Ten years of the same routine was making life too monotonous for Pallav. He had earned it with his hard work, perseverance, dedication, and determination. Sacrifices helped pave his way to a successful career as an entrepreneur.  His company reaped benefits throughout the year and he wasn’t just plain lucky. Setting up a business of plastic containers was not easy. Designing and making it customer-friendly demanded creativity as well as synchronized minds. Teamwork and active participation by all who were involved in making it work in all probabilities was no joke. It had all started with a sluggish start but gradually became a roaring success and within two years was a household name. 

Money was good. Every quarter the bank balance was improving. On the personal front, a loving family greeted him when he was home. Occasional visits from his in-laws filled the void of his departed parents. His kid meant the world to him. Spending quality time with his son was a top-tier priority once he was out of his evening bath. Catching up on all the day’s information from his loving wife just cheered him up and even filled him with fear that Anurag was growing up too soon. Pratima, his life partner completed his circle of a perfect family. After giving a decade to his work the following two years were a good time to settle down and have it all. Pratima was a family friend and things just fell into place. 

A night of passion is utilised to aid good sleep. Pallav loved mornings. A fresh start used to just refresh him to get back to work. For a couple of months now the thought of getting ready to go to office bogged him down. At 45 it was a little unusual. This was not the age to feel this way but he was not comfortable with the idea of working. It was pure mental fatigue. He did not enjoy his youth as he had to establish himself as well as his company. Love was out of the question. Golden years of feeling things, nature, relationships, bonds, and friendships simply slipped away. Post-marriage, Pratima’s constant love and care instilled a sense of belonging in him. He was able to think beyond the race of being successful as he had already tasted success but in this process, he had stopped living. 

‘I prefer being home, Prati. Please don’t take out my clothes from the almirah, it’s a request please,’ pleaded Pallav. 

‘What about your habit of being in the office first thing after breakfast? Is everything alright? Are you ok? I have been noticing for a month plus that you push yourself to go. You drag yourself to leave us behind and rush to office. What has happened?’, questioned Pratima. 

‘You are right in noticing the change, love. I am just tired. I immersed myself in work to cope with the stress of earning a living once my parents were taken away from me so brutally in an accident. I was fresh from college and God was wicked enough to snatch away the playful youth I deserved. I was midway you know to make them proud but they just couldn’t witness whatever I was all set to achieve. It was tough coping with their loss and my need to establish myself on my terms. Their legacy lives through me and I just couldn’t have afforded to let them down. They had retired and marrying late had specific repercussions. Kids are hard to take care of once one crosses a specific age to produce children. My entry into their lives was ill-timed but I was loved no matter what. I just couldn’t spend more time and they were snatched,’  said Pallav sadly.

‘Ya, we spoke about it. So is that all? You miss your youth as you were struggling to get it all you mean, tell me if I stand corrected that money does not give you happiness or work, is it?’, asked Pratima. 

‘It’s a necessity agreed but we have it in excess. The luxury, the lifestyle, and the measures to keep it safe add to the agony. I get anxious for no reason. In this bid the joys that give me comfort get overshadowed. Watching our son grow gives me immense happiness. When I hear his stories from you I feel like wanting to be a part of it all. I can afford to be a little lazy towards work as we have enough. I don’t want to miss a thing when it’s him. I want to be with you. I have the luxury to do so. At 45, I am a little more simplistic after being with you. You unknowingly showed me the way. Your love fills me up. It has healed me and made me realize whatever I was missing all this while,’ shared Pallav. 

‘I feel honored to hear all you said. I too love it when I see you so involved with our kid, with me, and the chores a kid demands. I too want you to feel life in all its forms. The dew, the sunsets, sunrises, changing seasons, the uncertainty of the needs of a growing kid,  the struggles of raising him right and sharing responsibilities under one roof together. How many women have that privilege? I guess I am lucky that you feel that way and there is nothing to lose. We are rich all because of you but the richness of your heart and soul has made me fall in love with you all over again Pallav. I guess it’s like a dream come true,’ rejoiced Pratima, a 24*7 homemaker that she was.

‘Prati, God took away a lot but he gave me you. He gave me our son. With him, I can relive things that I missed on the way to get where I am today. Some years I questioned. From the moment you stepped into my life money is secondary. I hate staying away from you, this house, our son, and our life which is so precious as minutes pass. I don’t want to spend it in some cubicle I want to spend here as long as I can. The tender touch of his hands on my face makes me feel so blessed. By God’s grace, I can think in this manner. Times change and nothing is certain. I worked for decades but now I want to take it slow. I am not saying I am retiring. I can’t afford to but I can opt to breathe and not rush. I was rushing all this while. I guess it is a signal from the almighty and I believe in signals. Let’s do it,’ pleaded Pallav.

Pratima smiled. She was exhilarated to know that this new phase can be a possibility. Pallav was not a money-making machine anymore but their life together had brought the change within him. The promise she had made to herself after hearing about Pallav in a family wedding decades ago was showing signs and almost turning into a miracle and the joy in raising their kid together hopefully will heal Pallav fully too she prayed.