One Stop Destination

               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

        By the time the foursome returned, I had become a workaholic and a bit of a recluse. Senorita kept updating me and Singer about their performance. Not that I was heart broken, but I felt sad how things had soured up. I hated misunderstandings, but now, was in no mood to clear the air. The day they returned, which was a week after their departure, Singer and I were in Senorita's room. I heard sounds of footsteps approaching Senorita's room. Before I could escape, the foursome entered with smiles.        "We passed," said Athlete.        "Let's go out for a movie and party," added Chow.        "Yes, we will have fun," chipped in Brat.        "Get ready by four. We will set course for the movie hall."        Mallu spoke as naturally as ever. But I was hurt and wounded inside. I blurted out.        "It is so nice to hear that all of you have done well, but I will not be able to join in the cele

       Inspired by Scarlet O Hara's statement "After all tomorrow is another day," I made coffee and took it next day morning after breakfast. I found Chow sitting in his room. I left the two cups there and returned back. My phone beeped.        "I do not need coffee any more. Stop bringing them. I am busy studying."        I felt really bad and hurt. I thought that maybe in my impulsiveness I had driven away a good friend. I replied.        "I am really sorry for what I messaged yesterday. I just spoke my heart out. I really don't want to lose a good friend."        "Leave me alone."        Like always, I sat and cried. I felt so foolish to have sent him a message without having weighed the pros and cons. After crying my heart out I decided then and there that I will try and avoid going out or hanging out with the group till normalcy returned.        Next day onward I started coming late for lunch and went f

       Exactly a month after our first cup of coffee, we were sipping our coffee in his room. His phone beeped.        "What is the matter? Everything ok at home?"        "Oh yes. Its just that we have an official party this evening."        "Oh, ok. Then I guess, its time for me to get going."        "I did not mean to tell you to go away. There is still time."        "But you have to get ready, right?"        "It is absolutely OK. Sit for some more time. Please."        After an hour I stood up to go; he escorted me till the door (A first again!!!).        " Bye. Enjoy your party."        "These are generally not very interesting. Still I will try."        I heard Athlete, Chow, Brat and him to be loudly calling each other. When the shouts stopped, I understood they had gone. I picked up the latest book I was reading - Margret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind