Situation: Swara has come to baadi for some reason for two weeks.
Sanskaar pulled up in front of his house. Putting up his jacket hood against the cold which assaulted him, he hurried to open the gate to the garage. The lights of home blinked in the night..promising warmth...and rest. It had been one long day.
He was later than usual today. The meeting with the shareholders had run longer than expected, owing to some kinks which he had to sort out.
There was no one in the hallway when he entered. They must have finished dinner and fallen asleep. His dinner, as usual, was sitting in the microwave...where his Mom had lovingly arranged all his favourites..and shielded it from getting cold.
Sanskaar wearily went to freshen up. Then ran down to grab a bite. He was just going to put on the television for company, muting it so as not to disturb any of his snoring family.
And she called.
Sanskaar smiled looking at the name on his caller ID. That name always managed to bring sunshine in his heart.
"hey."
"Kabse try kar rahi hoon...why weren't you picking up?" Swara scolded.
"Drive kar raha tha...abhi ghar aya"
"itna late?"
"Shareholders ke saath meeting thi Swara." Sanskaar tried to reason.
"tumhare shareholders toh saare buddhe log honge. Ghar jaake sona nahi hai unhe?"
"buddhe toh hai..but they are also very smart and money minded. So kaam khatam karne ke mamle mein they are very khoonkhaar. Samjhi?" Sanskaar teased, sitting cross legged on the sofa, the plate of food on his lap.
"Waise..didn't the doctor ask you to take it easy for some days? Chaar din nahi hue tabiyat sudhre hue" Swara worried over him.
"I am fine now.Don't fuss Swara."
"Someone has to fuss over you, nah? Considering you never will." Returned Swara, fuming.
"Well...its nice to hear, that you would bother."
"Bother with what?" Swara said..baffled .
"With me. My health."
"Thats not a bother." Swara rolled her eyes. I am supposed to worry over you, she thought.
"Okay. Sanskar chuckled. "Waise..aaj toh your family has gone visiting relatives nah?"
"Yup. I am all alone." Swara sounded bored.
"Theek se doors and windows shut kar lo." Sanskaar warned.
"I have done it. There are neighbours all around anyway. Waise khana garam toh kiya hai nah?"
"garam karne ka kya tha? Mom ne Micro me ghusa ke rakkha tha."
"Haan..but micro ke knobs uss liye hi hotey hain. They are to be turned...so that the food heats up." Swara explained.
"Oh...that I have not done. Dunno, how to." Sanskaar stared at his plate of food, frowning.
"Ooof! Are you a baby? Shut it in the microwave..and turn the knob to thirty or so on the timer. And press start. When it's done...it'll beep. Then get it out and eat. And use the microwave utensils. No metal plates." Swara instructed, from the other end.
Sanskaar followed her directions...and a happy and comforting, piping hot plate of food came out..begging to be eaten. The delectable waft just watered his mouth.
"Ho gaya. Ab meri maa..main khaaon? I am hungry. Aur tum bhi soo jao" Sanskaar started shovelling into his victuals.
"hmm. Goodnight." Swara disconnected the line at the other end.
Little did he know..that someone had been waiting up for him..and was just sitting down with her dinner, across the city.
Swara hated eating alone anymore. It was a habit she had picked up, since they used to share their meals when they were living together.
Some habits die hard. And some we keep knowingly. Because they mean so much to us.
Current Affairs
