Marriage - Part 1

Kishor, got down from the bus, tired after a long day at work. Working for many years in a finance firm, Kishor was in his late thirties, married to his teenage sweetheart, Bhavna. They were married for more than a decade and a half now. Kishor trudged home, thinking about nothing but having a hot cup of chai, and the morning's newspaper to read. He rang the bell of his home, to be welcomed by the smiling face of Bhavna. 'You came a few minutes late today, what happened?', Bhavna inquired. 'Ohh nothing, the bus was caught in traffic jam...', he replied, but then he thought to himself, was he really that predictable lately?? He changed into home clothes, and then settled down on the sofa. Bhavna brought him his cup of tea, and the morning's newspaper. Ohh yes,life was predictable. He watched her walk back to the kitchen, her hair bunched up over her head, dressed in a rumpled cream salwar kameez. For a brief moment, he wondered why he kept piling on the kilos and acquired a soft paunch,while his wife seemed unaffected by the effects of aging. He knew he had to do something about it, but kept putting off the idea. The same way he dismissed the idea now and went back to reading the business page. That night, after dinner, he was again back at the sofa, flipping through the television channels, not watching anything really, but just trying to spot something that would hold his interest. Bhavna came and sat next to him,'Sonia had called today, shes doing great and having a great time', she said. Sonia was their soon-to-be sixteen daughter, who was currently staying at a relative's place in a neighbouring city for a few months, doing her 10th Standard. That place was famous for producing lots of top ranking students, and they really wanted their daughter to do well. 'Hmm..Good..', he managed to reply, without taking his eyes away from the TV. Bhavna moved closer to him and placed a hand on his shoulders. He didnt appear to notice. She moved closer still and placed her arm across his shoulders, looking intently at his face. He still was unmoved and engrossed by a news item on TV. She decided to wait for a few minutes, and then suddenly grabbed the remote and switched the TV off. 'We are a husband and wife!', she exclaimed. Kishore gave her a mildly funny look, and replied,'Yes, but thats no reason to switch the TV off',he said taking the remote and switching it back on. He noticed Bhavna sighing and walking away to the bedroom, but the cricket match being retelecast seemed to be of great interest, so he concentrated on that instead. In the bedroom,she lay awake, thinking. Was he really now the man she had liked all those years ago? Or had something changed gradually ? Were they living the way they were just out of habit ? She needed something. Something that would bring the 'interest' factor back into their life. And she knew exactly what was to be done. A week passed. As usual, Kishor came back from work, expecting his usual tea and reading and dinner and TV routine. He was actually looking forward to it. Routine was good. Routine Predictable, and safe. He walked home to be greeted by a warm smile of his wife. 'You seem happy today', he said. 'Yes! Isn't it good, the soft and fading evening light, the silent roads and the tweeting of birds??'. 'Yes yes...', he managed to mumble. Bhavna walked up to him and took his hand in hers...'Dear, theres something Iam dying to show you!'. Before he could say, 'What...??', he found himself being led by his wife outside. She held on to his as she purposeful strode down the stairs and into the parking area. Kishor was confused, he couldnt figure out what his wife would possibly want to show him. And then he understood. Standing there, behind a pillar, was a Yamaha. Spanking clean, sparkling black Yamaha RX100. HIS Yamaha. His parents had bought him that back when he was in college. Since the day he had bought it, it was an inseperable part of him. He went everywhere on his bike. He went to the movies, to nearby lakes, to hill stations on his Yamaha. Heck, the Yamaha was an integral part in his wooing Bhavna. He had decided he would hold on to it forever. But then came marriage, and the baby, and the car, and financial prosperity. In the midst of it all, the old bike was forgotten, occasionally started up and ridden on weekends, but usually just lying around gathering dust and rust, being kept for the sake of sentiment. And now, it seemed that it had been bought just yesterday. 'Whaaat...', he began, but was silenced as he felt his wife pressing something onto his palm. He saw what it was, the key. 'How could...', he began again, but felt silent again as he was again led closer to the bike, by her. 'Common, go ahead, try it out', she said, with a glint in her eye. She was smiling from ear to ear. He gingerly got on and got the bike off its stand. Turned the key and got it off the stand.And For the first time in many years,gave it a kick. And then another. Nothing. He could feel the engine turn, but just wouldnt catch. He kicked again, and then again. But the engine remained stubborn. At the corner of his eye, he could see that Bhavna was already at his side, with the dupatta of her purple dress purposefully tied diagonally across. 'Here, just a moment', He felt her standing next to the bike, and taking the accelerator in her hand. With one hand on the handle, and a raised leg, she gently pushed the kick down, before giving it a mighty whack. To he surprise, the engine immediately caught.. 'How could yoou...', he began yet again, but decided to shut up. The day was full of surprises. He revved it for a few times, just to be sure. It was a long time since he had done that. 'Lets go for a ride', he heard her in his ear, and this time, he was smiling from ear to ear too. Bhavna put a leg across and sat behind him. Gingerly, he set out, very slowly, putting the bike in gear and....stalled. He was out of practice. He sheepishly turned around to face his wife, who was already back on the ground, kicking the machine back to life. 'Thanks..', he again mumbled, unable to say anything else. Bhavna was laughing. Very slowly this time, they set out. No Sooner had they got out of the building, Kishor managed to stall again. "We should get down and check what the matter is.." , he managed to mumble. Bhavna had already stepped down, and so did Kishor. Just as he was about to put the bike back on stand, he felt his wife taking the handles and indicating with a smile to him to step back.. In one fluid motion, she swung a leg over the bike, kickstarted it back to life, and engaged gears.
Kishor was staring with his mouth open! How did she do that?? Her smile indicated that she intended to continue sitting there, on the drivers seat. Unsure and confused of what to do, he gingerly sat behind her. The bike sank a bit at the rear with his weight. Infact, he had never ridden pillion on his own bike! He never allowed anyone to do that.. Bhavna had already engaged gears and was setting off, the engine setting a steady rythm. She was doing much better than his previous attempts. She was laughing. Her childish laughter was infections, and kishor felt himself laughing too. The roads were deserted , barring a few pedestrians and evening walkers, and they reached the end of their lane, without stalling. Kishor rested one arm on her shoulder and decided to lean forward a bit. The pedestrians must be staring at him, he thought. After all, their quiet lane had probably never witnessed a middle aged man sitting behind a lady in a salwar kameez riding a motorcycle. Kishor felt a bit awkward, after all, his wife was doing what he was supposed to, and now was not able to. Thankfully, she had turned back at the edge of the lane and was now entering their gates. She came to a stop in the parking space, where he got off. She revved the bike once, before switching the engine off.
"Howw...did you manage to do that...", he muttered. His wife's lovely face was still set in a smile. She simply put an arm around his waist while he was standing next to her , pulled him closer in a gentle hug, and planted a soft kiss on his cheeks.
It was a long time since they did that.....

(To be Continued.).