My mobile battery was down

“My mobile battery was down”. Was that a lie? No. But was it the answer to the question? May be not. But everyone assumed it. I did not attend the call not because my mobile battery was down, which seems correct. But there is always a land line. The truth is, I did not remember about the call. Coming to think of it, I did not remember because my mobile did not remind me with the alarm. And the reason for that is "My mobile battery was down". Looks like I was not lying at all.
“Are you alright?”, a colleague asked me. I obviously was not listening in the meeting. “I am alright. Just that I did not sleep well yesterday night.” I lied. The meeting went on as usual with few talking and none listening. The meeting appears to be a time for everyone to meet without any agenda. So people even talked about what the agenda should be. I never listened and I am not listening now. My mind was everywhere except the meeting. As my ears picked few buzz words like “deadlines”, “deep dive”, “out of the box”, my fingers were swiping the polished table. It was drawing short horizontal lines removing the thin layer of dust that has settled in. After few swipes, the coarse dust has come off and it was all smooth. My finger tip liked it better now. I kept on rubbing it for a while applying pressure more and more. Slowly the smoothness was gone and the finger tip no longer was going straight. The friction increased and the table could not keep it quiet. It started screaming with screeching noise. The more and more I moved my finger against the table, the more the sound increased. It was as if the table was in pain. Ironic, for it was me who was in pain. Still it kept screaming and the pitch went on higher and higher. And then in a sudden moment, I stopped. The room was in silence. The table stopped screaming. I looked around where everyone was staring at me. Wide blank eyes all focussed at my face wondering what has happened. They would not understand. None of them would. I moved back my chair and ran out of the conference room. I was sweating all over my face. My fingers would not be still. Emptiness was sticking on my hand and I did not like it one bit.
Running fast to the men's room, I was glad that nobody was inside. The mirror showed a very tired face. Tired and longing hard for something to happen. Turning on the tap, I washed my face trying to find some strength. The warm water took away some of the drowsy look on the face. But the heart still felt the unrest in my mind. I looked at the mirror which could have showed a better face if not for the water vapors settling on it hiding away the reflection. I touched the glass wiping the water slowly to get back the view of my face. The more I try to clean the mirror, the more I felt the heart pounding faster. The face was turning pale again even though I couldn't stop swiping on the mirror which was already clean. I keep swiping faster and faster until I heard the sound of someone entering the room. Not willing to get caught, I rushed out of the men's room after successfully evading a crash with a stout gentleman. I walked in panic towards my cubicle holding on the walls once in a while and trying hard not to get others' attraction. Nevertheless there were few who would turn with a suspicious look. An awkward smile was all I could give them and with the dizziness increasing more, I leaned against the wall, dragging myself toward the cubicle. With just few feet to go, I could feel my air ducts close making me suffocate in a wide open air conditioned room. My fingers screeching against the wall only said that the wall is not smooth enough. With few seconds left to pass out, I entered my cubicle and tried to scream for help. But as fate would play, my voice was gone and my little puff searching for air could not alert the chair-glued nerds from the next terminals. With nobody to help, I took my phone of which mobile battery was down from my pocket. With only few ticks away from losing consciousness, I plugged the charger pin to the mobile trying to wake it up. Few seconds and even another passed and I know I do not have another second left. My repeated press on the buttons were not worthy, as I passed out on my desk.
Time either a minute or an year is always a blink of an eye for those who are just waking up from the dark void. It was the familiar chime that woke me up. I was not sure how long I had passed out. Oxygen was rushing to my lungs and my brain could get the energy first to hear followed by a blurred sight of the mobile screen lightened up. With the vibrations of the chime sending more oxygen to the lungs, my brain finally got the scent of my small cubicle feeling it home. The fourth sense was already up as I eagerly reached for the mobile with my hand. I touched the screen that caused a tingling sensation that spread through my body rejunivating the muscles that were almost dead for so long. I followed the instruction "Slide to answer". "Hello" I said. I could talk and my voice was back. "What took you so long to answer the phone?" asked my wife on the line. "I don't know.... my mobile battery was down". I said. It was true. I should have never let the battery of my iphone get drained.

Let the guns talk - Last Man Falling

.... continued from Let The Guns Talk Oh God! Grant me the power to finish what I started. Grant me the will to hold my weapons till the end. Grant me the strength to be the last to fall. I watched those unprepared eyes not expecting whats going to happen. Talking the same as yesterday and the same as the day before. "Good luck" I said. They heard it. They turned around. Soon enough to know who said it. But not soon enough to know why I said it. I wished them luck to die without pain. Only luck, the unreliable that never comes when you wanted could save them from the painful death. I raised my guns. No particular target to talk, the bullets fired all around the room. They spoke swift and gentle taking the breathe away one by one. There was no place to hide in this room. Nor did they have the time. Even reaching for the gun was seconds away from what was available to them before my weapons tore their heart away. I laughed aloud as I gave way for my guns to do the talking. The sound of the laugh overwhelming the gun shots suppressing the cries of the dead-to-be. Merv fell down as the metal broke his skull and went deep inside his brain. He never stood up again. I gave one to his heart to make it stop. Waste of bullet. Because I know it has already stopped. His dead eyes stared with fear and will remain the same forever. Quick one to raise the gun was Sliz. The exception I forgot to include with the chit chat. My negligence met with a bullet on my arm. And one above the chest. My heart was still healthy. I returned fire aiming for hers. The time was on my side and the bullets reached her heart side. Ironic, I said it reached her heart as if she has one. She dropped the gun shuddering as the blood found a new way out. I stay corrected. It reached her heart as if she had one. Happy I was for a split second. But came rushing to my heart was the ammo from the hole of Vincento's gun. My guns returned the favor by reflex. He fell down still breathing. I clutched my chest trying to stop the blood. Come on! What is the need to rush? Hold on for some more time. It will all be over. It is almost over. I surveyed the room for life. Death surrounded life inside. Blood all over the place added confusion to my count. Only two souls left. One of them was mine. The other lay against the wall across the room waiting for the last moments. I decided to kneel down. Time to take rest. I have to hold on for some more minutes. I dropped the guns that were hotter than hell. I know that is the place where everyone was sent. Oh God! They say we will relive our entire past life in the last few minutes of our life. I do not want them. Grant me few more seconds to live the current life instead. I prayed with my eyes closed. And then the door opened. I knew it is the angel that has walked in. The angel that had once been mine. The one for which I owe everything. The one who changed paths and crossed to the unreachable side of the river. The one I could not watch leaving me alone. Its strange. Its strange that my dying heart hopes for something that it knows would not happen. It wanted her to hold me again. A tear from her eyes dropping over it healing the pain like the Phoenix. One last kiss before I let out my breathe for the last time. My heart is becoming weak losing the strength slowly and longing for love in this lost world. She went towards his side instead. She held him closer killing me more. The raging blood could no longer hold inside my body. I wished to die. But things are not yet done and I waited for those moments to come. But then he died. Happiness knew no bound in my dimming soul. His eyes closed before his lips could reach hers. The last kiss did not reach him alive. What is the point of taking pills after you are dead? The dead remains the dead. I laughed with what is left of me. She dropped his body and walked back to me. She had a gun in her hand. I raised my head longing to see the face for one last time. The face was calm with no emotion in sight. The gun pointed to my head, she stared deep into my eyes. I returned it with smile. She readied the gun to finish off what I started. It is good to die in the hands of the one who longed to live for. But I had different plans for her. The clock ticked as it went down to zero. I decided not to leave her alone in this cruel world. The bomb around my waist would bring us together again. Her emotionless face showed anger. Seeing my smile, it raised a doubt inside her slowly turning to fear. As fear grew it caused panic and was all over her. "It is time", I said still smiling. "See you in hell".

The Song of my heart

Once upon a time, there lived a honey bee in a healthy honey comb on top branches of an oak tree. All his friends called him as Nectar. Nectar is a happy loving bee and always sang and danced with everyone. Though he was young, he cared for others and helped his colony in all ways. As he is a worker bee, his work is to bring honey from the flowers in the nearby Garden. He is very active and would fly singing his favorite song and enjoyed his work. He was happy that he is helping in the growth of his family, because for a honey comb, work from each and every small bee is equally important and the little honey that each bee brings back will count when filled together.

One day, when Nectar flew to the garden, he saw a small caterpillar on a cabbage leaf. It was so small and was trying to climb high on the leaves. Trying to help, Nectar went down and talked with the caterpillar whose name was Rainbow. Soon, Rainbow and Nectar became very good friends and Nectar would fly down every day to talk with Rainbow. They would sing songs together all the time and would help Rainbow in finding the best leaves to eat. Nectar's friends did not like Rainbow as it was small and lazy eating the leaves all the time. Nectar liked Rainbow very much that he took Rainbow to the oak leaves and they can sang all the time. But the Oak leaves are hard and it was not tasteful for Rainbow. Days passed with Rainbow not eating properly and became sick. Nectar though loved Rainbow very much knew that caterpillars must feed on cabbage leaves and took Rainbow back to the cabbage leaves. When his colony moved to another oak tree far from the garden, he left hoping that Rainbow will learn to live better there.

Weeks passed and Nectar got busy working for his colony harder than ever and was again loved by everyone. He started singing his favorite songs every day. Though he always thought of Rainbow, he never went to the garden. He wanted Rainbow to live freely and did not want to disturb. But he always felt Rainbow would be sad without him and would not eat the leaves properly. So after many more weeks, he finally decided to go back to the Garden. He was eager to see his friend grown to a large caterpillar. He flew through rivers, hills and forest towards the Garden. After 5 days, he reached the place. The Garden looked very different and there were no cabbage leaves. Nectar got scared and kept circling the garden trying to find Rainbow. But he was not able to find Rainbow anywhere. He became sad but hoped that Rainbow would have moved on to a better place. On his way back, he saw a Garden full of colorful roses. The roses were so pretty. So he went to take some honey for the colony. When he was collecting honey, the breeze blew over the garden. It was then, he heard the voice of Rainbow singing a new song. Feeling happy, the roses also started to sing a song. Surprised, he asked the rose who taught them the song. The rose said it was Rainbow. Rose told Nectar that Rainbow can always be seen over the Red rose at the center of the garden.

