"Internship!" Many of us exclaimed in unison.

"Yes, internship. You need to complete a 100 hours internship in any firm or business or under a CA before your 5th semester." The professor said.

"But why before exams? Don't we need to study or something?" One of the students asked.

"Don't give me that excuse. Do you students even gather your notes at least a week before exam?!" The professor asked pushing up his glasses. We all went silent. He wasn't wrong.

"Do you think as soon as you exit this college the companies would run to give you jobs. You need to be the ones to struggle and do you think the struggle would work if you have an empty resume? No experience no job!

So go out there, get some experience and then show your faces for exams. Unless you all submit your internship certificates, no hall tickets will be given to you, no exams and no degrees. Understood!"

"Yes." We whined.

"But why can't we do it after exams in our vacations?" Another one of the students asked.

"Do your feet stay in one place during your vacations? Do you think u all can seriously at that time?"

The student shrugged.

"Good. Now if everyone understood. Class dismissed!"

###

"Man! Where are we supposed to get an internship? Where ever we go they just kick us out saying they need permanent not interns."

Wait a minute. Why is this chummy guy always hanging around us?

Avanti and I were sitting in the canteen where he suddenly joined in giving his not soo required opinion.

"And you are?" Avanti asked.

"Who me? I'm Farhan. Naila's friend." He shrugged.

"Huh? My what?"

"Friend! What me to spell it? F R I...."

"I know what you said." I snapped.

Avanti looked at me.

"Idk this guy. We just met once during my first day." I said surrendering.

"Oh come on, it's not like I bite. Why do you always ignore me? I'm a good guy." He smiled.

I rolled my eyes and ignored him.

"So where should we try for internship?" Avanti asked ignoring him too.

"Ouch, u too?" He pouted at Avanti.

"FYI we're both married. So you can leave." Avanti snapped. Hah! Good.

"Oh hello, it's not like I'm hitting on you 2 or anything. I'm here to talk to Begam Sahiba for internship." He said.

"Me?"

"Yeah. You're Kaif Alam's wife. The CEO of Alam group. Can't you get us all a 20 day internship?" He asked.

"Oh yes Naila. Why didn't I think of it before?" Avanti's eyes sparkled.

Working there?! Impossible! That man would kick me out if I even dare to say it.

"Wait a minute, how did you know he's...."

"Of course I do. Everyone knows. You 2 are quite popular." He smirked.

Does that mean they know about my.... Those rumors, do they know about them too?

"W...what else do you know?" I asked carefully.

He shrugged. "Nothing much. Btw, how did you 2 even meet? He was in USA I've heard. Did you meet him there?"

"You love gossiping like girls, don't you?" Avanti mocked him. He chuckled.

###

He was working on his laptop on the bed. After coming back from Dubai, we're sharing the same bed but there's a big boundary wall of pillows between us every night of course. I felt bad he had to sleep on the couch in his own room after he took such good care of me in Dubai. Minus the attitude.

How do I even ask him about it? I thought as I paced back and forth. He's already doing me a favor by sending me to college.... he'll say something stupid and make me mad then I'll say something stupid then make him mad then we'll both start fighting. Ugh!

Then it suddenly clicked me.

Why don't I just talk about it to Mr secretary? He's a good man and easy to talk to. I can just ask him.

"Yeah, why didn't I think of it before!" That came out loud. Shit!

"Think of what?" He asked

"Um... nothing. Just thinking out loud." I smiled nervously.

"You're too loud. I'm trying to concentrate here. And stop pacing around. It's annoying and distracting." He said still looking at his laptop.

"Why is it that whenever you open you mouth, you open it for complaining?" I huffed

"Bcoz whenever I see you I'm compelled to start complaining. You're an epitome of annoyance."

I gasped.

"And what are you Mr. Perfect?"

"Naturally." He smirked.

"No, your a robot. You're always stuck to that laptop and ipad of yours. Why didn't you marry that laptop?" I grumbled.

"If I had a choice I would. At least it's quite. Unlike someone." He darted his eyes at me.

I narrowed my eyes at him and was about to say something but his phone rang and he went in the balcony to take the call.

Huh! The call saved him today. Or else I'd have shown him....

###

"I've organized the interim financial statement and account books of the affiliated businesses within the group. I've also checked and attached the possessed stocks of the company's board members and major shareholders as well. So organize then and make them into materials for the meeting."

"Wow boss, you did all that on your own in a couple of days?!" He said surprised taking the files from me.

I smirked.

"Get me the reports from the Andheri call center for review and talk to the HR team about new recruits."

"Yes boss."

Someone knocked the door.

"Come in." I said and I raised an eyebrow as I saw Naila entering in sheepishly. It was raining heavily today, yet she's here?

"Oh hello Bhabhi... I mean Mrs Alam." My secretary's face lit up seeing her.

"Why are you here?" I asked her ignoring him.

"Actually, I wanted to wait in the waiting area but the receptionist said that I should just go in as Mom has told her to usher me without a question." She said hesitantly.

I sighed inwardly. Just because of Mom I had to be quite. I forced a smile. 'Happy couple remember!'

"What is it that you couldn't wait till I got home?" She would've noticed the annoyance behind my smile as she scolwed at me before smiling.

"Actually I'm here to talk to Mr secretary today?"

"Him?!"

