How to annoy your fellow professors to death: a memoir by A. Betweter

First find out the thing they are most passionate about.

Then disagree with everything they say.

There, now you have done it, keep it up.

A grin was threatening to completely take over Anoma's face.

Her article had been published in Darshan's favourite paper, but even if he had by some miracle not seen it, the odds weren't in his favour. Anoma might have dumped the paper through his mailbox with the right page already visible.

There was no way he wouldn't see it.

Hate it.

And therefore read it.

It was now only waiting for his retribution. Probably some scalding article about her research ways and professionalism. And though there was a lot to be said about both of them, not all of it flattering, it wasn't as if she cared.

The feeling of soft silk slipping through her fingers as she played with Nate's hair. The head of their research department could certainly appreciate some of them.

No price too high, no valley too steep for a true researcher not to wade through.

And if it meant that there was time over to rile up an old acquaintance? Well, who was she to say no to that.

Her cat Viatrix certainly did not share in her glee, interrupted sleep never warranted that.

"Now dear, no need to be this prickly. It is all for a good cause, don't you want to see the world and give honour to your name?"

As cats were prone to do, no answer in human tongue was given, not that it mattered, it was the thought that counted. It was a mantra Anoma repeated for herself as her darling started screaming into the night, surely waking everyone in the entire building from their well earned sleep.

Ah, to be young and in love.

Or old and knowing better, yet swept away by unbridled passion.

Surely there must be a reason for her many foolish decisions over the years; and blaming it on some entity was far easier than taking responsibility.

It was at that moment that fate decided a prank was needed.

A truly cruel one.

The lights went out.

Now as any self respecting adult Anoma did not cry out in fear or shock. That responsibility was for Viatrix.

No she squealed in the most adultery way possible, knowing that the dark could not hurt her nor was dangerous.

She was bloody forty-eight, far too old to act like a little kid running up the stairs after going to the toilet during the night. Completely disregarding the fact that she still did that whenever she had to leave her room during the night. Only to end up screaming because something touched her legs.

It was always, always the same thing, Viatrix couldn't even let her go to the bathroom in peace. What if she would drown in the toilet, who would feed him then?

Now too a featherlight touch danced near her ankles. Twisting herself around in a futile attempt to see what and where, did Anoma fall to the ground. She only had two legs after all, and with both in the air there was nothing keeping her upright.

Well strong arms did.

Arms attached to a torso and head she vaguely recognised.

Feeling oddly warm and safe, did she let herself snuggle deeper into the embrace. That was until her brain caught up with who exactly was attached to the cuddly arms.

Flinging herself halfway through the room in an attempt to get away from Darshan did she end up running against a glass wall and funny looking creature.

This was not how she had planned her evening of gloating to go at all!

"I have asked you here together for a task. One quite important as the whole universe depends on it."

The creature was speaking, and now that Anoma felt the tiniest bit calmer was she capable of listening. Everything was better than thinking about the fact that Darshan was here too, and that he had caught her when she fell.

Even if that meant giving energy to this caricature of a bird.