‘So like I was telling you—Megha? What are you doing?’ I looked up in horror to see Priyanka walk in with Yudi right behind her.

‘I was, umm… relaxing. What are you doing here?’ I said, hoisting myself off the bed and quickly trying to straighten my hair.

‘What am I doing here? This just happens to be my room.’ Priyanka sneered and I noticed the sleek leather travel case she’d wheeled in with her. Great! I was going to be sharing a room with Miss Hoity-Toity herself. So much for my plans of uninterrupted bliss. And what was Yudi doing here with her?

‘What are you doing here, Megha?’ Priyanka asked again, deftly snapping open her leather case and whipping out some folders. ‘Haven’t you read the welcome kit? You were supposed to be at the pool fifteen minutes ago for the first module of the team outbound programme that I’m organizing—the “Welcome GF Fun & Games Poolside Dhamaka”. You better get there fast. I’m heading there myself once I get these game folders ready with Yudi’s help.’

‘What?’ I gazed at Priyanka in dismay. ‘There is a welcome module? Why can’t we just sack out in our rooms for some time? I see no better way to start the programme. Won’t everyone feel more rejuvenated after a little rest and relaxation?’

‘We are in Goa for an offcial trip Megha, not a personal vacation.’ Priyanka shot a disdainful look at me over her shoulder, simultaneously bunching a brightly coloured sheaf of paper into a folder. ‘Yudi, will you help me with this, please? You’re so good at all this artistic stuff.’

‘Maybe Megha can help too. She takes a lot of interest in all this artistic stuff too!’ Yudi said with a smirk in his voice. I glanced at him warily, but he just flashed me an innocent smile, amusement writ large in his eyes. With a resigned sigh I walked over to Priyanka and joined her and Yudi in the all-important task of putting together the ‘Welcome GF Fun & Games Poolside Dhamaka’ game folders.

Ten minutes later we were done and, staggering out of the room with a bunch of folders, I made my way towards the pool.

‘I couldn’t agree with you more, you know,’ Yudi’s voice reverberated in my ear and I spun around to find him close on my heels. ‘I’d prefer a nap to this welcome module shit any day. That bed in your room looked particularly welcoming.’ His eyes twinkled as he said this and I felt myself colouring. I must have been a sight sprawled on the bed like that, arms akimbo, my head buried in a pillow!

‘I was exhausted after the early morning flight,’ I said, perhaps a touch too defensively. ‘Besides I hadn’t read the welcome kit so I had no idea there was something planned. I think it’s a great idea to have a welcome activity; it will help the team bond. That’s what we’re here for anyway!’