Chapter 33 / 51 · 1 min

Time

Twenty-one years ago, when Aparna and I got married, I was two years younger than her.

She teased me about it constantly.

“Hey, go fetch me a glass of water.”

“No way. Go yourself. Get your own.”

“You’re younger than me. You have to go. When your elders tell you to do something, you listen. Off you go, little friend.”

Annoyed, I’d bring the water anyway.

“This is the last time. In terms of maturity, I’m the older one, you know.”

So today, when Aparna came home, the first thing I said was, “Go on, fetch me a glass of water.”

Aparna stared at me with disbelief. A moment later she broke into tears, ran to me, and threw her arms around me.

“Subrata… why didn’t you stop me? Why did you let me go… why did I ever choose this terrible career?”

Hiding my own tears, I said, “Coming back from so many light-years away doesn’t get you off the hook. I’m nineteen years older than you now. When your elders tell you to do something, you listen. Off you go, little friend.”