Her Sundays

Sundays were there favorites. The day where the alarm was forbidden to play truant, while they indulged in slumber and each other. The days, when the clocks felt ignored..who had the time to look away from each other? They'd steal glances of each other even while reading the fat, colored Sunday newspapers, sipping on one of the many cups of hot chais of the day. Even as he looked consumed by the financial pages, his toes caressed her smooth calves. And she, used to his intrusions.. continued to scan through the papers.

Just as the papers became thinner on the right, his toes would reach higher, until she no longer could help but giggle! Her giggles echoed all over the house.. on that silent Sunday morning.

Door bell rings. It's the cook-cum-maid, Asha. The two of them decide to leave her out of their romance and start a mundane conversation about the grocery. Asha, having had an experience of over a decade, smiles at their pretense and carries on with the chores.

"So, are we going to the theatres tonight Sammy?", Arnab asked.

"Which movie?"

"I dunno.. let's hit the theatres and see?" Arnab said, popping in health supplement.

"You know how maddening the traffic is going to be na.." Samyukta said, balancing the saucers and cups in her hands.

"We dun have a to-do list for today, do we? to chal na?" He insisted.

"okay, only if you get me popcorn" she smiled.

He pulled her closer.. wrapped his hands around her waist and whispered "only if you keep me company in the shower".

Just the, Asha dropped a pan in the sink, to register her presence around them.

Animatedly, Arnab cleared his throat and rushed out towards the attached bathroom in their bed room. Sammy blushed and tried to act casual.

----

The blue skies bore crimson hues of the sun bidding adieu. Arnab woke up to the aroma of caffeine. Filter coffee.. his taste buds came alive. His hands reached out for his boxers . Calling out for Sammy, he headed towards the drawing room, still rubbing his eyes. She stretched her long legs on the table, frantically checking her official email, while the coffee-maker teased and seduced the air. He looked at her and thought how content he was to have her.

"Hey tiger.." she teased.. and then went into one of her giggle fits, pointing at his boxers.

"whaaat... what is so funny"

"You, my dear, are wearing them ulta" she hushed, slipping on her flip flops.

As she poured in coffee, the phone rang.

For a moment, she stopped pouring coffee. Her senses sharpened, as Arnab went inside the room to get the phone. He looked at the phone, and contemplated for a minute.

"Hi baby", he answered, finally. "Yes, everything is fine. How's our lil one?"

Sammy stared at him. He looked everywhere else, but in her direction.

She stood there, like every Sunday, frozen. The part of Sundays she dreaded.

"Yes, my work is almost over and I'll be back home by Tuesday," he cooed in the phone.

Sammy closed her eyes for a bit, and reminded herself that it will be over soon. She meant, the phone call.

She waited patiently till he promised his wife an exotic holiday, and then lunged towards her.

"So, when do we leave for the theatre" she asked.

It was all perfect again.