"When Kevin and Ann decided to keep it warm between the fairy lights."
It has been one year after our marriage, Kevin or I haven't felt any great difference, other than our news of a new addition to complete us as a family. One year of marriage was absolutely a fun ride, settling abroad, like a country in London.I wasn't sure about my parent's idea of me getting married and then moving to London.Marriage is always considered a societal institution which requires lots of effort, understanding and emotional stability. Am i ready to embrace or share my space with someone? Whenever i had to cross a thought the intensity of the whole notion escalates like something too exhausting.
Everything happened so fast, receiving my DL and meeting Kevin through a matrimonial site,our first real encounter can be called an arranged blind date, apart from all others this date happened outside my boundary space that too this time i was alone.The place was a downtown cafe, a well checked in place where i have never been.The insta reviews told it served best food with a delicate ambience , so if this didn't go well, i would definetly have my favourite food and shop a sneakers. Keeping a back up plan to wake up from the uncertainty of rejection, I was pretty equipped mentally to face any lows without a sheer chance of ups. To avoid the anxiety and awkward mannersims. I reached at Downtown than speculated time and started reading the menu. No matter where i go, my comfy food code is biryani. So, if this is not going well i will order chesse burger and Chicken pizza along with mutton biryani, also paneer tikka and one scoop of chocolate icecream, because bad memory can be outcasted by a good gut memory. The plan was perfect for an uneventful date. But what if it turned so well...! All i have is vague facial familiarity that too captured, through the virtual clips.Whatever.. I can wait for the best, this is not end of it. I need to see fairy tales and some more rom-com to pacify the love deeds.
Exactly after half an hour, i gets call from an unknown number.
Unknown Number :Hello!Kevin here
Ann:Hai,
Kevin :Where are you?
Ann:Downtown cafe.
Kevin :Downtown cafe... I am also at the same place..?
Ann:I am at the upstairs
Kevin:Okey, i am coming.
Ann(Nice voice though, seems like friendly, well my pattern of thinking can be obsessive at times, which can create lots of expectations, stop contemplating the good, i had to warn myself before i start liking blindly )
Kevin (I hope she is hungry too, who climbs stairs when downstairs has vaccant seats, is there any elevator ?Looks around and sighs... Oh no! everyone is taking steps, Here I am climbing steps ta da da (I walk an empty road -Boulevard of broken dreams ).1,2,3....... 25 steps, there are 25 steps. By the by Where is she? Ann nnn.. Gotcha )
Ann's thoughts(A smart looking guy, that was my first impression when Kevin walked into the room, not only me, everyone had an eye on him. He was cool, calm and held the most welcoming smile.)
Kevin(Looks different from photo, I hope she loves Biriyani )
Ann:Hai(Smiles)
Kevin :Hai(Smiles)
A second of silence, eventually broke, lightly.
Kevin :How was your journey?
Ann:Good!
Ann(I think, i am hungry )What should i do?
Kevin (Sneaks at his cellphone ):Oh!its 1 o clock.
Ann sees Kevin sneaking phone.
Ann(I knew it, this is not going to work ).
Kevin:Ann, I think we both need to have some food.
Ann :Yeah why not...(I am hungry too, but i was confused, because last time when i met a guy he bought chicko shake just to convince me, he is not to marriage, I can't take this anymore, Appa and Amma everytime.... God).
Kevin :Sorry Aren't you hungry.
Ann :Yeah I am, literally i had nothing in the morning.
Kevin :Oh is it, Then you should definetly have something boozifying like..
Ann:Biriyani...
Kevin :Mmm.. Not just Biriyani, Mutton!
Ann:Yes! That is my favourite.
Kevin:same here(We like same food, Fin!)
Kevin :I have not known many people who love mutton biriyani. Mum cooks mostly beef and chicken.
Ann :Same here!Mutton is the most underated meat.
Kevin:Mostly because of its high rates.
Ann:True that, we buy them on two ocassions, Christmas and Easter.
Kevin:We buy them rarely at home, that is not my case at all, i have them twice or thrice in a month when i am with my friends.
Ann:Lucky man
Kevin :I tried cooking it once.
Ann:Aha!So do you cook.
Kevin:Occasionaly, when the situation demands, something like eggs, tea and chapathis.How about you?
Ann :Well, yes i kinda cook almost everything
Kevin :Everything!(Perplexed)
Ann:looks may be deceiving
Kevin :I agree..
Laughs..
By the time waiter comes and serves hot mutton biriyani. I understood the mutton biriyani was an ice-breaker for both of us. From 1pm amd 4pm for the first time in my life, Kevin and me had cheese burger, chicken pizza and one scoop of chocolate icecream. I could conversate with my alter ego, that is what i felt .That day, it was too short. I got my spark after a long wait. We both hugged and parted for ever more. To decide, to say yes from my side to his side and his side to mine became easy.
