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“Yes chori. How have you been?”
“Daddy look what I have made today?” Meena shows her painting eagerly.
“Wow…So whose house is this?”
“No daddy. This is our home.” “Look this is me, this is mummy.”
“But where am I in here?”
“Daddy, remember you are at work. Mum says you have to work.”
Ashish was clearly not happy with the picture but he decided to keep his thoughts with himself.
“Daddy, can you read me a story today?”
“Sure chori. Let me first have my dinner ok.”
“Ok”
“Geeta, I am hungry. Let’s have dinner now.”
“Ashish, sorry I already ate. Usually you come home around an hour early. I could not help myself.”
“It’s ok, honey. I understand.”
Ashish walks to kitchen and helps himself. He starts gobbling at the food. After sometime he breaks his silence.
“How many times in a week do I have to eat Dal Bhat? Common, you can make something else sometimes right?”
“Sure I can. But why don’t you cook for a change sometimes?”
“Common don’t get me started on this. I have been working whole day. We still have so much of mortgage to pay every month.”
For some reason it seems that Ashish has lost his appetite. He was unable to finish half of the food he had thought he would. “Geeta, you did not make any saag today?”
“I hadn’t had chance to go to grocery. I will next time.”
“This is really unhealthy. I am starting to gain weight now. Usually you cook well, but today food tastes so bland.” Ashish finally dumps rest of the food in trash.
“Daddy, you said we must not waste food. Why did you waste your food?”
“Sorry chori. Dad is under lots of stress. I will be careful next time.”
“Geeta, did you take care of Credit card bill I told you to take care in the morning?”
“No Ashish, I have not been able to take care of that. I just remember now.”
“You never remember anything.”
“You are the one who stares at the computer whole day. Why didn’t you take care of it?”
“Fine, it’s all good.” Ashish opens up his laptop and gets on it. “See tomorrow is deadline. We would have been fined otherwise.”
“Ashish, next Monday is Meena’s birthday. Do you think you can come early?”
“What? When? Let me check my calendar.” Ashish takes a look at his phone and shakes his head in disbelief. “No. Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I already have something scheduled that day. My boss has invited me to dinner at his place. I can’t turn him down. I hope you understand. It is very important to me and my career.”
Geeta shakes her head in disbelief.
“Honey don’t worry. I have an idea. We will celebrate by Nepali calendar. How about that?”
“Well last year you were the one who told, who celebrates birthday by Nepalese calendar in U.S. Besides, it is already passed by Nepalese calendar.”
“Ops. I have to think about something then.”
“Anyways Ashish. I have invited some of Meena’s friends already.”
“What if I am unable to make it?”
“Well, that’s your problem”
Ashish once shakes his head and closes his laptop. “Where is Meena? Daddy is here. Daddy will read you a story now.” Ashish starts searching for Meena.
There in the bed, Meena is asleep.