THE DREAMER & THE BORE

Lying on their backs, Rahul and Anu were busy talking without facing each other.

“I have planned it all. We open our restaurant on the moon. Let’s call it Moon River. You can cook there, while I take care of the guests.”

“On the moon, Anu?”

“Is it too much? Or do you think we can start with a star and then open our franchisees on other stars?”

“Which star?”

“I don’t know. Let me see.”

Anu started pointing at the sky.

“How about that one?”

“No.”

“How about the one on the right?”

“Which one?”

“The one that forms the first of the three in a line.”

“Oh, you mean the Orion Belt?

“Yes, the Orion Belt.”

The rest of the evening went by with Anu telling Rahul the rest of her elaborate plans. Rahul did not react much, but he found his wife fascinating. Almost always, they got into trouble because of her insane ideas.

*

“I don’t understand, why do you have to work such long hours?”

“Work Anu, work! I am an Executive Chef for a 5-star property, I can’t help it.”

“I have tolerated your long hours for 10 years now. But lately these hours are getting longer. For goodness sake, you came home at four in the morning. We don’t go out anymore. You have turned into such a bore!”

“If you know I came at four, then you also know that I haven’t got proper sleep. Let me sleep. Let’s fight in the night.”

Rahul put his head under the pillow and went off to sleep. Anu went off  to her work. Rahul’s long hours continued for a few more months.

*

“Where are we going Rahul?”

“Out to dine! Any problems?”

But throughout the journey, the strain on the relation could be seen as both Rahul and Anu kept quiet.

Once rid of the car, Rahul took Anu into the Mall from one side to the other and then he stopped at a closed space that said, WORK IN PROGRESS.

“You wanted to know where I had been disappearing for the last couple of months na! I love you, loads!”

Saying this, Rahul dragged Anu into a now nearing-completion restaurant.

“We are calling it Moon River. I quit my job today.”

With tears in her eyes Anu said, “this is exactly like what I told you. My dream restaurant, I thought you rarely listened.”

“Well, this bore was thinking of making his beautiful dreamer’s dreams come true. Now we both will have to work longer.”

He slowly wiped her tears.

“I have many other plans to discuss with you, Rahul.”

“One step at a time darling, one step at a time.”

And with that, the couple stood marvelling at their new world, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder.

~ A Story By Fizaah Faiyaz, © 2015