The
stainless steel call-bell on the parapet next to her rang loudly interrupting
her reverie. It was time to make tea. 4 p.m. She neatly folded the paper, got
up clumsily, holding her protesting knees and waddled into the kitchen. Soon
her children would return, clamoring for tea and snacks. Chirpy Koyal and touch-me-not
Kashish. How she adored them!
Her husband came to the dining table,
wheeling his wheel-chair and caught her from behind, tightly clasping her neat
paunch. She squealed and laughed.
“You are so naughty! Impossible.” She
teased, as she turned around and ruffled his sparse, pepper and salt hair; her
unconditional love for him, shining in her eyes. Tall, handsome and well-off….
Just fallen on bad days! Her hero nevertheless!
“So which ad caught your attention
today?”
“The same one to which my Dad had answered, 15
years ago!”
“Any regrets?” He was eager. His dark
eyes were wary with anticipation. His ‘Hema’ had mellowed and bloated with age.
His face was as handsome as ever. Adonis. Amitabh. Whoever!
“None whatsoever, darling! You are my
soul-mate. I love you. I love my family. I am living my dream. Nothing else
matters.”
“I love you too Kavita! We’ll be
always together, come what may!”
Koyal and Kashish bounced into the
room. Papa and Mummy were locked in a tight embrace. They quietly tiptoed away.
The End
The copyright of this story
is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.
This story has also been published at www.penfactor.com.
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