An Ideal Wife (18 page)

Sameer picked up his cellphone and dialled a number.

‘Whom are you calling?’

‘Just following your instructions ma’am, calling people for the party,’ Sameer winked at Payal with a huge smile on his face. Payal was happy to see him smiling.

Thinking about the weekend party and knowing that Payal was taking a break from work just worked like a charm for Sameer. He worked with new vigour to deliver an excellent campaign, which not only made the client happy but also brought back the smile on his boss’s face.

As expected, on Saturday night, Sameer’s house was buzzing with lots of people and great music. Payal was looking after everyone like a great hostess.

‘Man, looks like I am going to lose the bet.’

Jimmy lamented seeing Payal in great form and comparing her with his wife who was the perfect party pooper.

‘Sameer…
aur shart haar jaye…
not possible dear,’ another colleague teased Jimmy.

The party went on till the wee hours and before leaving everyone congratulated Payal and Sameer for the evening. One of the guests even commented that this party was way better than the parties in Sameer’s bachelor days. On hearing this comment Sameer beamed like a child and immediately looked at Jimmy who looked the other way.

After everyone left, Sameer hugged Payal for organising the most amazing house party.

‘So where is my reward?’ Payal asked with a playful smile.

‘Whatever you want?’

‘You know what I want?’

‘What?’

Payal didn’t say anything and just kept looking at Sameer with a naughty smile on her face. Sameer was little perplexed and spoke again.

‘What?’

Payal once again kept just kept looking at Sameer.

‘What?’

The moment Sameer said it he realised what exactly Payal meant. He smiled, shook his head, lifted her in his arms, took her to the bedroom and shut the door behind him with his foot.

On Monday, things completely changed in Sameer’s office. All his colleagues thanked him for such a nice party over the weekend. Sameer was extremely happy to see that people were now talking about Payal in a positive way rather than what they were discussing a few days ago. Many of them even asked for a repeat party. Sameer himself was eager to throw another party at home to consolidate the positivity running around him.

His unstoppable feel-good vibe and enthusiasm bagged him many more clients for the agency. Fatty was extremely happy with him, so apart from the huge bonus he offered him a 10% partnership in the company. As expected the chorus for another house party gained momentum.

Over the next few weeks Sameer and Payal organised many more parties. Sameer was happy to see that Payal was cheerfully organising everything and not cribbing (like most of his friends’ wives). Most of the times during these parties, Jimmy was the butt of the joke regarding his bet with Sameer for an Ideal Wife.

Work pressure on Sameer started mounting after becoming partner in the firm. This meant that he continued to work in his study even while his friends enjoyed a party in the house. Sameer needed Payal by his side due to the work pressure but like a good host she was spending a lot more time with his friends and colleagues.

Sameer was slowly getting frustrated with all these parties but he could never muster the courage to say ‘no’ to his friends as he was too determined to prove that Payal was his Ideal wife. His aim in life was to win at all cost.

During one such party, while they were dancing at home, he got a call to meet one international client immediately. He wasn’t interested in leaving the party, as the party was at its prime, but he had no option.

Though Sameer was physically present in the meeting in a conference room of a five-star hotel but mentally he was at the party. Not sure how and why, he imagined that all his colleagues were hitting on his wife at the party.

This imagination took a toll on him and he made an extremely bad presentation to the client. As a result, he ended up losing a big contract for the company. His boss wasn’t sure what had hit him as he had planned a big vacation expecting to win this contract. He left the hotel in a bad mood. Sameer also left from there in a bad mood and drove rather rash to reach home.

His friends had already left and Payal was cleaning up. He wanted to speak to her but she was extremely busy with the work. After struggling for sometime, he finally ended up convincing Payal to sit and talk.

‘Let’s get out of Mumbai. I need a break,’ Sameer spoke like a frustrated child.

‘Sameer, how can I go now?’

Sameer kept looking at her.

‘Baby, you know I already took a break from my work. Now I need to finish my pending assignments.’

‘I am too tired of all this.’

‘Of what? These parties or the work pressure?’

‘Both.’

Payal was confused with his reply.

‘But you love these parties, right?’

‘I used to but not anymore.’

Right then the wall clock of the living room struck 1am. Payal immediately picked up the remaining plates from the table, went to the kitchen and came back after dumping them in the sink.

‘Sameer, can we talk at length about this tomorrow? I have to report for the shoot early tomorrow morning and I really don’t want to go with red eyes.’

Sameer nodded in agreement but he really wanted to finish the discussion. Payal kissed him good night and left. Sameer gently walked up to the easy chair and sat there for few minutes but his mind was quite disturbed, so he picked up couple of Amstel Lights from the fridge and went out to the balcony.

Contrary to the calmness at the beach, his inner soul was searching for the answers to his woes. He gulped those beers in quick succession but the uneasiness inside him was way beyond cure.

He walked out of his home to the beach and sat there watching the waves hit the shore. After spending about an hour he came back to the easy chair. He went to sleep sitting there and dreamt about his first encounter with me in which we’d discussed his wish list of An Ideal Wife.

‘I want my wife not to crib or complain about parties at home and during these parties she should happily look after my friends,’ Sameer explained yet another quality of his Ideal Wife to me.

‘Now what is this for?’ I inquired.

‘I love house parties and I want my wife to enjoy them as well without cribbing.’

I touched Sameer’s forehead with my right palm.

‘What are you doing?’

‘Just checking if everything is okay with you.’

Sameer just kept looking at me.

‘You are asking for the impossible buddy. Cribbing is an inherent trait of a woman especially when it comes to organising parties at home.’

‘Then what’s the use of promising me the moon when you can’t even get me an electric bulb?’

‘I will try my level best.’

‘Try vry nahin, I need it, period,’ an adamant Sameer instructed.

Sameer came back from the dream as soon as he spoke the lines and started shouting.

‘Nahin,
I don’t need this, I don’t need this.’

Payal, in half sleep, came running out of the bedroom.

‘What happened? What happened?’

Sameer looked around and found there was no one and then he looked at Payal.

‘What happened?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Then why did you shout?’

‘Just had a bad dream.’

‘Was it too bad?’

Sameer smiled a bit and winked.

‘A little, you go and sleep, tomorrow you have to go early,’ Sameer coyly covered the situation.

Payal kissed him and went back to the bedroom.

16

God’s wisdom

T
he wall clock struck seven in the morning. Payal shouted while rushing towards the door to leave for the shoot

‘Honey, I am leaving.’

Sameer didn’t respond.

‘I am leaving; I’ll be late.’

Sameer still didn’t say a word, which made Payal a little worried. She came back near him and waved her hand in front of his face but no different was the story.

‘Honey, are you okay?’ Payal finally shook him up.

‘Hmmmmm.’

‘Are you okay?’

‘Yeah yeah, I am fine. Why haven’t you left? You are already getting late,’ Sameer said looking at his watch.