Jhilmil, Mr And Mrs Banerjee Incoming

Chapter 11

Chapter 11
Hare Krishna

Jhilmil sat on the floor, her back against the bed, as Kavish perched on the edge, a bottle of oil in hand. The soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminated the room as he lovingly began to oil her hair. Jhilmil, in her comfortable position, was engrossed in watching the Chronicles of Narnia on the television.

The rhythmic sound of Kavish's fingers massaging her scalp created a soothing ambiance. The room was filled with the scent of the oil and the gentle dialogue from the movie.

Kavish, gently braiding her hair, the strands weaving through his fingers. In the quiet intimacy of the moment, he spoke softly, "Today, I talked to your coach, ginni( wifey)."

She turned slightly, her eyes meeting his in the mirror. "Oh, really? Ki bollo ooni?( What did he say?)" she asked, attentive.

"He said you're doing well, but you need to work on your stamina and fitness," Kavish shared, continuing to skillfully braid her hair.

Jhilmil nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm, bujhlam, (I understand)"

He tightened the braid with a gentle tug and then said, "I'll enroll you in a gym tomorrow. We'll start going for morning runs from tomorrow. What do you think?"

"Okay," Jhilmil agreed with a determined nod. "I'm ready to put in the work."

"Good," Kavish affirmed, finishing the braid with a small flourish. "With dedication and a bit of sweat, you'll excel even more."

The night enveloped the room in a quiet embrace as Kavish sat on the edge of the bed, his laptop balanced on his lap. The soft glow from the screen cast a muted light, illuminating the struggle etched on his face. Managing finances had become a nightly challenge, exacerbated by the exhaustion from his second part-time job at the call center.

Running a hand through his hair in frustration, he glanced over at Jhilmil, peacefully lost in slumber. Her mouth hung open, a gentle snore escaping now and then. Chuckling at her carefree sleeping pose, she sprawled across the bed, one leg thrown over his. His wife was a turbulent sleeper, yet, in the quiet of the night, she seemed like a tranquil masterpiece.

With a tender smile, he took her hand in his, marveling at the warmth it held. Bringing it to his lips, he pressed a gentle kiss, cherishing the moment of quiet connection. Observing a droplet of drool at the corner of her mouth, he couldn't help but chuckle again. He reached for a tissue from the bedside drawer, delicately cleaning her mouth with a loving touch.

"This Sleeping Beauty is worth every hardship," he whispered to himself, his voice filled with both exhaustion and profound affection. As he gazed at the sleeping figure before him, a realization settled within him.

His family, the trio nestled in the sanctum of their shared dreams, was worth every sacrifice. A sense of purpose and determination filled him as he looked at Jhilmil, his anchor in the sea of challenges. "I'm responsible for three humans," he mused, his eyes reflecting both weariness and resilience. "I can't fail them."

With that affirmation, he smiled, finding strength in the love that surrounded him.

The room was bathed in the soft glow of dawn as Kavish, with an air of both urgency and patience, called out to his wife. "Wake up, Jhilmil. I've been calling you for an hour now." He watched as she, seemingly unfazed, covered her ears with a pillow.

Growing exasperated, Kavish declared, "Jhilmil, you better get up, or I will throw water on you." His attempts to rouse her had been ongoing for an hour, and the clock was ticking. "Will you please get up now? I have to leave for the office in three hours. You need to run for at least forty minutes," he urged, running a hand through his tousled hair in frustration.