“Good morning, sweetheart. Happy Anniversary.” she said hugging him from behind, leaning onto him.
“Anniversary?” he looked up from the newspaper.
“You forgot, didn’t you?” her smile narrowed and so did her eyebrows.
“Our anniversary is not until next two months, honey.” He was ultra-cautious of remembering their marriage anniversary ever since he forgot it once and paid the price.
“Today is our First-Date anniversary.” She said.
It was ironic how what she nursed in obvious ways, he thought of as something obviously not to care for.
She fumed to the kitchen.
He followed her, “You know I am bad with dates. It doesn’t mean I don’t care or I don’t love you.”
“There! You said it. Care. You actually don’t care. How can someone be as insensitive as you for not caring about the little things which matter to me? I don’t want to talk to you. You are too callous.” She said and pretended to look for something in the fridge.
He silently went to the bedroom and returned with an old, creased white polythene bag. He placed it on the kitchen platform with the scratchy sound – loud enough to grab her attention.
“Now what is this crap?” she asked angrily.
“This is the crap that I have been hiding from you hoping I would never show it to you.” He said peeping and slipping a hand into the bag as a bunch of stuff shuffled inside.
She tried to steal a look. Before she asked any questions, he divulged.
“This little chit, what now seems blank, used to be the ticket of our first movie together – with time, the print on these papers fades away. This is the mouth freshener sachet from the restaurant where we first held hands.”
He continued, avoiding looking up into her eyes while she stared at him. He dug deeper in the bag.
“You said, I don’t remember our first date. Right? Well, this is the bill of our first date; a sandwich, a pizza and two cokes – mine regular, and diet for you.” He said without even looking at the bill.
“This is your handkerchief that I stole from your bag the day I realized I was in love with you. A cap of your lipstick was missing years ago, remember? Here it is. It was the lipstick you had on, when we had our first kiss. You threw away this empty perfume bottle; it was the fragrance that you were wearing when we made love for the first time!” a dab of moisture glanced from his eyes. She stood numb.
“This is the matchbox that I used when I surprised you with the candle light dinner at home on our first anniversary – inside, there are burnt matchsticks too.” He shook the matchbox; she heard teeny rattle.
“This is the toothpick from the dinner date when I proposed to you and you said Yes – the best day of my life! This tiny shampoo bottle – I sneaked it from the hotel room on our honeymoon.” he smiled to himself.
“This… This… And this. And also, this. All of this! These all are the pieces of you and me. The bits of us. These bits assemble like a jigsaw and make us what we are.” He said as he toppled the bag over and memories scattered on the kitchen platform.
He held her face, looked into her eyes and said, “While I was busy holding all of this close to my heart, if I have turned insensitive and failed to keep track of the dates, I am really sorry.”
Tears could not linger behind the weir of her eyes anymore. She set them free and hugged him the tightest ever; he kissed on her head.
Resting on his chest, she gazed blankly at the wrinkly first-date-bill as a drop of her tear rolled down her cheek and soaked his shirt.
Photo Credit: mikesween
Wow, beautiful and poignant. A good reminder that we each have different ways of expressing our love.
