Self Realisation...

Amar and Ahana were married successfully for 6 years now. Theirs was love marriage, of course, with consent from the elders. Things were going on fine until the last 2 years when Ahana could not get to meet Amar like before and she had started questioning him coming home late. Amar always tried to explain to her that since his promotion to a higher position, he had to stay back at office. She turned a deaf ear to all his explanations. Since then, even Amar had stopped convincing her and as he got busier in his job, naturally, he started paying less attention to Ahana, which she couldn't take. It was difficult for Ahana to stay at home throughout the day and she landed up in a 9 to 5 job.

Both lead their busy lives amidst which their marital life got affected. Both were longing to have kids, but in vain. Their family doctor had also suggested them go on a second honeymoon, but both lacked interest and due to lack of time had postponed the thought.

Ahana had to stay back in her office one day and she had informed Amar about it. Ahana looked at the watch, it was already 9, Amar had told her that he would come and pick her, so she thought she would wait in the reception. Fifteen minutes passed by, there was neither a message nor a call from Amar. She sent him a message and tried to call him, it was not reachable. The office personnel offered to book a cab for her, she refused saying that her husband would come and pick her. His phone was not reachable even at 9.30, she got anxious and told the office personnel to book a cab for her.

As soon as the cab came, she got in and told the driver to take a short cut as it was already late. The driver just nodded his head. Ahana had taken the cab for the first time in her life and was crying from within as to how could Amar forget to pick her and how irresponsible of him to have not answered her call.

The cab driver's phone rang and he started talking to his wife. Ahana was least bothered and was scolding Amar for ignoring her in such a way. The cab driver was explaining to his wife that this would be the last ride today and that he would be coming home soon. As the speaker was on, Ahana could hear their conversation. He was pacifying her so nicely despite her scolding him. Ahana started getting irritated now with the cab driver's wife. Why couldn't she understand her husband when he's telling her that he would be home soon. The cab stopped. Ahana felt scared and asked the driver as to why he had stopped it. He just signalled her that he would get food and didn't even wait for her response. Ahana felt helpless. She tried Amar's number now, it was switched off. She felt that there was something wrong and was about to get down from the cab, but sat back as he saw the cab driver approaching the cab.

Ahana requested him to drive a little faster as it was getting late. The cab driver replied that he was in a hurry more than her because today was his wife's birthday and that he had left home early in the morning when she was sleeping and had forgotten to wish her and that is why he was carrying her favourite food home since he didn't have enough money to buy her a gift. Ahana felt bad on hearing this. The cab driver told her that since they don't have kids of their own, they both treat each other as kids.

Ahana's phone started ringing. Amar was calling her. She didn't pick. It rang again. She wouldn't budge. The cab driver told her "you have only one husband and he has only one wife" if you don't care for him, how would you expect him to take care of you? Point to be noted. Ahana with tears in her eyes picked his call. She wouldn't say a word to him. The cab driver could hear only Amar's voice. She cut the call. The phone kept on ringing, Ahana cut his call again. The cab driver told her that her husband would not call her again because she didn't even respond to his call. The same happened, Amar didn't call her back. Ahana asked him about his perfect guess. He told her that he knew men's mentality very well and told her that though he's illiterate, he had seen many people in his life and that not many husbands would call their wives so many times like how Amar did.

She told him about how he had forgotten to pick her up today, to which he replied. "You are upset because he forgot to pick you, what about me, I forgot to wish my wife on her birthday and going home without any gift". Maybe, your husband was busy in a meeting and would have forgotten that or maybe his phone was not working? Ahana was amazed at the cab driver's logical reasoning. She gave a thought about it and wiped her tears off. As the cab stopped by at her apartment, she paid him an extra amount of 100 rs, which he refused to take and left the scene.

It was already 10.30 pm, Ahana's stomach was growling. She was tired. She took the lift and rang the doorbell. It took a while for Amar to open the door and Ahana was thinking about what to cook and that Amar must've slept like a boar by now. Amar opened the door, it was dark and Ahana could barely see anything. She started scolding Amar for having switched off all the lights.

Amar slowly closed the door and held Ahana from the back. Ahana tried to take his hands off, but his hold was firm. She was about to scream at him but was silenced by the beautiful sight in the hall. She couldn't believe her eyes. The table was neatly set for a candlelight dinner. There was a two-layered cake. Ahana felt bad, how could she forget their anniversary. Amar slowly slipped his hand into hers and whispered in her ears, her ears turned red on hearing that. She turned towards him and hugged him. He told her that he had totally forgotten to pick her and got busy in decorating the....shhh, Ahana apologized too and before she could say anything, Amar made her quiet with a kiss. Both cut the cake and had a sumptuous dinner, of course, Amar being a good chef that he was.

As they hit the bed, Ahana couldn't stop herself from thanking the cab driver and wished his wife happy birthday in her mind. Breaking her thoughts, Amar asked as to her plans of a second honeymoon to which she silenced him with a .....

Well, I forgot to tell you that Ahana is now busy with 2 kids and Amar is looking forward to one more.....