Today I have the privilege of hosting Bhagyashree of Searching Self on my blog. She is one of my oldest blogger friends, a mom just like me. She has an incredible ability of churning out lovely stories. She has overcome many personal hurdles in life and has the rare ability to poke fun at her own self. Do go to her blog if you enjoy reading lighthearted posts or nice short stories. Here is one she has done for me. Hope you like it
THE ADMIRER‘Are you ready for marriage?’
‘Waiting for your hand.’
This wasn’t anyone speaking to me but the emails that I get from matrimonials. And I sigh! At forty plus (make it 45+), I have no interest in getting married again. Once was enough. Not that I was ever beaten by my husband (or vice versa) or there were any ego clashes etc. It’s just that once was enough. I am in no mood to get into a new relationship, adjustments, understanding etc. But then, why was I even bothering with all these thoughts.
Then again, I may be expected to be sober and composed at my age, but the fact is that such emails though unworthy, give my ego a boost. And I walk with a spring in my steps and a song on my lips. It feels nice that some one wants me. With a marriage which is almost 25 years old and a husband who hardly notices me and two (adult) children who are busy with themselves, any appreciation or praise gives me a high. Like Ritesh whose approving glances makes my day.
No, Ritesh is not my lover. I am not having an extra-marital affair. Ritesh is the trainee in our bank. Smart, elegant, handsome… I can think of many adjectives that suit him. But, what I like the most is the way he mingles with everyone. And the way he flirts with me.
You may think I have a mid-life crisis, but then which woman can resist the charms of an approving glance and praises heaped on her work and cooking? Who wouldn’t feel happy getting this attention?
And so I take extra care to dress myself. I also visit the salon regularly. And go to the gym every other day.
My husband looks at me when I return from the gym and shakes his head.
The daughter sees and smiles mischievously and asks, ‘So who are you trying to impress?’
I tell you flirting is important. Since the day Ritesh started noticing me, I am all pruned up; I have lost 10 kgs. And when my daughter and I go out together, people say that we look like sisters. That gives me a kick, but the daughter gets hyper thinking that she looks old.
And so when I stepped into my office one day, Ritesh asks me, ‘So you are late because you got biryani today?’
‘How do you know I made biryani today,’ I asked?
For a moment, he is stumped but then he says, ‘I can smell the fragrance of your biryani from kilometers away’ and with a dimpled smile walks away.
‘Can it be true,’ I think but then get lost in the work.
And now I even take extra care in what I take for lunch.
‘You look awesome in the yellow sari,’ he says on the telephone reporting to me from a customer’s office.
‘But you haven’t seen me,’ I say.
‘I know,’ he says and clicks away.
But how does he know? How does he know what I cook, and how does he know what I wear?
My daughter has become a handful. No she is not a young girl anymore but is an engineer now. But she has become moody, irritable, sarcastic and what not.
My attempts at knowing the problem only irritates her further. ‘Go gymming,’ she says.
Or, ‘Why are you bothered about me, go and please your admirers,’ she says.
At office, Ritesh refuses to speak to me. When I probe, he says, ‘What will you do if your girlfriend gets jealous and thinks I admire her m…err friend.’
And then I understand.
P.S. My daughter is getting married to Ritesh on July 15, you all are invited.
Rachna says 
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