14-05-2026, 05:22 PM
Chapter 110 - Friends?
Gowtham reached the office still feeling the sharp sting from Sneha’s bite that morning. Every time he shifted in his chair, a dull throb reminded him of her teeth. He sat in his cabin doing almost nothing, staring at the screen, his mind replaying the unexpected aggression in the shower.
What the hell has gotten into her?
His thoughts were interrupted when his boss called for an urgent meeting with all the trainees in the conference room.
Mr. Prakash entered with a serious face and got straight to the point.
“Varsha has topped the entire training and assessment with impressive scores,” he announced.
The room fell into surprised silence. Everyone out there knows how Gowtham despised Varsha and she topped the assessment? A disbelief in everyone's eyes. Gowtham’s jaw tightened. Only he knew her score was fake and that he had helped make it legitimate.
After a pause, Mr. Prakash continued, “Because of the back-to-back tender losses, the new startup operations cannot take all of you directly. Until further notice, you will continue here. But I’ve decided to promote only Varsha to a permanent position effective immediately.”
The announcement sent ripples through the trainees. Varsha remained calm, though a small spark of relief flashed in her eyes. Gowtham said nothing.
After the meeting, Mr. Prakash pulled him aside in the corridor.
“Gowtham, what’s the status of the quotation you’re working on?”
“I’m completing it tomorrow, Sir. I’ll give you a heads-up once it’s ready,” Gowtham replied.
Prakash shook his head firmly. “No, don’t show it to me yet. I don’t want to see it. Just make sure we never lose this tender. Get all the help you need from the trainees. Run a demo model. Ask Varsha to help you on the programs and modules — under your guidance. Then use those samples and give the final results to Rahul.”
He placed a hand on Gowtham’s shoulder. “Work closely with Rahul on the upcoming tender quotes. We cannot afford to lose this one. And don’t take leave tomorrow or Sunday. I will pay everyone who works on those days.”
Gowtham nodded. “Understood, Sir.”
By noon, Gowtham was sitting alone in the pantry section, eating quietly as was his habit — away from juniors.
Juniors feared Gowtham, as he is too strict.. No one dared to join him. Except team managers who were his friends. As they work on different floors and teams. Gowtham used to have Lunch alone.
Then Varsha walked in, tray in hand, and sat directly opposite him without asking.
The entire pantry went silent. Heads turned. A Junior staff sitting with a senior? Unheard of.
Gowtham looked up, fork paused mid-air.
He looked around to witness everyones eyes on their table..
Varsha didn’t waste time. She said “Thanks.”
Gowtham lost himself in the thought, her fearless attitude won him.. He was just looking at her eyes with unbelievability
She looked at him, motionless, she thanked again..
Thank You…
Varsha’s second thank got him back after a silence..
“For what?” , raising an eyebrow Gowtham asked.
“For making my fraudulent assessment legitimate,” she said calmly, scooping curd rice.
Gowtham let out a short laugh. “You finally accepted you’re a fraudster?”
Varsha gave a small, mysterious smile. “This job is very important to me. I don’t care what you think. Survival is everything. You never know what I’m into… what troubles I’m going through.”
She continued eating quietly. Gowtham studied her face for a moment.
“I know,”
“I know your backstory.
Your struggles.
The three jobs.
The tricks you had to pull.
Varsha looked up sharply. “How do you know?
Did Prakash uncle tell you my story?”
Gowtham nodded. “Yes. I know your full story.”
Varsha smirked. “So you pitied me?”
“Not exactly,” Gowtham replied.
After a silence he agreed… “But… kind of.”
She looked at him directly.
“So that’s why you made it legitimate?”
“Maybe.” he said.
Varsha shifted uncomfortably.
“Please don’t pity me. I have my own ways in everything.”
They ate in silence for a few minutes.
Gowtham liked her attitude, a person with this sharpness, why did she work on such an odd job? Instead landing at some companies? He decided to ask..
I know you stopped your masters in the middle, you still have a degree. You should have tried working in a company, right? Instead those odd jobs?
Varsha continued eating for a moment before replying.
“Who said I didn’t try? I worked in a couple of companies earlier.
