He'd met her at the cusp of their youths. She was the wide eyed geek who sat in front of him in tenth grade. He was the sweaty football team captain whose stink overshadowed his handsomeness. The shy girl caught his eye and he chased all summer until she finally caved in with a "yes" that was a little quieter than a whisper. He leaned forward to hear her but ended up kissing her.
"Mummy", she squealed touching her lips repeatedly in shock. He laughed at her until his stomach cramped. "You idiot, you totally like me", he teased.
"Do not"
"Ahaan"
"Na an"
"Ahaan"
"Na an"
"Ahaan Madhu"
"Omona", he called her name like that. Like THAT, like the way only mummy and older brother call her at dinner. She felt her cheeks burn up and blush. He was laughing again.
Brows furrowed in a V, nose crinkled like a jellyfish, she put her hands on her hips and huffed until he calmed down.
"You're angry?" he gave her a curious look.
"You are making fun of me", she tapped her foot waiting for an apology.
"You're so cute".
"That was my first kiss under the tree", she screamed loud enough to make his eardrums burst.
"Mine too", he answered. "Wait a minute. So you've had first kisses elsewhere?" he looked at her with a curious eye. She said nothing but her lips curved up into a sly smile.
"Tell me".
"Not telling you".
"You better spit it out".
"What?"
"Madhu!"
She ran out into the soccer field until she was only a dot in his horizon.
That was ten years ago. Ten years later, they were walking together on a deserted road but the tables had turned. She had become more carefree with age, he'd turned cold. She was his bubbly high-school sweetheart times ten.
"Idiot", he muttered thinking back to her "first kiss" teasing.
"What did I do now? You, you, when you're drunk, you find any and every reason to curse me out", she said nonchalantly.
"Not drunk!"
"Reeking of alcohol"
"Not drunk"
"Piss wasted"
"When I say not drunk, that means I am not drunk Madhu".
"What is the stinking logic?"
"It is so because I said so".
"Right, I am the stupid one arguing with a drunkard".
"Not drunk!" he chanted in one breath.
"You know because of you I can't even enjoy a shot of patron".
"Drink you heart out woman. I am not stopping you. Also", he pointed a finger to his nose. "NOT DRUNK".
"Can I really? Then who will do the apologizing when we turn the town upside down".
Guess he had nothing left to say in his defence. So he slowly walked back toward her, catching her coat by the lapel. She violently bumped against his chest and back from the impact. He bowed down and kissed her just like in high school- a chaste peck on the lips.
She blushed pink and squealed "mummy" like he wanted.
He said he'd made his point. "See, not drunk", he winked.
Guess she wasn't the stubborn, idiot in this marriage.