The Unspoken Love (998 words)

 

Deepak was scrutinising the day’s mail stacked on his office table early in the morning. He was puzzled to see a small envelope in office stationery with the words “Personal, for your eyes only” typed in bold. He quickly opened it to see a typed short unsigned letter.

Honey,
You may not know my deepest love for you for I have never expressed it. The sole motivation for my coming to the office daily is to see your irresistibly charming face. I want to be bound with you and lead a life of eternal bliss. Won’t you open your eyes and see for yourself your love-struck admirer?

Deepak a handsome young executive was aware that he was the object of adoring eyes not only in the office but elsewhere too. He had no girlfriend in particular that could be called romantic. He was sure that this must be from someone in the office as the envelope bore the office logo and address. There were three young women in his small office.

Lavanya, a charming, chubby but petite one is married with a small child. Her husband worked in Singapore and came twice a year for a short holiday. Though she was friendly and spoke animatedly with him, he could not discern any romantic inclinations from her side. But then she found innumerable reasons to come frequently to his cabin and linger for a while.

Ipsita, secretary to the Managing Director smiled at him always but was taciturn. Conscious of her position and privy to all important decisions, she never spoke much for fear people may ask her questions. Deepak always took care not to embarrass her and for this reason, she dropped into his cabin for an occasional tea whenever MD was away. She was single, tall very attractive but had no fiancé to his knowledge. Here again, there was never an oblique suggestion of any amorous interest in him.

But Lalita was different. A bubbly extrovert, she was a flirt, not with him alone but with everyone including couriers and pizza boys who came to deliver. She was in the accounts department and reported to him. Knowing her well, she is not the type to write secretive letters. If she were in love, she would have told him openly and even taken the bull by the horns by hugging him on the spot. But he had heard that some young man frequently came to the office and took her in his bullet after office hours.

He was curious to find out who out of these three would have written this love note. It was unmistakably for him for his name was typed legibly both on the envelope and the paper inside. It was then his colleague Pinto entered his cabin. He was in the marketing wing and was mostly outside the office except in the morning hours and sometimes in the evenings. They were good friends. But strangely he never mingled with the lady staff. He was formal with them most of the time but curt occasionally with Lalita especially. The girls had even complained obliquely about him to Deepak who consoled them saying he was an enigma to him too.

Pinto asked him “Hey Deepu, why are you wearing a worried look on your otherwise charming face? What happened? What is that paper on your hand?”

“I am not worried but only surprised. Just have a look at this confidential note and tell me who could have written this to me,” said Deepak

Pinto glanced at it and then said with a mischievous smile “Whoever has written is shy of telling you directly on your face of their love and would probably wish you to find from their body language. You are a smart chap and should be able to unravel the mystery of your ardent lover very soon. I give you two days and in case you fail, I will help you find.”

The next day he showed Lavanya the note and said “I know it cannot be you. I am just checking with l the three ladies in the office.” She just smiled and said she did not write.

Ipsita’s response with a big smile when she saw the letter was” Deepak, you could have shown me this note a month earlier. It is late now. My parents have finalized a match already. Bad luck”

“For whom? “Deepak asked with a grin

“Me of course” she said and vanished

Lalita said “Sorry, my dear. I have a fiancé already as you might have known. I would have readily upgraded for you but I have gone too far with that guy”

The next day when Pinto came, he plunged directly into the subject. Deepak narrated his conversation with the three ladies.

Pinto then said with a roguish smile “Think out of the box. If it is not from a lady in the office, can it be from somebody else? “He left abruptly saying “Have your answer ready. I will be back in a few minutes”

It was then that Deepak realised that though Pinto seemed a normal guy, he often smiled roguishly without provocation, spoke in a soft voice, and simpered whenever he greeted him in the mornings. He had seen that he never befriended any girl or spoke of anyone. There was an effeminate side to Pinto’s personality and while talking often held Deepak’s hands with great affection for him. Now he realized he was different.

When Pinto entered and asked eagerly, "Could you  guess who wrote that short note?”

“Yes, Pinto, it is you but sadly for you, while I respect your views, I feel it is a misplaced affection. I am not inclined to that kind of love. Banish such a thought. I have high regard for you as a good friend and let us keep our friendship remain strong but untouched by any other sentiment,” replied Deepak as he tore that note into pieces and threw them in the waste bin.