19.

                                    

                                          
In life, there are moments that change everything. 
After certain situations or something that happens, there is just before and after.
It feels as if everything is changed, even tho it's all the same.
The same faces, places, and things don't feel the same anymore.
And right now, that's what Swara was experiencing. 
Standing in the office lobby, waiting for the elevator, Swara felt that change in air around her.
After the short leave of hers, she felt entirely different in the office, even tho everything was the same as before.
Except a very important thing has changed. 
Her marital status.
And it's not simply her marital status that's making the difference. 
No. It's her husband.
Simply put, before she was just an intern, and now, in the after, she is the boss's wife.
Before, she used to look at people, to see how they work, and how everything works around here.
But now, everyone was looking at her.
Scratch that. 
Staring at her. 
Watching her. 
Observing her.
And obviously, murming and whispering among themselves. 
Just as she was trying to look around with eyes lowered, her husband came and stood next to her.
Sanskar was on his phone. Feeling the eyes on him, he looked up and around. That made the others lower their eyes.
Ding.
The lift arrived and opened. 
Swara rushed into it, and sanskar followed her.
Somehow, taking deep breaths, she calmed herself. 
"You ok?" Sanskar asked, looking at her, taking deep breaths and murmuring something. 
"Yeah? Yes. Absolutely. I'm fine. I am fine." She said. The last line mostly for herself.
Settling in her desk, she logged into her laptop.
Seeing if any work she left unfinished before leaving.
After a certain period of time, that is a few days, the interns are grouped and assinged a senior, who is their mentor.
Every day, the interns are to report to their assigned seniors to get their work for the day.
The seniors accordingly assigned them tasks, presentations, etc.
Swara was absent when it started. And today's the first day for her, working under her mentor. 
Swara, along with 4 other interns of her group, reached their senior,Ms. Riya Roy.
The other four were talking amongst themselves, and Swara wasn't part of their conversation. 
Before her small holiday, she had met with them. 
They used to talk with her back then,at least the bare minimum you do with new people.
But now, it wasn't the same.
Riya reached near her table, where her interns were waiting.
She put her coffee down and settled down on her chair.
"Good morning, mam." The 4 interns said together. To which they got a nod.
"Good morning, mam," Swara wished her, and Riya looked up at her from her laptop.
"Hmm. Anyways, you guys continue with your ppts, submit to me before the second half. Now leave." She said.
The 4 others left while Swara was still standing.
"Umm.Mam, am Swara. I was assigned to work under you. I was actually absent, so can you please help me out?"