Happy to hear about Rainbow, he flew across the rose garden trying to find the Red rose. He got hurt by the thorns on the way. But still he flew and found the red rose. He called loudly for Rainbow but there was no reply. Nectar got scared as the leaves of rose plant were sharp and hard like Oak leaves. He was afraid that Rainbow will not be able to eat these leaves. And then he saw Rainbow on the top of the rose. But it was not caterpillar anymore. He was surprised to find Rainbow has grown to a beautiful butterfly and was feeding on honey instead of leaves. Rainbow also had wings of 7 colors that shined in front of the bright sun. He flew high to the flower smiling and stood infront of Rainbow. But Rainbow could not recognize Nectar. Rainbow has changed and found a new way to live. Whatever Nectar imagined of Rainbow was not seen now. He started singing Rainbow's favorite song. But there was no reply. Rainbow had forgotten the old songs too. Not understanding what Nectar was singing about, Rainbow, the butterfly flew away leaving Nectar singing the song alone.

Holding the past,
Not knowing the weather changes,
Longing for the same breeze
You return to the Garden,
Only to find the wind blows
In a far away place
To sing some other song
For someone else.

The Twice Folded Letter

************************ DISCLAIMER************************
As always, this is a pure fictional story that my right brain created out of pure imagination. Resemblance to any real life incident or real person is coincidental and the author(thats me) can not take any responsibility for any of your assumptions.

[+/-]At first sight

It is the day I started my career. But that is not important now. It was the day, she entered my life. And its also the same day, he crossed my life. I was in the company provided Guest house waiting for the bus to take me to the first step of my career life. I was tensed for the big day ahead. Being the only person from our college to join the company, I was left alone searching for any face that might say hello. The bus honked and I walked to the bus when he crossed me and ran ahead as if catching a running bus. I slipped and almost fell on the road. While hoping no one noticed me, I got into the bus found him sitting on the first seat. And next to him was the only seat left. I took it and we sat silently for a while. I watched around and could realize most of them are new like me. And most importantly, more than half were girls. I wondered if girls are dominating even in this bus, we really should join the equality rights here. When the bus stopped, few more persons got into the bus and everyone were girls. With no place to sit, they have to stand except for the one who got in last. He stood all of a sudden, almost pushing me from my seat and showed her the seat. Now, I have to give my place for others, else it will look look as if I don’t have any manners. As if I am not the only guy to have the thought, few more guys stood giving up the seats for girls. But every guy who stood were staring angrily at him who was shaking his head too much when she thanked him. My anger on him went away the instant I saw her face. Not a bad decision. I smiled at him who was still blushing for her thanks.

[+/-]The clock and the colors

I was trying hard to stay awake in the boring training session and all I have written in my notebook is the title. He rushed to the training hall and hit my back. He dragged the chair and asked "Where is she?". He was late as usual and all he was worried was about her. "Can't you at least say Hello before you can ask about her?" I felt annoyed. "Ok dude. Hello for today and for every day I am here. Now where is she?". He never gets distracted. "10 'o' clock. In white next to Indigo." I replied and looked back at the trainer. He looked towards his right at 2 'o' clock and asked "What color is Indigo?". Not feeling surprised, I just turned his head towards 10 'o' clock and pointed at her. His head did not turned back for the next whole hour. Then he hit my legs hard enough to make me limp for a day and said "She looked at me!". "Freak!" I said and found her looking at everyone in the class bored. Then she saw me seeing her and smiled back at me. We are introduced well to each other as she takes the last seat left in the bus next to me everyday. And please remember that it is his idea of not coming in the bus so that she can find a seat to sit. I rejected his request asking me not to come in the bus so that he can sit next to her.

[+/-]Reflections of a smoking mind

Our company had a peculiar way of assigning the employee number to the trainees that the order did not appear to be in alphabetical, age or college wise. And it happened in a way that she was seated next to me, while he is behind us turned back. Therefore, even if he turns, he will see only the back of us. The troubles he went in switching places were futile as the employee numbers were already stuck in the respective desks. "Hey! I got an idea" he said and moved his system to the right of his desk so that he will be diagonal to her. Then he placed a CD supported by his cigarette lighter at my desk facing her seat and another CD at his desk facing the CD at my desk. So by the reflections theory, he was able to get a blurred ghost image of her seat. He smiled at me as if waiting for me to award a noble prize for that. "I will give you a better idea. Why don’t you sit next to me and appear as if you have doubts all the time.", I asked. But he was quick in his reply to that. "Dude! She would think that I am dumb". "What about me? I already think you are dumb." She returned back to her desk and we turned to each other's desk as if nothing has happened. Her eyes rested on the CD at my desk. To avoid any questions, I took the CD and kept it inside my book. Looking at the cigarette lighter that was holding the CD, she asked "You smoke?". "Why? Does it bother you?" I asked back. "Yeah! I hate men with smoking habit." she said with a displeasing expression. "So do you prefer women smoking?" We laughed and she thought and replied "May be, you are right. Women do look cool when they smoke." His face turned white who was overhearing our chat from behind. There was no use telling him that she was just joking. When I told him that I can never ask what brand she believes to be cool, he started investigating which brand most girls prefer. I would try to leave him whenever he asks the salesmen about "girls-favorite-cigarettes". Anyway, if there is one thing that came good because of her, it was that he stopped smoking from that day. As a non-smoker, I welcomed it very much. My house can at last be a smoke-free zone.

[+/-]You got mail

Our training days are over at last and we were waiting for the posting letter. Everyone had their fingers crossed praying to be put in their home place or anywhere nearer to it while he was there praying in every religion to be placed in the same place as her. I turned around and she was also in prayer watching the mailbox closely. "You got mail" was all everyone was looking for. And then it happened. A cry came from the far end followed by screams at the other end. People were jumping high and congratulating each other. Outlook beeped in my system and I was also jumping high. There were many who looked dejected and few were crying too. And sadly she happened to be one among them. Obviously, the posting was not as she expected. I turned to him and he was still waiting for his mail. It popped out and I found it to be the same as mine, which means it is not the same as hers. She surely would have felt happy if it is the same location as ours. He was looking at her and he felt sad and pinched me. "What is her posting?". I really did not like to answer. So I told him to ask her directly. When we both looked at her, she was looking at us with her sorrowful eyes. She told something to her friend and her friend looked back at us and nodded. Not knowing what they were talking about, I stood there with blank eyes. She came towards us and stood near me. I could feel her cries within her and before she could say anything, he spoke. "So where are you posted?" It was a big surprise to me for it was the very first time, he has ever said more than Hello to her. She looked at him feeling worried. He added, "I am posted in this DC itself. Where are you posted?" His words had a hopeless expectation as if the question was asked even though he knew what the answer would be. She said "Can you swap with me?" softly. Tears were on the verge of leaving her eyes. Even my heart stopped a beat that I would swap places sacrificing myself by becoming a savior for both of them. But I know it is much harder for him. He can not disagree to her for it would be against the nature of his affection to her, but if he agrees, he would have to leave her away to a far away place.

[+/-]Home Sweet Home

"I told you already about that apartment. It is too costly and it will be difficult for us to get bus from there." I was stubborn. We have developed good friendship in the training days and have talked a lot on anything that might relate to her. So when it became clear that the company will provide accommodation only for the training days, I became the obvious choice to him for a roommate. But moving to that apartment in question is unnecessary and I would be wasting most part of my salary as rent. An apartment with swimming pool and lift access to a three storey flat guarded by a security guard is not important to me. But his point is a clear one. When we both were dumb struck at her request asking if he can swap the transfer with her, as if time was on our side, another guy intervened and asked her if she is looking for a swap to our DC. She thanked that guy hundreds of times and even gave a treat in the canteen. When he heard about this, he took it hard saying that he should have agreed to her; because getting a treat from her is worth staying away hundreds of days away from her in hell. To hell with him I thought. And then when the question of finding accommodation came into picture, I recommended that apartment to her as it is a very safe place and many other girls from our company are staying over there. She is sure of fixing that apartment. With no point in talking with him, I threw the paper at him with ads circled on it which I felt suitable for us. He looked into it for a while and said, "May be we should try the one in the K.T street". It is definitely not near her place. Actually, everything I circled in the paper is far from her. Why is he interested in that place? I raised my ear brows. He looked at me casually, stretched his hands and said "We may not live in the same street, but we will live in the same house number 7."I could do nothing but hit my head on the wall.

[+/-]Nice talking to you

Days passed with all of us busy in the projects. As luck was against him, he was assigned to a different project than hers while as the same stroke of luck kicking me hard; I was assigned in her project. This was not good at all. Because apart from helping with her work, I had to explain him about her work in detail and he would raise questions which even the project manager can not answer. The reason is that he is making sure that she is getting work to the level she can handle. If there is anything that he feels difficult for her, he would automatically allocate it to me. I can not disagree with him as the chance of having a good dinner from his cooking is at hand. As she sits adjacent to me we had a lot of hello & smiles and casual talks too. Also, I can listen to all her conversations including her prayers to God whenever she compiles her code. It is always fun to listen her scolding God if the code did not compile successfully. The moment I told him about this cute behavior, he started talking with God every day. "If she can scold God, He must be close to her. So I better familiarize with him" was his response. The phone at her desk started to ring. She picked up and said hello. As part of my spying job, I have to listen to her conversations for hostile entities (boy friends). "Yeah!... Oh! How are you?... I am fine. Thanks…. No no… I am at my desk only." She sounded casual but with a touch of talking to a stranger. "He is at his desk only. Do you want to talk with him? Sure. Nice talking to you anyway… hey!". She held the phone towards me. Now who in the world will call her to reach me? I took the receiver and there he was. "Dude! Did you hear that? She said it was nice talking to me." "Yeah! So?" I was really annoyed. There was a pause and some strange words echoed in my ears which I later realized to be swear words he have reserved for extreme cases only. I disconnected the call and stared back at my screen. "Is that your friend who used to sit behind us in the training lab?" she asked without turning away from her screen. "Yeah! Why?" I acted casual. "Nothing. The voice sounded familiar. That’s all" she sounded casual and got back to compile her code and started praying again. I am surely going to get a big treat if I tell him that she remembered his voice.

