Karan
Sundays are a little different at our house. I mean, they aren't like normal family Sundays at households much happier than ours. I wake up at around 10:00. I rub my eyes for a bit, turn to Sally's side and sure enough, it's empty.
Sally
Karan never lies to his parents. About anything. If you're wondering why I'm telling you this, it's because I have to get up early, even on Sundays and make my husband who's a baby, breakfast. If I didn't or couldn't, for some reason, he'll be okay. He wouldn't even say anything to me, but to Ma? Oh, he would simply tell her I didn't cook him anything and he had to “fend” for himself. Then the usual outbursts of Ma’s calls every minute for the rest of the day will commence: part of her trying, more like forcing me to spill out any problems or issues that I might be going through (which she thinks is the only reason I didn't get up on time. Not that I was tired too and wanted some more time in my cozy bed, nope. That is not even a possibility!) and part of her chiding about “dharm” and taking care of your husband. Yes, this is the story of my life!
Karan
I feel sorry for her sometimes. I mean, she too, should be able to sleep in on Sundays. While I get up and simply pick my clothes up from the sofa, the ones Sally has taken out for me, Sally's downstairs making breakfast. Sometimes I wonder how she even agreed to doing all this in the first place! Maybe, she's doing this for her parents too. Maybe she's just putting up with me until we finally split.
Sally
I look at my lock screen. It's 10:15. Karan will be here any minute. I wanted to make today a little different so I made some pancakes instead of the usual: scrambled eggs and some cereal with some super-desi tea, it's called chai in Hindi, by the way. A quick course of yesterday night’s events runs through my head. I smile. I still can't believe I kissed his forehead because I wanted to. I mean, how could I have wanted it?
Karan
I climb down the stairs as I observe her preparing the table.
“Good morning!” She stops when she sees me.
“Good morning.” I smile at her. She doesn't smile back, though.
“Hey, Sal?”
“Yes, Karan?” She's completely looking at me now.
“Umm, where's Friday's newspaper?”
“Why do you need Friday's newspaper for heaven's sake?” She laughs a little. I have no idea why she thinks this is funny, but I like seeing her smile so it's cool.
“I'll get it for you-”
“No, you just tell me where it is, I'll get it myself.”
“Okay. Well, you see that rack over there…”
She guides me to where it is. I remember seeing an advertisement for a vacancy in a hospital for a child specialist.
“Why the hell can't I go to work?” Were her words. Since I didn't have an answer, I decided I'll do what makes her happy. Because:
a) Sally and I are probably going to get divorced by the end of this month.
b) It's about time I did something for her too.
So now you know. I'm not gonna tell her now, not just yet. I'll call them, ask for details...wait. I don't know what time she's okay working at. Day? Night? The afternoon or the evening? Oh God! I will probably have to ask Ma, or Barbara, if Ma doesn't happen to know; which doesn't stand a chance, because Ma is literally a detective when it comes to finding me girls. I'll just call her after this.
Sally
When I say my husband's a reader, I'm not just talking about books, no no. I'm talking newspapers, magazines and pretty much anything that you can read from. So yeah, he is more or less, like a book worm. I serve him breakfast in silence like everyday. He eats it in silence like everyday. We don't talk about anything. Like. Everyday. Or maybe not.
“Hey Sally?”
“Yeah?”
“Was wondering…” he's chewing, so I wait.
“...what your favorite dish is?”
“Why do you wanna know?” Thank God he asked me that!
“It's spaghetti and meatballs.”
“Right. Cool.” He smiles, then continues eating.
You know what I have been noticing lately? He's started smiling a lot. I mean, specially when he's around me. That's a good sign, I guess. Right?
But he didn't say anything about today's breakfast. I surely didn't get up all this early to make him pancakes to get ignored!
“I love these.”
This is too good to be true. Say that again please.
“These pancakes are awesome.”
“Thank you, Karan.” That's all I can come up with. Then, the worst possible thing happens.
Karan
She's blushing. Again. Now she looks even cuter.
Sally
My ringtone interrupts this little moment. Thank God! I mean, I couldn't have him watching me blush for the rest of the morning!
It's Katie.
“Hey babe, 'sup?”
“Hey Katie, I'm good. Why'd you call?”
“Are you kidding me? You better be, because Mrs. Sharma, today's Sunday for God's sake! You never have time for me!”
“Katie, can we talk about this later?” I look at Karan.
“No, it's okay.” He mouths.
I get up and walk to the living room.
“Are you even saying this? I can't believe it! Sally-”
“Hey! I'm sorry, okay? We were having breakfast, I just thought-”
“Oh, so you didn't wanna interrupt your moments with him?” She teases.
“No, at least me finish!”
“Hey, Sal? I called to ask you if you and Karan have any plans for the day?”
“When do we ever have any plans together?” I throw a question right back at her.
“Well, you're right. Anyways, I was thinking if we spend this entire day together? Just you and me, what do you say? Girls’ day out?”
“Honestly, I don't know what to say-”
“Oh, come on! Why do you have to be such a spoil sport?”
“Katie, Karan has never-”
“He can take care of himself! He's older than you! Just a day without you wouldn't make a difference!”
“Okay, I'll talk to him.”
“Do that. And don't forget to text me after.”
“Okay. Bye.”
“Goodbye Mrs. Sharma.”
I walk to the table rehearsing all the words in my head:
Karan, I have to..
No, no.
Karan, can I…
No, what are you doing?!
“Hey everything okay?” He asks me as I take a seat.
“Katie and I were thinking about spending this Sunday together.”
“Are there going to be other friends too?”
“Nope.”
He doesn't know that Katie is actually my only friend. Well, there was Vanessa, but she was in a relationship with my boyfriend Rob. So, I had to get rid of both of them. She tried apologizing, but I didn't know how to tell her that when your feelings are concerned, “sorry” rarely works.
“Okay. Cool. Have a good time.”
I smile at this and he reciprocates the act.
It's on!
I text Katie after breakfast.
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