. Ever since our first meeting, there was an instant connection, maybe that is what people call spark! text messages and phone calls weren't too long, it was all about that spark and just a 10minute conversation every day, or too short emails occasionally. After three weeks of marriage, we both flew to London, he became my best friend and the best comfort zone in no time. One year went so fast, I mean I have never counted days or seconds with him until the Facebook reminded me of our first anniversary. Then exactly after one week getting to know that I have conceived. I was excited and worried at the same time. I asked Kevin! Are you ready to be a father? He answered Absolutely! It would be fun, I was watching cute baby videos since last few days, and was wishing for one, this is surprise. Ann, were you expecting this?
Ann: Yeah! I am excited, I am also worried.
He slowly held his hand, casted his eyes upon me with assurance, with a warm smile and said
I can understand, you are not alone in this journey ,We will make this world a better place for this soon to be born baby. However you will be my constant.
Kevin knew to handle stress and bring peace just like that, the way he says he does, whenever he speaks he just bring his feelings to eyes and that is how I knew he meant it.
First, trimester-He isn't an ardent reader, but for the baby and me, he read books, articles to teach me regarding maternity, parenting although I work as a nurse, I treasure his efforts to make this special at every sense, he joins in exercises, prepare food I crave, clean untidy. Despite all his efforts, I was badly missing my mom,her level of understanding, what I was craving most was her food especially the special Aviyal, yellow mooru curry, and sambhar. Already he was doing too much. Taking care of all the tiny things so well , I couldn't just ask him more and notifying more may discourage the in built understanding . Kevin was and is too good to say a no.There is one thing we have decided no matter what happens we will always find and engage in our quality time. It could be in the anytime of the day. Most of the time it would be evening, either we go for a walk or just sit with a coffee and talk about our day, random memories, laugh and tease that is the best time of our day. Those conversations are which has taken us to the extra mile. So, after two weeks, inside what I was really missing, I was finding it difficult to word peculiarly about Mom. After work, I was pretty exhausted so we cancelled the plan of short walk settled instead for a coffee date at the balcony. Balcony was one what we were looking in an apartment, I still remember how patiently Kevin waited for finding the perfect apartment, apart from finding, he also helped in decorating home the commited patience, as well as persistence, has made this home beautiful that is the reason, why every nook and corner of our new home holds lots emotions and memories. The balcony is the one which has got a lot of attention, there is a vertical garden, on the right corner, a small white round table with two zebra coloured chairs placed facing the view of the city. We switch to mat & pillow combo during off days to watch our favourite Netflix series. The glass door to the balcony is decorated with fairy lights, our random silly pictures which we take every month for no reason at all. So every month we keep changing those pictures in the fairy light strings at the end of the month, we write a special thank you note mentioning something special about each other, those notes are kept in a box, burnt after every three months.
Well, now you may think why so formal, both of us believed in gratitude,we never knew how to be romantic ,as we never had any idea about how to be how in relationships ,till we got married.The arranged marriage setup is quite different, but we both believed little million things , love & gratefulness will definitely make it up.
As I was exhausted, Kevin rushed to the kitchen, prepared some hot coffee and brought it to the balcony.
Kevin: Here is the hot coffee and the man.
Ann (Smiles)
Kevin: So, how was your day?
Ann: It was alright, I had few episodes of emesis and I was shifted to Opd for my rest of the duty, by god's grace the warden in-charge is so understanding. So, after 12noon I didn't have any kind of distress.
Kevin: That is great!
Ann: And, you?
Kevin: Well, it was ok, My boss runs with artificial intelligence he doesn't know emotions, it speaks and express in binary numbers.
Ann: You exactly sound like a Robot.The software engineer with a soft heart and hard-hearted computer.
Kevin: Waah! I thought your humour sense eloped with your pregnancy. (Giggles)
Ann: Yeah, it just came back for a minute to say bye to your bad day.
Kevin: Haha, that wasn't funny at all.
Ann: Is it?
Kevin: Well, it's our off tomorrow, what is the plan?
Ann: I am sorry to inform my duty got changed with Rita, she urgently had to go to her hometown.
Kevin: What (annoyed) It was our movie day.
Ann: Just for one day. Her mom is sick it seems and is hospitalized.
Kevin: Oh! That is pretty sad.
Ann: I know right, Rita love her mom a lot, she goes speechless whenever we speak about parents and family.
Kevin: What happened to her?
Ann: Well, I couldn't exactly ask her what is it? Or I didn't feel it right.
Kevin: True, Moms are truly an emotion we can't see them in pain.
[Ann suddenly slows down, and pause for a moment with watery eyes].
Kevin: Hey! Ann are you alright
Ann: Yeah, weeps slowly
Kevin: calms Ann
Ann can't just stop her rolling tears
Ann: Kevin! I miss my mom
A puzzled Kevin
Kevin: Yes! I can see that. You can talk to me when you feel like sharing, do you need some time?
Ann: I am sorry, Kevin since the last few days I am missing her badly.
