The surprise

(A phone conversation)

She : “What time are you coming home”

He : “About 9”

She : “Come sooner if possible, a surprise awaits you”

He: “You know I hate suspense, come out with it”

She: “Then keep guessing”

He: “Baby, am tired already, don’t have the energy to play guessing games”

She: “Hahaha, cut the call and see to it that you come home soon.”

Sighing, he cut the call and concentrated on the document he was proof reading. Once done, he switched off the laptop and let his mind wander, thinking what could be the surprise. She had just joined a reputed fashion house . Maybe she had designed a new dress to impress him. Smiling to himself, he winded up things from his desk and started to leave. While waiting at a traffic signal, he mulled what would they have for dinner. If there was one thing she absolutely had no clue about was cooking. Boarding school, hostel, PG – these were the three words she uttered accompanied by a sorry smile, while she relished his pasta at one potluck get together, when he asked her “what have you cooked”.

“If she has a surprise for me today, I will have one for her too. Let me try some Indo-Chinese today. She will love it.”

He rang the door bell to his apartment.

In his mind, he saw her coming with a whiff of freshness and a hint of fragrance.

All he saw was a hint of flour on her cheeks and a whiff of garam masala.

Bewildered, he made way for the giggling neighbour hurrying away.

“Thanks a lot”, she shouted to the neighbour.

“Welcome”, she said with a bright smile.

His heart soared.