The first day at a new job is always weird. I have to talk more than I like to and pretend to care about the words I get to listen to. Instead, I prefer the comfort of the mundane, the tranquility once everyone recognizes me as an insolent prude and leaves me alone. 

"Miss Nira, Hi! Welcome!

Have you got your visitor's pass?"

I woke up from my internal non-stop podcast and looked up. A man (I assume) was smiling at me. Why do guys have long lashes they don't deserve? I stared blankly at him with my tiny eyes for a second before scooping up my visitor's card from the receptionist. This office has soo many processes. I am joining today, yet I had to spend over half n hour procuring a visitor's card. When will I get my ID card? 

"Nira, Nira! 

Hey, you need to swipe it here for access."

"Oh yes, of course!"

Shucks! I forgot his name. I need to stop thinking and start paying attention. Should I ask him his name again? Nah, that would look so weird. Maybe I should wait till someone reaches him, and then I can note his name. Wow! Such bright, nice colors! 

"So, did you bring your lunch?" 

"Oh no! He is still talking! Shut up and listen, Nira!" 

"Umm yeah, No, I am. No, I haven't! I am staying at a hotel currently. Guess I will have something from the cafeteria. Do we have a cafeteria?" 

"Yes, we do. The rest of the team is in a meeting right now. So, we will do introductions around 12, and then we can all go for lunch together."

Ah, I hate this part! I like having my food alone. I guess I have to play along. Hey, brain! Think of something to help us get out of this team lunch! 

"Where are you from?"

Why is this guy asking me so many questions? Should he not point me to an IT room where I can get my laptop and ID? Why does he care where I am from? 

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"I am from India. Moved around a lot, so no one city as such." 

"Oh, cool cool. Army brat?" 

Ah, this guy is irritating! 

"Um No. Listen, when will I get my laptop and I.D. card?"

"That Virat will tell you. He was busy, so I came to receive you. Look, here he comes." 

"Hi Virat, Nira is here!" 

"Heyy Nira, welcome to the Create group! Hope you had a good flight. Sorry I was occupied. Did Nabh give you a tour of the office?"

Oh, so that is his name. They should have named him miss chatterbox. 

"Yes, Thank you, Virat. I had a comfortable flight, and Nabh did give me a brief tour. The office is beautiful." 

WOW! who is that lady? she is so tall, and omg, her skin is so flawless. Man, I wish I had good skin! 

"Great! Nira, this is Saras! Saras has been with us for the last 20 years. She now leads Training & Development, and Saras, this is Nira, our new graphic designer!"

Saras is such a beautiful name. I wonder what it means. Should I ask her? Maybe I can google it later. How come she is working here for the last 20 years? she looks like in her late 20s. She must be at least 6ft tall. I am 5"4 and wearing heels and she is like half a foot taller than me. She is not even wearing any makeup or maybe it's so expensive that it doesn't show on the skin, you don't know Nira, you buy cosmetics when there is a sale. It's like, she has a portrait light ON on her. She looks magical. Am I staring at her? 

"Nira, what do you think?"

Huh? Oh Crap! I did it again. I need to find a way to focus. Maybe some focusing exercises. Oh, look at that statue of a, is that a, "What is that?"

"That is just something the interior team picked up." 

"It's very unique and beautiful."

"I agree!" - Saras said in her silky, soft voice. 

It's like listening to a flute playing in a pristine forest at dawn. I need to snap out of it. and Why Can't I take my eyes off this decor item?

"Common Nira, we should meet the rest of the team." 

I don't look forward to it, but let's get it over with. I can feel Saras' eyes on my back or maybe it's just my imagination.