Yellow, Yellow Sweet Fellow

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Dearest readers,

My sincere apologies for this delay. It suddenly got busy. Hope to find time for the next chapter soon.

With gratitude,

Goldie

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Sumo watched her beloved Akka from the corner of her eyes. Annika was lost in happy thoughts. Exactly how Sushma used to be, before Sumo Holmes had managed to discover Sushma's then secret boyfriend, now husband. Sumo was confused, was Om not the guy ? But Om too was sleeping on the sofa. What had happened after she dozed off, that was making her beloved Akka so happy? It was more than evident that she had not had a wink of sleep. It was then that Sumo noticed a card in Annika's hand. An ivory card with gold borders. It was an elegant card, not the cheap ones sold on pavements or the moderately pricey but cheesy stuff sold in showrooms. It was different and she noticed the Oberoi's monogram embossed on one of the corners. Sumo's curiosity knew no bounds. Was it a greeting card? Did her Zaalim boss propose her ? Or was it a message from her beloved Om bhaiyya? She secretly hoped it was from Om. But she could not reign in her curiosity any more.

"Akka, what is this card ?"

Annika was still lost. "Uh? " was all she managed.

This was exactly what Sumo was looking for, an unguarded moment like this was what had given Sushma away.

"Akka, May I have a look ?" Sumo asked more out of formality.

Annika would not react. Sumo Holmes swooped down to pluck the card from Annika's loose grip. Annika did not protest..

Thankfully the envelope was not sealed. To Sumo's disappointment, it was just a note of thanks. Signed below in beautiful cursive was "Shivaay". Also was enclosed 5,000 rupees gift vouchers from a major department store. Sumo squealed out of joy. A startled Mohan hit the brake pedal and turned towards his passengers. But Annika remained unperturbed. She still had a stupefying smile on her face.

Mohan got back to driving again after ensuring that things were fine. Sumo now really started getting worried. Annika would not talk and was totally lost as if she was on a spell. Sumo shook Annika,

"Akka .. Akka are you alright ?"

They were at the door of their hostel. It was a sleepy cold weekend, residents were blissfully holed up in their rooms. Rana ji was snoozing on his chair. Annika and Sumo quietly slipped back to their room.

It was when she unlocked the door to her room did Annika break out of the spell. The coil stove cum heater, her study table, the flimsy bed and the flimsier mattress, messy stack of second hand books on the shelves, essentially the reality of her world stuck her hard. What had she been thinking? How could she get lost in the thoughts of a man who could never be more than a colleague. Yes he had a beautiful smile and an arresting pair of hazel eyes. Yes they were similar at many levels and had a great time just bantering throughout the night without a care for either their sleep or anything else in the world. But this was idiotic. Did she not know that it meant nothing at all? It was a happy chance while it lasted. The night is now gone, moon had long disappeared. It was all a dream, like a fairy tale, something so beautiful that it had to be beheld from a distance,never dare touch it, for a mere touch would defile it. One touch was all that was needed to shatter if. He was up there, the whole world at his feet, what if he was solitary like her, his world was still very different. She was the sun and he was the moon, whenever did the two share the same horizon.

Reality sent her stomach into knots. Her whole body started to ache, the fatigue of having been awake whole night suddenly made her body heavy. She took a long shower. The bitterness of her realization had taken the edge off the ice cold water. It was mind over matter and matter did not bother her anymore. What was cold water when she stood staring at the mountain in front of her that she had to climb.

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