The Penance

It was her penance for fighting and deserting him when he needed her support the most.
She had decided she was going to fast – till he would find out and lovingly admonish her. Considering it could be ages before he found out, she decided to be practical: fasting for the next three days. She was starting it with immediate effect.
He had not called the whole day. It was quite unbearable. To even look at the lunch spread out in front of her.
By the end of day, she was trembling. There was a mysterious knot in her stomach that seemed to grow bigger by the hour. The fragrance of hot upma was killing her – she could almost see stars through the big holes that the digestive juices were punching in her stomach lining.

Finally, just before midnight, he had called her “Hi baby, what’s cooking?”

“Nothing actually” she said carelessly. At times, his manner of speaking could be so annoying.

“Have you had dinner?”

“No…. about to,” she blushed. As an afterthought blurted out, “I had decided not to eat”

“Why?”

She wasn’t sure if it was the smooth coating of mock surprise in his voice or, her own saliva that tasted bitter.
“I thought it was a way of…” her voice trailed, she knew she had set her own trap. The sides of her mouth involuntarily pinched downwards, starting to quiver slightly indicating the beginning of a silent sob.

“Starving will kill you baby, not your ego” he spoke gently.

Touché.
She imagined she could see his smiling face outside the window.
She almost threw her plate at the glass pane.