[+/-]Riding my bike

"Why am I not invited??" He pulled the plate from me again.
"She did. She told me to invite you too." I pulled the plate.
"But that was just a formality. She never told me directly" The plate was in his hands again.
"May be... I mean may be... she would have called you if you had talked with her before... and talking means more than hi and bye and showing a blushed face." With much force, I pulled the plate away from him while he took the chicken from my plate.
"But you were invited." He said still holding the chicken roast away from me.
"That is because I am sitting next to her in office for the last 3 months"
My eyes were fixed on the chicken all the time. It was a big mistake to tell about her invitation to her sister’s marriage while having dinner. My chicken roast was taken from my plate as he left me like a dog looking at the bone in its master’s hands. I sure have to jump, roll over or catch my tail if I have to get my food.
"I got the invitation only today morning though she is leaving for home tonight." I added desperately trying to get the food.
"What??? She is leaving tonight! Why didn’t you say that to me?"
Oh! Oh! It is another stupid move I made. I did not say anything. I just stared at the chicken roast.
"Which bus is she leaving?"
"The usual one at 10 PM"
Furious, there was only 20 minutes to 10 PM, he dropped the chicken on my plate immediately and ran to the room. Greeted with the greatest gift, I started eating the chicken trying to finish it before he takes it again. After few seconds, he came all dressed up with a key in his hand.
"Hey! That’s my bike. Only I will drive with that. That’s the rule." I shouted.
He just stared back at me and I understood that there are more chicken pieces left and I should keep quiet if I want it. So with priorities set properly, I decided to take two more chicken pieces.
When I had not even finished the first chicken my phone started to ring. It was her number. Things have changed a lot lately. She has become a good friend to me and we used to chat often in phone. She has told about her family, friends, her experiences in life and even the love letters she had received in college days. For some reason, I did not tell him about the love letters. I picked the phone and said "Hi! Where are you? I thought you are going home tonight."
"Yeah! I am in the bus stop. The bus is delayed and I was bored. So I thought I will bore you for sometime."
"No problem. You can try your best. But I will get bored only when you disconnect the line."
"That’s funny." She giggled.
"Anyway, sorry for not able to come to the marriage. Unfortunately, I couldn’t show the invitation as certificate for the only sick leave left."
"That’s ok. I understand." she replied.
Not knowing what to speak about, I kept quiet while she too did the same. With few minutes passing without any words, she said "hey, I think the bus has arrived. Gotta go. Bye" and disconnected the call.
And then almost immediately, my phone rang again and it was his number.
"Where are you idiot?" I asked.
"On the road only. Now listen. Where are the vehicle registration papers?" he asked in a hurry.
"What do you mean? They are in my shelf only. Wait a minute. Don’t tell me that you are caught by the police."
But he was not listening to me at all. He just said "Why would you keep it in home?..... Leave it. I will take care" and disconnected.
I just stood wondering what I could do to help him. After all he is riding my bike. With no idea coming from my mind, I decided to take a break. After 15 minutes of finishing the first chicken, before I could get any ideas, he called me. "Dude! Don’t worry about me. I am fine. It just cost 200 bucks this time."
"Who the hell cares about you? I am just worried about my bike. Where the hell are you?" I shouted at him not able to understand his cool behavior even after being caught by the police.
"On the way dude." He was answering while driving. "listen. She called me and the bus would have probably arrived already. So just return back." "Damn! If it was not for that ________________ (better left unfilled) I would have got her. That ________ (close your eyes and ears again) spoiled all my plans. I was really irritated by his behaviors. For one, there is no plan. All he would do is stare at her from far away which would mostly beyond a sniper range. At most, he would pass her fast in the bike behaving like he never knew her and will make sure she never notices him. So the words about losing her because of the policeman was like India losing the cricket match because the ball was white in color. It doesn’t make any sense. "Whatever. Are you coming back or not?" I asked. "Dude! I am letting this go away. I will catch her in the next stop and come back only after seeing her" "What the hell are you talking about man?? Just come...." That’s when I heard a loud horn followed by shouting noises and the phone went dead. It all happened in a fraction of a second that I was still talking in the phone with half of my mind saying that he probably can’t hear me. The phone is dead after all. I stood frozen for few minutes not knowing what to do. Trying his number again and again though I knew nobody would pick it up. After several tries, his phone started to ring and he answered the call. "Dude! You bike is a mess. I think you have to go to office in bus for the next week"
"To hell with the bike! Are you alright? "I was completely confused how he can talk nuts at this time. Anyway it just made me feel that he is ok.

[+/-]The greatest deed

With the bike still in the ER with the mechanic for more than a week, we got the last company bus to office and were standing all the way in the traffic. He was still looking worried talking to himself on his lost opportunity of getting her due to his encounter with the traffic police. And that’s when my mobile rang and it was she at the other end. "Hi. Whats up?" I said. "Why are you late today?" She asked. Her voice was very low and was not clear due to the traffic. I turned back to him who was in his own world filled with miseries. "Nothing. I woke up late after the big booze yesterday night." "Really! You should have called me." She said. "Sure. We have one more bottle in our house. Do you want to try?" I commented back. She giggled and added "So that’s why you and your friend still appear to be in drowsy state." It stuck immediately that she is also in the same bus and I turned all around but was not able to find her. When I was raising my head to look at the far end, someone pulled my hand from behind and it was she smiling at me. She had been sitting just behind me and very next to him all the time. My minds raced back if we had mentioned anything about her in the bus and relaxed as we did not. Surprisingly, a seat was available next to her and she moved in to give me some space. He was in his world all the time not realizing how close she was sitting next to him. Though I first wanted to avenge him for crashing the bike, with my good soul interrupting me and not ready to get angry faces from him, I spoke in the phone in low voice, "Do you mind him taking that seat. He is still not feeling well." She hesitated a little. "Don’t worry. He is harmless like me" I told her. She giggled and said "That’s ok." I shook him and showed him the seat. When he came back to the real world and his eyes fixed on her and his face was getting red and I was trying hard to suppress the laugh looking at his bizarre stare at her. He took the seat and saw her watching the traffic through the window and turned back giving me a big smile that had thanks written in red all over. I could sense some romantic song singing through his ears. I smiled back like the Almighty except without any halo behind the head. I just hoped he never finds out that I told her that he drinks alcohol.

[+/-]Time to click Good-bye

I was at my desk trying to do some work and when I heard her saying "Yeah! He is here. Hold on a second. Nice talking to you." I turned and took the phone from her. "Of course, I got that." I told him before he could repeat about her nice-talking-to-you words. "What’s up now?" I asked him impatiently. I have to finish of five more modules before leaving to the other DC on a short term transfer. "Nothing. Just wanted to see if she is there. Bye!" he said. "Great! Bye" I replied and disconnected the call. I got back to my work and within few minutes a light flashed across the room. To my surprise and shock, he was there with a camera in hand. "Just thought that we should take a photo together before you leave." he said loud enough for her to hear. She turned around to see us while he looked only at me as if he did not notice her even if it means staring straight into my eyes. Then he looked in all sides trying to find someone to take photo of us and by chance he appeared to have found her looking at us and asked "Could you please take a photograph of us?" She got the camera and focused at us. One can easily say he was staring right into the camera lens. I was glad he was staring only at the camera lens. At least that’s what it appeared to be. Once she took the snap, "Dude! You know what? You should have photo with everyone here before you go. Something that can remind you how great and wonderful people around here are" he spoke like rehearsing for a play in front of the mic. And with similar dramatic pose, he looked at her and turned back to me giving a classic look, "We must take a photo with her." Before I could wonder where "WE" came from, she replied "Yeah! I will like that". Now not ready to get any more damage, I just did what he said and walked next to her while he adjusted the camera for a self timer shot. I could clearly see that he have kept me out of the focus area. With me grinning at him as he smirked back trying to get the perfect shot of her with the imaginative wolf standing next to her; there came the villain to the scene. "You can join. I will take the photo for you." It was our Project manager who is always ready to help us. "Any problem, come to me. There will be no problem" are his famous words. Not able to refuse, he gave the camera and stood next to her. Still happy to have his photo taken with her, he gave a big smile for the photo. Later, his plans of cropping me out of the photo did not work as our no-problem PM had covered the flashlight and everything was dark in the picture. More strange words echoed back in our room for which I do not want to know the meaning ever in my lifetime. By the way, I did not tell him that she asked for that photo next day.

[+/-]The Phone Call

"Dude! She has not come yet." He told me for the fifth time in the last 10 minutes. "I am in another call man. I will call you back." I replied and disconnected the call. Things did not improve even after being away on a short term transfer. I would have to listen on when she came to office, what she had for breakfast and lunch, who she was talking with and how it made him so upset that he couldn’t code properly on that day. None of his code ever was passed by QA is a different story. There will also be daily notes on how many times he saw her and how many times he thought she looked back at him and of course how many times, he would have called my old desk number mistakenly and would have got her "Nice-talking-to-you-anyway" words. But most of them save a few that involves him would be a repeat to me for she would have told the same in our calls already. After all, she is working in the module that I was looking at before and I have to help her most of the time. He called me again. "Dude! She has never been late before?" "I am in an onsite call now. What do you want me to do idiot." I said controlling my temper. "Dude! Try calling her and see if everything is fine." "What am I supposed to ask her?" I was furious and mocked "Hi! Why are you still not in office? Don’t ask me how I know that. Because I have super human powers which lets me watch any surveillance camera as and when I want. Also I have access to the company security records that send signals to my brain when you swipe your identity card." I was completed irritated by his whining and couldn’t control myself. "You $#%&^%&$" was his reply and it stuck hard on me. It made me realize that he has never used such words at me before. We both became silent for more than a minute and I understood I have crossed the line. I calmed down myself and kept his phone on mute and spoke in the office phone that was on mute earlier. "Yeah! Sorry about the interruption. Where are you right now? ok.. just asking.. nothing.. its just my friend.. Shall I call you back after sometime? Yeah! Sure. Call me from your desk." I disconnected her call and returned to his call. "I am really sorry that I spoke like that dude. Chill down. She should be there in anytime. I will call her and check. Is that ok." I told him with lot of guilt and lies. He too became cool and replied "That’s ok dude. I am also sorry. Just one more thing. Ask her why she is late?" "$#%&^%&$", I screamed and threw the phone.

