New friends and old vibes

 New Friends and Old vibes

Every now and then we meet people who are new and yet they make us feel so comfortable as if we have been friends with them all our life.

Gayatri is at her desk now, reminiscing her silly conversation with Jiya and Akshar on her last day of visit. It has been a few weeks, since she returned to her city to join back work in person. The work from home culture has taken away the basic human ness out of social interactions. Settling in with her team, putting faces to the names she had grown accustomed to over calls, Gayatri finds herself surrounded with  people, whom she merely knows by name and name only.  Everyone knew everyone but only by their work roles, and felt like practical strangers now meeting in person. It was especially difficult for Gayatri, for she was not coming back to work but rather starting afresh in this new firm, all the faces were new and unfamiliar, making her anxiety worse. With nervous steps she glanced around and tried her best to force a smile on her face - Fake it till you make it, as Barkha often said to her when confidence needed to be summoned. 

Gayatri, being the new joinee does not have a designated seat either, and just when she is feeling out of place, someone she had'nt interacted with so far, offered a helping hand. The senior executive, in a hearty tone took Gayatri around the floor for an ice breaker and cheered her up with small talk. People were polite and courteous nods were exchanged, sprinkled with frequent exclamatory remarks on the familiarity of voices and reckoned virtual meets. The nervousness in Gayatri was fading away now, as people came by with friendly stances and offered generous smiles.

 One such person was an exceptionally jolly fellow, who went by the name Nirvan. He offered friendly advice and banter in rationed amounts to Gayatri to ease her into the new space. 

"Madam, don't call people Sir-Sir here, ni to sir pe baith jaengey log tumhare" Nirvan scolded Gayatri for being too formal and gave a brief on everyone around. Apparently he had worked long enough to know each and every process on the floor and yet had the humbleness of a newbie to be approachable by all. 

Making small talks, Gayatri realised how much Nirvan reminded her of Jiya with his friendly fire of words. 

Trying to hint on the positive side of the work culture Nirvan spoke at length of the many ups and downs he had seen the place go through, of the people that were there and the stories they had weaved together.

"You know I have seen people join workforce in this firm, fall in love, and going on to getting married", Nirvan added to the convo as Gayatri spoke about having met only seniors at the firm so far. 

"I can't say about what you have seen, but I know my streak hasn't been broken so far, someone claimed a similar trajectory for new joinees at my previous firm too" Gayatri smiled  "And yet here I am. Single as ever" (She raised her head with a faked pride stance, just for laughs). They both chuckled while ducking their head low to avoid being spotted as the mischievous lot in class room.

"I mean I don't know many people as yet, and the one's I have met so far are all senior executives. Why would they be pleased to see me, other than work" Gayatri did have a point, her work involved shadowing her seniors and assisting their work. She had little expectation of meeting someone her age while working here.

"Well you never know, how many people might actually be interested and even happy to see you. Don't be so blind madam, when you watch the world, it also watches you" Nirvan gave an understanding nod, as if he knew more than he was letting slip through his lips for now.

In an instant, Gayatri was reminded of Jiya, and how familiar the words were, she sensed a potential work bestie in Nirvan. 

He too lit up when talking about his girl, just like Jiya used to when talking about Akshar. Getting animated, miming their words and obsessing over lil nothings. 

Taking her around the multi-acre campus sprawled across a massive thirteen levels, connecting over their love for spicy hyderabadi cuisine and distaste for elaichi and masala Puri (a distorted version of panipuri as she called it) Gayatri felt a sense of familiarity, similar to what Jiya had brought to her on the first day of college. There too Gayatri had been nerve- wrecked and her silly banter with Jiya had made her feel like home.

It is truly amazing how humans find emotional connect in the most mundane of interactions. Getting along with this new stranger has brought to her the familiarity of her old friend and she was no longer anxious in the new place. Her vibe had truly brought her to her tribe, with Nirvan's help, she also met more like minded people and was no longer a lonely girl in a new town.

Continued from Part 1