She thought this as she grabbed few files and tucked them under her arm. She gathered some more papers and stapled them. She was simultaneously looking for paper clips and love.
It was another late night at work. Lately there had been plenty of those. To begin with, this was not the case and work life balance was the mantra. But this had changed a few weeks ago and she had been going home, merely to sleep.
She assumed several Ubers would cancel on her, ultimately before she would somehow make it home. She should've felt tired, her day had been hectic. But being the night owl she was, she was almost bustling.
Fatigue is for mornings and not wanting to get out of bed. Now, she was agile. Myriad thoughts came to her mind, which had just been freed after culmination of a project that had been the cause of the late nights. One of those thoughts was the quest for love.
It had been furious when she was younger. It mellowed as she aged. For past few years, a peaceful complacency had settled in and several other items had surpassed love on her priority list. However, she could never completely give up the idea of being accepted and adored for who she was. And she believed she was a good person - past relationships may prove the contrary, nevertheless.
She looked at the hallway and grabbed her bags etc. A long weekend was to follow, may be should catch a movie. She didn't know about dinner. Perhaps, she wasn't hungry.
On the other end of the hallway, the lights in his cabin were still on. Dimmed, albeit still on. He usually stayed in late and sometimes slept on the couch, it was rumoured. His assistant made sure there was always a pressed shirt in his cabinet.
Anyway, she breathed in deep and prepared to non chalantly walk past his door. Their terms had been professional - bordering on impersonal. This was to ensure that their fling in the past never came in the way of their work chemistry, since they worked pretty closely. This formula had worked, so far so good.
She wasn't sure she could work for him. But he had insisted with an alluring offer when she was desperate for a change. Reluctantly, she had relented.
It was definitely not a coincidence that he was leaving exactly when she was leaving and politely asked her if she wanted a ride. She didn't. He told her it was late and Uber situation would be iffy. She yielded.
She had been wearing saris to work. After several months, he risked a lot to compliment her that saris indeed looked good on her. Despite all her self image issues of the bygone years. She smiled.
The elevators had stopped for the day. It was an old building after all, everybody went home at 7.
Together they started descending the stairs. From the seventh floor, it would be long way down. He grabbed the files from her hand, without asking.
Working on the weekend, eh? I've hired well. He quipped.
Too late? She thought again.
2 comments:
The pacing in this piece is so good! Beautiful and thought provoking.
Sometimes love finds us when we aren't looking, but at some point I believe it does become too late.
Post a Comment