People who are a regular to this space would be familiar with my rants of how the husband never 'surprised' me on special occasions despite subtle and non-subtle hints. You know, the usual accepted norm of giving flowers, or a cake, and the likes. In his opinion, and rightly so, these outward displays of affection are not needed when the concerned people are secure in their relationship and very well 'know' how much one cares or loves the other. Although, my practical side readily and completely agreed with his point of argument, my other illogical side always found a bone or two to pick with this casual behaviour. Too much of complacency is also not good for a romantic relationship, I'd say, rolling my eyes at him, pouting sadly, trying to emotionally black-mail him and even threatening him into 'gifting' me something!
I had slowly begun to make peace with the benign, indulgent smile or worse a mocking laugh that I'd get in return for all the badgering and nagging that I'd religiously subject him to. Twice a year. This year, I took one step closer to being the non-nagging kinds and gratefully and gracefully accepted the offer of dinner on my birthday. The husband came back from office early and I was happy. This, he always does-taking an off or coming back earlier than usual on special days. After a couple of hours, he asked me where I'd like to go for dinner. In my mind I was cheesed off since I expected some amount of thought to be already applied since he was the one who suggested dinner in the first place. Still, being the non-foodie in our house, I was quite OK with any place, so just 'hmm..hmm-ed' and asked him to decide.
Again, after a while he came up to me and asked if I wouldn't mind Chinese and suggested a restaurant that's quite near our house. In fact he almost pushed his case for this particular place and I was miffed again because I knew how much he liked that cuisine and also to dine at that particular joint. So much for my birthday celebrations! The last straw was when he made no attempt to leave the house early and I, being me, began hyperventilating about it being a Friday evening and we going out of table and having to just eat someplace. The pent up feelings came out like water squirting out of a pichkari. Even then, the conversation that happened next was:
He: Ok, get ready and wear something nice!
I: What do you mean nice? I only have what I have and I, anyway, always dress well!
He: Still, wear something nice.
I: !!!!
He: Ok,..ok..I've already booked a table, so don't get worked up, we have a lot of time on hand.
The anger balloon deflated instantly since this came as a great surprise to me. Pre-booking a table at a restaurant was so, so unlike the husband.
My mood changed instantly and I was all smiles. The smiles widened on hearing that it was a place I was keen on visiting for a while now. It was a happy ending after all. Oh, wait! you thought the surprise was over? Well, I was already happy with this but seems like the husband had really decided to shut me up. As we relished the food, mid-way, there came a lovely cake for me to cut! Oh, my, was this really all the husband's doing? I couldn't believe it all. I was so overwhelmed with...surprise, y'know!
The past is all forgotten and I've decided not to..ahem...nag the poor guy anymore. At least until next year this time. *wink wink*.
I had slowly begun to make peace with the benign, indulgent smile or worse a mocking laugh that I'd get in return for all the badgering and nagging that I'd religiously subject him to. Twice a year. This year, I took one step closer to being the non-nagging kinds and gratefully and gracefully accepted the offer of dinner on my birthday. The husband came back from office early and I was happy. This, he always does-taking an off or coming back earlier than usual on special days. After a couple of hours, he asked me where I'd like to go for dinner. In my mind I was cheesed off since I expected some amount of thought to be already applied since he was the one who suggested dinner in the first place. Still, being the non-foodie in our house, I was quite OK with any place, so just 'hmm..hmm-ed' and asked him to decide.
Again, after a while he came up to me and asked if I wouldn't mind Chinese and suggested a restaurant that's quite near our house. In fact he almost pushed his case for this particular place and I was miffed again because I knew how much he liked that cuisine and also to dine at that particular joint. So much for my birthday celebrations! The last straw was when he made no attempt to leave the house early and I, being me, began hyperventilating about it being a Friday evening and we going out of table and having to just eat someplace. The pent up feelings came out like water squirting out of a pichkari. Even then, the conversation that happened next was:
He: Ok, get ready and wear something nice!
I: What do you mean nice? I only have what I have and I, anyway, always dress well!
He: Still, wear something nice.
I: !!!!
He: Ok,..ok..I've already booked a table, so don't get worked up, we have a lot of time on hand.
The anger balloon deflated instantly since this came as a great surprise to me. Pre-booking a table at a restaurant was so, so unlike the husband.
My mood changed instantly and I was all smiles. The smiles widened on hearing that it was a place I was keen on visiting for a while now. It was a happy ending after all. Oh, wait! you thought the surprise was over? Well, I was already happy with this but seems like the husband had really decided to shut me up. As we relished the food, mid-way, there came a lovely cake for me to cut! Oh, my, was this really all the husband's doing? I couldn't believe it all. I was so overwhelmed with...surprise, y'know!
The past is all forgotten and I've decided not to..ahem...nag the poor guy anymore. At least until next year this time. *wink wink*.
Happy B'day! Best wishes for many more surprises and smiles :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Shanx :-)
DeleteI was also getting cheesed off along with u, Uma...had such a sense of deja vu as this happens in our home every year :) But so glad it was a lovely surprise!! I have to do a bday post too..thanks for reminding :)
ReplyDeletehaha..yes, I remembered you as I wrote this out and I'm waiting for your post. I believe your gesture too was well returned this time :-)
DeleteWowowowow.....nice nice
ReplyDelete:-)
Deletenice post
ReplyDeletethank you!
DeleteSigh!!! Thats so romantic...give a big hug to the husband from my end :) And you look sooooo pretty....Happy wala belated birthday again :)
ReplyDeleteahem..yes, the romance did finally blossom after years of watering a near non-existent plant ;-) Thanks a lot, RM :-))))
DeleteWell, there you got it finally, I think your husband had decided to finally do something about the hints :P Belated wishes to you! Hope you had a romantic birthday dinner :)
ReplyDeleteAnd have I told you, my guy doesn't do good with surprises either. He plans something but ends up spilling out the beans beforehand so that his plan has my approval *rolling eyes* I gotta do something about this :)
Thanks a lot, Keirthana. Yes, do something about it. But he's sweet enough to plan so I guess he can be forgiven :-)
DeleteHow sweet! The unexpected pleasures are the best, aren't they? :)
ReplyDeleteVery true, Shailaja..they are simply the best :-)
DeleteBelated Happy Birthday, Uma. You wouldn't believe if I tell you it is exactly my story. Except for the surprise part. You will laugh if I say that there were birthdays when I went and bought the cake myself...ufff...and I am a sucker for surprises :) Hope you had a happy wala bday!
ReplyDeleteHaha, Latha, seems like this story is quite a norm in many households. Awww..at buying yourself a cake :-( I'm sure your day of getting an unexpected surprise will come sooner than you think :-)
Deletethanks a lot for the wishes, Latha :-)
DeleteBelated Birthday wishes Uma.. Surprises are good.. But I don't have the patience for that either.. ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for the wishes, Vinitha! aah, you belong to the husband's kind of people..nothing wrong, though :-)
DeleteNo no.. I start bugging my husband asking whats going to be my gift, is there any surprise planned , till he gives up :) I like surprises but can't just wait.. Yea you got it right, my husband is fed up of me,, :(
Deleteohh..my bad, I thought you didn't have the patience so didn't care for surprises! and lol at bugging the husband..we are all good at it, it seems ;-)
DeleteNice one Uma, glad that you enjoyed your day, lovely photo! Me, I am one who could do without surprises..
ReplyDeleteAaah, both virgos but how different we are! ( not in all respects, though) thank you, Vibha :-)))
Delete