An unexpected gift

It was a busy working day at the office. I was occupied with back to back meetings. It was such a busy day that I could not even get proper time to have my lunch peacefully. I had my lunch while attending a meeting. Thankfully it was a virtual meeting so that nobody saw me.

It was around 5:30 when one of my meetings ended and I returned to my desk. Most people had already left. When I kept my laptop back on the table I noticed that there was a small flower kept near it. I presumed that somebody must have forgotten the flower and kept it on my desk. Sometime later I received a text from my friend Swati which surprised me.

"Did you get what I left for you?" Her text read.

I looked around my desk to find what we had kept for me. I also check the pedestal to see if she has kept anything inside it. I could not find anything so I decided to ask her directly, "what have you kept for me? I could not find anything".

"Looks like someone ate it", Swati replied.

I checked my drawer and the desk again to see if I had missed to find any eatable. Again I could not find anything other than notebooks and papers.

"Swati what was it? you tell me clearly so that I can search for it" I asked Swati. My only fear was that if it was sweet it would attract ants and cockroaches. I did not want any insect infestation at my desk.

"I had kept a sponge cake for you. The brand we get at the cafeteria. You did not get time for lunch so I thought it would be a quick snack for you. But looks like someone saw it and ate it. Food is never safe in our office" Swati replied.

I rummaged through my desk and pedestal again. But nothing eatable to be found. Though I thought how kind Swati had been to think of me. "Thanks for thinking about me and getting me a snack. I thank on someone else's behalf who indulged in it" I replied to Swati. Suddenly I saw the flower again and decided to ask Swati.

"Did you also keep the flower at my desk?" I asked Swati.

"No. Is there a flower at your desk? Looks like you have a secret admirer" Swati responded.

I smiled to myself looking at Swati's reply. I couldn't imagine if anybody would even like me in the office. "Nobody likes a stoic girl. Thanks for thinking about me. I gotta get back to work" I texted Swati and got back to my work.

At 7 I was leaving for the day. I picked up my laptop to be kept in the bag. I found a note below it. I opened and read it "Hi. I saw your friend had kept cake on your desk. I was really hungry and could not control. I ate it. I am really sorry for eating a snack which was kept for you. As a peace offering I am keeping a flower. Please convey my apologies to your friend too."

I was surprised to read that note. Somebody decided that it was okay to eat the snack that was intended for me. They did realised their mistake and wrote an apology letter along with a flower. I found this enter situation surprising and quite funny. Looking at that letter I smiled to myself. I took a picture of that letter and send it to Swati, "I found this. Somebody ate the cake, wrote an apology letter and kept the flower as a peace offering. No worries, you fed someone hungry".

Really these are the memories that make the living worthwhile. I still have kept that note with me. Even today I do not know who was the person who enjoyed the treat that was supposed to be for me. I definitely do not hold any grudges against them and forgive them for what they have done. It was the flower and the note that melted my heart.