This is a work of fiction. Enjoy!
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In India, it is not unusual for children to focus solely on academics and career development, leaving the dauntingย task of finding a life partner to their parents. That's exactly what happened to meย andย to my wife.
Our honeymoon phase mostly involved getting to know each other, discussing our likes and dislikes, occasionally sharing a smile, and taking walks together. Due to the lack of dating scenarios during our teen life, we resorted to asking questions to know each other and she was far better at doing so than I. She would simply turn towards me and ask without meeting her eyes with me.
Six months into our marriage, I realized she was a fairly easy person to be with considering we both are highly ambitious, career-oriented and treasured our privacy. We had sex a couple of times where afterward she would simply walk into the bathroom, clean herself and fall asleep. I would follow the suit after her. It is safe to say we never discussed anything about having kids.
Before leaving for work, she would prepare breakfast for us and pack some for lunch. She would carefully put together outfits for me including my socks and a handkerchief. Then we would both leave for work.
It wasn't until a year later when we were nestled in a cottage on a mountain to honor our first wedding anniversary, that she asked me if I could do her a favor. We were baking. I was mixing the dry ingredients when she pulled out the baking tray and stood by the side.
"Yes, go on,"
It was too early for her to be greasing the tray; I suppressed my urge to correct her because I didn't want her to change her mind about whatever she wanted to ask.
"Please, look at me," She pleaded.
I stopped mixing and turned to face her. As usual, her gaze remains fixed on the ground.
That was when she asked me to fulfill one of her needs. It was neither a wish nor a desire. She kept emphasizing the word 'need'. I could not possibly re-state how she put forth her need, but after getting her initial sense, we quietly resumed our baking.
I couldn't readily agree with what she asked of me, but as I had decided to become a devoted husband to this woman I wanted to be able to do anything for her. But I couldn't understand why she asked me to force myself on her. Was she going to put me to the test? Was she sure she was serious? She never acted on an impulse, so the second question was out of the way, but the first...
I decided that the best way to clear things up was to ask her directly, so I did. I'd ask, and she'd respond with absolute resolve because she knew I'd ask a lot of questions. She told me what she wanted me to do, and I had to figure out how to do it. And as for the question of when she wanted me to surprise her.
Only I had my office that fateful day, and she was on leave. It was a breezy evening. I was exhausted and wanted nothing more than a ridiculously long weekend to unwind. I rang the doorbell several times that day; normally, I would have my key with me, but since she was home, I preferred to go without it. I was tense and desperately wanted to take a bath, but the door would not budge. Only when I began banging on the door did she respond to the third bang. Her hair was dripping wet and she had a towel wrapped around her torso. She might have jumped out of the tub and dashed for the door.