A Realization

My eyes open. Its five past 7 in the morning. I turn to see that she's still sound asleep. I move her hair away from her eyes and gently kiss her forehead. That's how I usually wake her up.

She twitches a little, moans a little and turns away to sleep again. That's how she usually responds.

"Honey, I'll be late. Again. Wake up", I whisper.

She twitches again, half opens her eyes and pulls my shoulder towards her.

"Five more minutes", she mumbles "Pleeeez". It is too much for me to resist. And she knows it.

I lie down again for two minutes and then grumpily pull myself out of the bed.

"Honeyyyyyyyy", I let out another wake up call as I'm putting toothpaste on my brush, but hear nothing. 

After a couple of minutes, I come out to see her finally up, sitting on the bed, still under the sheets. She is stretching her arms slowly, like a bollywood heroine. With still half open eyes, she gives me a 'come hither' look. When I reach her, she pulls me next to her, pulls up the sheets on me and snuggles up next to me. 

Two more minutes of sweet gibberish follow ending with "Don't go to office today.. Pleeeeeease". It is accompanied with those sad kitten eyes for extra impact. Even though I hear it every day, I still consider it every day. 

With great difficulty, I get her out of bed and push her into the bathroom. I then proceed for my morning combo of online news and Sportscenter. Ten minutes pass. I feel her arms wrap around me from behind the couch and she plants a big kiss on my cheek. Before I even turn around, she's off to the kitchen. Now that she's fully awake, she's realized that its getting late for me.

"Will you drink milk?" She asks.

"No" I reply, as always.

She hands me a glass of Bournvita anyway, followed by two minutes of explanation on how milk is good for my recently healed broken arm.

"Yucckkk, there's all sort of things floating in it. I don't want it"

"That's just kene (cream). Shut up and drink it"

I take five full minutes to carefully avoid all the kenes and finish the milk.

"Gawd, what a baby!", she smacks the back of my head before taking the glass away from me.

Halfway through reading the day's Bill Simmons' column, I hear her voice, "Aren't you getting late?"

Yes, I am. I rush to the bathroom. 10 minutes later, as I am getting dressed, she walks in with breakfast. Its my favorite: Khaara Avalakki (A Poha Dish). She knows that I'm already running late, so she spoon-feeds me half the food. Finally, I'm dressed and I take the plate from her and start eating while returning to the Bill Simmons column.

"God! Can't you read that after you reach office?"

"Okay, Okay". I gobble up the last 2 spoons together, place the plate in the sink and proceed towards the glass of orange juice.

"Honeyy.."

".. I know. I'll pack your laptop"

"Don't forget my SecureID Token"

"Ayyoo gotthappa, neenu ninn SecureID (Ohh, I know, you and you're SecureID)"

I wash up and come back to the living room to see my bag packed.

"Will you come early today?"

"Yes, I'll definitely try!"

"That's what you say every day"

"No, today I will definitely be home before 5:30".

"5:30?? That's early??"

"Then what? You want me to come back at 4?

(Giggling) "Hmmm"

"I'll stay home instead, why bother."

"Yayyyyy!"

"I'll make up some bahaana to my boss and try to sneak out early, Okay na?"

"Tell your boss that you have a wife who's waiting at home all day thinking about her husband"

"Why don't you tell him that?"

"Sure. Give me your phone", and she plucks the phone away from my hand.

"You're crazy!! Give me my phone back"

"Only if you promise to come at least half an hour earlier than usual"

"Okayppa, I promise"

"Okay, take it. Now give me a ummwaa"

"Umwaaaaah"

"That's it?? I want more" (giggles).

Some more ummaas later, I wave goodbye (and some flying ummaas) and head out towards the car. As I'm warming my hands inside the car, I see her on the balcony. It is freezing cold, but she's there, just like every other day, waving goodbye and watching me till I'm out of sight.

While driving, I keep smiling at the thought of her trying to call my boss & getting him to send me home early and suddenly, I realize that I forgot to tell her how great the Avalakki was.

I feel that a phone call isn't good enough and decide to turn back home...

"kikikikik... kikikikik.... kikikikik .... kikikikik ... kikikikik" 

My eyes open. 

Its 7:15.

I turn, hoping that she's there, but I am alone.