[+/-]The taste of Margarita

We were seated at three corners of the perfect triangle in a round table for three. It was an uneasy situation and a very awkward one for him. She of course did not know what to do. We were just sitting silently while the entire crowd is chatting and laughing happily over New Year eve. Someone had to break the silence, but it is not going to be me. "So, if your manager around?" he asked though he know the answer to that. It is a definite "No". It was a client sponsored New Year party in a five-star hotel and coupons are provided only to the project members. It was just another way to make people work on New Year Eve. After I returned from my short transfer, I was back in the old project with her. His case was not the same though. The reason how he knows the answer to his question is that he is using her manager's coupon. But still it is worth an attempt for starting conversation. She said "No" and returned back to staring the empty wine glass and I at the half-full Margarita. The main idea of getting her manager's coupon was to sit next to me and stare at her while she enjoys the day with her girl friends at the next table. But things never happen as we plan. I and she were stuck working late in office and had to take a cab together to the party. The only place available was a small round table he has reserved for me. And here we are sharing the table for three.
"You must drink tonight", he said out of the blue.
My eyes just rolled over to his side. One thing was clear. He is already drunk. The vodka shot has already started its work. He was absolutely out of his mind.
"No. Sorry! I don’t drink." I decided not to comment and rolled my eyes back to the drink.
"Yeah! You should at least taste wine for sure. It is New Year eve. Whatever you do today will become past in few hours", he nudged me to help him out. For a moment, I was not able to understand what was going on. A shy guy whose cheeks would turn red at her sight is asking her to drink wine! When I nudged him back disapproving his request, he decided to turn me out. "You know, this is exactly what he would say after getting drunk. He will hold the glass behind his back and would shout, 'I don’t drink! I don’t drink'". She started to laugh looking at me while I just poked his shoulders. But her laugh created different effect on him. One who would give a treat if she says "hi" was able to talk freely while selling out his friend's secrets. "Do you know then he would start talking to the chicken pieces, saying sorry to each of them before eating them." Both were laughing hard while I was the point of humiliation. I also joined with an empty laugh and poked him back. "Stop this or I will have to tell about you too?"
"Like what?" he laughed showing clearing that he was not in the listening mood at least after seeing her happy making fun of me.
Anyway, I decided not to interrupt the fun. After all, the only topic all the three of us can talk is about me. It is the only thing common in the table. So I let it happen and sometimes laughed along with them. The talks went on from my expertise in making puri that look like pappads and snoring at nights to my fear for roaches. His voice would sometimes attract the crowd from the near by tables and more were having fun at my expense. While I joined them for all of them, things went different as he crossed the line. "Do you know about his girl friend?" he said with a broad smile after the fourth vodka shot. Stamping his legs was of no use. "What?" she asked with excitement and confusion on her face. "He is just talking stupid really. Its not true" I said but still got a surprised look from her. I hit the back of his head "What are you saying idiot?" He was completely drunk and continued laughing and pointing his finger at me as if I am hiding something and turned to her "Ask him with whom he is talking every night after 10 PM? He only told that it is his girl friend." She wasn't laughing to that. Neither could I. We both know who that girl was. "Dude! I told that just to drive you away. It is not true" I tried hard to hint him with a strong glare. But it was of no use.
"How does it taste; the drink?" she asked all of a sudden. At first, I didn’t realize what she was asking about. But when I looked that she is pointing to my Margarita, it was strange. I had a slight feeling that she is just trying to change the topic. "It... it tastes good. Bit sour... but good." I managed to say in between her surprising words. She giggled with a mixed smile. "How much will it take to say I am drunk?" she asked again with a big mischievous smile. "Excuse me..." I added though I heard every word of hers. He of course was in complete shock with eyes and mouth wide open. She casually took my Margarita and took a sip slowly. Both of our eyes were fixed hard on the tequila disappearing within her lips. When she kept the glass back, there clearly was a change in liquid level. "Not bad" she said looking at us. We just nodded.

The Countdown
"One glass of Martini please", she added boldly to the waiter. A glass of Margarita and a shot of vodka started its work on her. Though my thoughts were saying that she is drinking above the limit for a fresher, I couldn't object her. For some strange reason, she looked more beautiful with her giggling smile while drunk. I turned to my other side and saw him drunk too. He looked awful as every other men when drunk.
She waved her hands towards her friends in the far table and went towards them.My mind was becoming restless more and more and it had something to do with him sitting on the left side of me. "Why dont you tell her?" I asked. He looked up and questioned back "Tell her what?" he asked.
"That you are crazy about her and torturing me every day talking about her." I moved closer to him.
"Come on dude! I dont torture you". He was cool as always.
"Yes, you do. I am completely irritated by you. She must know about your love tonight" Though my thoughts never want him to express his feelings on her, my mind conveyed that it is the right thing to happen. His crazy love on her has been killing me for a long time. "What love?" he asked with a surprise. "I dont love her" he said still showing his eyes wide open.
"You are drunk", I was getting tired of him.
"I am drunk. But I really dont love her". Somehow he sounded serious. "Seriously. I dont love her."
"But you are crazy about her, you idiot"
"Yeah. I am crazy. But that doesnt mean I love her."
I was getting confused.
"Now listen. Do you remember the Rolex watch with golden strap that we saw in the mall last week. I said that it looked amazing. But I did not buy it. Do you know why?" he asked a rhetorical question.
"May be becuase you dont have the money to buy it?"
"No dude. The point is though it looked marvellous and we were all amazed by it, it didn't suit me." he finished his theory with no explanation. Looking at my confused look, he continued "Its similar to her. Though I am crazy about her, admire her, feel enchanted when she is around, it doesnt mean I love her. I cannot love her. She is differnt and I can never be a perfect match for her." He was sipping his drink after the big speech while I could not decide whether it was the alcohol talking inside him or is it the real explanation for all the commotions he created for all these months in the past. While the both of us were staring at each other. the waiter placed the martini she ordered and without much thought I emptied it immediately. I was completely undecided on any reaction to his unexpected answer.
"You drank my Martini!!" she complained with her childish face as she sat back with us. I just nodded back and looked at her. She looked much more beautiful with her fake complaining face while drunk. And then the countdown for the New Year started and everyone started looking at the huge screen at the center of the hall. They were holding each other's hands in the table in the form of a chain. Following the crowd, I took her left hand and his right hand. He stretched his left hand towards her for completing the chain but it appeared she had no intention of holding him and didnt even bother to keep her right hand above the table. He extended his hand further trying hard to get her attention while she did not notice him in any way and was smiling at her friends in the other table. As the countdown was closing down to ten, everyone was counting aloud with screams and laughter all around while She just kept on smiling at friends and he was trying his level best in bringing her focus back to the table. Then there was just two more more seconds for the New Year. That is when it happened.
"I Love You"
She heard it and turned around surprised.
The New Year was born. Everyone was cheering and wishing each other. The hall was covered with screams and laughter. But it was very silent for me.
"No!"... he said with shock.
"I Love You" I repeated again.
Her look didnt leave any clues of her feelings and I looked deep into her eyes trying to find the answers. I am entirely not sure why I said those words though my heart was longing forever to let her know. The time stood still and it was as if the world had stopped at the beginning of the New Year. We stared at each other's eyes for seconds while the world froze around us. Then came out a tear out of her eyes and it reached the little smile on her face.
Without any words, she lifted her right hand slowly and held out the letter she had been hiding all these time under the table. I reached to it and it felt like holding the whole world but in the weight of a feather. She left the table smiling and ran towards her friends.
"This is not happening!" He exclaimed.

The twice folded letter in my hand
still stretched out in the position
I had received it from her;
my voice stopped all of a sudden;
Every part of me that is left conscious
sending signals to the brain asking
whether it is a dream; my eyes see
only her walking away from me;
left the brain cells creating visions of
the last 12 months that had every day
with something to say about her.

Twice Folded Letter - The taste of Margarita

The twice folded letter in my hand
still stretched out in the position
I had received it from her;
my voice stopped all of a sudden;
Every part of me that is left conscious

sending signals to the brain asking

whether it is a dream; my eyes see

only her walking away from me;
left the brain cells creating visions of
the last 12 months that had every day
with something to say about her.

[+/-]At first sight

It is the day I started my career. But that is not important now. It was the day, she entered my life. And its also the same day, he crossed my life. I was in the company provided Guest house waiting for the bus to take me to the first step of my career life. I was tensed for the big day ahead. Being the only person from our college to join the company, I was left alone searching for any face that might say hello. The bus honked and I walked to the bus when he crossed me and ran ahead as if catching a running bus. I slipped and almost fell on the road. While hoping no one noticed me, I got into the bus found him sitting on the first seat. And next to him was the only seat left. I took it and we sat silently for a while. I watched around and could realize most of them are new like me. And most importantly, more than half were girls. I wondered if girls are dominating even in this bus, we really should join the equality rights here. When the bus stopped, few more persons got into the bus and everyone were girls. With no place to sit, they have to stand except for the one who got in last. He stood all of a sudden, almost pushing me from my seat and showed her the seat. Now, I have to give my place for others, else it will look look as if I don’t have any manners. As if I am not the only guy to have the thought, few more guys stood giving up the seats for girls. But every guy who stood were staring angrily at him who was shaking his head too much when she thanked him. My anger on him went away the instant I saw her face. Not a bad decision. I smiled at him who was still blushing for her thanks.

[+/-]The clock and the colors

I was trying hard to stay awake in the boring training session and all I have written in my notebook is the title. He rushed to the training hall and hit my back. He dragged the chair and asked "Where is she?". He was late as usual and all he was worried was about her. "Can't you at least say Hello before you can ask about her?" I felt annoyed. "Ok dude. Hello for today and for every day I am here. Now where is she?". He never gets distracted. "10 'o' clock. In white next to Indigo." I replied and looked back at the trainer. He looked towards his right at 2 'o' clock and asked "What color is Indigo?". Not feeling surprised, I just turned his head towards 10 'o' clock and pointed at her. His head did not turned back for the next whole hour. Then he hit my legs hard enough to make me limp for a day and said "She looked at me!". "Freak!" I said and found her looking at everyone in the class bored. Then she saw me seeing her and smiled back at me. We are introduced well to each other as she takes the last seat left in the bus next to me everyday. And please remember that it is his idea of not coming in the bus so that she can find a seat to sit. I rejected his request asking me not to come in the bus so that he can sit next to her.

