Lata and Arjun, recently married, had shifted to US right after their marriage. Arjun had been sent to US by his employer (a big software company of India) to work for a client. Lata belonged to a small two tier Indian city. Though she was confident at the time of leaving India that her convent school education and her B.Com graduation has made her capable to adjust in a world class city like New York, she wasn't so sure now. Yes, she could converse in English with her neighbors and Arjun's colleagues and friends, but she did not understand these people. She did not understand their culture or their lifestyle. She couldn't bring herself to accept the level of freedom these people had. She had been married to Arjun in a typical Indian arranged marriage setting. Her parents had chosen Arjun for her. Whereas, it was the exact reverse here in US. People went out and found their life partners on their own.
Lata was yet to completely understand her husband Arjun. He was a caring husband. He ensured that she was having a comfortable stay in US and in return, she was taking great care of him as well as his home. Yet, she often thought that they did not share the same thought process or the same passions. There was something so missing from their relationship.
Then one day she discovered the Surf Excel Matic pack in her bag from India which her mother had filled with similar household items to ensure that she did not have to go hunt for these items in her very first few months of stay in US. She decided to try this new detergent for washing clothes the coming Sunday. Yes, here in US they did not wash clothes everyday like India. It was a weekly activity and Arjun helped her in it. Though she tried to persuade him in the first two weeks that she could do it herself, he insisted to help her and also told her that all the men did so in US.
The very next Sunday, Lata showed the new detergent Surf Excel Matic to Arjun. To much of their surprise they realized that with this new detergent they did not need to spend time getting rid of stains on clothes. Surf Excel Matic took care of it all. They suddenly had some ample time at their hands. Arjun suggested that they go out and learn how to dance in this newly found extra time. Arjun was a good dancer, but Lata was very averse to dancing. Arjun wanted to prepare for the annual dance evening at his office to be organized two months from now. Lata suggested that they spend time on their home decor. In spite of Lata's efforts, their home still had the feel of a bachelor's home. There were bean bags instead of sofas, a gaming console in the living room instead of music player, a foosball table instead of a dining table and so on. They had their first fight.
Both decided to use the time as per their wish. Next Sunday, Lata went out after putting the clothes in the washing machine. She did not know where she was going and then a thought came to her mind. This routine went on for quite some weeks. Lata would step out of the home after they had put the clothes in the washing machine and mysteriously Arjun would also wait for Lata to leave as if there was something up his sleeve. However, Lata was not concerned as there was a plan going on in her mind.
It was two months now from the day of their first fight and Lata was eager to get back home from one of her mysterious trips outside home and break the surprise for Arjun. Yes, she had joined dance classes and was devotedly learning this new art to match Arjun's footsteps on the Annual dance night. Today was her final class and she was happy that she had done well. It was also just two days away from the annual dance night at Arjun's office. She walked the half mile distance to their home conjuring up ways in which she would tell Arjun this and also imagining his possible reactions. She could feel the excitement and happiness in the rhythm of her walk. She reached home and opened the door. All the images which she had conjured up over the way took a backseat as she was herself taken by surprise. Her home was completely refurbished. She saw a comfortable sofa with beige covers and turquoise cushions, a new mantelpiece and above all a beautiful dining table for four all set for dinner with two candles flaming in the middle and Arjun standing right beside the table. Arjun had been making all this furniture in their garage every Sunday with the extra two hours. Tears came to her eyes when she realized that Arjun too had been working all these days for her wish. She crossed the length of the room and hugged Arjun and told him what she had been doing all these Sundays with the extra two hours. Both of them laughed.
Over candle-lit dinner that night as they laughed and talked about their respective secret projects, Lata realized that she had just attained that special something which was missing from their relationship - the wish to see each other happy. In a silent prayer she thanked Surf Excel Matic for it.
So, what would I do...in two extra hours
I would give the time to my secret wish of writing fiction. The above story is my first attempt at fiction and I thank Surf Excel Matic for this. My extra two hours would be spent writing many more such stories and finally work towards the biggest wish of my life and that is to write a book.
Some Information
The above blog post is my submission for the #GetSmart contest at Indiblogger. The contest is powered by SURF EXCEL MATIC.
Sonething for you to do
If you like this post, please go ahead and vote for me by clicking on the picture below. You can vote using your Facebook or Twitter accouts too.
Some Information
The above blog post is my submission for the #GetSmart contest at Indiblogger. The contest is powered by SURF EXCEL MATIC.
Sonething for you to do
If you like this post, please go ahead and vote for me by clicking on the picture below. You can vote using your Facebook or Twitter accouts too.
13 comments:
nice
best wishes for the contest!
Thanks a lot Magiceye
Superb tale ! May you write your book soon !
Thanks Vasu...great to know you liked it.
gOOD TRY.ALL D BEST.
Thanks Yashika.
Great Post. Best of luck. You can see my post Aye Zindagi!
nice post. and all the best with your fiction writing. this is a good start. just voted for you. :)
you can check out my entry for the competition here:
http://kihtrakblogshere.blogspot.com/
lovely post..keep up d good work..
here s my take,..do drop in -http://zradar.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/we-learn-with-time-and-burn-the-same/
nice writing
Thanks all.
Great article, Thanks for your great information, the content is quiet interesting. I will be waiting for your next post.
It was very useful for me. Keep sharing such ideas in the future as well. This was actually what I was looking for, and I am glad to came here! Thanks for sharing the such information with us.
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