With numbed senses and a thumping heart, she looked with disbelief at the firmly closed, solid wooden door.

She wasn’t sure if she was in awe of the sudden intrusion into her routine life or feared what was behind the door.  It sure was a bolt from the blue. 

 She tried to recollect what had happened a few minutes back.

She was heading to her Team Leader’s cabin for the emergency meeting when suddenly she tripped and hit against the wall. 

‘Oh no! Not again. I seem to be stumbling repeatedly, and God knows what is in store for me today.’ Ritu exclaimed in dismay.

As she tried to balance herself, leaning against the wall, she was stunned by the subtle sound of something opening behind her. 

She was astonished to see the wall sliding sideways, opening into a narrow passage with a door at the end.

The scene was too filmy to reckon with. 

“Is it happening, or am I daydreaming?’ Ritu pinched herself.  ‘Ouch, it hurts…’

She rubbed her wrist and looked around. She was alone in that narrow street. 

Her mind blank and pulse erratic, she looked again at the mysterious door.

‘What’s that door so securely fastened? Where am I? Why has fate brought me here? What connections is it trying to establish between my present and past or the future? 

The more she delved deeper, the more elusive the answers were.

  She had to face the unexpected turn of events in her life. 

Ritu stealthily walked towards the firmly closed door. 

What if some monster pounced on me? What if there’s a void, and I tumble into it?

I would be dead and gone.

She sighed. 

She knew the only option was to face it.

She steadied herself and headed towards the mysterious door, which evoked a myriad of emotions in her. Her heart was in her throat, and her senses were still numb. 

It was intriguing to see how things happened out of nowhere.

She turned the handle and pushed open the door.

And lo behold! In front of her was yet another door that seemed to melt away as she strolled towards it.

Ritu kept walking into an unknown, enigmatic, incomprehensible expanse that stretched beyond her view. Behind the door, it was all surreal: a lush green expanse of open fields dotted with hills around, a brook flowing gently down the mountain, birds chirping melodiously…. 

She took a deep breath; the fresh air was rejuvenating.

‘Ah, what a beautiful encounter with life! The conundrum of modern life had squeezed the essence of my existence. Is it a treat or a retreat?’

Her worries, stress, work pressures, deadlines, and projects all evaporated in the newly found joy of existence. 

It was as though she had forgotten to live; the essence of life had melted away with time.

Ever since she pined for professional recognition and promotions, the little things that brought her joy and contentment have ceased to exist.

The reality of her present struck her hard—the tiny flowers that blossomed on her balcony, the butterflies that rested on those colourful petals, the breeze that caressed the blossoming plants, and the magnificent colours of the sky at sunrise and sunset… had ceased to appeal to her senses. All that mattered was timely login and logout.

LOGOUT! The remnants of her life.

Her ambitious nature snatched away those tranquil moments that were the sap of her life. The professional ladder kept enticing her, and her thoughts, ideas, and even emotions got embroiled in her pursuit of that elusive dream. 

Ritu found herself indulging in self-introspection. Far from the madding crowd…. tranquillity was no longer an enigma; it was palpable. The mysteries of existence seemed to unfold, revealing the multidimensional layers laying bare the hidden truths.

‘What is this life so full of care

There’s no time to stand and stare….’

What a profound truth. 

We seem to live a frenzied materialistic life, compromising on values, standards and morality.

What are we running after?

 Or are we running away from life?

She was caught in a whirlwind of emotions. Unfathomable thoughts assailed her sanity, leaving her baffled and breathless.

As though in a trance, she walked towards the hills. The undulating beauty of the verdant hills, the breeze sweeping through the thick foliage, the birds soaring high….

The hills beckoned her, the trees whispered sweet nothings, and the brook broke into a melodious song. As it gurgled down the gentle slopes, the shimmering water swept her off her feet. 

What happened to this panoramic beauty of nature? Why aren’t the birds singing in the city skies? Where is the exhilarating breeze lifting the sagging spirit of the urban dwellers? 

Where is the pond’s (brook) song - 

‘Men may come, and men may go, but I go on forever………….’

Are these unprecedented marvels gone forever? 

Shelley’s ‘a cloud, a leaf, a wave’ had faded into oblivion over time, and the memories of a serene life remained. 