Thanks for following my blog, blessings, Brad
Thanks Brad. Glad that you liked my post. I hope my blog is interesting enough for you to enjoy and follow 🙂
Yes, I’m following your blog. 🙂
Thanks 🙂
I would like to “follow” your blog-it seems there is no longer a follow button. I hope you will follow me as well. beebeesworld
Sure. You can find follow button on the panel through the Widgets button on the upper right corner 🙂
Thanks-That will help me with other readers too! beebeesworld
Sure. 🙂
Absolutely not urs nor mine… Bits of us.. So B’ful
Thank you 🙂
How on earth did I miss this one? JLTs are always my favourite and this is one is mind-blowing best!! It is like a true slice of real life. How do you do this buddy? I mean…you are incredibly good and I am at loss of words……
Thank you 🙂
<3 <3 <3
You are amazing Tejas Bhai.. Every time when you come up with a story or poetry it smells life inside it.. On everything you write, you carries the minute feelings on it… And as always this one too.. simple..tender.. cute.. lovely.. Out of words.. 🙂
As I scrolled down through comments, noticed that something special is coming from you.. Now fingers crossed.. waiting for that.. You are magical.. 🙂
Nimitha, “Every time when you come up with a story or poetry it smells life inside it..” This compliment would remain close to my heart forever. Thank you! 🙂
🙂 its always the truth dear… Writers like you are wonders in my life.. 🙂
Every words are special… <3
Wow. Thank you so much! And as I’ve said earlier, you spoil me 😛
😀 If this spoiling lead to something more miraculous.. I will definitely keep on spoiling you.. 🙂
M sorry… I can’t help you for that.. :p
haha. So sweet of you. 🙂
🙂
Oh my!This is so beautifully written!*sighs*
You see,love isn’t really my thing. I don’t really read love/romance based posts or books. But this?Fab!!♥
Getting someone to like reading what isn’t their thing is an award for me 😉
Wow that’s an awesome way to look at it,actually. *Nods*
You did accomplish something which happens very very rarely.:P
Easy is for the Ordinary. I am a tough fella, you know. 😛
Hahahaha I am coming to realise that,actually.:P
😀 😉
😀
Each word carried the weight of the emotion felt 🙂 A beautiful and senstive piece 🙂 A great write up and as you have mentioned to deepika that you are a published blogger 😉 and a winner too 😛 So I am eagerly waiting to read that published piece of yours 😀 ..Congrats for the win 🙂 Many more are on their way 🙂
Thank you Neerja. The piece I was talking about to Deepika is special to me for more than one reasons. You’ll see when I post it. 🙂
Now you have increased my curiosity 🙂 hope to read it soon 🙂
That’s the whole plan 😉 I just hope my plan doesn’t backfire and the story lives up to your elevated expectations.
It will ..just don’t worry …you are a great raconteur 🙂
Thank you 🙂
🙂
This is just so romantic and so so emotional. The best romance story I have come across after a long time. It’s wonderful. Keep giving us such knots in our thoughts! 😉
Thank you Alisha. Knots feel the best when untangled with a smile 🙂 I am glad that your enjoyed this piece.
Romance flows out of you TJ, Words can describe any feeling in the world; feeling of togetherness, feeling of love, care and what not! Very good write -up!
Thank you, Hema. It is true. Words have the power to make or break anything if chosen at the right time at the right place. 🙂
Usually, I’m able to find words to write in my thoughts about your awesome posts, but this one has strapped my tongue in, only letting my jaw drop in utter fascination and stare dumb at this incredible narrative. I’m speechless at the beauty of this moment ?
🙂 (Well, in that case, I would leave it at just a smile too.)
🙂 – right back at you, bro
I’ve always wanted to ask you this but keep forgetting – have you written any books or are you currently writing one? You’re one cracking writer.
One of my short stories, that won the first prize at an online short story contest, is published in a short story anthology. So, if you ask me, yes, I am a published author. I will be sharing that story on my blog soon. I am just waiting for a special day. You’ll see 😉
About my own complete book, things are in snail-speed progress. A lot is going on in life, hence the delay. Thank you for asking. 🙂
Wow, that is amazing, Tejas anna 🙂 I’m so glad you’ve written a book too. Please tell me when it’s out, I’ll definitely buy it. And don’t worry about the time 🙂 the book’s soul is waiting for an auspicious moment to dazzle readers.
Congratulations on winning that prize! And now that you’ve mentioned you’re going to share it, I’m eagerly waiting for that special day.
Keep rocking!
Yes, you must wait for that day. It would be less than a month from today. And I promise, it will be worth the wait! 🙂
🙂 🙂 🙂 *double thumbs up*
🙂 Thank you.
Beautiful!
Thank you, Diana 🙂