As I Write This Letter...

3. A Fistful of Sky

Sanskaar stared at the note; he had read the words a dozen times already, but was unable to make any sense of it. SM presumably meant him but he had no clue as to who Shona could be, he was sure that he had never met any girl who could have that name. He flipped over the note to see if there was anything else but it was blank so he turned it back and re-read the lines.

The words were unknown to him yet they seemed to be familiar; he held the note in his hands and stared out of the window, at the darkening skies as the sun slid below the horizon and disappeared into the night. He kept gazing, lost in his thoughts when he heard her voice from behind him,

"Those words are from the song 'P.S. I love you' sung by the Beatles. It was originally released on 5 October 1962 as the B-side of their debut single "Love Me Do" and is also included in their debut album 'Please Please Me, released in 1963'."

Sanskaar should have known that his efficient assistant would have gotten the necessary facts but it did not answer any of his questions, yet he hoped she might have something to add, so he turned around to hear her out and she continued, "Well, the bouquet was left at the main reception who had been informed of its delivery, by a young woman, which is what Priya thought from the voice, so once the security got it to her, she had it sent here. And no, the security did not pay much attention to the person who delivered the bouquet."

Whatever Sanskaar wanted to say, stayed unsaid when he saw the man who had followed her in; he almost threw the note towards the desk as he rushed forward to clasp him in a bear hug, "Ani, I did not expect to see you today, you were travelling and you said that there was no way you could make it back today."

Anirudh smiled, "Good to see you, too Sunny. And there was no way I would miss your birthday, I should have reached in the morning by ten, but then the layover was bad; Rome was okay but with heavy smog in Delhi the flight was delayed, so I missed lunch. How's Niraj?"

And grasping Sanskaar's wrist when he caught sight of the watch, he shook his head, "Should have known, there is no way I would be able to better that gift. Anyway, here is mine," he held out a plain cover that apparently held a couple of sheets.

Sanskaar ripped it open and when he read what was written, he burst into a delighted smile. Hugging Anirudh, he replied, "You gifted me with a hundred hours of your time, do you know how valuable that is?" And what is it between you and Niraj, anyway?"

Before Anirudh could answer, they heard Sanskaar's assistant crib, "Go ahead, greet him and completely ignore this old lady, who has been waiting all day for one glimpse of you."

Turning around Anirudh smiled at her and holding his hands out for a hug, he teased, "And how is my dadibua? They are treating you fine? Sanskaar is being a good boy? And hopefully you have not been scaring everyone off."

Instead of his hug being accepted, Anirudh got spanked on his wrists, "You are in office, which means you will not call me Dadibua, I am Mrs Gadodia to all of you. And Sunny baba is a sweetheart, so I am fine, but do not worry, I know I can rely on you if he ill-treats me."

Sanskaar protested, "When have we ever ill-treated you, in fact, you boss over all of us and why is there a difference in rules? You call me Sunny baba but we have to address you in the formal way?"

Mrs Parvati Gadodia drew herself up to her full height of five feet two inches and glared at Sanskaar over her glasses, "It is because I have changed quite a number of diapers for you as a baby and have seen you butt naked far too many times to think of you as anyone but Sunny Baba. And you also have to respect your elders, so it is Dadibua only at home."

She bestowed a smile at Anirudh and asked, "Do you want coffee or will you boys go out?"

Anirudh looked at her, tilted his head as he though over her offer and then said, "Your coffee is to die for but I do not want to trouble you so I will drag him out for a coffee and a chat before sending him home. Is that fine with you?"