Post Marital Romance

7 A.M

She - “Can you wake up the children and get them ready for school? I will fix the breakfast and our tiffins by that time.”

He - “Okay.”

2 P.M

She *texts* - “Honey, I have this really important meeting in five minutes and it'll take hours. Can you please pay the internet and the electricity bill?”

He - “Okay.”

She - “You're the best.”

6 P.M

She *calls*- “I am at the grocery store for buying stuff. Can you please pick up the clothes from the dry cleaners on your way back home?”

He - “Okay.”

8 P.M

She's making chapattis, and he's slicing salad and setting the table.

She - “Hon, you forgot tomatoes. Can you cut few tomatoes as well? Children love them.”

He - “Okay.”

10 P.M

They're sitting in balcony, having coffee, everyone else is sleeping.

She - “Is everything okay? You seem lost.”

He - “I don't know.”

She (holding his hand gently) - “What happened?”

He - “You remember before marriage, when we were in a relationship, we used to do so much for each other. Dates, gifts, long rides and drives, movies, lots of conversations. It was our world. But now, now everything has changed. It's only about responsibilities now. We have to do this, we have to do that. Children, parents, relatives, neighbors, office, work, money, cooking, bills, future, savings. All is messed up now. We don't have time for each other. We no longer do anything for each other.”

She was listening.

He- “I just miss us. That tiny dreamy world of ours has become just a memory.”

She, holds his hand and ask him to get up. Then she takes him to the room of their children. She opens the door slightly and shows him their two tiny tots sleeping peacefully. She then takes him to the room of their parents and shows him the satisfaction on their face in sleep. She then brings him back to the balcony and makes him sit.

She - “Earlier, we were in a relationship, you were you, I was I, but now, now we're in a marriage, and there is more of “us” than “you” and “I”. This is “our” world, “our” family, and all those who're sleeping inside peacefully are dependent on us. We work so that they can live. The children are way too young, and the parents are way too old to work. If you and I will still be in the “relationship mode” how will they survive?”

He - “I understand. All I'm saying is that we never get to spend time together. I'm not denying my responsibilities. But once in a while I do want some time with you.”

She - “Before marriage, doing things for each other is romance. But after marriage, doing things with each other is romance. And because we do things with each other, our relationship is very romantic. But if you feel that we should spend time with each other alone, we will keep Sunday evenings for ourselves. We will plan dates and movies and long drives and everything we used to do, just the two of us, every Sunday evening. Does this sound okay to you?”

He (grinning) - “It sounds perfect.”

She (smiling) - “Glad that you're finally happy.”

And then they continued talking.