Will You be My Valentine
Story By Thiyam Ningol, Africa

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“No Robert, I can not sign this. You have finished all your leave dues.”
“Then, will you be my Valentine?”

Maria was shocked. She thought she heard wrong. “What did you say?”

“Never mind. I am sorry.”
“No, no. Wait a minute. Sit down and tell me why you even asked me to be your valentine?”

Maria, the owner of the company, had worked hard to bring up the company. She was working before as a clerk. She was the most efficient worker but someone framed her. The customer who booked the ticket through their “Bantu Travel Agent” claimed that his ticket was torn, one page was missing. Maria knew she had never made such a mistake and she would never deliver a ticket to a customer without thoroughly checking. But she could not prove who framed her. She was asked to pay the whole amount of the ticket and was fired.

She vowed to own a travel agent company and compete with Bantu Travel Agent. She had to mortgage the only property she and her mother inherited from her late, polygamous father. She started with only 2 helpers in a small room. Her only aim was to prosper the company. Personal leisure and luxury were long forgotten. Her stern and firm mind made her appearance also stiff and dry. She walked like a soldier. She dressed like a police woman. She wore no ornaments and make up. Her employees had never seen her smiling. She had never attended any social functions of any of the workers. At the end, they had stopped sending her invitations. But among themselves, all the workers enjoyed each other’s company. They were dedicated, well disciplined at work.

As her company was expanding fast, she had to hire a new accountant to relieve some of her duties. He was a fresh graduate. He knew nothing but accountancy. All the workers nicknamed him ATM. They decided to put some masala on his simple life. They forced him to come for the Valentine gathering.

It was a tradition among the company workers to have a get together on the Valentine’s Day. They thought that working with love and harmony was the key to the success of their small but very popular company. Their boss, the owner of the company thought otherwise.

At the party everybody came with a date –a valentine. As expected Robert came alone. Every time a girl asked him to dance with, if he refused, he was fined heavily-he had to buy drinks for every body in the group. If he danced, everybody laughed because he did not know how to dance. Most of the time, everybody was dancing and he was sitting all alone. He was told to come with a valentine the next year.

While he was busy with his accounting, the year had passed without notice. He had not got a girl friend yet. In their work place, every female worker he requested replied they were already booked for the party.

Someone teased Robert “Well, for sure, the only person who is free is the boss. Ask her.” Everybody laughed. “Robert, come with enough money for the fines’-somebody added. Nobody expected and nobody wanted the boss in the party.

Robert had no friends besides his colleagues. He liked their company and did not want to be isolated like their boss. If he would not go for the party, all the same the next day he would be teased and fined.

He thought of a plan. If he could go to his village for few days, he would be excused from the party.

“How come….? All these years nobody even mentioned about this party’-Maria wondered. She was pleased to know that the workers liked each other but felt neglected and abandoned by her own employees.

Robert was watching her-she looked to be in deep thoughts.

“Why not, Robert? Yes I will be your valentine today. I also appreciate red roses.”

Robert arrived alone again at the party but he had a bouquet of red roses in his hand. All his friends teased him and everybody was enjoying. He looked very nervous. In the cooled, air conditioned room, he was sweating. His eyes were fixed on the entrance door.

“Don’t worry Robert! If she doesn’t come, you can give me the roses.”

“Oh, me I will dance free with you.”

“I will leave Richard, and be your valentine today”-----all the female friends were laughing and teasing him.

Suddenly Robert stood up, wiped his forehead and moved towards the door.

Everybody froze when they saw Robert’s valentine receiving the red roses with a smile and kissed lightly on Robert’s cheek saying “Happy Valentine’s day.”