[+/-]Reflections of a smoking mind

Our company had a peculiar way of assigning the employee number to the trainees that the order did not appear to be in alphabetical, age or college wise. And it happened in a way that she was seated next to me, while he is behind us turned back. Therefore, even if he turns, he will see only the back of us. The troubles he went in switching places were futile as the employee numbers were already stuck in the respective desks. "Hey! I got an idea" he said and moved his system to the right of his desk so that he will be diagonal to her. Then he placed a CD supported by his cigarette lighter at my desk facing her seat and another CD at his desk facing the CD at my desk. So by the reflections theory, he was able to get a blurred ghost image of her seat. He smiled at me as if waiting for me to award a noble prize for that. "I will give you a better idea. Why don’t you sit next to me and appear as if you have doubts all the time.", I asked. But he was quick in his reply to that. "Dude! She would think that I am dumb". "What about me? I already think you are dumb." She returned back to her desk and we turned to each other's desk as if nothing has happened. Her eyes rested on the CD at my desk. To avoid any questions, I took the CD and kept it inside my book. Looking at the cigarette lighter that was holding the CD, she asked "You smoke?". "Why? Does it bother you?" I asked back. "Yeah! I hate men with smoking habit." she said with a displeasing expression. "So do you prefer women smoking?" We laughed and she thought and replied "May be, you are right. Women do look cool when they smoke." His face turned white who was overhearing our chat from behind. There was no use telling him that she was just joking. When I told him that I can never ask what brand she believes to be cool, he started investigating which brand most girls prefer. I would try to leave him whenever he asks the salesmen about "girls-favorite-cigarettes". Anyway, if there is one thing that came good because of her, it was that he stopped smoking from that day. As a non-smoker, I welcomed it very much. My house can at last be a smoke-free zone.

[+/-]You got mail

Our training days are over at last and we were waiting for the posting letter. Everyone had their fingers crossed praying to be put in their home place or anywhere nearer to it while he was there praying in every religion to be placed in the same place as her. I turned around and she was also in prayer watching the mailbox closely. "You got mail" was all everyone was looking for. And then it happened. A cry came from the far end followed by screams at the other end. People were jumping high and congratulating each other. Outlook beeped in my system and I was also jumping high. There were many who looked dejected and few were crying too. And sadly she happened to be one among them. Obviously, the posting was not as she expected. I turned to him and he was still waiting for his mail. It popped out and I found it to be the same as mine, which means it is not the same as hers. She surely would have felt happy if it is the same location as ours. He was looking at her and he felt sad and pinched me. "What is her posting?". I really did not like to answer. So I told him to ask her directly. When we both looked at her, she was looking at us with her sorrowful eyes. She told something to her friend and her friend looked back at us and nodded. Not knowing what they were talking about, I stood there with blank eyes. She came towards us and stood near me. I could feel her cries within her and before she could say anything, he spoke. "So where are you posted?" It was a big surprise to me for it was the very first time, he has ever said more than Hello to her. She looked at him feeling worried. He added, "I am posted in this DC itself. Where are you posted?" His words had a hopeless expectation as if the question was asked even though he knew what the answer would be. She said "Can you swap with me?" softly. Tears were on the verge of leaving her eyes. Even my heart stopped a beat that I would swap places sacrificing myself by becoming a savior for both of them. But I know it is much harder for him. He can not disagree to her for it would be against the nature of his affection to her, but if he agrees, he would have to leave her away to a far away place.

[+/-]Home Sweet Home

"I told you already about that apartment. It is too costly and it will be difficult for us to get bus from there." I was stubborn. We have developed good friendship in the training days and have talked a lot on anything that might relate to her. So when it became clear that the company will provide accommodation only for the training days, I became the obvious choice to him for a roommate. But moving to that apartment in question is unnecessary and I would be wasting most part of my salary as rent. An apartment with swimming pool and lift access to a three storey flat guarded by a security guard is not important to me. But his point is a clear one. When we both were dumb struck at her request asking if he can swap the transfer with her, as if time was on our side, another guy intervened and asked her if she is looking for a swap to our DC. She thanked that guy hundreds of times and even gave a treat in the canteen. When he heard about this, he took it hard saying that he should have agreed to her; because getting a treat from her is worth staying away hundreds of days away from her in hell. To hell with him I thought. And then when the question of finding accommodation came into picture, I recommended that apartment to her as it is a very safe place and many other girls from our company are staying over there. She is sure of fixing that apartment. With no point in talking with him, I threw the paper at him with ads circled on it which I felt suitable for us. He looked into it for a while and said, "May be we should try the one in the K.T street". It is definitely not near her place. Actually, everything I circled in the paper is far from her. Why is he interested in that place? I raised my ear brows. He looked at me casually, stretched his hands and said "We may not live in the same street, but we will live in the same house number 7."I could do nothing but hit my head on the wall.

[+/-]Nice talking to you

Days passed with all of us busy in the projects. As luck was against him, he was assigned to a different project than hers while as the same stroke of luck kicking me hard; I was assigned in her project. This was not good at all. Because apart from helping with her work, I had to explain him about her work in detail and he would raise questions which even the project manager can not answer. The reason is that he is making sure that she is getting work to the level she can handle. If there is anything that he feels difficult for her, he would automatically allocate it to me. I can not disagree with him as the chance of having a good dinner from his cooking is at hand. As she sits adjacent to me we had a lot of hello & smiles and casual talks too. Also, I can listen to all her conversations including her prayers to God whenever she compiles her code. It is always fun to listen her scolding God if the code did not compile successfully. The moment I told him about this cute behavior, he started talking with God every day. "If she can scold God, He must be close to her. So I better familiarize with him" was his response. The phone at her desk started to ring. She picked up and said hello. As part of my spying job, I have to listen to her conversations for hostile entities (boy friends). "Yeah!... Oh! How are you?... I am fine. Thanks…. No no… I am at my desk only." She sounded casual but with a touch of talking to a stranger. "He is at his desk only. Do you want to talk with him? Sure. Nice talking to you anyway… hey!". She held the phone towards me. Now who in the world will call her to reach me? I took the receiver and there he was. "Dude! Did you hear that? She said it was nice talking to me." "Yeah! So?" I was really annoyed. There was a pause and some strange words echoed in my ears which I later realized to be swear words he have reserved for extreme cases only. I disconnected the call and stared back at my screen. "Is that your friend who used to sit behind us in the training lab?" she asked without turning away from her screen. "Yeah! Why?" I acted casual. "Nothing. The voice sounded familiar. That’s all" she sounded casual and got back to compile her code and started praying again. I am surely going to get a big treat if I tell him that she remembered his voice.

[+/-]Riding my bike

"Why am I not invited??" He pulled the plate from me again.
"She did. She told me to invite you too." I pulled the plate.
"But that was just a formality. She never told me directly" The plate was in his hands again.
"May be... I mean may be... she would have called you if you had talked with her before... and talking means more than hi and bye and showing a blushed face." With much force, I pulled the plate away from him while he took the chicken from my plate.
"But you were invited." He said still holding the chicken roast away from me.
"That is because I am sitting next to her in office for the last 3 months"
My eyes were fixed on the chicken all the time. It was a big mistake to tell about her invitation to her sister’s marriage while having dinner. My chicken roast was taken from my plate as he left me like a dog looking at the bone in its master’s hands. I sure have to jump, roll over or catch my tail if I have to get my food.
"I got the invitation only today morning though she is leaving for home tonight." I added desperately trying to get the food.
"What??? She is leaving tonight! Why didn’t you say that to me?"
Oh! Oh! It is another stupid move I made. I did not say anything. I just stared at the chicken roast.
"Which bus is she leaving?"
"The usual one at 10 PM"
Furious, there was only 20 minutes to 10 PM, he dropped the chicken on my plate immediately and ran to the room. Greeted with the greatest gift, I started eating the chicken trying to finish it before he takes it again. After few seconds, he came all dressed up with a key in his hand.
"Hey! That’s my bike. Only I will drive with that. That’s the rule." I shouted.
He just stared back at me and I understood that there are more chicken pieces left and I should keep quiet if I want it. So with priorities set properly, I decided to take two more chicken pieces.
When I had not even finished the first chicken my phone started to ring. It was her number. Things have changed a lot lately. She has become a good friend to me and we used to chat often in phone. She has told about her family, friends, her experiences in life and even the love letters she had received in college days. For some reason, I did not tell him about the love letters. I picked the phone and said "Hi! Where are you? I thought you are going home tonight."
"Yeah! I am in the bus stop. The bus is delayed and I was bored. So I thought I will bore you for sometime."
"No problem. You can try your best. But I will get bored only when you disconnect the line."
"That’s funny." She giggled.
"Anyway, sorry for not able to come to the marriage. Unfortunately, I couldn’t show the invitation as certificate for the only sick leave left."
"That’s ok. I understand." she replied.
Not knowing what to speak about, I kept quiet while she too did the same. With few minutes passing without any words, she said "hey, I think the bus has arrived. Gotta go. Bye" and disconnected the call.
And then almost immediately, my phone rang again and it was his number.
"Where are you idiot?" I asked.
"On the road only. Now listen. Where are the vehicle registration papers?" he asked in a hurry.
"What do you mean? They are in my shelf only. Wait a minute. Don’t tell me that you are caught by the police."
But he was not listening to me at all. He just said "Why would you keep it in home?..... Leave it. I will take care" and disconnected.
I just stood wondering what I could do to help him. After all he is riding my bike. With no idea coming from my mind, I decided to take a break. After 15 minutes of finishing the first chicken, before I could get any ideas, he called me. "Dude! Don’t worry about me. I am fine. It just cost 200 bucks this time."
"Who the hell cares about you? I am just worried about my bike. Where the hell are you?" I shouted at him not able to understand his cool behavior even after being caught by the police.
"On the way dude." He was answering while driving. "listen. She called me and the bus would have probably arrived already. So just return back." "Damn! If it was not for that ________________ (better left unfilled) I would have got her. That ________ (close your eyes and ears again) spoiled all my plans. I was really irritated by his behaviors. For one, there is no plan. All he would do is stare at her from far away which would mostly beyond a sniper range. At most, he would pass her fast in the bike behaving like he never knew her and will make sure she never notices him. So the words about losing her because of the policeman was like India losing the cricket match because the ball was white in color. It doesn’t make any sense. "Whatever. Are you coming back or not?" I asked. "Dude! I am letting this go away. I will catch her in the next stop and come back only after seeing her" "What the hell are you talking about man?? Just come...." That’s when I heard a loud horn followed by shouting noises and the phone went dead. It all happened in a fraction of a second that I was still talking in the phone with half of my mind saying that he probably can’t hear me. The phone is dead after all. I stood frozen for few minutes not knowing what to do. Trying his number again and again though I knew nobody would pick it up. After several tries, his phone started to ring and he answered the call. "Dude! You bike is a mess. I think you have to go to office in bus for the next week"
"To hell with the bike! Are you alright? "I was completely confused how he can talk nuts at this time. Anyway it just made me feel that he is ok.