"Me?!" He looked at her and than me, then back at her surprised.

"Actually I have a favor to ask of you." She shrugged.

"Of...of course ma'am. You can order me." He said all gentlemanly.

She smiled from ear to ear.

"Oh thankyou. Can we talk outside if your not busy? It will just take a minute."

"Of course ma'am. I'm not busy at all."

"Desai, did you forget I gave you some work?!" I glared at him.

"It will just take a minute ma'am said and lunch break is starting anyways."

What the.....he dared to brush me off? Who does he think he's talking to? Is the CEO of this company more important or a nobody like her?!

He ushered her out following her. What is so important that she came all the way here to talk to him?

What is this girl up to?

Why does it even matter to u Kaif?

Because he's my secretary, not someone else's errand boy.

I suddenly had the urge to know what the hell was going on, but I just couldn't directly go to them to find out. Ah, he said it's lunch break now. They must be in the cafeteria. I can just go there. I mean, I'm a human too, I can get hungry too right? I'll just go get a snack or coffee. Yeah that's right.

I walked in the cafeteria and as I guessed they were sitting on a table. I casually took some coffee and sandwich, taking my seat on a table behind them.

"Hello boss. Are you eating alone? Should we join...." I glared at the employees who were trying to be chummy and they knew they needed to get out of my face.

"So, what is it that you wanted to talk about ma'am?"

"Well, I didn't even properly got to thank you for making all the arrangements for my college. Thank you so much." She said all shy and coy.

What? This is why she came here all the way, just to thank him? She could've just given him a call.

"Oh you're embarrassing me ma'am. Please don't say that. It was my job and a pleasure to help you out with your dream." He smiled.

Look at him being all humble. It was my idea and I'm paying him more for his job than any other company can.

"Sorry but, I've another favor to ask of you?" She said next.

I knew it! She has another agenda.

"Ofcourse ma'am. I'm here at your service."

He has never spared such words for me. Sure, he wants to be all gentlemanly in front of a beautiful woman. She's not even that beautiful. Tsk.....

Ok maybe she is.

"Our professor has asked us to complete a 100 hours internship before our 5th semester exams and an internship certificate is required to get the permission to appear in the exam too. So can you please arrange for a short internship for me here?"

Here?!

"Uh, that's not in my hands though but I'll be seeing the HR department regarding some work so I can talk to them." He answered

"Thanks again. Oh, actually, 2 of my friends are in need of an internship too. Can you please...."

"Say no more. I'll talk to them about about you 3 for the marketing department internship."

"Thank you soo much Mr. secretary. Uh...i mean, I don't even know your name. Sorry."

"It's Arnav Desai ma'am. You can call me Arnav."

And I can call you suspended. But I can't do that. He's good at his work. Damnit!

"Ok Mr. Arnav." She grinned.

"Btw, ma'am, everyone was really impressed the way you handled the Japanese delegates that day. Where and when did you even learn such good Japanese?"

Oh great! She's even blushing.

"Actually, it's kinda embarrassing. I used to love watching those anime shows since I was young and they were most in Japanese so I was so interested in it that I got all the books I could from my school and college libraries and took some online classes and learned the language."

"Wow, your amazing. Any plan on working as our interpreter for the long run?"

"I don't think soo I could." She giggled and he joined her.

This Arnav! Let's see how he laughs when he has to do over time.

###

I informed Avanti and Farhan that we got the internship after Mr. Arnav called me. They were thrilled. After college we went to the company to meet with the marketing team.

Wow! I never thought I could work in this company even as an intern. Will I get to see daddy often too? Although that wish didn't come true as I found out he's gone on a business trip for a week. Maybe after that I could see him. I'll be here for 20 days after all.

###

We got soo much to learn in just a day. Marketing is not as easy as it seems.

At the end of the day we were all thoroughly exhausted. Farhan went back on his bike while Avanti's husband came to pick her after his work. All her fatigue just ran away as soon as she saw him. Aww, they make such a cute couple. She really loves him a lot too. I sighed watching them, getting a little envious.

I was about to call the driver that's when Kaif came and interrupted me.

"No need to call the driver. I'll take you home. I'm done with my work anyway." He said with a bored expression. I wanted to hit him soo hard.

Last night at dinner after knowing about my internship Mom had asked him to take me home with him everyday after work. That's the only reason I was bearing with him.

Ya Allah! Why did I agree with that Farhan's stupid idea of coming here for internship.

###

We were both silent along the way and as we reached home I noticed another car in the driveway. There must be a guest I thought.

As we walked in I saw a middle aged women sitting with Mom in the living room. Although she seemed too gorgeous and proper to be called middle aged. Mom's expression seemed quite regretfully and sad as she was talking to her and even that woman seemed sad and hurt.

I was walking in but Kaif halted in his steps at the door. I turned to him confused and I was met with a shocked and horrified expression on his face. His face went all pale and it seemed like he might fall on his knees any moment now.

It scared me to see him like that somehow.

"Um...hey are u..."

Without letting me complete my statement me rushed upstairs.

The woman had her eyes fixed on me like a hawk and it somehow made my skin crawl.

Who is this woman?

______________________________________

Assalamualaikum Everyone!!!

I hope the story is getting interesting now.

So I made a few covers. What do you think?

Should I change the current cover with any one of these 🤔