"You are late," was the first thing we heard her say as we opened the door to her room.
We stood with our heads bowed, sleepy and a little ashamed on reaching late. We had to retrieve a few more things because, along the way, Mel decided that we must have a grand celebration. And a video call it was from her to tell us what she had planned.
"Of what?" we had asked her.
"Of good health and friendship," she had declared in a bright voice.
We had snorted and then recomposed ourselves. The last thing we wanted was to get roasted by Mel. But it seemed that she had already caught on to what was running through our heads.
"It's funny for you?" she asked in a shrill tone. "Do you have any idea —"
"We sneezed a little too hard," I said to diffuse the situation. "We had to work lanes of shoes and clothes. The smell had become unbearable, and now, it remains around us. It's only best it comes out like a sneeze of whatever kind."
