The Way I Wish It To Be

PS: This is a work of fiction inspired from real life characters.

Gaurav knocked on the glass door of my cabin. He was pointing his watch towards me and then gestured to me with open palm. I got his message that only five minutes are left before we need to go to the board room for the top management review. Its been more than two weeks   that we were preparing for this. Gaurav, who is my boss, is now more of a friend after three years working together and sharing our taste for music.

The watch was still to strike five when Gaurav and I entered into the board room which, minutes later, was full with seven top executives for the annual top management review. The grins on their faces clearly indicated that two humans will soon be made extinct by these terminators.

Next one hour passed in sipping coffees, performing mutual admiration club rituals and drooling over words of CEO. Slides kept switching in between which somehow looked little dull than what they were during dry run.

“Gentlemen, let’s call it a day”, CEO said, disappointed after waiting for all of this time to find a chance to tear us apart, which somehow we managed not to let happen. The disappointment of a tiger when his prey escapes was very clear from his tone.

But anyhow, the meeting which was expected to last till 8:00 concluded few minutes even before 6:00. I was rushing to my cabin as it was a Friday and luckily I had a perfect opportunity to leave office on time.

“Vikram”, I heard someone calling me from behind. This is one voice which anyone can recognise in office.

“Hey Priya”. Priya has been working in the same office for last four years. She is a real candy to the eye and was looking the same pretty today.

“Where are you headed to? What about that drink with me today which is long due on you?”

Had it been few years back, I could have done anything to be asked out by her. But it’s been almost fourth time in last six months that I am facing this situation. This time I was short of excuse and for a moment I thought just a drink is not a big deal.

“I am not asking you to go out on a date with me. Just a drink. Don’t be sacred, I won’t bite you”, she giggled and as usual left no chance to pull my leg. She had seen my dilemma that I am trying to find another excuse for not going out with her again.

“Not like that. Just that I am little exhausted today,” the moment I uttered those words I realised that those were the lamest words I have used during whole day. And now I could clearly see what was about to come.

“It is just 6:00 and anyhow you were supposed to be busy by 8:00. Work never exhausts you. I know that well”, her determination this time was making me more and more defenceless.

“We can be free in an hour and still you’ll reach home one hour earlier than you expected”, her grilling continued.

“Sunday evening done”, were my last desperate words to get out of that situation. They were agreed upon as a face saving favour for me which both of us knew it was not going to happen.

Few minutes later, just before turning on the ignition of my car I dialled my phone, “I got free early today. You get ready, let’s go out for dinner”.

“But how? You were supposed to be late in office today; wasn't it was your annual review today?”

“It has all been done and we have managed to save our skins”, were my last words on that call.

“Ha ha, see ya.”

I invested my next forty five minutes into cutting through the mad peak hour traffic. But today I didn’t find it as irritating as daily. Even the songs on the radio were sounding better. I was sure they have changed their RJ.

My car halted with a screech and I was on the front door of that seventh floor apartment within minutes. I pushed the door bell switch and after a long time I was very excited today like it is the first time we’ll meet.

The door opened within seconds and she was standing in front of me bare footed, dressed only in a white T-Shirt which was just a little short than her knee length. Her hair were all dripping because she just had a shower. For a moment my heart skipped a beat and I was standing dumb struck, which was not for the first time. I  re-realised that even after two years of our marriage she is still the same Roman Goddess.

It had been more than four years when we had first met at CP followed by few drinks at Rodeo. That day she kept on talking and talking and I  just enjoyed listening to her. Till this day her voice is the sweetest song ever composed. That time was the maddening season of cricket World Cup and all the drinks there were funnily named on cricket terms. Every single moment spent with and about her crossed my mind like a flash back. Lately this has become my favourite hobby. We faced so many ups and downs but at the moment we were standing in front of each other nothing else ever mattered more than that.

“So what’s the occasion of celebration?” she grabbed the bouquet herself as if it was for someone else and popped that question whose answer she herself knew.

“You”, I acted sheepishly and forgot that we can also continue that conversation inside.

“Sorry, I got a little late. There were few calls from the office in the meantime. Will be ready in five.” And she turned to enter the house.

“It is too much traffic outside. Most of the time will be spent in traffic only. Would you mind if we stay at home this evening?” came another lame excuse of the day, from my side but this time the reason was worth.

“Why else do you think I am not ready yet?” and that spark in her eyes melted my heart.

She held my hand and took me inside the place called home which actually is totally isolated from all the undesirable things of the rest of the world...