The Confidant

            1..2..3……A poker face hides all evidence, but the eyes fixated on the dial of the elevator expose the churn occurring within. Arriving at the reception, fingers fidget around restlessly with the pen, slightly irritated that the mundanity of the attendance routine cannot be excused on such occasions. Moving towards the workplace, the charade of normalcy is betrayed only by the urgency of the step moving half a yard quicker than it usually does. Passing through the maze of cubicles, the entire spectrum of office characters are encountered. The office peon, the nosy colleague, the gossip queen, the reclusive genius, the professional leech, the wannabe Casanova, the office crush and the best friend are all met with the customary smile. Something needs to be shared but none of them can know yet. The Bag is planted firmly on the desk, but it’s not time for work. Moving purposefully, the final destination is arrived at: The seat of the person, better known as, the Confidant.

            Within the confines of the professional universe, an individual interacts with innumerable others. Most of them pass off as mere acquaintances, while some others register a deeper impression. Some he grows to loathe, while some he calls friends. A handful among them become his close buddies, with whom he shares his frustrations and joys. Only 1 among all of them, however, can claim to be his Confidant. It is a reflection of the trust that the Confidant enjoys that he is made privy to information which he should not know about. If this person was to be a book, that book would probably be buried deep into the ground. His silence is the quality that justifies his position. If this information were to be accessed by a third person, he would cease to be the Confidant, for there can be only one of his kind. His exclusivity is his existence.

            It is this kind of exclusivity which makes him irreplaceable. And it is only when an empty seat stares back at the destination that this realization sinks in. The empty seat will be filled soon, but the void created will remain empty. Roving eyes search for a suitable outlet for the secret begging to be shared. None to be found, the secret is discreetly gulped down. Not a word is spoken, for the eager ears are not within hearing range anymore. Backtracking slowly, with a silent prayer wishing for the Confidant’s success in his chosen path, command of the daily routine is assumed.