Half and half make complete

Her big brown eyes became bigger as she picked up the ear stud, glinting from under the doormat, cheekily drawing attention. It did not belong to her; she didn’t own diamonds leave alone solitaires! Neither did any of her friends… who could have dropped it at her front door?

As it nestled in her warm palm she called out to her husband, ‘Sunil? Darling did we have any visitors today?’ “No honey! Why do you ask?” he replied as he came to greet his wife warmly. They were two busy professionals, chasing their dream of achieving ‘success’ before they could settle down, plan their family, and watch sunsets as  they sipped margaritas.

‘Oh nothing!’ she said, as she tucked the stud into her jacket pocket. As they settled down to have their dinner; dal, rice and bhaji, which they cooked in large batches to tide them through the week, they regaled each other with snippets from their office and work. Laughter gurgled around the table and they felt their stress ebbing, as they warmed up to each other, cocooned in their love.

‘You know Darling, we are close to our goal! The Bank manager called me today to invest our money rather than let it be,’ said Sunil. ‘Oh really? That sounds so good!’ ‘So, what should we do first? Do tell me?’ said Naina excitedly. ‘First of all, we are going to get a house with an extra bedroom and start planning our family in earnest!’ He picked her up as if she weighed nothing more than his briefcase, going into their bedroom. She broke into peals of laughter, snuggling into the arms of the man she loved the most in this world.

Planning a holiday, was uppermost in Naina’s mind. She had often scoured travelogues and travel brochures. Looking at the gorgeous pictures of sunrise, sunset, magnificent rolling gardens, aqua blue green oceans coziest hotels, spellbinding marvels around the world was her favourite pastime …. when she had some time to pass!

She was thinking aloud now… ‘Darling can we go to Greece? It’s synonymous with love…. Islands of Santorini, Mykonos and Hydra lapped by the teal coloured waves of the Aegean sea, under the vast blue sky will be heavenly.’ ‘ I was thinking of Athens itself, the Parthenon, the Acropolis, Temples of Athena! Walking around and exploring the by lanes of the Plaka! Soaking in the ancient civilization!’ ’That sounds wonderful!’ Her eyes gleamed and sparkled. ‘Maybe we can go to Delphi too. I hear its up in the mountains amidst chalky mountains and you feel the presence of the ancient Gods smiling down upon you!’

‘But didn’t you say you wanted to go on a cruise to Alaska?’ teased Sunil. ‘Hmmm that too! We have some time before our children appear. So, we can do it as the second half of our vacation.’

‘Close your eyes Darling!’ he said. ‘Oh! are we on our dream vacation?’ she gurgled at her lame joke. ‘Just do as I say, sometimes!’ he went on. ‘OK! It better be worth it!’ saying so she shut her eyes, already dreaming of the white beaches and the sparkling, chilled blue waters of the Mediterranean.

‘Now you may open your eyes,’ said he.

Her eyes rounded like a goldfish, she kept staring at the small velvet blue box. Had he got her some jewelry? She was astounded.  He had thought of her and splurged some of their savings, on just her. She had tears welling up. ‘Honey! You are the most precious thing in this universe. My brightest star, the beat in my heart! Hope you like it. Come on, now open it,’ he urged.

As she daintily opened the box she saw a single solitaire, winking back at her with all the fire in its heart! It flashed white, then blue, a little yellow, right to the corners of their room. ’Its gorgeous Honey! Did you get only half the pair now?’

He quickly turned the box around and gasped, ‘Of course not, I want my wife to wear both ear studs. Where is the other one?’ Naina sprang out of the bed and in a trice, she was back, opening her clutched fist, she said… ‘Here Darling, is the other half!’ And the room echoed with laughter, relief and joy!

Picture courtesy Google for representation only.