Short Story - by Aditha Dissanayake
Marshi's blunder
"Nine o'clock. Lighting of the oil lamp" says the schedule. Marshi finds herself seated on her own, at the conference hall with an unpronounceable name, in a five star hotel. The time is five minutes to nine. But no one else is present except the organizers. People begin to trickle in, only after ten-o clock. Marshi realizes being early is not the done thing.

When the schedule says the programme will commence at nine, it really means ten-thirty. She has yet to learn the ways of the world.

By eleven however, the workshop on the Five S Japanese System is well in progress. Marshi begins to scribble down what a visiting consultant from Japan has to say about managing a factory using five words, which encompass the entire production process. Her mind, however, is elsewhere. Nature had begun to send urgent calls to her brain. "But I had only three or four gulps of water after breakfast. Can't you hold on a bit longer?" asks her brain from her bladder, in indignation. "It's raining outside, this room is cold from the A/C, I need to GO!" insists her heartless bladder. The feeling becomes unbearable. She can postpone it no longer. She slips out of the conference hall when the lecturer's back is turned. A passing member of the hotel staff directs her to where she wants to go the most in the world at the moment.

Peace at long last! Marshi's hand reaches towards the knob of the door. She is ready once more to return to her cushioned, rainbow coloured, straight backed, chair and to Mr. Ikeda's monologue on Five S.

"Hello machang! How are things with you?" Marshi freezes behind the door. Her hand flies to her mouth. The voice of a man! She groans to herself. With a sinking heart she realizes she is inside the gents' toilet! She stays as still as possible and hopes the men would not see her shoes from under the door. She begins to sweat. Her heartbeat increases.

"Somebody has been inside for a long time," says a voice outside her door.

"Must have had too much coffee last night."

"Machang, once at the airport in Munich, they locked the doors of the gents' cos some VIP had wanted to use it. You should have seen the queue outside." Their voices fade into the distance. Marshi strains her ears. She can hear no sounds outside her door. Believing the place to be empty she turns the knob. With the skill of a burglar, she opens the door slightly and keeps her left foot gingerly on the floor. Then she sees him! Standing there, answering a similar call as hers. Marshi gasps and shuts the door as fast as she can.

After awhile she hears water running from a tap. The sound of the hand dryer, footsteps and then a knock on her door. Marshi opens it and stands there trying to smile. She begins to wish that she was in a science fiction movie, and that she could press a button on her wrist and disappear from the face of the earth forever.

He stares at her with a good-natured grin on his face. "The coast is clear. You can safely walk out now," he says and leaves her.

Marshi walks back, as fast as she can to her seat. She vows to drink as little water as possible for the rest of the day.

Meanwhile Mr. Ikeda talks on about "effective-management skills". Marshi begins to scan the faces around her. He sees her looking, smiles and raises a finger to his lips. Marshi smiles back with relief. His lips are sealed. Her secret is safe. She will not be teased during the lunch break.

She realizes she knows him slightly, for they had met at similar conferences before this. She was sure she had his visiting card with her and that he would be having hers.

By four thirty everything is over. It is six thirty when Marshi gets home and turns on the computer to check her e-mail. There are three messages. A string of dirty jokes from her sister in the States. A bill and a new name... Wondering whom this could be she opens it eagerly, "Tell me, do you do this often - walking into the gents?

Can I call you tomorrow? Say yes or I will send e-messages all over the place telling everyone what happened this morning."

Marshi smiles to herself. Two can play at this, she realizes. She sends him a reply.

"You can't blackmail me like this. If you do, I will send e-messages too to all the girls saying; "I have seen YOU (well almost). I am sure they would like to know all the details."

He sends her a reply. "Tit for tat!!! No more threats. But can I still call you?" What should she say? Yes? Or No? Marshi has yet to decide.

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