[+/-]The greatest deed

With the bike still in the ER with the mechanic for more than a week, we got the last company bus to office and were standing all the way in the traffic. He was still looking worried talking to himself on his lost opportunity of getting her due to his encounter with the traffic police. And that’s when my mobile rang and it was she at the other end. "Hi. Whats up?" I said. "Why are you late today?" She asked. Her voice was very low and was not clear due to the traffic. I turned back to him who was in his own world filled with miseries. "Nothing. I woke up late after the big booze yesterday night." "Really! You should have called me." She said. "Sure. We have one more bottle in our house. Do you want to try?" I commented back. She giggled and added "So that’s why you and your friend still appear to be in drowsy state." It stuck immediately that she is also in the same bus and I turned all around but was not able to find her. When I was raising my head to look at the far end, someone pulled my hand from behind and it was she smiling at me. She had been sitting just behind me and very next to him all the time. My minds raced back if we had mentioned anything about her in the bus and relaxed as we did not. Surprisingly, a seat was available next to her and she moved in to give me some space. He was in his world all the time not realizing how close she was sitting next to him. Though I first wanted to avenge him for crashing the bike, with my good soul interrupting me and not ready to get angry faces from him, I spoke in the phone in low voice, "Do you mind him taking that seat. He is still not feeling well." She hesitated a little. "Don’t worry. He is harmless like me" I told her. She giggled and said "That’s ok." I shook him and showed him the seat. When he came back to the real world and his eyes fixed on her and his face was getting red and I was trying hard to suppress the laugh looking at his bizarre stare at her. He took the seat and saw her watching the traffic through the window and turned back giving me a big smile that had thanks written in red all over. I could sense some romantic song singing through his ears. I smiled back like the Almighty except without any halo behind the head. I just hoped he never finds out that I told her that he drinks alcohol.

[+/-]Time to click Good-bye

I was at my desk trying to do some work and when I heard her saying "Yeah! He is here. Hold on a second. Nice talking to you." I turned and took the phone from her. "Of course, I got that." I told him before he could repeat about her nice-talking-to-you words. "What’s up now?" I asked him impatiently. I have to finish of five more modules before leaving to the other DC on a short term transfer. "Nothing. Just wanted to see if she is there. Bye!" he said. "Great! Bye" I replied and disconnected the call. I got back to my work and within few minutes a light flashed across the room. To my surprise and shock, he was there with a camera in hand. "Just thought that we should take a photo together before you leave." he said loud enough for her to hear. She turned around to see us while he looked only at me as if he did not notice her even if it means staring straight into my eyes. Then he looked in all sides trying to find someone to take photo of us and by chance he appeared to have found her looking at us and asked "Could you please take a photograph of us?" She got the camera and focused at us. One can easily say he was staring right into the camera lens. I was glad he was staring only at the camera lens. At least that’s what it appeared to be. Once she took the snap, "Dude! You know what? You should have photo with everyone here before you go. Something that can remind you how great and wonderful people around here are" he spoke like rehearsing for a play in front of the mic. And with similar dramatic pose, he looked at her and turned back to me giving a classic look, "We must take a photo with her." Before I could wonder where "WE" came from, she replied "Yeah! I will like that". Now not ready to get any more damage, I just did what he said and walked next to her while he adjusted the camera for a self timer shot. I could clearly see that he have kept me out of the focus area. With me grinning at him as he smirked back trying to get the perfect shot of her with the imaginative wolf standing next to her; there came the villain to the scene. "You can join. I will take the photo for you." It was our Project manager who is always ready to help us. "Any problem, come to me. There will be no problem" are his famous words. Not able to refuse, he gave the camera and stood next to her. Still happy to have his photo taken with her, he gave a big smile for the photo. Later, his plans of cropping me out of the photo did not work as our no-problem PM had covered the flashlight and everything was dark in the picture. More strange words echoed back in our room for which I do not want to know the meaning ever in my lifetime. By the way, I did not tell him that she asked for that photo next day.

[+/-]The Phone Call

"Dude! She has not come yet." He told me for the fifth time in the last 10 minutes. "I am in another call man. I will call you back." I replied and disconnected the call. Things did not improve even after being away on a short term transfer. I would have to listen on when she came to office, what she had for breakfast and lunch, who she was talking with and how it made him so upset that he couldn’t code properly on that day. None of his code ever was passed by QA is a different story. There will also be daily notes on how many times he saw her and how many times he thought she looked back at him and of course how many times, he would have called my old desk number mistakenly and would have got her "Nice-talking-to-you-anyway" words. But most of them save a few that involves him would be a repeat to me for she would have told the same in our calls already. After all, she is working in the module that I was looking at before and I have to help her most of the time. He called me again. "Dude! She has never been late before?" "I am in an onsite call now. What do you want me to do idiot." I said controlling my temper. "Dude! Try calling her and see if everything is fine." "What am I supposed to ask her?" I was furious and mocked "Hi! Why are you still not in office? Don’t ask me how I know that. Because I have super human powers which lets me watch any surveillance camera as and when I want. Also I have access to the company security records that send signals to my brain when you swipe your identity card." I was completed irritated by his whining and couldn’t control myself. "You $#%&^%&$" was his reply and it stuck hard on me. It made me realize that he has never used such words at me before. We both became silent for more than a minute and I understood I have crossed the line. I calmed down myself and kept his phone on mute and spoke in the office phone that was on mute earlier. "Yeah! Sorry about the interruption. Where are you right now? ok.. just asking.. nothing.. its just my friend.. Shall I call you back after sometime? Yeah! Sure. Call me from your desk." I disconnected her call and returned to his call. "I am really sorry that I spoke like that dude. Chill down. She should be there in anytime. I will call her and check. Is that ok." I told him with lot of guilt and lies. He too became cool and replied "That’s ok dude. I am also sorry. Just one more thing. Ask her why she is late?" "$#%&^%&$", I screamed and threw the phone.

The taste of Margarita

We were seated at three corners of the perfect triangle in a round table for three. It was an uneasy situation and a very awkward one for him. She of course did not know what to do. We were just sitting silently while the entire crowd is chatting and laughing happily over New Year eve. Someone had to break the silence, but it is not going to be me. "So, if your manager around?" he asked though he know the answer to that. It is a definite "No". It was a client sponsored New Year party in a five-star hotel and coupons are provided only to the project members. It was just another way to make people work on New Year Eve. After I returned from my short transfer, I was back in the old project with her. His case was not the same though. The reason how he knows the answer to his question is that he is using her manager's coupon. But still it is worth an attempt for starting conversation. She said "No" and returned back to staring the empty wine glass and I at the half-full Margarita. The main idea of getting her manager's coupon was to sit next to me and stare at her while she enjoys the day with her girl friends at the next table. But things never happen as we plan. I and she were stuck working late in office and had to take a cab together to the party. The only place available was a small round table he has reserved for me. And here we are sharing the table for three.
"You must drink tonight", he said out of the blue.
My eyes just rolled over to his side. One thing was clear. He is already drunk. The vodka shot has already started its work. He was absolutely out of his mind.
"No. Sorry! I don’t drink." I decided not to comment and rolled my eyes back to the drink.
"Yeah! You should at least taste wine for sure. It is New Year eve. Whatever you do today will become past in few hours", he nudged me to help him out. For a moment, I was not able to understand what was going on. A shy guy whose cheeks would turn red at her sight is asking her to drink wine! When I nudged him back disapproving his request, he decided to turn me out. "You know, this is exactly what he would say after getting drunk. He will hold the glass behind his back and would shout, 'I don’t drink! I don’t drink'". She started to laugh looking at me while I just poked his shoulders. But her laugh created different effect on him. One who would give a treat if she says "hi" was able to talk freely while selling out his friend's secrets. "Do you know then he would start talking to the chicken pieces, saying sorry to each of them before eating them." Both were laughing hard while I was the point of humiliation. I also joined with an empty laugh and poked him back. "Stop this or I will have to tell about you too?"
"Like what?" he laughed showing clearing that he was not in the listening mood at least after seeing her happy making fun of me.
Anyway, I decided not to interrupt the fun. After all, the only topic all the three of us can talk is about me. It is the only thing common in the table. So I let it happen and sometimes laughed along with them. The talks went on from my expertise in making puri that look like pappads and snoring at nights to my fear for roaches. His voice would sometimes attract the crowd from the near by tables and more were having fun at my expense. While I joined them for all of them, things went different as he crossed the line. "Do you know about his girl friend?" he said with a broad smile after the fourth vodka shot. Stamping his legs was of no use. "What?" she asked with excitement and confusion on her face. "He is just talking stupid really. Its not true" I said but still got a surprised look from her. I hit the back of his head "What are you saying idiot?" He was completely drunk and continued laughing and pointing his finger at me as if I am hiding something and turned to her "Ask him with whom he is talking every night after 10 PM? He only told that it is his girl friend." She wasn't laughing to that. Neither could I. We both know who that girl was. "Dude! I told that just to drive you away. It is not true" I tried hard to hint him with a strong glare. But it was of no use.
"How does it taste; the drink?" she asked all of a sudden. At first, I didn’t realize what she was asking about. But when I looked that she is pointing to my Margarita, it was strange. I had a slight feeling that she is just trying to change the topic. "It... it tastes good. Bit sour... but good." I managed to say in between her surprising words. She giggled with a mixed smile. "How much will it take to say I am drunk?" she asked again with a big mischievous smile. "Excuse me..." I added though I heard every word of hers. He of course was in complete shock with eyes and mouth wide open. She casually took my Margarita and took a sip slowly. Both of our eyes were fixed hard on the tequila disappearing within her lips. When she kept the glass back, there clearly was a change in liquid level. "Not bad" she said looking at us. We just nodded.

