Mirror Therapy

"Look what you did, again?" Patricia sobbed, "I have got sick and tired of you, now!"


She wiped her tears, "If I see you go after Jim again. I will punish you." with eyes wide and looking fixedly at her mirror image, she declared.

"I have got drained by him treating you like this. Where is your self-respect, your dignity?" she questioned while moving her forefinger briskly towards her reflection in the mirror.

"Promise me!" she choked, "Promise me that you will not initiate it again!"


------------

Hello...Hello

"Your Nanaji has passed away" sobbed Mom over the phone while I heard it with a shock.

Wanted to speak but my mouth was dry, had to gulp many times until I could utter something.

"Mom!" I kept repeating, but she was sobbing so hard that she could hardly hear my echoed voice that was coming from thousand of miles.

Those days an overseas call would always comprise of high pitched tone, and unfortunately, the topic of our conversation had subdued our voices.

While I continued with my Hello's with the hope that she would hear me, I went back to those days when I would visit my Nanaji in Meerut, India.

The visits to his farm house (Bhatta) where we would go on nature hikes, take a dip in his tube well, ride on the tractor and tour his farm, chew upon the sugarcane, eat that desi authentic food that the workers provided us. Nothing would come in between that nature and me. When I would come back home, my nails would be filled with dirt, clothes and shoes would be muddy, but deep inside there was always the urge to go back, which unfortunately would not happen now!

As I waited patiently with my moist eyes and my Hello's that was crossing the Atlantic Ocean and about seven countries. I was wishfully thinking for that day to come once more just so that I could re-Live those moments.

------

Expecting, Again?

"Why are you knitting, again, Sara?" John asked with curiosity in an intense expression as he unlocked the front door and entered after a long day at work.

"Shhh. Lower your voice John. The kids just went to sleep."

John paused.

Those tiny shoes made him nervous since just about eight months ago, kid number 3 had outworn them. His wife had this fondness to knit prior to each one's birth, and to see her repeat that process started giving him palpitations.

Halted in his step, but could not contain his curiosity, again.

He gulped, reflected upon, "We used protection this time. I am sure about it." he rambled around the room while the wife held a constant smile.

Finally, she gave in, "This is not for us!"

He plopped next to her with a big Sigh!

---------

The Morning Newspaper

"Jeez! I can't find it again," yelled Mike as he was tossing the pillows, looking beneath the cushions and under the couch in desperation.

A silent Annie stood at a distance watching all the drama that would occur each morning.

Finally, she took it out from a drawer, and tip toed towards her agitated husband who went from furious to a frenzy.

"Why in the name of God do you secretly place the morning newspaper in some random drawers?" he asked in a bitter tone.

The wife replied with an upbeat emphasis, "We have fragile lives living with us. The least we can do is protect them from these harsh headlines."


----------

A Brutal World...

"Jessica don't grate your brain cells over it. What is done is done!" advised mom over the phone to her girl who had entered the corporate world after her graduation.

She was loving the freedom but would curb into her cell when a mistake would occur.

"Mom, he was so rude. I could not help it." she continued with a sob.

Mom could not disagree one bit thus defended her, "I can understand my love!" and she continued, "What you don't know is that this world can be hell at times too. Glad you are getting a piece of it at this tender age. You will shine like a diamond after experiencing all of it." she assured with gentle words.

That conversation helped calm Jessica's nerves as she hung up with a soft, "I Love you, Mom!"

-------