It rejuvenated me once again. The lines on his T-shirt read “Life is not a static thing. The only people who do not change their minds are incompetents in asylums, and those in cemeteries.”  I was rest assured. I did not belong to either of these genres. To me life offers different synonyms every morning. I am a very “present-day-living” kind of person. There is too much of variety in my life.

Undoubtedly my husband too wonders if he married the same lady eighteen years back! So here starts my story. I was married at an early age of eighteen. I had to marry. I was left with no choice but marry. I was hopelessly in love with my husband. I could not bear the pangs of loneliness. I just could not stay without him in India. I married him. The marriage was alike a mission accomplishment! He taught me the essence of human relationships.

During our stay in England I lazed around frequently and he pampered me like a queen. A cardiologist surgeon by profession, my husband is equally good in culinary skills. His taste buds are sharper than mine. Needless to say his tastes are fine than mine. My husband is world’s greatest dad too to my two loving kids. The love, and patience he showers on my son and daughter, is incredible. He is always fond of them even when he returns tired from his hospital. He is always cheerful. I have never seen him complaining about anything in life. He is always there for his parents, siblings, friends, for every one, who needs him. His patients worship him like a God.

I actually grew up with him. He inspired me to have my identity as a screenplay writer. He gives me all the space I need, and yet is always there for me. I admire his indefatigable energy. He may run in a hectic schedule, but always makes it a point to be at the airport to fetch me when I come back at home from my tours. He never fails in making my first cup of morning black tea. He listens patiently to what all I have to say and loves me unconditionally with all my flaws.

Still all his care, concern, and love petrify me in my sleep. I start tossing over my bed. I am restless.I just get up and think in spite of having such a wonderful husband I wish better never to have met him in my dreams than to wake and reach for hands that were never there for me.

I walk up to the refrigerator, gulp down some water and question myself is this my new fictional character? I ask this nonexistent husband “Are you really there”? And burst out with laughter. Rightly said, the really happy man never laughs - seldom - though he may smile. He does not need to laugh, for laughter, like weeping, is a relief of mental tension. Katherine Hepburn once quoted, “Life can be wildly tragic at times, and I've had my share. But whatever happens to you, you have to keep a slightly comic attitude. In the final analysis, you have got not to forget to laugh.”

souMi mitra