T(w)o and Fro(wn) - Part 1

Camera – Check

Camera batteries – check

Travel Bags – Check

All Clothes – Check

Laptop – check

Laptop charger – check

Money – check

Mobiles– check

Diesel in car – Check

Vinod was packing stuff and going over the checklist. Did I miss anything? He cross checked the list and packed stuff again and gave out satisfactory nod, ‘nothing missed out – I am Batman.’ He sat on couch for a moment taking pride in his achievement. He rarely does packing before a journey, and the last time he did camera was forgotten.  It was remembered only when an elephant majestically walked across the road and Gowri almost went mad by that awesome sight. She searched all bags for the camera unsuccessfully and yelled “V… you lousy idiot  ... You forgot camera??” There was more helplessness in her voice than anger. It was one of those rare times when Gowri lost her sanity, and it took rest of the entire forward journey for her to calm down. But it dint end there, though she was not irritated anymore – she kept taunting and teasing Vinod about the camera – especially as he took up this “packing” as a challenge to prove a point that he can do it better than Gowri.

‘Once Gowri wakes up, she’d be surprised that bags are packed – of course she will definitely check for camera; but it’s first on my list’- a v’cked (wicked) smile popped up on Vinod’s thought. He went to kitchen carrying that v’cked smile along and made tea for himself and Gowri, carried both cups on a tray in to bedroom. Gowri was sleeping tight with a smile that appeared faintly glowing under dim light bed light. ‘Pure Serenity  ... what can I ever do to retain that’ all the usually hidden love in its purest form flooded his mind momentarily and he hesitated to turn on the light. “Gowri ….” He called sheepishly and patted her “It’s time to wake up.” Gowri moved gently and she mumbled without opening her eyes “mmm … what time is it?” “5 am, get up we need to start by 6 at least  ... I made you tea” Vinod said.    “Choooo chweet,” she kissed Vinod before she got up to freshen, “will be out in a minute.”

Vinod took a sip, picked his mobile and called Suresh. After a couple of rings, he heard a very low hello. Vinod shouted, “Hey buddy, still sleeping??  ... wake up you lazy A**.”  An irritated sound came responded “This Lazy A** is still sleeping … … … … just hold on one sec Vinod.”  Vinod heard a soft thud sound and imagined Akhila hitting Suresh to wake him up. He heard another thud, this is getting interesting he thought, he took another leisure sip of tea and put on hands free as though getting ready for a show.

‘thud’   

 Akhilaaaaaa. … ‘thud’

“What the …” Suresh’s voice tried to come out, but was suddenly interrupted, “thud thud …”get up you lazy a** ... thud”

“……” .. There was a brief pause on phone as though respite was given at war …

‘Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud’ .. a series of battle punches followed, Vinod imagined ‘Rocky IV,’ only that this fight was one-sided. He thoroughly enjoyed his morning tea.

“Ok … ok… am getting up  ... now stop meri ma” Suresh voice accepted defeat.

“We are up V, we should be ready by 6 am” Akhila’s voice was closer to phone now. “Sure Akhila, we will pick you guys sharp at 6, see ya” Vinod cut the line.

Vinod sat on the couch sipping the remaining tea and the moment. But as his eyes fell on packed bags - he went over check list again just to be sure nothing was left out; after all he had a point to prove this time, ‘Nothing missed out’ – that v’cked smile popped back again confidently.  

“Nice tea V … thank you” Gowri came out freshed sat next to him sipping tea, “oh you packed everything as well … so sweet.” “Did you call Suresh? Are they ready too?” Gowri asked again immediately. Vinod got a little disappointed that she dint check the baggage, but managed to cover it up and say “yeah, they are up, you get ready too we need to start in 30 mins.” “Yeah sure, give me 5 minutes I will change.” She walked back into bedroom. That v’cked smile had to wait.

Vinod started working like F1 crew at pit stop - closed all doors and windows, watered his garden, pulled out 2 sets of house keys from key hanger – one for him and one for Gowri, sticked ‘no milk and no paper’ label on the front door, brought in all the clothes hanging in balcony for drying, washed both tea cups, folded the blanket – with amazing speed before Gowri came out freshed up in 10 mins. “What’s the time? Did I take too much time?” She asked and without even waiting for Vinod’s reply tried to start the pit crew routine. But she stopped instantly noticing that all the ‘pit crew’ task list has already been completed and signed off, “V.. What’s gone in to you today?” she said with surprise and added, “Early morning tea, utensils cleaned, bags packed.” “Well … you slept late yesterday after the call, did not want to strain you much” Vinod replied back honestly. But from somewhere behind that honesty, ‘that v’cked smile’ was struggling to come out.

I think we can leave now, should I take the “bags” down? Vinod said with a deliberate stress on bag. “Yeah we can, I am ready. Is everything packed?” Gowri walked towards bags, and after a close look she concluded “I think everything is here.” Vinod’s ‘that v’cked smile’, which is still struggling to come out, expected her to talk more about packing and specifically about camera seems like it’s not happening. After a moment of risk assessment, ‘That v’cked smile’ made its first move “Don’t you want to recheck if everything is packed?” Gowri replied casually wearing her footware, “Nah, seems complete, now chalo it’s already getting late.” ‘That v’cked smile’ got disappointed, how she can forget that ‘lousy idiot’ episode so easily – she drew the first blood; and I seek pay back. Gowri paused momentarily as though running over items in her mind. ‘That v’cked smile’ got a glimple of hope. Gowri walked towards the packed bags and picked up the checklist lying next to them. ‘That v’cked smile’ broadened as camera is listed on the top of all the items. “V, you forgot mobile chargers? We are going for 3 days and might need them” Gowri walked around the house to pick up chargers and casually stuffed them in to her hand bag and said “chalo.”  ‘Oh shit, did I really miss it?  How can she look only those which I missed? Better to remain silent’ he thought and quietly locked the doors. Both came out of the house with packed bags.

Only item that did not make out of the house was ‘That v’cked smile’ which got evaporated a moment back, after its epic defeat.