The story.. Part 12

I received her greeting which she had asked her friend to send on my birthday. Was glad to get that. Preeti suggested to get a gift for her since she had sent a greeting. Asked her to get one, was sure that what we had set in before coming to mumbai was almost an irreversible process... Still wanted to talk to her... have some reason to do that.. a gift would give me that. No calls and messages for another 2 days. Was desperate to reach mangalore back. Started from mumbai in what seemed to be longest journey of my life. Took a flight to Bangalore. met some friends there. Then took a bus to Mangalore. Went to office on time. looked at her desk.... found it empty.. remembered that she was on holiday that day. Lost the whole interst to be in office. dragged that day somehow to the closure and waited for the next day. She reached office a bit late the next day (nothing new considering that her ontime percentages were always low, but that seemed quite late to me). All our team members used to go for a coffee together, 2 times a day. That day too I got up to go. wanted to call her.. did not have courage.. asked one of our other team members to get her and come for coffee. He did that. talked with all others in the pantry.. but everything seemed sl silent. she was not speaking anything.. looked like she cried a lot.. wanted to ask her... but nothing came out.. In the afternoon I sent her a message that I had to give her a gift. she said that she too had to give one. she came to my desk and we exchanged gifts.. was trying to look into her eyes. she did not look up and went back to her desk. Later sent a mail saying that the gift was good. I started to feel that I have lost her...