“You’ve changed. You’re not the same person!” She complained.
He smiled and whispered, “Yeah! I can see that! Who’ve changed and who didn’t!”
She widened her eyes to reply, “What?”
He smiled.
She did her hair in anguish. Searching for her spectacles, she mumbled, “Why are men so forgetful! It’s my mistake to expect something big from him! Huh, I’ve wasted my previous night, constantly thinking about my birthday gift that he’s hopefully going to present me today! And, he’s least bothered! Oh, God!”
He smiled, “Here! Your spectacles! Did you say something?”
“Oh! Thanks! Yes I did, and I know that doesn’t matter to you in any way!” She muttered, turning her head aside.
He grinned.
Rushing into the kitchen, she grumbled, “And, I’m not going to cook anything today. I’ll starve. Somebody, please tell him to make his own food!”
She could hear him laughing.
Curling her lips inwards, raising the eyebrows; and holding tears, she opened the fridge to see a hand written note, “Ok, now smile and check your purse!”
She gave a quick smile and rushed to check her purse. There was an other hand written note stating, “Now, on the swing in our garden!”
She reached the garden to see an other note, “Wow! You’re too fast. Now, beside the T.V stand!”
She rushed towards the T.V.
He was watching, with a grin on his face.
An other note stated, “By this time! You might be gasping! Relax for a minute and go on to check your almirah!”
She didn’t wait, this time. Reached her almirah and searched for something new. She couldn’t find any.
“Relax! Relax! It’s there, right infront of you!” His voice came from behind.
At last, she found an old broken wooden box. She held it tight and opened with caution.
Within minutes, her eyes welled up.
She turned around to see him smiling ear- to- ear. He cleared tears off her cheek and whispered, “I guess, I’ve changed!”
She hugged him tight and whispered, “Aren’t these the same jhumkas you gifted me at our wedding, and later mortgaged to pay our son’s school fee?”
He laughed out aloud and mumbled, “No doubt! You haven’t changed! Your memory is sounding great!”
As she was looking at her jhumkas, he held her wrinkled hand and whispered, “Happy 70th birthday dear!”