The Intro
Roshini had just settled into her desk when the mail arrived.
Subject: Mentorship Assignment – Fresher Batch July
She opened it, scanned the names, and stopped at one.
Firose – Assigned mentor: Roshini
She leaned back in her chair. First trainee. She had guided juniors informally before, but never as an official mentor. The responsibility felt slightly heavier than she expected.
By mid-morning she walked over to the fresher bay.
Firose was already at her desk, laptop open, reading something on the screen with quiet concentration. She looked up when Roshini approached.
“Hi. I’m Roshini. I’ll be your mentor.”
Firose stood up almost immediately, a little formal. “Hi, ma’am. Firose.”
“Just Roshini is fine.” She smiled to soften it. “How’s the first morning going?”
“Good. HR finished the formalities. I’m trying to set up the local environment.”
Roshini nodded. “Take your time with that. If anyone asks when you can start actual work, just tell them setup and KT will take at least a week. No one expects you to deliver on day one.”
Firose’s shoulders eased a fraction. The quiet practicality of the advice landed better than any formal welcome speech.
From Firose’s side, the first impression was stronger.
Roshini stood with an easy confidence that didn’t need to announce itself. She wore a simple white kurta with soft grey trousers, the kind of understated outfit that still looked put-together. Her hair was tied back neatly, a few strands falling near her temple. There was a calm in the way she spoke and the way she occupied space—neither rushed nor overly formal. Something about that presence made the noisy office feel a little quieter.
Firose found herself watching the small details without meaning to: the way Roshini’s eyes stayed steady when she listened, the slight tilt of her head when she offered the advice about the one-week buffer. It was thoughtful without being overbearing. By the time Roshini walked back to her own desk, Firose already carried a clear, positive impression of her mentor—someone competent, composed, and unexpectedly considerate.
The rest of the day stayed light. Roshini checked in once more before the evening meeting, simply to ask if Firose needed anything. Both times the conversation stayed brief and easy.
When the clock crossed 6:30, Roshini packed her bag and left for the usual meeting point.
Ani was already there. He looked up and smiled the moment he saw her.
“Long day?”
“Manageable.” She fell into step beside him. “I got assigned a fresher today.”
“First one?”
“Mm.”
“How is she?”
Roshini thought for a second. “Quiet. Learns fast. Doesn’t ask the same question twice.”
Ani raised an eyebrow, half-teasing. “Photo?”
She gave him a look. “We spoke for maybe twenty minutes total. I’m not taking selfies with someone I just met.”
He laughed. “Fine, fine. At least describe her so I can imagine properly.”
Roshini shrugged. “Average height. Neat. Doesn’t talk much.” She realised the description felt incomplete, but she didn’t know what else to add. “You’ll meet her eventually if she stays long enough.”
They walked into the nearby park, the evening light filtering through the trees. They talked about his day, her upcoming deadlines, and whether they should finally book the weekend trip they kept postponing.
By the time they parted near her room, the new fresher had already slipped toward the back of Roshini’s mind.
Almost.
That night, while unlocking her flat, Firose briefly recalled the calm way her mentor had said “Just Roshini is fine,” and the practical advice about the one-week buffer.
Then she put her bag down, opened her laptop again, and continued setting up the remaining tools.
Neither of them knew the day had started anything.
