Salim and Kayal #Watty's 2016 # YourStoryIndia #ProjectWomanUp

My bottle of sunshine

Salim's POV

On Monday afternoon, I was about to leave from my Office for my Azhagi's Office when she called me. "Salim, how are you feeling now?"

"I am fine ma. Idli and Vadacurry for Sehri were very filling. Have you started eating your lunch? Where are you now?"

"Many politicians are visiting Swathi's place to console her parents. So, I am covering that. I will be having my lunch in few minutes and then start for my office."

"Fine then ma. Take care."

"Yeah, you too. Bye Salim."

"Bye ma."

When I reached her office and gave my name to the receptionist and called for Veera, a guy who must be around 35 years around came in with a smile. "Hai Ali, I expected you. But not this quickly."

I was surprised, "You were expecting me???"

"Today in the morning when I said 'Sorry' to Kayal for using swear words, she told me to expect you because you were with her when we were over phone. She also warned me that you are a Boxing Champion. Are you really a Boxing Champion?"

"I don't compete anymore. But, I am still good with my punches."

He gave an awkward smile and said, "I am sorry Ali. I sort of know how you must be feeling. But your wife gets on my nerves all the time. She defies authority with a passion. Long back, when I started working in this office, there were mostly men and hardly one or two women used to be there. We men used to be very casual with our language. We could speak swear words all the time. In those days using swear words used to be a form of authority. Now half the office is filled with women. In fact, my immediate Boss is also a woman. So we men do control our tongues. But sometimes like the other day, we lose our cool and get back to our old ways. I have apologized to Kayal. I am sorry to you as well."

Even though my Azhagi told me that he would apologize to her, I didn't expect him to apologize to me. We can fight with a man who fights but it's difficult to fight with a man who extends a bunch of roses. "Okay. But don't repeat it again."

"You can have my word for that."

Media people always like to get the contact numbers of other people. So when I told him about my work, he got my contact number. Just when I was about to leave after shaking his hand my Azhagi came in and held my hand. She looked at Veera and asked, "Did you learn any manners from my husband?"

He laughed and said, "Yeah, yeah." He then turned towards me and said, "Long back when you guys were in college she told me that she will make a statue for you in Marina Beach after ten years. If she really makes that I will be the first person to come and salute your statue for living with this woman for that long."

When I laughed, my Azhagi warned him, "Veera, don't you dare to spoil my husband. Get lost."

"Yeah, I have lots of work to do. You too better come fast or I will end up giving you migraine for two more days."

"I will be back in few minutes."

Veera then left after giving me a smile. She asked, "Why did you laugh with him when he joked about you living with me for ten years?"

I fully turned towards her and said, "You are a great wife and an absolutely great woman. Many men don't understand that and it is my good fortune. If at all if all the men could understand how great you are, I will have to fight with a bee line of men on a daily basis and I don't want that."