She trudged along the rough, muddy track dotted with velvety green carpet. Glimpses of tiny, colourful wildflowers brought a smile to her face.

The naughty little ones seemed to be playing hide and seek.

A gale of fresh wind ruffled her hair and caressed her cheeks.

Ummm, what an ethereal feeling. 

It struck her that such enthralling feelings had almost vanished from her life. Not just hers but everyone running amuck chasing elusive ‘success’ was caught in a trap……

Ritu’s musings were interrupted by horns honking, brakes screeching and loud voices.

‘Am I the Rip Van Winkle of this era?’ Ritu put a brake on her trudging feet. 

‘Am I waking up after twenty years to find myself in tattered clothes and matte hair? Where are those tiny men with barrels of the intoxicating drink? Am I a misfit in the future, or am I an oddball in the present times? 

Where is the boardroom? Why aren’t the team members here? Nandan Sir will be displeased with my irresponsible behaviour. 

It's so unprofessional of me. 

Ritu, if you aim to head the team soon, you must be more proactive.

She scolded herself.

Her thoughts were flitting across the unintelligible time loop. 

The door that had opened into vibrant hills and lush green fields seemed to have closed, shutting her out from a captivating experience.

She felt her head reeling.

***

She heard someone calling her name. When she turned, she bumped into Nandan Sir’s bulky figure.

“Where have you been? This is atrocious. I have been waiting for the reports for ages, and you vanished into thin air!”

Ritu was startled.

Where were those lush green hills and the brook? 

Was it a waking dream or an imaginary world she had stumbled into? 

Chaos prevailed as she sailed into the happening of the day.

***

It was a long, tiring day for Ritu. Between team meetings, interview reports, and briefings on new projects……. Ritu felt she would drop dead by the end of the day. 

All she wanted was a steaming cup of tea, and she knew the best place to get it would be the Chaiwala opposite the main gate of the multi-storeyed, glass-elevated office building.

She smiled at her thoughts. Wasn’t it her dream job? Oh, not really. More than the job, the building fascinated her the moment she got out of the cab on the day of her interview.

She was mesmerised by the spectacular landscaping and hugeness of the campus. She had visited their website just before her interview and was captivated by the beauty of the building; the layout, the colour and the greenery looked out of the world to her. Could any building be so aesthetically pure? 

She just wanted that job to be hers. 

‘Try hard, Ritu, you can’t miss this opportunity’, she told herself.

As God would have it, she was one of the few candidates who were screened for the next rounds. With bated breath, she waited for the results. She almost fainted with joy when she received the offer letter. 

‘This magnificent workplace has made my make-believe world come true.’ 

Little did she know it would crumble one day. 

The magical world is too fleeting.

***

As she left her desk, her phone buzzed.

Her project manager, Nandan Gupta, sent a message: "Meet me in five minutes. It is urgent."

‘He always seems to know my tea cravings,’ she whimpered.

‘Sir, will be there.’ Her reluctant fingers typed the message.

‘Oh, for a steaming cup of tea…,’ she sighed.

She found Nandan pacing impatiently in his cabin. He looked as though he was on a walking marathon spree.

She almost giggled.

The gurgling sound made him pause and turn around. On seeing her, he exploded.

A string of expletives shook her to the core. 

‘Excuse me, Nandan Sir. Do you even know what you….’

He looked around as though he had just woken up from a deep slumber.

‘I… I’m sorry, Ritu. I didn’t mean to...”

“Is everything going smooth?” She asked.

“It’s all messy. I should have taken Rohan’s words seriously.” He was mumbling.

“The prestigious project we all are looking forward to and working out strategies to pull off in record time seems to be slipping away. I don’t know how Rohan got the whiff of it, but he was right. And guess who is snatching it from us? The Raheja’s. Our worst competitors. Who could have leaked the information to them? Any insiders? Oh, no! All that effort, struggle, and team meetings are nought now.”

His outburst was understandable.

“Nandan, Sir, is it official?”

“Not yet, but soon it will be, and I know I will be asked to step down.”

“Sir, we are a team. Let us prove our solidarity.”

“A meeting to discuss strategies will resolve this untoward development. I’m sure we will see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

She assured him.

“Thank you, Ritu; I feel a little better now.”

He slumped in his chair. He took a deep breath and said, “How about a hot cup of tea at your favourite chaiwala point?”

She nodded readily.

