Known Unknown

The continuous ringing of the telephone bell stopped her from locking the door.

“Who could it be? It is already 10:10 am and it would be impossible to reach office by 10:30,” she opened the door quickly and rushed towards the ringing phone.

“Hello…”

“Yes, Sumi, this isManisha…”

“Yes, speak…”

“Please come quickly, Sumi,” there was a very sincere request in Manisha’s voice.

“What is it, Manisha? Is everything all right?”

“Yes, there is nothing to worry.”

She felt relieved. But after a second, he said, “Then why…?”

“You know my friend Kavita, don’t you? She has a problem and she is here with me.”

She did not understand clearly because her mind was at bus stop. She said, “All right, I will be back from my office in about two hours, and then I will come to you.”

“All right.”

“Bye…”

“Manisha is a strange girl; she unnecessarily invites troubles. She asks me to come immediately as if I am free. I have to go to office. Who is this Kavita now? I don’t know Kavita but Manisha has called me to solve her problem,” walking towards the bus station, she was muttering to herself.

The gateman at the gate greeted her, “Good morning, Madam.”

“Good morning.”

Lost in Kavita’s thoughts, she did not realize when she reached the bus stop, when she boarded the bus, and when she reached the office.

She decided to complete her work quickly. She was newly appointed as a visualizer in that office. She had felt an artificial type of formality in the ambience around her in that office but there was excessive openness and frankness that was the requirement of the trade. She was not habitual to that kind of environment but she performed her duties diligently and she had tried to maintain friendly relations with her colleagues.

She had to complete the visualization of two new advertisements and Manisha had disturbed her with her phone call about Kavita. Mr. Khandekar was his senior and he knew that an artist could not be forced to do anything if the artist was not in mood.