She came back from a long leave today, which was a surprise. She didn’t tell me bout that. Actually it’s not too long that we know each other, so I don’t even expect her to tell me her plans. Anyways I saw her on floor and that was enough to make my day. We greeted well and I came back to my bay, I was logged in at Level 4 (Fourth Floor) n she at level 3.
I am monitoring her online status through IEX (a login status monitoring software tool). I know it’s not fine, but still I m doing it. I have tremendous pressure of calls today as we had 4 offs simultaneously. No time to breath as there was a humongous backlog and I was only outbound agent for 12 techs. And out of every thing calling was such a heavy task today as her thoughts have completely preoccupied my brain.
She has a very good friend in office n they always take breaks together. But it’s his off today so I have some chance of going with her. After a long wait finally she took meal break at 6.20 am. I never asked her to go with me but knew that if I will join her, she will not say ‘No’. So I hurried up n asked for a break form my TL. I got a break but approximately 8 min later than her. I rushed down to level 3 to catch her. I searched the whole floor thoroughly. Every bay – ever seat. But to my disappointment she was not there. Then I looked in all the pantries to find her sitting somewhere. But she was not there as well. Then I ran downstairs out of office to the adjacent “Dhabas”. For the first time I was searching someone so madly. I donno why I was doing that, but I was JUST doing that. I looked in every “Dhaba” but she was not there as well. It was pretty disheartening as the Meal break is only 45 min long n I have already lost 20 min by now.
Still I didn’t give up, coz the last hope remaining was the “Cafeteria” in 237 Building. Actually we have 3 buildings here 239; 238; 237. Interestingly these buildings are made in descending order also. 239 being the oldest! We login in 239, so I rushed to the cafeteria, almost running. The urge to see her was soo much that I was almost certain I’d find her in cafeteria. To my surprise I met one old acquaint from my hometown Varanasi, besides 238 building. He was smoking there with his friend. He was elder brother of my friend and my super senior in school, so I had no option but to stop n greet him coz he also saw me. Then he started asking all sort of illogical questions like what u r doing here? Since how long u in Delhi? I just wanted to tell him, “Shut up! U dumb ass! Don’t u see I m in Hurry”. New-ways I took an excuse of being in hurry n rushed to the cafeteria. Even the escalator was not in my favor, it was on 3rd floor. I can’t wait for that long, so I took stairs. Breathing heavily I reached 4th floor to the cafeteria. My assumption again failed, she was not there as well. I checked every face there, but the place was hardly populated, so there was virtually no chance to miss. I felt so disappointed as if I will melt away right there. Now only 15 min were remaining for her break to get over. I gave up now, no more searching. The cafeteria was about to be cleaned soon, so all the chairs were kept on tables by housekeeping. I ordered an “Egg paneer Kathi roll “, as too much time was not there to have proper food.
Then I went to a table and pulled down two chairs face-2-face, as if someone is going to sit in front of me. I know that sounds crazy, but I was doing it anyhow. Somehow I was still expecting that she would come out of nowhere. But expectations always don’t come true. Even my favorite roll tasted bitter.
I had a look at my watch; it was 7.00 am now, few min left for the break to get over. So I started moving back to 239, looking at the floor, walking like a defeated warrior. When I came back to 239, I just stopped at level 3 to have a look at her seat. I glimpse of her could have compensated a bit for my loss. Right at the entrance I met a Team Leader, who is a common friend of both of us.
He said, “Hey dude, where were u all this time, SHE was looking for u in her break!!”
It felt like molten lava is poured in my heart.
The moment I came out of that shock I asked, “Where is she now?”
“May be on your floor.”
I didn’t take 5 sec to reach level 4, while on stairs I saw a brownish shawl flashing by the glass door, I knew it was SHE.
Finally I gave her a call, which I never wanted to.
She said, “Where are you, dear? ”
I almost shouted, “Where ARE you? I am reaching level 4”
By now I have seen her going away from me, I called her.
We met finally, but with just 2 min in hand. She said that she was looking for me. I thought I should not tell how I lived last 45 minutes. Somehow I didn’t ask her any question. May be I was very happy to see her. She said “hi ” followed by a “bye” because that’s what is allowed in that much time. Thus ends the story of an irony of my life.
But if ever we became good understanding friends or something else. I’ll definitely ask one question,
“Where on EARTH were you in that Meal Break??”