His taut facial muscles relaxed, and his lips curved into an unexpected smile.

They walked silently, both immersed in thoughts.

“Nandan sir, it's so good to see you here. Madam keeps coming, but you suddenly appear and disappear for months, " the chaiwala grinned.

The tea was invigorating. 

“Back to work?” He said quizzically.

He walked quickly without waiting for her reply.

“Sir, may I join you in an hour? I need to prepare the minutes of our recently concluded meeting. And also, the agenda for the upcoming meeting.”

“Yes, sure.”

“And Sir, who could have leaked the info?”

His indignant retort, “I think I assigned you some work,” put her in her place. 

Ritu knew she would dig into the issue, whatever the consequences.

To let go of such a prestigious client wasn’t in the order of the day.

He looked touchy and disturbed.

She watched him disappear into the elevator and called her colleagues to inform them about the recent developments.

The reactions varied. Monosyllables - what, how, when, oh no… echoed in her ears.

‘It's Time to start the meeting,’ she grumbled. She hurriedly walked towards Nandan’s cabin and hit something hard on the floor, stumbled, and toppled down. 

She took the support of the wall and………

***

The question marks on her colleagues’ faces brought back memories of her secret, mysterious exploits, bringing a tranquil smile to her face.

“Hey Ritu, where have you been? Nandan Sir was fuming because of the delay. The uncertainty of the project is driving him out of his senses.’ She smiled at Vishwa, ignoring the gentle taunt.

Vishwa and others blinked their eyes.

‘It’s not you, Ritu. We know it can’t be ‘The Ritu. Where was this pleasant, smiling girl hiding all these days?’

She answered each one patiently without revealing her journey into the unknown land. 

There was a hushed silence when Nandan entered the room with Vijendra Mishra,  

one of the directors.

His intense gaze fell on Ritu, making her wince. He knew the reason for the delay.

“So, what are your thoughts about this sudden development? A hard-earned project is slipping away from our hands either because of someone trading the organisation’s future with an outsider or an inadvertent error from one of you. It’s weird even to think that one would betray an organisation's trust.”

The silence in the room was deafening. Nandan sir’s chair creaked as he fidgeted. 

Hemant, the newly recruited Networking professional, added to the tense atmosphere, “Sir if confidential information has leaked, it could be either from the team or a lapse in the network security. It is better if the mole owns up the mistake-whether done intentionally or by mistake.”

“Ms. Ritu, what do you have to say?” 

This was unexpected. All heads turned to her. 

“Sir, I’m as much in the dark as anyone else in this room.” Her firm tone was as hard as a rock.

A stony silence followed this bland statement.

“Nandan, such an information -leak has not happened since the inception of our organisation. So, I presume a loophole has been exploited for the benefit of an outsider. The project report and the offender’s name should be on my table in an hour.”

“Where were you, Ms. Ritu, after Nandan asked you to arrange the meeting?”

She was perplexed. 

“Sir, I……” She couldn’t talk about her surreal experience behind the closed wooden door.

Who would believe she was led into a surreal world where peace and harmony prevailed, the air was tranquil, butterflies kissed the petals, and the sun shone with warmth?

She stood there, transfixed to the floor.

Tears welled in her eyes. 

“Consider this a warning to the team. The issue has to be resolved at the earliest. No tear-jerking stories and no excuses.”

Vijendra Mishra held her gaze briefly and walked out, leaving behind a teary-eyed Ritu.

Nandan sir and her colleagues eyed her with suspicion. 

Et, tu, Brute? 

Trust broken, crestfallen, Ritu’s world crumbled.

Who would believe her if she didn’t trust herself?

Ritu’s indefatigable spirit soared high.

She will emerge spotless. 

***

Ritu pondered -What made Vijendra sir suspect her? Did someone whet his ears against her? Who could be the transgressor? Why was she being targeted? 

Everything seemed to be entangled. She was clueless.

Could she trust Vishwa and probe into the issue? Would he help her in investigating? 

The muddled thoughts kept her on tenterhooks. She ambled towards the chaiwala point, thinking a hot tea would calm her agitated nerves. 

The smiling face of the chia boy was a relief to her.

‘Madam, you look worried. This tie-biscuit and chai will ease your worries.’

‘Thanks, Chotu,’ Ritu returned his affable smile.