But I had issues… the men issues I face everywhere. Their eyes, their lust. The managers started eyeing me the same way. In different places, same story.
When you’re a woman with desperate financial needs, vultures circle. I had to escape every time. It was an issue from my side because I was too desperate for the job… They all noted it.
Dignity is above all in my policy.. So except that i did everything, which sounds right for me for my survival and family.. Luckily I met my uncle after a long time…and I believe my good life would start here.”
Gowtham was still unconvinced. A woman with a degree wont she have a friend working somewhere to help her? He began asking about it… I can understand. Won’t you have any friends? Anyone who would care for you and try to get you in their space?
Friends? Varsha smiled..
She looked down at her plate for a moment.
“Ever since my family crumbled financially, my father’s illness hit… all these happened exactly after I completed my collegeing. I never had any time for friends, love, movies, music… And I’m doing the same so far.”
She looked up at him, her voice softening just a little.
“I don’t know if you would believe it or not…
This is the first time I’m sharing a table for lunch with a person.
No gender bias here.
And you are the only person who did something for me without me asking for it.
Outside it looked like you did it out of compulsion from me because of the clip.., but I know you did it on your own.
Thanks.”
Gowtham nodded slowly, understanding flashing in his eyes.
Then he asked the only last question that confused him about that day ..
You said your ex-places had tried to take advantage of you… If that is the case…
Why did you come to unbutton your shirt in my cabin? For me?
Did you relax your policy for me?” He winked.
Varsha leaned forward slightly, a dangerous little smile playing on her lips.
“That was a trap I was setting for you.”
Gowtham paused, fork halfway to his mouth.
“Oh?” he said, voice low. “And what kind of trap was that exactly?”
Varsha’s eyes sparkled with challenge. “The kind that would make a man like you show his true colors… or lose control completely.”
The air between them thickened instantly.
Varsha looked different from every other woman out there.
Gowtham dropped his spoon with a soft clink.
He raised his hand toward her in a clear handshake gesture and said, “Friends?”
Varsha looked at his extended hand unbelievably, her eyes searching his face for a long moment, as if trying to figure whether he is just another man waiting for a chance… or a real person who wanted a real bond
Gowtham reached the office still feeling the sharp sting from Sneha’s bite that morning. Every time he shifted in his chair, a dull throb reminded him of her teeth. He sat in his cabin doing almost nothing, staring at the screen, his mind replaying the unexpected aggression in the shower.
What the hell has gotten into her?
His thoughts were interrupted when his boss called for an urgent meeting with all the trainees in the conference room.
Mr. Prakash entered with a serious face and got straight to the point.
“Varsha has topped the entire training and assessment with impressive scores,” he announced.
The room fell into surprised silence. Everyone out there knows how Gowtham despised Varsha and she topped the assessment? A disbelief in everyone's eyes. Gowtham’s jaw tightened. Only he knew her score was fake and that he had helped make it legitimate.
After a pause, Mr. Prakash continued, “Because of the back-to-back tender losses, the new startup operations cannot take all of you directly. Until further notice, you will continue here. But I’ve decided to promote only Varsha to a permanent position effective immediately.”
The announcement sent ripples through the trainees. Varsha remained calm, though a small spark of relief flashed in her eyes. Gowtham said nothing.
After the meeting, Mr. Prakash pulled him aside in the corridor.
“Gowtham, what’s the status of the quotation you’re working on?”
“I’m completing it tomorrow, Sir. I’ll give you a heads-up once it’s ready,” Gowtham replied.
Prakash shook his head firmly. “No, don’t show it to me yet. I don’t want to see it. Just make sure we never lose this tender. Get all the help you need from the trainees. Run a demo model. Ask Varsha to help you on the programs and modules — under your guidance. Then use those samples and give the final results to Rahul.”
He placed a hand on Gowtham’s shoulder. “Work closely with Rahul on the upcoming tender quotes. We cannot afford to lose this one. And don’t take leave tomorrow or Sunday. I will pay everyone who works on those days.”
Gowtham nodded. “Understood, Sir.”
By noon, Gowtham was sitting alone in the pantry section, eating quietly as was his habit — away from juniors.
