The Clueless Stalker

“Who resets these lifts..damn..!!”Shriya  was cursing the unknown person who had reset the expected lift to reach the seventh floor of building 3C,Techzone IT Park.It has been ten minutes since she is waiting and the fifth lift to not reach the seventh floor.Shriya is new to this branch of Techzone situated in the corner of Kolkata and she already dislikes it.A new transfer case,that was her identity in the HR wing of Techzone Saltlake and she was forced to visit Techzone Rajarhat for a prospected project interview  which much to her dislike she seemed to  have cracked already .

                      “Hi there..” Shriya looked at the source of the voice.”How was your interview?”A guy,with normal featues kept on speaking .”I saw you inside with Malay Da,you joining the LBS project?”

Shriya felt a bit uncomfortable. Speaking to overfriendly guys was not in her nature. She had a bit of a snobbish image which she is aware of, though it is mostly because she takes little interest in socialising.Shriya knows herself, though in her early twenties, she had trusted enough, befriended enough and had been hurt enough.

But this guy seemed harmless. With his Big puppy dog spectacled eyes and side partitioned hair, he looked mostly like the average “good boy” belonging to the first row of his class. He did not even look old enough to be working in an MNC.”Not my type..” was the first thing that came into Shriya’s mind.

“Ya,attended and unfortunately got selected”,Shriya responded.What about you?You too interviewed there?

“Ya,but not sure about my results.Lets see what happens.Yet to get any confirmation from HR,it’s been two months you know that I am on bench.I feel so bored when there is nothing to do.I really want to get into a development project””OK! Nerd alert!” thought Shriya.”Another dull coder-boy”Shriya hates this kind. Finally the lift came. They both got in and part ways. Luckily for Shriya the boy left stays in Kestopur which is opposite to Ruby where Shriya is headed.

  Next day,Shriya reported LBS.To her surprise the nerd was also there,as expected he approached with a goofy smile.”Hey there,I too got selected as a developer,HR informed via mail in the evening.Sorry forgot your name.This is Binay.””You didn’t forget”responded Shriya .”What!”Binay looked confused.”You didn’t forget.You didn’t ask my name.I am Shriya” Shriya forced a smile.”Oh!”Binay seemed assured.

Post a brief presentation about the upcoming project,they had hardly any work to do and were told they can leave for the day.LBS is an old account,a new scratch development project requirement has come from clientside,for which LBS is doing ramp up and have taken in Shriya,Binay and few others.Days went by like this only,with nothing much to do.Binay went through few of the requirement specifications provided by the client that were supplied within team.He even made a POC with a similar requirement to present  to client as asked by the lead. Whenever he was not working, he was staring at Shriya.At times she caught him staring at her. Whenever this happened, either Binay looked away or would throw an under-confident smile if it’s too obvious.Shriya was irritated and made sure to avoid this freaky-geek. Flirts she can handle,but needy nerdy stalkers  are a strict no.

It was a Tuesday,May 5^th .Their was a deadlinenext day of a POC that Shriya was working on.LBS has strict protocols when it comes to deadlines.First there will be an internal review where Shriya will give a presentation on what she has developed.If satisfied,that shall be sent to onsite for customer review.If this does not go well,Shriya may be released from LBS and asked to report to HR for some other assignment. This will leave a bad impression in her credibility and Shriya is not one to let this happen.

Shriya had lost track of her time. When she wrapped up her work it was 9:15 PM.Shriya thought to call a cab but that will be too late.The next bus to Chingrihata leaves in fifteen minutes.Shriya rushed and was able to catch the bus just in time.On her way,Shriya thought ,from Chingrihata she must get something at 10 PM when she will reach.

Shriya reached at 10 PM sharp .They say bad luck comes unannounced and so was Shriya’s case today.There was some weird puja today,some less knows goddess worship.But as bengalee just need an excuse to celebrate and have a holiday,there was absolutely nothing available.Shriya wished for a taxi, thinking might be coming by the ladies special 11PM office cab service would have been a better idea, but nothing came as she waited.

A sumo approached.Shriya thought this might be a shuttle that will drop her at Ruby or worst at Science City,but when it stopped,there was no passengers inside.”Come in!” said the fishy looking driver. But Shriya thought its wise not to ride in an empty shuttle. Even the helper looked evil.

Just when the shuttle left another car approached, a Ford Ecosport.The car overtook Shriya and stopped.Shriya felt uncomfortable.The place where she was standing had hardly any passer-by.

The car door opened. Nobody came out but it remained opened. As if inviting Shriya in.”What is going on..”,Shriya was wondering, just then a bike rushed in and stopped behind the car infront of Shriya.”Hop in!”said a familiar voice.It was Binay. “You in this direction”Shriya was shocked.”It’s late I have to reach office early tomorrow,please don’t waste time.I gotta go back all the way after dropping you”Shriya hurriedly sat behind Binay without asking anymore question.

Binay dropped her at her doorstep.All the way they spoke nothing. Just once Binay said”I wanted to make sure you reach safe.This area is not safe at this time for girls.”For the first time in her life,Shriya was having a crush on a hopeless not upto the mark nerdy stalker.