As I was approaching home darkness grew denser. My spirit groaned in anguish. If I spend the nigh also in my office....

Is it a shallow expression that home is heaven?

I knocked the door timidly.

Door was opened contrary to my expectations.

My wife stood before me like emergence of moon amidst dense darkness!

I turned dumb in astonishment. I could not step ahead.

It was like the last batsman hitting a century in cricket. My surprise was boundless.

My amazement was like the feeling one gets on receiving from a mindless chap a lottery ticket that won first prize.

I was overwhelmed like a person who got a thousand yards residential plot in Viskhapatnam from an unknown, hither to unseen man.

“Why are you dumbstruck like a pestle that ground jaggery? Get in please. ”My wife said affectionately.

That expression spread jasmines on my wonderment.

What happened today?

Why this transformation?

I scanned around as I was stepping into my home.

Whether my mother-in-law or father-in-law or my wife’s elder sister visited us —

There should be some strong reason. Otherwise how could she welcome me with a smile like that —

Just like calm before a storm, she might ask me to buy her some gift —

For a festival two gifts —

Already they were listed by her and purchased by me —

Then, what else?

I could not fathom. Seated in a chair, I untied shoe lace.

With piping hot cup of coffee she sat beside me.

That was a snare, I knew it well.

Soon after I returned from office offering coffee and conversing jovially for a while was a memory of the past. If necessary sharing it at times, pretense of conversation or getting immersed in one’s own work was prevalent pattern.

“Why are you silent like this?”

I was wondering whether it was my wife who spoke so.

I minutely scanned her.

It was she only without any doubt!

“Oh God! Protect me from any tsunami today. ” Praying to God, I asked her, “Tell me. What’s the matter?”

“What’s there to share for people like me. We languish daylong at home. — You only should tell us. ”

I sipped coffee. It was better than earlier days.

But, I did not disclose it.

After a while, my wife narrated.

“Just for information, my elder sister — my aun’t daughter called today — “

All details of her relations, their frictions hidden all these days flowed like flood water from a breached dam. I was glad that her vibrancy and intimacy got a regeneration, though the flow slowly turned monotonous.

“Actually I forgot to share essential matter. I prepared snacks for you in the evening,”

“Oh, why this unforeseen generosity?” I was amazed.

She was such a lady who didn’t hesitate to advise to eat whatever I wanted in a restaurant before reaching home.

“Check time now! It’s well past nine o’clock. Why snacks now? I will eat at dinner time. ”

I got up — - I felt it was bettter to eat snacks prepared in the evening rather than frozen stuff from refrigerator.

My wife gave me another unexpected jolt.

She served me hot curry and rasam — pepper and tamarind soup —

“What a surprise! One jolt after another — hot dishes for dinner — "

“ You speak as though I never served you hot food at dinner. ” Her face turned red with rage.

“Leave it. What a change today! What’s the matter? Tell me clearly. You seem to be angling for something?”

“It is too much. As if I serve you well only when I need some thing!”

“ I did not say so. You have to demand for something within my means. ”

I had already bought her a sari costing a thousand rupees for the festival. Hence, she may not ask for a sari. What else it may be?” I started surmising.

I was lost in my thoughts.

Suddenly I remembered.

She might ask for a diamond studded nose pin.

“There is no information about my bonus. ” I told her.

“ It’s not about it — “ She was silent for a minute.
“ Look here,” she accosted me endearingly.

“ Tell me. ’

“ I lost my cell phone. ”

I whistled in glee! I understood the situation well.

For the lady who spent all her time with phone glued to her ears, sudden realization dawned about the need to speak with her husband and prepare warm dinner for him!

“How can it happen? Just carefully search where you might have left it. ”

“I searched everywhere. ” She looked at me pathetically. “Nowhere I could locate it. ”

“That means I have to buy a new phone for you. ”

As is known well, these days one may forgo a meal ,but can not spend time without a phone for a second at least!

What can a poor home maker do, without any employment?

“It’s fine. I will buy a new cell phone for you. ”

Her face beamed with glow of rising full moon.

I had a hearty laughter internally.

I resolved to get back her cell phone kept in my office after a few days and enjoy her intimacy and affection till then!
 

Original story in Telegu titled ‘Rahasyam’ by Dr L. R. Swamy published in ‘Saakshi’ Sunday supplement, June 2024 translated into English by T. S. Chandra Mouli