“’Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” Alfred Tennyson
‘Tap, tap’ the keys went on smoothly on the laptop. A bowl of love soup
Vel looked at the watch. It showed 2 am. In the afternoon he was so engrossed in the work and didn’t remember when he checked the time.
For more than once he walked to the pantry to have a cup of strong coffee to brush away the sleep that patiently lingered on his eyelids. It has been a year since he started to work like that often shifting between day and night.
“Ricky…” Vel called him loudly. “Bring me some hot soup from the canteen.”
“Yes,” Rick replied from the door without even looking at him. It is a routine thing to happen every time around 3 am early morning. When everyone wanted to sip a hot cup of tea with Elaichi, Vel preferred to sip his vegetable soup.
He always loved to sip any type of soup with the spoon and never wanted to drink it directly from the bowl. Vel knew how to cook delicious and nutritious and he also specialized in preparing different types of soups. At home, he sometimes made delicious, rich vegetable soup made from leftover vegetables.
On rainy days, when everyone was at home, he prepared hot vegetable soup or chicken soup and served it with style. The flavor of the soup would be so inviting, sometimes even his neighbors asked his mother what was special about cooking something so delicious and appetizing.
His taste for soups helped to slowly improve his culinary skills. At home whenever his mother was not at home, he preferred to cook his food. His father also enjoyed eating the food cooked by him. He always compared it with whatever his mother prepared.
Her mother always encouraged him to cook. She felt that it is a must for a boy to know cooking as it is a must for a girl to learn cooking. If a man can cook food, he can also assist his wife in all her cooking and that will help them to sort out any problem or misunderstanding amicably.
“Sir, your favorite soup is here.” Rick left the bowl of soup at the corner of his desk and looked at Vel who was deeply engrossed in his work.
The flavor touched his taste buds and he could not resist sipping from the bowl.
“Thanks.” Vel took the bowl of soup and started to sip. The soup was neither too hot nor too cold. It had the exact warmth that he needed at that time. But the flavor was so mild that made him add some more pepper and salt to the soup.
Vel always preferred to have soup with more pepper, especially during the early morning. That helped him to feel energized and concentrate more on his work.
“Morning, boss.” Reema’s message popped in from the chat window.
“Good morning. How are you?”
“Good. I can feel the aroma of your soup, here.”
“You are a devil. How can you smell it from there?”
“Because, I am sitting right across you, turn around and look.”
“But, I am not ready to share it with anyone now.”
“Yes, I know, let yourself drown in that yummy soup. I have better things to do.”
“Cool, cool, I will take you to the place down in the street this Saturday. Are you happy with that?”
“No, thanks. I can walk on my own and treat myself with whatever I like. Goodbye.”
“Ah!” Vel chucked louder. “The soup is so hot with too much pepper.”
“Go to hell.” Reema got up from her chair and made the remark grinding her teeth.
“I not only enjoy sipping the soup, I can make delicious soups also. This is for your information.” Vel told her loudly.
“Yes, then your wife will be better placed to take the risk of your soup every day.” Reema mocked him.
“Come to my home one day. I can show you how many varieties of soups I can prepare in an hour.” Vel invited Reema to his home.
“Yes, I will be there one day to risk my life. Now let me go. Bye, Bye.” Reema made a mocking sign to him and started walking toward the pantry to get a cup of coffee.
Every day something or other happened like that and Vel loved to tease Reema. Though they both sounded harsh and exchanged heated words, they loved each other in their hearts. Yet, they have not responded to each other openly and claimed their love also.
Growing up in an environment enriched with colours of nature adorned with sounds of machines, I enjoyed life with all challenges. Nature is always a great teacher that teaches empathy to live and let live others. Though I am now living in an urban environment, the lesson that nature taught me motivates and allows me to keep on writing. I will always remember the cool afternoons in the shades of trees that made me write more on love.
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