THE DOOR

 

Sunaina pushed the blue door with her entire body force. The long steel handle on each door of the pair was enough to establish a firm grip. But its texture suggested it to be cumbrous, made up of pure teak wood, very large, lofty, and high. She had never seen such a door in her life and was amazed by its beauty. She whispered in her husband’s ear, ‘What kind of door is this? So big and blue in colour. No thief on earth will ever be able to break it open.’ The husband pushed her to the left, with a fake smile to the waiters scattered all over the restaurant near each table, eager to serve and take orders.

It was dinner time. The man had never taken his wife to such a costly restaurant earlier. Earlier, it was mostly the ‘chat’ houses serving ‘panipuri’, ‘tikki’, etc. He had recently started earning a lot when a business venture had clicked at the right place. His long-awaited dream of dining with his wife in such a luxurious eatery had finally come true. They dressed themselves in their best. It was a beautiful date.

The waiters pulled the chairs to make them sit comfortably and handed over the food menu. Sunaina could hear the tinkling sound of the cutlery spread all across the tables. The entire place was enshrouded with giggles, laughter, and chatter. The man was enjoying the ambience and his present state of happiness. Sunaina sat directly opposite the door where she could see every person entering as well as exiting. She watched all of them. The husband was elated that his wife was able to experience this life of sophistication and urbanity.

The man tried to talk to his wife about the silly things which was new to him and her, but she mostly remained unheeded. They ate the food, but Sunaina glued her big, kohled eyes on the door. ‘Are you even eating properly?’ He enquired sternly. She nodded politely. At one point, he was disturbed by his wife’s constant eschewal, ‘What’s wrong with you, Sunaina? Are you waiting for someone here? You are not even looking at me for once; forget about talking. Your eyes are fixed at the door and….’

She interrupted, ‘door. Yes, the door. Look at it. It’s so beautiful. You told me yesterday that we will buy an apartment in a few months in this city. I want this door for our house. Please ask the shop or the carpenter, whoever sells it.’

‘What? Have you gone mad? Instead of enjoying our moment, you are thinking about this blue door? Let's leave soon, or else you will make me crazy.’ He left the place feeling disgusted and disappointed. Sunaina followed him quietly. At the exit, she stood for a minute or two, adoring the carvings and the finished work on the door. She smiled, and this door meant it all for the evening to her.