One Stop Destination

      Work place motto was to work hard and party hard. Hence, social life was hectic too. The Bachelors did have fun outdoors and indoors there were get togethers and theme parties.       A fortnight after our arrival, all of us were returning after an off beat musical night. The party had wound up at two in the morning. Since we had to reach office by six thirty, all decided to sit and chat for another three hours instead of going off to sleep. All of us plonked ourselves in front of Room No 20. Topic of discussion happened to be marriage thanks to Brat whose parents were on a bride hunting spree. After the initial one liners from all, Mallu took the onus on himself to project his viewpoints.       "So Singer, any plans of marrying?"       "Not so soon sir."       "Why, you haven't found someone yet??"       "No sir."       "In any case, you girls would get hitched to male colleagues and marry them subseque

       The next day was first day to work. Singer and I stood waiting for somebody (or anybody!!!) to give us a lift to office as we had no vehicle of our own.       "Singer, come I will drop you to office."       The voice was way too loud. It was Mallu.        "Lady you can come with me," said Senorita.       "All of you be back in time for lunch," shouted Athlete from the other side of the corridor.       Thankfully, I got a warm welcome in my office. Hardy was with a new Laurel this time. They showed be around my office premises. I found to my joy that I had a library with a whole lot of books at my disposal. What more can a bibliomaniac want!!!! My immediate Boss was off to a godforsaken place for a godforsaken task (don't even ask about it!!!) and I was to function under his Boss: A tall, hefty giant who roared more than he spoke. My first day at work came to a smooth finish when Senorita came to pick me up for lunch.

       I did not see Mallu for the rest of the day. It was an eventful day.        The Athlete took our Gen Test (General Knowledge based though it was all absurd and was no knowledge!!!). Imagine being asked to answer questions like how many tiles were on the bathroom walls (who counts????), how many tube lights in the corridor (does it include humans too???), so on and so forth.        Senorita gave a long sermon on dressing sense and conduct.       Saapy checked us for our musical abilities. Thankfully, one song from my friend Singer spared me of the torture as Saapy sent us scuttling back. He had had enough of Celine Dion's disastrous cover on "I'm Alive" to last him for the entire day. Now you understood why I called my friend Singer??? To even out, she called me Skeleton and I make no bones in accepting that you could pin me on a clothespin then and I could scare the hell out of people with my long hair falling over my face and blowing in the wi

            At precisely nine in the morning, Komol came knocking.       "Madam ji, Mallu saab ji is calling you for breakfast."       Breakfast as in eating or high speed emotional torture I wanted to ask but then, I kept it to myself. Singer was already seated when I entered room No. 20. High Highness was sitting on a beanbag with a look of disapproval and disgust on his face (it was probably normal expressions or maybe he was born with it!!!).         As soon as breakfast was over Mallu told singer to report to some new person called Chow in Room no 16. I was about to ask why is the mein missing from chow, it should be chowmein right??? Thankfully better sense prevailed and I checked my tongue in time. I must tell you all that I have this idiotic sense of humour which pops up in my head with real bad timing. At times, my instant tongue in cheek retorts have landed me in soups when I was in school. Blame it on the Pepsodent "Dhishum dhishum" ads t