Kevin silently listens to her.
Ann: Ever since the pregnancy report I occasionally feel sad and also I do feel good when you take care of me, still I miss my mom badly.
Kevin: That is alright, my mom also felt the same when she was carrying my brother, she used to feel alone at times. I know how it feels.
Ann: it could be tough to bring her here right, especially for her home is where there is Dad, dad will not come here leaving his estate and rubber.
Kevin: Right, so what can we do now?
Ann: Nothing as such, right!
Kevin: Mmm, I think you should take some rest, we will find some way to sort this out.
Ann: Mmm, but I feel better now.
Kevin: Are you sure?
Kevin's thought about Ann And Pregnancy
After a cry -breakout usually Ann feels better. This was the bitter and sweet part of her mood swings, reactions are too fast. Usually, she prefers sitting alone but somedays she just love being surrounded, the best way to translate her mood is that she is just perfect with any mood after the test result is positive, Ann has perceived her carriage a big fat responsibility all minute tic and toe can make her react hormones and psychological stress. Its first pregnancy, and she might have studied, heard and saw many things about this phase. I had no idea how to make her feel better. Mostly she may be missing her mom and the food, her favourite food is Aviyal, sambhar, and morru curry typically the sadya. So, tomorrow is her duty day and my off. I think I can make her feel better.
After the dinner, she slept early, the morning I prepared her some dosa and dropped her till her workplace. I could feel that pain behind her smile, her eyes are special they are expressive whatever is there in the heart just comes right on her eyes. I smiled and waited until Ann entered the entrance. Going back home now I had to think about two people in different roles one the baby the mom, my wife, and my best friend. I am an ok cook, I can prepare chicken and some vegetable curry. Usually chucks of all recipes which have too many process and ingredients, but I don't want to see her in that face again. I decided to call Ann's Mom. Ann's mom and I have a buddy connection, we make fun, and talk a lot. Picked my phone dialled Mom's number.
Mom: Hey, buddy(On the other side of the phone).
Kevin: Hey buddy so how is the pepper and hen farm.
Mom: Pepper is growing, last day Teena and family took 5kg.
Kevin: Oh! Such trade.
Mom: Teena is our kid, I just gave it from our store.
Kevin: For free, Saint.!
So what about the chickens, ready to fry?
Mom: Ayeeda! (A colloquial term used sarcastically )
Kevin:(Laughs)Mom
Mom: Yes! Now there is something serious.
Kevin: Yeah! Ann needs you now, how could you just be there and care only about pepper and chickens. She is like mustard in the oil when she cries
Mom: oh! Did she cry?
Kevin: Yeah, how did you know it?
Mom: You know her well, she is a cry baby.
Kevin: And your cry baby is gonna have a baby.
Mom: So, she is not only pregnant lady, we all have carried, and you are not the only man who is excited to see the first baby. Chill!
Kevin: It's already freezing cold here. not any more!
Mom: OKEY, let us get into the matter. Do you know to bake a cake?
Kevin: No, I don't think so, she may prefer having it.
Mom: Then what do you think, she likes most.
Kevin: I was about to ask that question to you MOM.
Mom: Well, ya gotcha Rocha,aviyal, sambhar, mooru curry, thorran, pullishery the sadyya.
Kevin: Now, you speak like her mom.
Mom: Once a mom will be always a mom. I may sound like beating around the bush but I know to cut the bush too.
Kevin: Like mom, like daughter pathetic humour sense.
Mom: mmm,
Kevin: Well! you have the solution can you just tell me how it is? For sure. Shall I turn on to a video call?
Mom: Okey, anything for my daughter.
Ann's mom's instructions were perfect, she despite her age and body pain spend her precious time to bring her daughter's favourite dishes on the table before she arrives. Everything was perfect but the most important to bring the home feeling was still missing. I could make the dishes but the ambience isn't complete.
Ann arrives after work. She opened the door with the spare key, lights were off.
Ann: Kevin, where are you? (Looks out eagerly)
Ann a familiar voice calls her.
Ann: Mom,
Mom: Yes, just look behind on your TV.
Ann looks behind and sees her mom on the PC.
Ann laughs and says
Ann: Mom, this isn't TV. It's a PC.
Mom: Whatever, why did you cry yesterday.
Kevin interrupts: she didn't cry, she was just cutting onions.
Ann looks Kevin annoyingly.
Mom: Stop looking at him like that Ann, you are gonna be a mother and you were crying for your mother.
Kevin giggles, Ann pinches Kevin.
Kevin: Ah that pains.
Ann stares Kevin again angrily.
Mom: Ann! Stop doing that to my son, go be fresh, and let us have dinner together.
Ann: OKEY! Mom.
Kevin's thoughts now the ambience is lite. Because home is where Mom is there.
Ann freshens up, though the time schedule was extremely different, for that day we prepared the same dishes, sat & dinned together, as usual, we clicked a picture together. To frame it between our fairy lights.
