So to have coffee with you

Like any other couple, we fight each other. And like any other man, my ego will put me in a spot, where it is hard to go back and apologize. Sometime it was so bad that we ended up not talking to each other for the whole day. But with time, we realized that it is better to put it off as soon as possible and I looked for creative ways to get my sanity back. Here is an incident that almost makes me think that it is alright if you fight once in a while:

Another night, we got into this again and went to bed with a clear line drawn in between us. The sun came back after taking a round and our anger had still not worn off. She prepared my lunch pack and kept it on the counter-top, where I could see and pick it up myself. I finished my breakfast after the morning routine and came looking for the lunch pack. Call it the spur of the moment, the Newton's apple dropped and I had the whole plan scripted out in front of me to end this war. I knew she is not even going to come to the door to say bye, so I deliberately didn't pick up the lunch pack and left quickly. I almost ran to my car and drove away, before she can figure out my mischief.

As expected, my phone rang before I could even settle down, open my work email inbox and start hitting delete monotonously. It was her:

me - what?
her - You left your lunch here (and btw you are such an idiot).
me - Oh really, I did'nt realize.
her - You did that cause you are mad at me?
me - No, why would I do that? I probably forgot (smiling).
her - I know you. Do you want me to come to your office?
me - (it was working, in a slow voice) Well if it is not too much trouble for you.
her - See you there.

She drove to my office. I came down and looked at her red eyes. She had a faint monalisa smile, as if she already knew that I wanted to get over this one. I asked her to park and come in for a coffee. She resisted, well she would never say yes to anything anyway when I ask first, so I insisted. She nodded a reluctant yes and we got two cold coffee. She was ready to go back and then all of a sudden I murmured, should I come back with you? She looked at me puzzled and asked - why did you call me here then? So to have coffee with you, I said (and looked in other direction hiding my cunningness). By now, she knew what I was up to and asked - this is only 11:00, you don't have much work? I said, I can work from home. But what about your car, she asked with innocence. I almost laughed and said you can drive your car and I will mine and we will meet back home. She smiled big this time caught in the moment of her own silliness.

I do - More or Less

A wisdom was passed to me few months back that it takes about 7 years to settle down, develop a relationship and build the so called trust between an indian couple. Well, how many of you think thats true? We will celebrate our 6th anniversary this year and things are definetly on track:-) I would just add that it is a kind of an Exponential_function, if you put time on X and the above said qualities on Y.

But, what is the pre-marital story? More often, is an indian wedding end result of a love story? No way! Many of my friends (non-indians) get so amused to know that we can hold an stranger's hand and commit to a life-long journey (literally) without getting to know each other well. I happen to have an email in my archive describing exactly how it happened for me and it still lits my face like the new year ball in big apple. Here is a copy with minor edits:

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sushant Kumar"
To: "Pankaj Saini"
Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2002 2:16 PM
Subject: RE: ...

saini,
....
everything just happend in a span of a week..i didnt know i will take such an important decision of my life so quickly..well, my parents had seen this girl for me..and they said she is good for me..i tried usual tactics and told them i was not prepared for it right now..but they insisted that i shud talk to her atleast once..so i did..first one was a pretty short, yet sweet one..she was kind of nervous and i was even more nervous than her..but, generally she sounded ok..so, i decided to call her up again..this time we were more comfortable with each other and talked for almost an hour..she sounded even cooler..no frills..but, quite understanding and emotional(as she puts it:-))..man, i cudnt stop myself to ask her if she wud like to make it together for the longest journey of the life..and answer i got was a sweet yes..so, i am done..my half life got over..another half just started..we now talk each sunday..things are looking good..i dont think she is lucky to get me, but its vice vera:-)

so, how does that sound?? boring way to start this half of the life..is it?? it also happens to be the good old way..isnt it?..
....
chal..
Sushant

More or less, thats the way it ends up with an "I do". So, we continue to hold hands and even have backup plan for our old age, a boy, who would hold our hands and help us walk;-) Now that's not true at all, not here, not anywhere.

PS: why did I used to have double dots at the end of each line then? Dont quite remember. And why did we only talk on sundays, cause it was freaking costly to talk for 5 hours! Although, as usual my smarter half did devise a plan later on to do it more frequently:-). Tune in later for thoughts on early days of married life.