Like any clichéd physically and emotionally drained corporate employee, I am running out of time with this deadline for this report that my boss very generously requested half an hour just before I was meant to leave. Now I am here after hours. All good. Nothing to worry about.
Except maybe my laptop keyboard which would need new keys given the way my fingers are pressing on them a little harder than necessary.
“What did those poor keys do to you?” I hear my friend’s voice first before he hits me on the head slightly from behind and comes to stand in front of my cubicle.
“When will you greet me like a proper decent human being?”
“I didn’t realise you were a human being. You look like a zombie.”
“I am gonna eat you like a zombie.” I glare at him. “Now go away so that I can finish this report.”
“Take a break. You look like you could use one. Even your hair is flying like someone electrocuted you.” He mimes a blob on head which probably is a good depiction of my hair right now. I don’t want to see in a mirror in the fear that he might be right. Ignorance is bliss.
“I am not taking a break. I need to mail her this in an hour. HOUR.”
“So, you can take out 10 minutes for a chai break. Come on. You love tapri ki chai.” I do.
But is it really worth it right now?
Tea is always worth it.
But…
I look at my laptop, then look at my friend, back and forth before sighing in defeat. “You are so cruel. I can’t.”
“Come on. You love Chai. It will help you work better. It's been a long day. You deserve a break. I am going right now. Don’t complain you have no one to give you company when you go all by yourself.”
“I won’t. Go without me.” I drop my head on my desk with a bang. UGHHHHHHH!!!!
“Or… I can bring it for you.” The speed by which my head jerks to look up at him surprisingly doesn’t give me a clink in the neck.
“I. Love you. So damn much.”
“Of course you do. I am just that great.” He winks.
“Now go and get my chai before I forget it.”
“Yes ma’am.” I throw a pen at him as he walks away to get my poison of choice. Choice of poison. I am going mad.
Just a little while later, my salvation in the form of a cup of chai arrives in the hands of my annoying best friend.
“Here you go.”
“Just what I needed.” I hold the cup carefully and look up at him. “Thank you, boy. You may go now.”
“What am I here for anyways, right?” And with that sarcastic quip, he leaves me to work on this report while taking leisurely sips of my aromatic masala chai with ginger, cardamom and just the right amount of sugar.
But all good things come at a cost.
Trying to find a print out of the last budget report, my clumsy ass knocks over my pen stand, which knocks into my half-full cup of tea which spills all over my pages and laptop. I try to wipe down the spill with the nearest fabric– which also happens to be my white shrug but who cares at this point– while my mind just spews curses.
FUDGE.
NOOOOOOOOOOO.
God, I was just going to finish.
WHYYYYYYY?????
Please be a nightmare.
Please be a nightmare.
WHY ME????
Suddenly, a bit of tremors as everything around begins to shake.
No. Actually, I begin to shake. Vigorously. And then…
“Wake up, you sleepyhead. Wake up.”
Kabir’s voice filters my ears and I jerk awake with him moving me back and forth.
What the hell just happened.
“You slept while working.” So, I said that last thought out loud.
“Oh.”
“Oh yes. I know our boss sucks but he is not gonna kill you if you get 5-10 minutes late for a report. Come on. Let’s go for a tea break. You could use some.”
Is this Deja vu? Was that really a dream?
He clicks his fingers in front of my eyes. “Earth to Vishakha. Hellooo. Are you still sleeping?”
“No. No. I am not sleeping.” I see my desk and it’s– thankfully– dry. The document is open on my laptop with a string of ‘n’s and ‘m’s that I must have pressed on while napping.
“So… are you coming? Or should I get your tea here?”
“NO.” He jumps back at my volume and I realise I just have shouted. Luckily, half the office is empty. “No.” I repeat at a normal octave. “I could use a tea break. No need to bring the tea here. It’s hazardous.” The flashback from the dream hits me and I shudder.
“You are acting very weird but I will chalk it up to the fact that you haven’t had tea, Let’s go.”
I grab my purse and follow him.
Sometimes, it’s necessary to take a break from life’s stresses. Tea, I feel, is the best way to do it.
Not near electronics though. That’s dangerous.
