’ He told her, and she said, ‘I’m Suzanne. Would you mind if I told you a little?’ She couldn’t believe that she wanted to tell this strange... her problems. Why did she feel as if she had known him forever although she knew nothing at all? He said softly, ‘I would be honoured with as much or as little as you want to tell me.’ What a turn of phrase this man had, making her feel totally comfortable. ‘I’ve just been dumped by my boyfriend. I came to the party to cheer myself up, but it just made me. I could have heard crickets chirping, had there been any in the room. The feeling of having 12 people suddenly drop dead silent when you walk in the room, staring at you like you've just dropped the f-bomb in the Queen's presence... well, I should have turned around and left.But I didn't.I smiled bravely, paid my meeting dues and signed in as normal... and was thusly ignored by all present. Even Sam kept his distance, though I did see some stirrings of sympathy in his eyes, on the few occasions. ”Anita knew about promotion and increment but was not aware of the background development; she was emotionally moved. She said, “Anil, now I realize why you told me the other day that Raj and Neena were your pillars of strength. At that time I did not know the reference. Now I know.” Looking at me straight in the eyes she said, “Anil, I know saying thank you is not enough. If they did all these things for you, what have we done for them?” I was equally emotional. I told Anita, “Anita not just. They looked at me. The biggest boy glared at me."This is none of your concern. This girl has stolen from us," the boy said."I did not! I worked for my money, same as you," the girl said in a shrill voice."You stole from us, by working here! Everyone knows this is for boys, only!" the older boy said, slapping the girl."You hit her just one more time," I said in a nasty tone, "and I promise you, you will regret it," I finished.The boy actually sneered at me."'Twas the run-master who told us to.