Chapter 18: Finale

       

       I was in my office the next morning when my phone beeped. At first I did not want to read it, but on an impulse I read the message from Mallu.

       "I am sorry. I really did not mean to hurt you."

       I kept quiet.

       "I really miss our coffee breaks together."

       Again I kept quiet.

       "I really did not want to hurt you."

       "It is OK....Sir. I guess I became too big for my boots. I should have remembered, a junior is always a junior. I forgot the protocol. I am sorry."

       "It is not about being a junior or senior."

       "It really is sir. I was the one to forget."

       "Are you still angry?"

      My Boss was giving me dirty looks. I could not afford to indulge in messaging. I replied.

       "My boss is getting irritated with constant beeps. Can we discuss this later sir?"

       "Will you be coming in time for lunch?"

       "No sir."

      There were no more messages. I felt things settling down and normalcy returning, but I still wanted a yes or a no as a reply. After a quick lunch, I came back to my office. When I returned back, probably around nine thirty in the night, I found complete silence. All were inside their rooms. I went and had my dinner along with my Boss other seniors. When I returned, changed and settled down, I found a message from Mallu, screaming to be read.

      "Are you still angry?"

       "No sir, in fact I should be asking you the same."

       "I am not and stop sirring me."

       "But you are my senior and I need to address you as sir as per protocol."

      "Are you being sarcastic???"

       "No sir, I am being frank and honest."

       "You are angry."

       "No sir I am not. I only need a frank reply from you."

       "Reply for what?

       "To the question I asked."

       "Which question?"

       I could feel my temper rising so I decided to keep quiet. My phone beeped.

       "To which question do you need a reply?"

       "Sir...I had asked whether you would like to spend the rest of your lifetime in the company of a crazy person like me."

        "You are good company."

       I waited.

       "I like spending time with you."

       I still kept waiting.

       "I like you, I really do."

       "You like me as what sir? junior, acquaintance, colleague?"

       "I told you I like you."

       My temper had got the better of me. I typed.

       "I know I read your message. One likes a pet too. You like me as what sir? And such like has no future. I think we must put an end to this sir."

       Saying so I kept my phone underneath my pillow. There were no more beeps. I guessed that everything was over between us. I would always remain a junior and he...my senior. I thought I heard my phone beep. I was too groggy to reach for it. But something in my heart forced me to pull out my phone. Time was 1200 am. With trembling fingers I checked my inbox. I found a message from him staring at me.

       "I love you with all my heart."