here," Tanya commanded.

I kept the cup next to Tanya and gave the other one to Aisha.

"Thank you, Karan," she said in her sweet voice.

"Also, can you bring me my blue file? It's on my desk." Aisha requested

"Of course." I had to obey her in front of Tanya. I brought her the file.

As I was about to leave, Tanya interrupted, "Stay here for a while. We might need more of your services today."

I stood there for an hour. Both of them had been gossiping about their personal lives and deliberately neglecting me.

"Hey, do tally the numbers in this file," she commanded.

I felt relieved as I finally got the chance to leave. I took the file from her and was about to leave.

"Where are you going? Do it here," Tanya interrupted.

"There is no place to sit here. Let me get it done in my cubicle."

"There is plenty of space here on the floor. Don't be ashamed. It's clean," Tanya said sarcastically.

I sat on the floor. I heard both of them giggling. It was way more humiliating than I thought. I was constantly in fear that my other colleagues might see me like that.

The real embarrassment started when Aisha brought her long heels close to my face and started moving her feet. Her feet were so close to my face that I could smell them.

Tanya was also enjoying the show from up there.

"Okay, I have a reputation here. I can't be seen sitting at your feet by my colleagues. I can't do it on the floor," I demanded and stood up.

They both seemed to control their laughter at my desperation

"That's a fair point, Tanya," Aisha commented sarcastically.

"Okay, you know what? You sit under the table, do your work quietly. Nobody could see you here" Tanya said.

"That's a great idea," Aisha reassured.

I kept thinking about how to avoid this from happening, how to get out of this situation. I fell short of excuses.

Tanya lifted both her legs and said, "Come on in."

Aisha was straight up laughing in my face.

I crawled under the table. Both of them were laughing very loudly.

I sat under the table and kept on doing the work. Tanya rested both her feet on my shoulder. At that moment, I gave up. I didn't flicker and accepted my fate.

After half an hour, I completed the work. Her feet were still on my shoulder. They both were still gossiping.

"Completed," I said.

Tanya took the file from my hand but didn't give me space to get out.

"Can you do my foot massage?" Aisha requested.

I had every intention to say no, but I didn't know what got into me. I started massaging her feet.

Both of them were a bit shocked.

Tanya moved her feet from my shoulder and placed them on my head with her sandals on. I remained still. I never realized when I started enjoying this embarrassment.

"My sandals are on his head," I could hear Tanya whispering, and both of them giggling.

Tanya started to test my patience. She rubbed her sandals on my head. I didn't move at all.

She put extra pressure on her feet and gradually lowered my head until it reached the floor and my self-esteem hit rock bottom.

"Look at him," Tanya whispered in Aisha's ear.

Tanya bent down and saw my face buried under the weight of her sandals. One sandal was on my head, and the other one was on my cheek.

"I think he has given up on himself," Aisha said.

"Are you fine here?" Tanya asked me.

I was totally zoned out. I felt like I was drowning in the ecstasy of submission. "Yes, ma'am," I uttered.

"Are you liking this?" Tanya asked.

"Yes, ma'am," I answered.

"Would you mind Aisha resting her foot on you?" Tanya teasingly asked again.

"No, ma'am." I replied.

Aisha got really excited. She immediately put her heels on my face. She was loving every moment of it.

"I have never felt so powerful," Aisha said.

They kept me in this position for the next half an hour.

"Okay, come out," Tanya demanded.

I was so turned on and embarrassed too. It was a very weird feeling.

"You really have redeemed yourself. We would love to enjoy more of your services at dinner tonight. Do come to my place." I couldn't believe Tanya invited me over for dinner.