The floor was a total mess with carton boxes, nails, hammer, screwdrivers and other sharp tools strewn about. Paint glistened on the floor, the wall was covered in a rainbow of paint stains- each a different colour. A few framed photos piled up on the floor and other photos remained untouched inside the carton. A long broom with spider webs rested against the wall.
‘Oof, my waist! One day these old bones will snap in this madhouse!’ the old man rubbed his waist gently, easing the aches with his bony, slender fingers. ‘These ladies! God help them, their shopping trips never end.’ grunted the man wailing with pain. He hunched over his knobby knee, peeped through the window again, releasing a deep sigh out of desperation.
'I could have finished this work if it hadn't been for that damn ceaky stool,’ he hummed continuing, ‘that little lizard gave me a hell lot of problems! Ouch!’ Once again he pressed his back lightly. He looked at the litters heaped on the floor blaming himself. Had he not slipped from the stool, he could have arranged the framed pictures in a designed style, the wall painting would have finished, and a major part of the work would have been done!
He cursed himself running after the lizard that caused him to lose his balance. He knew how much his wife hates that tiny creature. She would shout, scream, hide herself anywhere in the house till the lizard is not thrown out. Anytime she spots a lizard, she goes crazy! To make her happy, he took the broom to dispel the lizard but instead lost the target and the broom dashed the photo on the wall. Broken glass pieces scattered on the floor adding extra litter. He lost his balance, bumped hard on the ground.
With the ticking of time, he became restless. His silent wailing faded as the door slammed shut. Thoughtfully he gazed at the beige side lanes again if she had come. ‘No- not her! Maybe, uh, someone in the neighbourhood!’ he murmured. With much difficulty he crawled towards the sofa, leaned back to the edge for comfort! A wry smile flicked on his dry lips- why- why didn't he call the designer or any professional expert to remodel the house? Why was he so adamant to do all alone when his age doesn't permit him to do such a heavy task?! To save money? For whom? One daughter we have and she is in a well-to-do family! What more do we need? He went on blaming himself but that added additional pain. Desperately he gazed at the door if she would have come!
Suddenly, he smelt a faint burning smoke. He screamed aloud, ‘Oh no!! My cake!’ He tried his best but failed to stand up. Crawling towards the kitchen, he found the smoke coming from the slit of the oven. The cake had already turned to charcoal! Desperately he switched off the plug. Now all his anger showered upon his wife- the old lady!
How much time she takes just to buy a few items! Yeah, I know she must go out the colour, the design, the fabric of the curtains, vase with modern painting. Not only that she had crazy ideas for stylish standing lamps and a huge wall painting for the drawing room! Poor lady! She told me in advance that we would have our grand dinner tonight booking from an expensive restaurant to celebrate our ‘new house’! She must have expected that I would have finished my work by the time she would be here! My head started reeling with tension, stress, pain, everything. ‘Should I tell her sorry?! Should I confess my mistake in the first place?! Should I ask her for one more day?! I know her!’ After all, she is very impatient!
On the other hand, the old lady was engaged in a hot argument with the employee of that supper market. After a long exchange of hot words, she came to her final decision. She had chosen the curtain and asked the employee to give her three meters. When the cashier handed over the bill, the old lady was ready to pay but when she opened her purse, she was shocked! She screamed aloud, ‘Nooooooooooooo! M- my money, my mobile both.. no.. somebody has stolen!’
She couldn't remember where she missed it and how could she? One time only, she kept aside her purse while she cast off her full attention at the curtain! She was devastated! What now? What would she do? Her head reeled of what to do next!
Without buying anything, she came back home. She looked pale as if she has lost all her energy. With a shaking hand, she pressed the bell. The old man tried to rush but couldn't! Struggling hard, he opened the door. When she stepped in, her brows curled up, eyes bulged out, she dashed on the floor like an uprooted tree!
'What the hell is this happening? Why so messy? And what's that burning smell?' she claimed at a time.
'Relax! Calm down! I'll tell you, just take a breathe!'
The lady gave him a blank look and took a deep sigh! The old man taking his time told her the whole thing that had happened. Suddenly the bell buzzed so high, both of them were startled. 'Who is it?'
Inquisitively, the man opened the door. 'Delivery, sir!' the bearer told him softly.
'B..but..I didn't order anything. Maybe wrong address. Take it back.'
'No, no, sir, you didn't. It is sent by Mrs. Rawat from Singapore. She had ordered to our shop and we have delivered to you.
'Happy House warming , Sir! Have a nice time!' The bearer wished him and went away.
The old man kept it before his wife, and said, 'Look, our daughter knew that we are going to celebrate for our new house in a grand hotel with delicious food! Now, open it and see what she has given.'
'Wow! What an aroma! Our most favourites! Let's see how is the taste!' the old lady and the old man overwhelmed with joy and the lady said, 'O dear! Let us enjoy our food for 'A New Look' of our house! Let it be so, no more change.'
When the work is beyond your capacity, don't try it yourself! You must take others help or you will have to face the same situation like this old man in this story!
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