He listened intently. It was there again. The sound of someone crying. Who could it be? he thought to himself. He glanced over to his watch. It was late, past 6 O'clock. Who could be at work now? he thought. Other than himself that is. He always worked late. Having no one in the office seemed to give the cells in his brain a sort of kick in the pants. They would be working overtime just like him. He could get half day's work accomplished in about an hour. So he would just laze around mostly during the day, socializing with this person and that and work a couple of works overtime to finish the workload. No wonder then that he was making such rapid strides within the company. On one hand he was a people person and on the other one who did his work very well. Most of the times more than what was demanded of him. He was a bachelor - no responsibilities at home. He had his sights set on being the VP of his department and that was when he was going to think of anything else in his life. Marriage, responsibilities, vacations, friends and whatever else that his mother always nagged him out.

As usual, he was staying late tackling an issue which was taking more time to sort than would normally when he heard the muffled sounds. The hair on his back stood up when the noise reached his ears for the first time. He had been working for almost half a decade and not once had he found anyone staying back at work at such an unearthly hour. The night-watchman would make his presence known from time to time but it wasn't time for him to come yet. Maybe he is early today, he told himself, as he turned his attention to the problem at hand, calming his frayed nerves.

He was just about to make a breakthrough when the sound came again. This time loud and clear. Definitely there was someone else in the building. Not only that but this someone else seemed to be female and even more shockingly it seemed to be crying. It was a very uneasy kind of situation to be caught up in. The gentleman in him could not ignore the sobbing and the clueless gentleman in him did not know what to do. Just like the problem at hand which was proving to be a difficult task, the decision of what to do next where the crying was concerned was no less difficult. He strained his ears to determine which direction the sound was coming from. Nothing. He gave a sigh of relief. Maybe the woman had left, Thank God. He smiled broadly. This also seemed to fall in the category of - you give a problem some time and it shall solve itself. He looked at his work. That was one problem that was not going to solve itself. He sighed as he got back to work.

It was a full half an hour later that he heard the sound of a door. So the lady had not left yet. It was almost 8 o'clock. What was she doing at such a late hour, presumably alone in such a big office? He heard the shuffling of feet and then huge sobs. It was like she had been trying to leave and then the control gave away and she had started to weep uncontrollably. Trust some problems to come back bigger and badder when they are ignored. He shook his head. He simply could not ignore the sobs this time around. They were too loud and too close for comfort. He got up slowly pushing the chair back, casting a last reluctant look at his work as he made his way towards the point of disturbance.

As he had imagined there she sat, on the ground, her face buried in her hands. Who was this person he thought as she came into view. He could not see her face. Her long loose hair fell all over her. She was dressed in a traditional Sari - a rarity these days and had a purse slung on her shoulder. He suddenly felt very akward. Maybe he should just mind his business and slink away from there. Obviously the woman thought that there was no one else in the building besides her. It would be very embarassing for her to realize that her soap-opera performance actually had an audience. He tried to tip-toe away but it was too late. She had heard him.

She got up sharply and turned to face him.

"I...err..." he could not say anything.

Her face was all red and flustered. That face could well have been a beauteous one but he could not  make it out swollen, puffed and red as it was.
"I..err..." she said.
He cursed himself. He should have trusted his first instinct and stayed put instead of being curious and trying to be a gentleman. What was it about trying to do the right thing that it always seemd to land him in a soup. This was easily the most embarassing situation of his life as it must be for the woman too.
"I was err...just working and heard a noise and came to check it out..." he finally managed to say. She was looking at him with fear. He wanted to assure her that he worked in the same place and was not some kind of intruder or worse still some kind of attacker.
"You work pretty late..." she said.

It almost seemed like she was saying why do you have to work so late. SO much for trying to be a gentleman he thought.

"Why..yes...err..I mean..I do" he answered. What the heck was he getting defensive about and why in the whole world was he feeling like he was doing something wrong. He had heard a noise and had come to check that out. Nothing wrong in that definitely.

"I thought there was no one around..." The same accusatory tone. This was getting out of hand.
"But I was wrong..." she stood there chewing her lip. The tears had miraculously dried out.
"Yes you were..." he answered. "I work late everyday" he said. STOP IT! He said to himself. "Why am I offering her explanations? Do I have to prove to her that I was not commiting a sin working late? Arrrgh..."
"Huh?" she said. " I thought you were saying something..."
"Nothing. Are you all right?" he asked gingerly.
"Yes!" came the curt reply.
"All right. I was just checking. Not everyday that you hear someone crying in the office late at night..."
"I was not crying..." she said.
"uh-oh. So it was not you?" he asked with a wink.

She smiled. Ah! What a difference a slight reversal of the facial muscles could accomplish! From being a sore sight, her visage was now a sight for sore eyes. Her eyes brightened, a few strands of hair fell over her face which she was trying to push back with her hand as the lips curved into a smile.
"Yes it was me..." she said, her tone taking on some normalcy at last.
"Phew!" he let out a sigh of relief.
"You sound relieved?"
"You bet I am. I thought you would mistake me for an intruder or something and deck me or call the cops on me..."
"Why would I do that?"
"The tone of your voice suggested that you were going to do that.."
"Oh! I am sorry. I did not mean to. Its just that you caught me by surprise and yes I did get a little suspicious..." she said adjusting the strap of the purse on her shoulder.

"Are you new around here?" he asked.
"Yes. I just joined last week..."
"That explains it."
"Explains what?"
"That you do not know that I work overtime. I have been working like that for about 5 years now. That also explains why I have not seen you before..."
She nodded.
The conversation had come to a halt. He did not know what he was supposed to do. What else was there to say other than intruding in her personal issues? A 'why were you bawling?' might not be received in the spirit it was intended. It could be mistcontrued into thinking that curiosity was the cause of it. So he decided to keep quiet and both of them stood facing eather not knowing what else to say.

"I was about to go out..." she said.
"If you don't mind, I would like to accompany you. I would not think it is safe to be venturing into the huge parking lot all by yourself and it has such bad lighting. Could you maybe wait a second?" he asked.

"Oh! Thank you so much. I wanted to ask you if you would accompany me but I did not know if that would be impertinent..." she replied.

He hurried over to his desk. The work still stood open, mocking at him. He just turned away after collecting his things. He walked out. He saw that she had made herself more presentable in the meantime. What is it with woman, he thought..even in the worst of times, they have to look good. He was chuckling to himself, as they walked out into the night.

(to be continued...)