Juniors feared Gowtham, as he is too strict.. No one dared to join him. Except team managers who were his friends. As they work on different floors and teams. Gowtham used to have Lunch alone.
Then Varsha walked in, tray in hand, and sat directly opposite him without asking.
The entire pantry went silent. Heads turned. A Junior staff sitting with a senior? Unheard of.
Gowtham looked up, fork paused mid-air.
He looked around to witness everyones eyes on their table..
Varsha didn’t waste time. She said “Thanks.”
Gowtham lost himself in the thought, her fearless attitude won him.. He was just looking at her eyes with unbelievability
She looked at him, motionless, she thanked again..
Thank You…
Varsha’s second thank got him back after a silence..
“For what?” , raising an eyebrow Gowtham asked.
“For making my fraudulent assessment legitimate,” she said calmly, scooping curd rice.
Gowtham let out a short laugh. “You finally accepted you’re a fraudster?”
Varsha gave a small, mysterious smile. “This job is very important to me. I don’t care what you think. Survival is everything. You never know what I’m into… what troubles I’m going through.”
She continued eating quietly. Gowtham studied her face for a moment.
“I know,”
“I know your backstory.
Your struggles.
The three jobs.
The tricks you had to pull.
Varsha looked up sharply. “How do you know?
Did Prakash uncle tell you my story?”
Gowtham nodded. “Yes. I know your full story.”
Varsha smirked. “So you pitied me?”
“Not exactly,” Gowtham replied.
After a silence he agreed… “But… kind of.”
She looked at him directly.
“So that’s why you made it legitimate?”
“Maybe.” he said.
Varsha shifted uncomfortably.
“Please don’t pity me. I have my own ways in everything.”
They ate in silence for a few minutes.
Gowtham liked her attitude, a person with this sharpness, why did she work on such an odd job? Instead landing at some companies? He decided to ask..
I know you stopped your masters in the middle, you still have a degree. You should have tried working in a company, right? Instead those odd jobs?
Varsha continued eating for a moment before replying.
“Who said I didn’t try? I worked in a couple of companies earlier.
But I had issues… the men issues I face everywhere. Their eyes, their lust. The managers started eyeing me the same way. In different places, same story.
When you’re a woman with desperate financial needs, vultures circle. I had to escape every time. It was an issue from my side because I was too desperate for the job… They all noted it.
Dignity is above all in my policy.. So except that i did everything, which sounds right for me for my survival and family.. Luckily I met my uncle after a long time…and I believe my good life would start here.”
Gowtham was still unconvinced. A woman with a degree wont she have a friend working somewhere to help her? He began asking about it… I can understand. Won’t you have any friends? Anyone who would care for you and try to get you in their space?
Friends? Varsha smiled..
She looked down at her plate for a moment.
“Ever since my family crumbled financially, my father’s illness hit… all these happened exactly after I completed my collegeing. I never had any time for friends, love, movies, music… And I’m doing the same so far.”
She looked up at him, her voice softening just a little.
“I don’t know if you would believe it or not…
This is the first time I’m sharing a table for lunch with a person.
No gender bias here.
And you are the only person who did something for me without me asking for it.
Outside it looked like you did it out of compulsion from me because of the clip.., but I know you did it on your own.
Thanks.”
Gowtham nodded slowly, understanding flashing in his eyes.
Then he asked the only last question that confused him about that day ..
You said your ex-places had tried to take advantage of you… If that is the case…
Why did you come to unbutton your shirt in my cabin? For me?
Did you relax your policy for me?” He winked.
Varsha leaned forward slightly, a dangerous little smile playing on her lips.
“That was a trap I was setting for you.”
Gowtham paused, fork halfway to his mouth.
“Oh?” he said, voice low. “And what kind of trap was that exactly?”
Varsha’s eyes sparkled with challenge. “The kind that would make a man like you show his true colors… or lose control completely.”
The air between them thickened instantly.
Varsha looked different from every other woman out there.
Gowtham dropped his spoon with a soft clink.
He raised his hand toward her in a clear handshake gesture and said, “Friends?”
Varsha looked at his extended hand unbelievably, her eyes searching his face for a long moment, as if trying to figure whether he is just another man waiting for a chance… or a real person who wanted a real bond
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