It was raining heavily, after spending an extra hour in the
traffic jam she finally reached home. There we no lights in the area, with help
of her mobile light she searched for keys in her purse, “Hushhhhh” she signed as she threw herself on
the couch. It was such a tiring day. She was thirsty but her feet were too
tired to reach the fridge. She sat there for couple of minutes closing her
eyes, the tiredness had taken over her she could just fall asleep then and
there but she knew there were lot of things waiting for her attention.
She fiddled in the darkness to reach to the emergency light,
in that dim light the shadows created a horror movie set and she was terrified
to move but gathering herself she took the emergency with her to the kitchen.
There were no people on their floor everybody was on vacation, “Damn IT, I just
hate it we can never be on a vacation” she grumbled. She scanned the fridge and
one by one took things she needed. It seems there is some serious problem with
electric department, usually in their area the lights won’t go for more than 10
min. She chopped the vegetables and started preparing for supper. At back of
her mind she was thinking of him, she knew he will too get late home today, the
traffic was very slow that day. She went in the balcony to get the clothes, while
the curry was getting prepared she was doing other household chores, they kept
her busy esp. her mind, the darkness would otherwise had scared her. She
completed all the chores the clock showed 9:00 pm; she thought to herself, she
has just finished in time he will be home anytime. She went and relaxed a bit
on the couch. In some time the lights came. She took the remote and switched on
the TV, the silence was killing her, after a while she got and went to get
fresh. After the hot bath she felt good.
She looked at the clock, 9:30 pm, hmm its taking him long she thought,
“let me call and ask where he reached” she thought to herself as she dialed his
number. “The number you have dialed is not answering any calls at this time”
She kept the mobile aside and got busy getting ready for dinner. After couple
of min she again dialed his number, same reply… she went and sat in front of
the idiot box switching channels while nothing caught her attention she was
absent mindedly changing channels, thinking how long he will take… hunger had
started taking over.
She looked at the clock 10:00 pm it showed, this was getting
on her nerve now, at click of every sec tension was mounting, weird thoughts
started coming to her mind. The tension was mounting and unknowingly she had
started thinking of ways to reach him. There was no one on the floor whom she
could go for help, she did not carry any of his colleagues number, “Have he
lost his mobile? Why is he not answering the calls? Is he all right?” All kind
of thoughts started running and scaring the hell out of her. At a moment
tension reached a peak and she started crying. Not knowing what should she do,
should I call mom and dad? They stay far away troubling them at this hour? Will
it be fine? She just wanted to close her eyes and when she opens them she
wanted to find him standing in front of her. Her heart was racing with time.
She felt as if she will suffer a heart attack. Just then she heard jiggling of
keys, she rushed to the door and opened it and as she saw him standing in front
of her she just burst and shouted at him for not answering her call calling him
irresponsible and blaming him for every sin on earth. He just kept quiet and
entered. She too just dropped on the couch, he went in and got fresh, after a
while she got the dinner table ready, He came back and sat, she did not look at
him, she served him and started eating, He sensed it through her behavior that
she was very angry with him and without making any attempt to console her he
too ate in silence. After dinner she cleared the table and cleaned the kitchen
counter. After setting everything to its place she went to sleep, leaving him
with TV. At around 11:50 he came to the room, as soon as he got into the bed he
heard her, “We need to talk”
Knowing what’s coming his way he stood there still ready for
the let’s talk activity which would
more be a listening activity for him.
“How can you be so irresponsible? Why didn’t you answer my
calls? You know how worried I was? I thought you would come early today as you
drove to office, You didn’t even bother to call me back? Do you know how
difficult it was for me to sit here all alone wondering what should I do next?
If you would have not come in next 15 min you would have seen me laying there
with a heart attack due to tension you caused me.” He sat there silent, “What I
expect some answer.. are you listening?” he was listening to her he nodded and
looked at his watch, took her hand in both his hands and with care he kissed it
with care bringing all his emotion to life he said, “Happy Birthday!! I love
you !!” and handed the little box he carried with him to her, for a moment she
forgot everything, she was so touched with his gesture, she opened it and a
sweet diamond ring was gleaming back at her . “Wow!!” she exclaimed. Lost in it
for a couple of min. He remembered her Bday and that was more than anything for
her, she just forgot all the grudges… “ohh…Dear there was no need of getting
late for this… ” he just raised his
eyebrows, “Ok then let me return it back” he said grabbing the ring back, observing the disappointment appearing on her face, he pulled the ring out of the box and
taking her hand in his slide the ring in her finger, her face was glowing with
happiness she kissed his hand and then the ring… she kept her head on his
shoulder and they both kept admiring the beauty, she of the ring and he, her
glowing face with happiness.