‘Why can’t people be simple and honest? The positive vibes this boy spreads have eased my tension. I’m sure I will find the ‘whodunnit’

“A penny for your thoughts?”

She jumped out of her skin at the sudden intrusion into her thoughts.

“Hello, it’s me, Vishwa.”

“You scared me out of my wits, Viswa. Do you know how I was questioned in the board room? Don't you think that’s a reason to worry? My integrity has been questioned; I can’t take it.” Her voice broke.

“Hey, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I know you are in a tight spot but I’m with you. We will cross all hurdles to bring you out unscathed. We are a team, remember.”

He reassured her. 

“Thanks, Vishwa. When I wasn’t there for a while, did you notice any unusual happenings in the office? When I asked Nandan sir about the project in the morning, he snubbed me. I was trying to help him, but he was cross with me. Then, the networking guy added fuel to the fire at the meeting by posing unnecessary questions. He could have eased the issue by saying he would check with his team about troubleshooting with the network. Moreover, they both were strangely eyeing each other….”

“Ritu, how about tracking them? Would they stoop so low as to harm their company?”

“A cup of tea? Chotu, one more tea. A fruitful chat over a cup of chai. What say Vishwa?”

Both were silent as they sipped tea. Each lost in their thoughts. 

“Madam ji, after you left in the morning, Nandan sir returned with another person. There was a heated argument between them. I thought having such a conversation in an open place was odd.”

At that point in time, Chotu was no less than an angel to them.

However, it was an issue related to their company; no one should even sense any friction between the employees. 

“No chotu, all is okay. Just forget it.”

“Tea here is special for us, thank you.”

As they returned to their office, Ritu felt the building held secrets and mysteries.

***

“Hie Meenu, there seems to be an issue with the network connection in our department. Could you please check once?” Vishwa tried to sound casual. 

Ritu waited with bated breath as Meenu checked their computers. 

“There seems to be some issue. I think there is a cross-connection causing some issues. Some computers have been hacked, and information has been leaked or SHARED. Ritu, did you log in to your computer remotely? From any other computer? There is a security breach. Log out immediately. I will fix it. I need a few hours. Meanwhile, inform your team to log in and await my instructions.” Meenu’s words came as a relief to Ritu and Vishwa.

They knew who the bug was.

***

“Ritu, it can’t be true. But the information leak has happened from your end, and how easily he has framed you! Would anyone believe you are innocent? He has laid the trap cleverly. Only Meenu’s verdict can pull you out of this mire. And I hope she won’t be bought out.” Vishwa crossed his fingers.

She prayed silently. 

The uplifting memories of ‘behind the door’ were magical. She knew the spirit that runs through nature was her saviour.   

Her smile amidst the chaotic situation surprised everyone.

“Ritu, you are composed as though the issue is resolved.” 

“Yes, Vishwa, I trust my instinct and that all-pervading spirit. It is resolved, and the bug will be exposed shortly. I know by now he/they would have come to know that the networking team is on the job. The bug will try to debug my system because one from the networking system is involved. He will try to log out. That’s the catch point. “

“What an insightful trap you have laid for them! Smart move, I must say.” Vishwa was all praise for her.

***

“Ms. Ritu, I appreciate your grit and integrity. Our profound apologies for suspecting you.” Vijendra Mishra’s appreciation meant a world to her.

“But the mystery remains: where were you before the team meeting?”

Ritu smiled. 

It was a secret that would always bring a smile to her face. 

It was a meeting with nature and herself.

***

Harmony with self, revisited; it was like a homecoming. 

She relived those ecstatic moments.

The pure joy of being amidst nature was undefinable. Each blade of grass seemed to speak volumes about the joys and sorrows of life. The incessant flow of the brook, cascading through the high and low of the hills, seemed to etch life’s experiences on her mind. Come what may face it, tough times don’t last long. Nature heals the turbulent soul.

The door she had stumbled upon was a gateway to her mind's passive and dormant recesses; the mundane routine had robbed her of the vibrant feelings that enriched her life.

Ritu’s heart resonated with the sublime nature. She was a mellowed being.

Now, she could relate to Julie Andrews’ uninterrupted bliss as she sang

‘The hills are alive with the sound of music…

To laugh like a brook when it trips and falls over stones, on its way….’

It was a nourishing, life-changing experience.

***