More memories to be recalled.....

Twice Folded Letter - The Phone Call

The twice folded letter in my hand
still stretched out in the position
I had received it from her;
my voice stopped all of a sudden;
Every part of me that is left conscious

sending signals to the brain asking

whether it is a dream; my eyes see

only her walking away from me;
left the brain cells creating visions of
the last 12 months that had every day
with something to say about her.

[+/-]At first sight

The day I started my career. But that is not important now. It was the day, she entered my life. And its also the same day, he crossed my life. I was in the company provided Guest house waiting for the bus to take me to the first step of my career life. I was tensed for the big day ahead. Being the only person from our college to join the company, I was left alone searching for any face that might say hello. The bus honked and I walked to the bus when he crossed me and ran ahead as if catching a running bus. I slipped and almost fell on the road. While hoping no one noticed me, I got into the bus found him sitting on the first seat. And next to him was the only seat left. I took it and we sat silently for a while. I watched around and could realize most of them are new like me. And most importantly, more than half were girls. I wondered if girls are dominating even in this bus, we really should join the equality rights here. When the bus stopped, few more persons got into the bus and everyone were girls. With no place to sit, they have to stand except for the one who got in last. He stood all of a sudden, almost pushing me from my seat and showed her the seat. Now, I have to give my place for others, else it will look look as if I don’t have any manners. As if I am not the only guy to have the thought, few more guys stood giving up the seats for girls. But every guy who stood were staring angrily at him who was shaking his head too much when she thanked him. My anger on him went away the instant I saw her face. Not a bad decision. I smiled at him who was still blushing for her thanks.

[+/-]The clock and the colors

I was trying hard to stay awake in the boring training session and all I have written in my notebook is the title. He rushed to the training hall and hit my back. He dragged the chair and asked "Where is she?". He was late as usual and all he was worried was about her. "Can't you at least say Hello before you can ask about her?" I felt annoyed. "Ok dude. Hello for today and for every day I am here. Now where is she?". He never gets distracted. "10 'o' clock. In white next to Indigo." I replied and looked back at the trainer. He looked towards his right at 2 'o' clock and asked "What color is Indigo?". Not feeling surprised, I just turned his head towards 10 'o' clock and pointed at her. His head did not turned back for the next whole hour. Then he hit my legs hard enough to make me limp for a day and said "She looked at me!". "Freak!" I said and found her looking at everyone in the class bored. Then she saw me seeing her and smiled back at me. We are introduced well to each other as she takes the last seat left in the bus next to me everyday. And please remember that it is his idea of not coming in the bus so that she can find a seat to sit. I rejected his request asking me not to come in the bus so that he can sit next to her.

[+/-]Reflections of a smoking mind

Our company had a peculiar way of assigning the employee number to the trainees that the order did not appear to be in alphabetical, age or college wise. And it happened in a way that she was seated next to me, while he is behind us turned back. Therefore, even if he turns, he will see only the back of us. The troubles he went in switching places were futile as the employee numbers were already stuck in the respective desks. "Hey! I got an idea" he said and moved his system to the right of his desk so that he will be diagonal to her. Then he placed a CD supported by his cigarette lighter at my desk facing her seat and another CD at his desk facing the CD at my desk. So by the reflections theory, he was able to get a blurred ghost image of her seat. He smiled at me as if waiting for me to award a noble prize for that. "I will give you a better idea. Why don’t you sit next to me and appear as if you have doubts all the time.", I asked. But he was quick in his reply to that. "Dude! She would think that I am dumb". "What about me? I already think you are dumb." She returned back to her desk and we turned to each other's desk as if nothing has happened. Her eyes rested on the CD at my desk. To avoid any questions, I took the CD and kept it inside my book. Looking at the cigarette lighter that was holding the CD, she asked "You smoke?". "Why? Does it bother you?" I asked back. "Yeah! I hate men with smoking habit." she said with a displeasing expression. "So do you prefer women smoking?" We laughed and she thought and replied "May be, you are right. Women do look cool when they smoke." His face turned white who was overhearing our chat from behind. There was no use telling him that she was just joking. When I told him that I can never ask what brand she believes to be cool, he started investigating which brand most girls prefer. I would try to leave him whenever he asks the salesmen about "girls-favorite-cigarettes". Anyway, if there is one thing that came good because of her, it was that he stopped smoking from that day. As a non-smoker, I welcomed it very much. My house can at last be a smoke-free zone.

[+/-]You got mail

Our training days are over at last and we were waiting for the posting letter. Everyone had their fingers crossed praying to be put in their home place or anywhere nearer to it while he was there praying in every religion to be placed in the same place as her. I turned around and she was also in prayer watching the mailbox closely. "You got mail" was all everyone was looking for. And then it happened. A cry came from the far end followed by screams at the other end. People were jumping high and congratulating each other. Outlook beeped in my system and I was also jumping high. There were many who looked dejected and few were crying too. And sadly she happened to be one among them. Obviously, the posting was not as she expected. I turned to him and he was still waiting for his mail. It popped out and I found it to be the same as mine, which means it is not the same as hers. She surely would have felt happy if it is the same location as ours. He was looking at her and he felt sad and pinched me. "What is her posting?". I really did not like to answer. So I told him to ask her directly. When we both looked at her, she was looking at us with her sorrowful eyes. She told something to her friend and her friend looked back at us and nodded. Not knowing what they were talking about, I stood there with blank eyes. She came towards us and stood near me. I could feel her cries within her and before she could say anything, he spoke. "So where are you posted?" It was a big surprise to me for it was the very first time, he has ever said more than Hello to her. She looked at him feeling worried. He added, "I am posted in this DC itself. Where are you posted?" His words had a hopeless expectation as if the question was asked even though he knew what the answer would be. She said "Can you swap with me?" softly. Tears were on the verge of leaving her eyes. Even my heart stopped a beat that I would swap places sacrificing myself by becoming a savior for both of them. But I know it is much harder for him. He can not disagree to her for it would be against the nature of his affection to her, but if he agrees, he would have to leave her away to a far away place.

[+/-]Home Sweet Home

"I told you already about that apartment. It is too costly and it will be difficult for us to get bus from there." I was stubborn. We have developed good friendship in the training days and have talked a lot on anything that might relate to her. So when it became clear that the company will provide accommodation only for the training days, I became the obvious choice to him for a roommate. But moving to that apartment in question is unnecessary and I would be wasting most part of my salary as rent. An apartment with swimming pool and lift access to a three storey flat guarded by a security guard is not important to me. But his point is a clear one. When we both were dumb struck at her request asking if he can swap the transfer with her, as if time was on our side, another guy intervened and asked her if she is looking for a swap to our DC. She thanked that guy hundreds of times and even gave a treat in the canteen. When he heard about this, he took it hard saying that he should have agreed to her; because getting a treat from her is worth staying away hundreds of days away from her in hell. To hell with him I thought. And then when the question of finding accommodation came into picture, I recommended that apartment to her as it is a very safe place and many other girls from our company are staying over there. She is sure of fixing that apartment. With no point in talking with him, I threw the paper at him with ads circled on it which I felt suitable for us. He looked into it for a while and said, "May be we should try the one in the K.T street". It is definitely not near her place. Actually, everything I circled in the paper is far from her. Why is he interested in that place? I raised my ear brows. He looked at me casually, stretched his hands and said "We may not live in the same street, but we will live in the same house number 7."I could do nothing but hit my head on the wall.

[+/-]Nice talking to you

Days passed with all of us busy in the projects. As luck was against him, he was assigned to a different project than hers while as the same stroke of luck kicking me hard; I was assigned in her project. This was not good at all. Because apart from helping with her work, I had to explain him about her work in detail and he would raise questions which even the project manager can not answer. The reason is that he is making sure that she is getting work to the level she can handle. If there is anything that he feels difficult for her, he would automatically allocate it to me. I can not disagree with him as the chance of having a good dinner from his cooking is at hand. As she sits adjacent to me we had a lot of hello & smiles and casual talks too. Also, I can listen to all her conversations including her prayers to God whenever she compiles her code. It is always fun to listen her scolding God if the code did not compile successfully. The moment I told him about this cute behavior, he started talking with God every day. "If she can scold God, He must be close to her. So I better familiarize with him" was his response. The phone at her desk started to ring. She picked up and said hello. As part of my spying job, I have to listen to her conversations for hostile entities (boy friends). "Yeah!... Oh! How are you?... I am fine. Thanks…. No no… I am at my desk only." She sounded casual but with a touch of talking to a stranger. "He is at his desk only. Do you want to talk with him? Sure. Nice talking to you anyway… hey!". She held the phone towards me. Now who in the world will call her to reach me? I took the receiver and there he was. "Dude! Did you hear that? She said it was nice talking to me." "Yeah! So?" I was really annoyed. There was a pause and some strange words echoed in my ears which I later realized to be swear words he have reserved for extreme cases only. I disconnected the call and stared back at my screen. "Is that your friend who used to sit behind us in the training lab?" she asked without turning away from her screen. "Yeah! Why?" I acted casual. "Nothing. The voice sounded familiar. That’s all" she sounded casual and got back to compile her code and started praying again. I am surely going to get a big treat if I tell him that she remembered his voice.

