Shreya and Shira were two inseparable souls since childhood. They went to the same school, same college and were working in the same company.
After 3 months of training in a reputed company, fate decided to separate them for the first time in 22 years. Though they were happy to stand on their feet, the pain of separation from each other was too much to handle for the childhood friends.
But, they still managed to stay in touch via the office communicator, during the office hours as well.
One day, Shreya pinged Shira and requested her to check her mail. Shreya told Shira, ”I have appreciated you via a newly launched platform by the company. Check your mailbox.”
Shira checked her mailbox in excitement. Though she knew, how much they love each other, this new platform had aroused large amount of curiosity in Shira.
Shira was overwhelmed by Shreya’s words and wanted to scream and hug her, but she thought of replying her via the Appreciation platform itself.
While writing back, Shira got a little too emotional, and she ended up writing, “I love you” in the end.
Next day, Shira came to office and started her computer. Like every other day she opened her communicator but Shreya was not on-line yet.
So Shira decided to check her mails for a change. As she was scrolling down, she came across a mail, which looked quite different from other mails but when she focused more, she realized it was from the company HR. The content of that mail was either horrendous or hilarious that Shira couldn't decide which of the two was more appropriate.
In the mail, the HR had quoted the exact messages that Shira and Shreya exchanged via the Appreciation platform. And Shira was asked to speak with the unit HR.
“Oh my god!”
“Seriously!”
Shira burst into laughter. When she realized her laughter was disturbing the office protocol, she curbed her urge and called up Shreya.
Shreya said, ”What are you serious….hahaha”.
Shreya didn't receive any such mail and both of them were laughing incessantly.
Shira pinged her HR, so that she could speak with him as instructed in the mail.
“May I come in?”
“Yes, have a seat.”
“Thank you”.
“So what have you done now?”
“I...I just appreciated my friend and she appreciated back”.
The HR opened the mail and on reading it, he looked at Shira with a sarcastic expression on his face.
“Oh! Whom were you writing this to?”
“To a girl...Shreya”.
Shira specifically mentioned the gender; soon she realized it was more of a problem. But no matter how much she tried explaining, it wouldn't have mattered any more.
Shira didn't realize that Shreya had also replied over it. The HR read that message aloud. It was a cheesy line from a movie.
She wondered, “Which movie is it?”
The HR looked at her with a sarcastic smile and question in his eyes.
“No…Not me...I have not written that…Mine is the one just above it.”
The smile on the HR’s face widened further.
Then the HR started with the list of things that we should do, professionalism, office protocol etc. etc.
Finally, Shira came out of the office, took a deep sigh of relief and started laughing all over again……
