ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD - #WRITEAPAGEADAY - #BLOGCHATTER

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                                                                                                  Unsplash

They sat in front of the television, munching at their cookies, engrossed in the drama on screen. He had retired a month ago from his job as a bank officer. She was working as a guest lecturer at a renowned college, but she too had less than a week to go before she quit as well. Another five days, a grand farewell party with an apt memento, and then she would be home with her spouse with all the time in the world to spend together.

Their children had moved out into their own worlds, with families of their own. Two daughters and one son, taking it in turns to come down and visit their parents.

“Ma, Papa, now that you are both on the verge of retirement, please come and visit us,” cajoled their son who lived in London. “You have been working all your lives and never had time to have a proper holiday. We will take you to Madame Tussauds and the Tower of London. We can eat fish and chips wrapped in newspaper and catch a couple of plays. You would enjoy that, wouldn’t you?”

The older couple smiled at each other, as he asked his wife, “What do you think?” even as his son waited for the answer with bated breath.

She replied, “We should definitely go, maybe next year! After all, we have all the time in the world!” Their son was disappointed, but they convinced him of their decision.

Their two daughters were equally persuasive. “Ma, please make up your minds. Come, visit us!” they clamoured. One lived in Bangalore, the other in Singapore. “Next year, for sure!” their father promised, as his wife smiled on.

There was a lull in the conversation after the call came to an end. They sat in silence, elated that their children wanted to spend time with them. He stretched out and took the travel brochure from a drawer close to the wall next to his armchair. He had picked it up on his last day of work. He opened it and both pored over it diligently, going through the myriad places across the world.

“How about Greece?” he remarked, pointing to the map of Europe. She giggled in delight, an endearing sound to his ears, as she nodded vigorously. “Maybe a quick tip to Venice as well – we could count the stars sitting in a gondola! Just you and me… and the gondolier.”

Twilight had set in and she rose to switch the lights on.

“How about another cup of tea, and some onion fritters?” he asked as she sat down again. She nodded and he placed the brochure in her hands and sauntered to the kitchen.

Onion fritters were his specialty after all. He whistled a jaunty tune as he tied a bright red apron around his waist, before cutting a couple of onions into perfect rounds.

He was in no hurry at all. After all, they had all the time in the world.

 

I am participating in the #WriteAPageADay challenge by #Blogchatter.

516 words

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