Covid 15

They saw each other at the bus stop every day. They soon got talking. They soon got married. They soon had a baby. Baby dropped off at Mummy’s house every morning. They kept going to the bus stop. To get them to the 8.10 Churchgate fast. 

It was blissful. They went to the beach every Sunday morning. Seeing the little one trying to escape the waves cracked them up. An occasional movie, family parties, church feasts and summer nights. When they whispered everything in each others ears.

Along came their second born. Noisy and demanding. She quit working. What with the first one entering kindergarten and his parents needing food sent over everyday. He still caught the 8.10 Churchgate fast.

The Sunday trips to the beach petered out. Slowly eroded by piano practice and Hindi tuitions.

He started joining the boys for their after work drink . He didn’t catch the 8.10 anymore. He had a car. The sea link made it feasible to drive in.

The company upgraded his perks. His drivers allowance allowed him a driver.

Even the occasional movie was history. Fallen to the pressures of board exams.

His promotion came with a secretary. To help him keep track of schedules and meetings. The kids presents were wrapped and in the car before he even remembered their birthdays. The least he could do was take her out to lunch. Then dinner. Then the out of town conference.

He was grateful for Touch ID locking phones. His eldest wondered why he was so touchy when he borrowed the phone for a game. He got him his own soon. It was safer.

They knew his time at the office was what paid for everything . So they never complained.

The trial lockdown was a disaster. Privacy in a two bedroom house with two kids, one maid, one wife and one dog ? No movement beyond the compound gate. He was missing her and she was missing him.

When the lockdown was extended for the third month she quit. An email with her resignation. To him and the HR department.

That evening he helped with the dishes.
Later in the night the wife said “ Now you want me ? ”