December 31,2022.

8.30 pm

“Vaishnav, you know I would be late tonight and still you want me to get you the chocolate cake. If it is really needed, I would like to remind you that it would take you only a 5 minute walk.

With hatred,

Your wife”

8.32 pm

“ It’s not about time and tiredness, if there is LOVE my love.

With love,

Your love”

As soon as this message popped up in her screen, the noisy, all-time crowded street comes to her mind which blows out all the love‘s’ from Vaishnav. Yet, she makes up her mind to buy the cake to fulfil his last wish of 2022. It was nearly 10.30 pm when she arrived at her place. It was new year already, with all the lights on the street. She walks up straight to the only cake shop over there, which is already fully crowded. After a long wait of 5 minutes ( yes, it is long for anyone who had already worked over time in New year’s eve and is standing nearly half dead in a place for some other’s need ), she manages to reach out to one of the busy shopkeepers and asks for a quarter kg Ferrero Rocher cake. To her disappointment, he says it is already sold out. Without having a second thought, she goes for any cake which has chocolate in it. To her utter disappointment, he told that only pre-ordered cakes are being delivered that day. “Vaishnavvv”, she muttered in a low voice, clenching her teeth. “Only plum cakes are available for instant takeaway mam”, the shopkeeper told, as her frustrated face showed him what to say next without being asked. She asked him to pack one, and handed over Rs.100 at the bill desk. With a slight hesitation, he handed over her readily packed cake and told that the cost is Rs.80 and he do not have any change with him at the moment. ‘This year cannot end in a worser note’, told her inner self, suffocating in the over-crowded shop. She just wanted some fresh air and asked him to keep the change and came out. It was all lights, but she could sense no brightness. “Mam”, she heard someone calling her and she turned back expecting the shopkeeper to hand her over the balance amount. She was right, and he came running towards her to hand her, 3 five rupee coins, 2 two rupee coins and a 1 one rupee coin. “Happy new year mam”, he smiled as he turned back to continue his busy work. ‘Happy new year’, she wanted to wish in return, but she was saying it only in her mind. Suddenly, the lights seemed to brighten her face a little, and she could sense the fresh air, in-spite of all the noisy crowd, which is definitely not because of the twenty rupees, but his smile, and the words, the wish. She was thinking why she didn’t return the wish to the shopkeeper and her legs were already crossing the road. 

‘Krrrrtchh’

She would have been thrown out of the road if the two-wheeler didn’t stop suddenly, making the creaching sound. The rider held up his head; saw her no-reaction face; nodded his head with a little smile; said “Happy new year”, and started his bike. Suddenly coming into reality, she shouted as he crossed her, “Happy new year”. Just few strangers wishing for some regular event which happens every year. Yet, it felt special. She felt special. Immediately she took her phone and saw the message sent half an hour earlier by her LOVE.

10.20 pm

“Arrived? Shall I come to pick you up? No need of the cake. It’s late already. Call as soon as you finish your work.”

For which she replies now,

10.45 pm

“ It’s not about time and tiredness, when there is LOVE my love.

With much love,

Your love”