GOOD OLD DAYS ( Short Story)

Suhasini woke up to the sweet chirping sounds of the birds sitting on her window sill. She opened her eyes and smiled. It was the first time in thirty years that she had not woken up with the alarm ringing over her head, that too on a weekday!

“Happy days are here again”, she sang happily to herself while making tea in the kitchen. No more hurriedly preparing Tiffin for Dilip’s office. No more rush-rush in the mornings. Now she would do her work with leisure, and Dilip would help her with the housework as he had promised.

There was a special reason for Suhasini’s bliss. It was the first day of her husband’s retirement!

Dilip was as exited as her.” I’ve neglected you enough during these last thirty years, Suhasini, due to my work. Now all my time is yours. Just tell me what to do. Your humble servant is at your command!”

Suhasini laughed and said, “Well, my first order for you is to bring vegetables from the market, my man Friday!”

Dilip bowed low and went out, bag and wallet in hand.

“What’s this!” shrieked Suhasini, What on earth am I supposed to do with half kg of coriander leaves and two kgs of tomatoes?”

“All my fault for sending him to fetch vegetables! I should have known. Dilip can’t tell Brinjal from Ginger!” thought Suhasini sulkily as they ate a lunch of parathas and coriander chutney.

“Your next order mam”, asked Dilip that night as they were preparing to tuck in.

Suhasini contemplated and said, “I’ve always cherished this dream that my husband would wake me up with a cup of tea every morning!”

“Your wish is my command, master”

Suhasini almost spat out the dark, strong brew that Dilip called “tea”. She forced a smile anyway as she didn’t want to appear rude. But all her self-control disappeared once she entered the kitchen.

It seemed as if a tornado had swept through the kitchen! All the jars were open and kept on the platform. Dilip had been searching for tealeaves and sugar, she supposed! The tea had boiled over and spilt on the floor. There were hoards of black ants all over the kitchen platform where the sugar had fallen. “All this mess just for two cups of tea!” Suhasini couldn’t believe it.! “What would happen if someday he decides to make lunch?” Suhasini shuddered at the thought.

In the coming days, it took all of Suhasini’s efforts to try to keep Dilip out of the kitchen. But Dilip just would not sit idle. He just had to help her (read, interfere)! Suhasini would feel like crying to see her once-spotless kitchen in such a mess. Even the maid threatened to leave because of the burnt pots and pans. Just why he wanted to try his hand in the kitchen was unfathomable to her, when he couldn’t even boil a cup of water properly!

On Friday, he insisted on cutting the ladies fingers and cut his finger instead.

On Saturday, he burnt her favorite sari while ironing.

On Sunday, he broke the Chinese vase while dusting.

In the afternoons when she sat down to watch her favorite saas-bahu serials, all she could hear were Dilip’s nasty comments.

Life was becoming hell for her!

“Why don’t you look for another job, Dilip”, she asked her husband as they were sipping their evening tea one day. “I rather think that it would be good for you, considering that you’re in perfect health and with so much time in your hands”

“We e e ell”, said Dilip, “I’ve been thinking on the same lines myself, and have even got a few good job offers, but….”

“But what, Dilip?”

“But I had promised you that I would spend all my time with you after my retirement. Wouldn’t’ you mind?”

“Of course I wouldn’t! I’d be happy for you!”

“What an understanding wife you are, Suhasini”, said Dilip taking her in his arms, “now you’ll just have to manage without me!”

“I’ll try”, smiled Suhasini demurely.

It was a Monday morning when Suhasini woke up to the “sweet” sound of the alarm clock ringing over her head. She got up and remembered that it was Dilip’s first day at his new office.  She went to the kitchen with a spring in her steps and a smile on her lips. “Good old days”, she thought happily as she started busily preparing her husband’s tiffin for office.