Part III?

This is for F who said that I always leave the stories 'hanging'. That is called cliffhangers, dearie...

The spot where I sit is er...interesting..I know that my back is against the wall that seperates my room and the common toilet the other side. So you will hear all kinds of sounds through the wall. And though smell molecules do not travel through thick walls, I really wonder...and mind you, it is just 'there'...at my spot when certain 'smells' permeate.

I have learnt to bear with it. On days when it is not so pleasant, I will get the air-fresher out and spray the area. Or, when it gets cloyingly sweet, I just pack up and go home early. Really...like I've said, as long as I do not get disturbed.

The person who used to sit in the cubicle beside me was a heavy 'typer'. Very often he would work till late evening, typing away on his notebook. The people in my room are generally very quiet people. Once we get absorbed in what we do, we will not speak to each other. But before we go home, we will at least say goodbye to whoever is left.

That evening, I was catching up with my work. Most of the group had left. But I was glad that I still had company. Because of the cupboards, I could not see my neighour. Tap...tap...tap...I heard him puching the keys loudly.

But the quietness got to me after a while. it was just...too silent for my liking. So I switched on the radio...and wondered why a hip radio station was playing an old song "Are You Lonesome Tonight?"

Tap...tap...tap...the keyboard got louder...and then came the scent. No...no...odour...no...sweet..no...

And slowly I felt very very very cold.

"Er...Mr R...do you smell something?" I asked aloud. The tapping stopped. "No..." came back the husky growl... Strange...he sounded as if he had a sore throat.

I sat back to work. The smell was rather damp. I moved to the empty table in front. There was no funny smell whatsoever...

"Er..Mr R...you working late? Wait for me ok?...I need to finish this today." I asked.

"Hmmmm" came the growl again. Wah...he must not be in a good mood. Tap...Tap...Tap.

Then a burst of 'energy bounced into the room. Ms Shahnaz (some of you may remember her). "Hi...you are still here? I got to see Mr R. Is he still around?" she asked.

"Ya...go around...he's still there.." I told her.

She went to the next aisle.

"No...he's not there...There's no one here..."

I gulped. What the *toot*

Shahnaz came back to my side and eyed me curiously. I pulled her to my table area.
"Do you smell something?" I asked... She wrinkled her nose and cringed. I knew that the smell was back...and it got stronger. And suddenly, her eyes widened.

Tap...tap...tap..tap...someone was pounding on the keyboard again, quite distinctly over the other side of the cubicle.

I did not hesitate a moment longer. I grabbed hold of my bag, and pulled Shahnaz out of the room...and as I passed the big whiteboard in the general office, something caught my eye...there it was written..."Mr R....on MC today."

Oh...oh...oh...