[+/-]Riding my bike

"Why am I not invited??" He pulled the plate from me again.
"She did. She told me to invite you too." I pulled the plate.
"But that was just a formality. She never told me directly" The plate was in his hands again.
"May be... I mean may be... she would have called you if you had talked with her before... and talking means more than hi and bye and showing a blushed face." With much force, I pulled the plate away from him while he took the chicken from my plate.
"But you were invited." He said still holding the chicken roast away from me.
"That is because I am sitting next to her in office for the last 3 months"
My eyes were fixed on the chicken all the time. It was a big mistake to tell about her invitation to her sister’s marriage while having dinner. My chicken roast was taken from my plate as he left me like a dog looking at the bone in its master’s hands. I sure have to jump, roll over or catch my tail if I have to get my food.
"I got the invitation only today morning though she is leaving for home tonight." I added desperately trying to get the food.
"What??? She is leaving tonight! Why didn’t you say that to me?"
Oh! Oh! It is another stupid move I made. I did not say anything. I just stared at the chicken roast.
"Which bus is she leaving?"
"The usual one at 10 PM"
Furious, there was only 20 minutes to 10 PM, he dropped the chicken on my plate immediately and ran to the room. Greeted with the greatest gift, I started eating the chicken trying to finish it before he takes it again. After few seconds, he came all dressed up with a key in his hand.
"Hey! That’s my bike. Only I will drive with that. That’s the rule." I shouted.
He just stared back at me and I understood that there are more chicken pieces left and I should keep quiet if I want it. So with priorities set properly, I decided to take two more chicken pieces.
When I had not even finished the first chicken my phone started to ring. It was her number. Things have changed a lot lately. She has become a good friend to me and we used to chat often in phone. She has told about her family, friends, her experiences in life and even the love letters she had received in college days. For some reason, I did not tell him about the love letters. I picked the phone and said "Hi! Where are you? I thought you are going home tonight."
"Yeah! I am in the bus stop. The bus is delayed and I was bored. So I thought I will bore you for sometime."
"No problem. You can try your best. But I will get bored only when you disconnect the line."
"That’s funny." She giggled.
"Anyway, sorry for not able to come to the marriage. Unfortunately, I couldn’t show the invitation as certificate for the only sick leave left."
"That’s ok. I understand." she replied.
Not knowing what to speak about, I kept quiet while she too did the same. With few minutes passing without any words, she said "hey, I think the bus has arrived. Gotta go. Bye" and disconnected the call.
And then almost immediately, my phone rang again and it was his number.
"Where are you idiot?" I asked.
"On the road only. Now listen. Where are the vehicle registration papers?" he asked in a hurry.
"What do you mean? They are in my shelf only. Wait a minute. Don’t tell me that you are caught by the police."
But he was not listening to me at all. He just said "Why would you keep it in home?..... Leave it. I will take care" and disconnected.
I just stood wondering what I could do to help him. After all he is riding my bike. With no idea coming from my mind, I decided to take a break. After 15 minutes of finishing the first chicken, before I could get any ideas, he called me. "Dude! Don’t worry about me. I am fine. It just cost 200 bucks this time."
"Who the hell cares about you? I am just worried about my bike. Where the hell are you?" I shouted at him not able to understand his cool behavior even after being caught by the police.
"On the way dude." He was answering while driving. "listen. She called me and the bus would have probably arrived already. So just return back." "Damn! If it was not for that ________________ (better left unfilled) I would have got her. That ________ (close your eyes and ears again) spoiled all my plans. I was really irritated by his behaviors. For one, there is no plan. All he would do is stare at her from far away which would mostly beyond a sniper range. At most, he would pass her fast in the bike behaving like he never knew her and will make sure she never notices him. So the words about losing her because of the policeman was like India losing the cricket match because the ball was white in color. It doesn’t make any sense. "Whatever. Are you coming back or not?" I asked. "Dude! I am letting this go away. I will catch her in the next stop and come back only after seeing her" "What the hell are you talking about man?? Just come...." That’s when I heard a loud horn followed by shouting noises and the phone went dead. It all happened in a fraction of a second that I was still talking in the phone with half of my mind saying that he probably can’t hear me. The phone is dead after all. I stood frozen for few minutes not knowing what to do. Trying his number again and again though I knew nobody would pick it up. After several tries, his phone started to ring and he answered the call. "Dude! You bike is a mess. I think you have to go to office in bus for the next week"
"To hell with the bike! Are you alright? "I was completely confused how he can talk nuts at this time. Anyway it just made me feel that he is ok.

[+/-]The greatest deed

With the bike still in the ER with the mechanic for more than a week, we got the last company bus to office and were standing all the way in the traffic. He was still looking worried talking to himself on his lost opportunity of getting her due to his encounter with the traffic police. And that’s when my mobile rang and it was she at the other end. "Hi. Whats up?" I said. "Why are you late today?" She asked. Her voice was very low and was not clear due to the traffic. I turned back to him who was in his own world filled with miseries. "Nothing. I woke up late after the big booze yesterday night." "Really! You should have called me." She said. "Sure. We have one more bottle in our house. Do you want to try?" I commented back. She giggled and added "So that’s why you and your friend still appear to be in drowsy state." It stuck immediately that she is also in the same bus and I turned all around but was not able to find her. When I was raising my head to look at the far end, someone pulled my hand from behind and it was she smiling at me. She had been sitting just behind me and very next to him all the time. My minds raced back if we had mentioned anything about her in the bus and relaxed as we did not. Surprisingly, a seat was available next to her and she moved in to give me some space. He was in his world all the time not realizing how close she was sitting next to him. Though I first wanted to avenge him for crashing the bike, with my good soul interrupting me and not ready to get angry faces from him, I spoke in the phone in low voice, "Do you mind him taking that seat. He is still not feeling well." She hesitated a little. "Don’t worry. He is harmless like me" I told her. She giggled and said "That’s ok." I shook him and showed him the seat. When he came back to the real world and his eyes fixed on her and his face was getting red and I was trying hard to suppress the laugh looking at his bizarre stare at her. He took the seat and saw her watching the traffic through the window and turned back giving me a big smile that had thanks written in red all over. I could sense some romantic song singing through his ears. I smiled back like the Almighty except without any halo behind the head. I just hoped he never finds out that I told her that he drinks alcohol.

[+/-]Time to click Good-bye

I was at my desk trying to do some work and when I heard her saying "Yeah! He is here. Hold on a second. Nice talking to you." I turned and took the phone from her. "Of course, I got that." I told him before he could repeat about her nice-talking-to-you words. "What’s up now?" I asked him impatiently. I have to finish of five more modules before leaving to the other DC on a short term transfer. "Nothing. Just wanted to see if she is there. Bye!" he said. "Great! Bye" I replied and disconnected the call. I got back to my work and within few minutes a light flashed across the room. To my surprise and shock, he was there with a camera in hand. "Just thought that we should take a photo together before you leave." he said loud enough for her to hear. She turned around to see us while he looked only at me as if he did not notice her even if it means staring straight into my eyes. Then he looked in all sides trying to find someone to take photo of us and by chance he appeared to have found her looking at us and asked "Could you please take a photograph of us?" She got the camera and focused at us. One can easily say he was staring right into the camera lens. I was glad he was staring only at the camera lens. At least that’s what it appeared to be. Once she took the snap, "Dude! You know what? You should have photo with everyone here before you go. Something that can remind you how great and wonderful people around here are" he spoke like rehearsing for a play in front of the mic. And with similar dramatic pose, he looked at her and turned back to me giving a classic look, "We must take a photo with her." Before I could wonder where "WE" came from, she replied "Yeah! I will like that". Now not ready to get any more damage, I just did what he said and walked next to her while he adjusted the camera for a self timer shot. I could clearly see that he have kept me out of the focus area. With me grinning at him as he smirked back trying to get the perfect shot of her with the imaginative wolf standing next to her; there came the villain to the scene. "You can join. I will take the photo for you." It was our Project manager who is always ready to help us. "Any problem, come to me. There will be no problem" are his famous words. Not able to refuse, he gave the camera and stood next to her. Still happy to have his photo taken with her, he gave a big smile for the photo. Later, his plans of cropping me out of the photo did not work as our no-problem PM had covered the flashlight and everything was dark in the picture. More strange words echoed back in our room for which I do not want to know the meaning ever in my lifetime. By the way, I did not tell him that she asked for that photo next day.

The Phone Call

"Dude! She has not come yet." He told me for the fifth time in the last 10 minutes. "I am in another call man. I will call you back." I replied and disconnected the call. Things did not improve even after being away on a short term transfer. I would have to listen on when she came to office, what she had for breakfast and lunch, who she was talking with and how it made him so upset that he couldn’t code properly on that day. None of his code ever was passed by QA is a different story. There will also be daily notes on how many times he saw her and how many times he thought she looked back at him and of course how many times, he would have called my old desk number mistakenly and would have got her "Nice-talking-to-you-anyway" words. But most of them save a few that involves him would be a repeat to me for she would have told the same in our calls already. After all, she is working in the module that I was looking at before and I have to help her most of the time. He called me again. "Dude! She has never been late before?" "I am in an onsite call now. What do you want me to do idiot." I said controlling my temper. "Dude! Try calling her and see if everything is fine." "What am I supposed to ask her?" I was furious and mocked "Hi! Why are you still not in office? Don’t ask me how I know that. Because I have super human powers which lets me watch any surveillance camera as and when I want. Also I have access to the company security records that send signals to my brain when you swipe your identity card." I was completed irritated by his whining and couldn’t control myself. "You $#%&^%&$" was his reply and it stuck hard on me. It made me realize that he has never used such words at me before. We both became silent for more than a minute and I understood I have crossed the line. I calmed down myself and kept his phone on mute and spoke in the office phone that was on mute earlier. "Yeah! Sorry about the interruption. Where are you right now? ok… just asking… nothing… its just my friend… Shall I call you back after sometime? Yeah! Sure. Call me from your desk." I disconnected her call and returned to his call. "I am really sorry that I spoke like that dude. Chill down. She should be there in anytime. I will call her and check. Is that ok." I told him with lot of guilt and lies. He too became cool and replied "That’s ok dude. I am also sorry. Just one more thing. Ask her why she is late?" "$#%&^%&$", I screamed and threw the phone.

More memories to be recalled.....