Expressions!!

An attempt at something new, something different from my usual style. Please comment as you may see fit.

He let out a slight sigh as he moved to turn the alarm off. A smile crossed him, reminding him of all the alarms he ignored, and here he was intercepting one before it even begin its monotonous irritating chime. He had a long night. He could exactly recall all the hours, the time and his positions on the bed and the single thread of thought which subsumed his entire night. Entire night was such a small time period to put it in. He took a look across the bed and as usual she was already up, but he already knew that. The sounds emanating from the kitchen already announced that and moreover he was only pretending to be awake when she got up around an hour ago and covered him with his sheet. He never told her but he was really mystified by her graceful demeanor and that too despite his tantrums, a much too obvious feeling of indifference and her modern upbringing. In another universe, in another life he would have considered himself lucky to have her. He lingered on, trying to catch the last shreds of his night long wrestle, but finally decided to delay it for later. Out of habit he got up and ambled towards the door to pick up the newspaper. She sensed his movements and as a well synchronized part of her morning rituals, put a cup of tea on the dining table to accompany his newspaper. He pulled on a nervous smile as she crossed her path, still engrossed in his thoughts while mindlessly staring at the newspaper, she responded as she normally would. 

“Good Morning”, she said with a believable cheerfulness in her voice. The reply was equally formal and lackluster, but that never seemed to deter her. Again she got busy with her morning rituals. They both were too dispassionate and boring to be identified as a newly married couple. He kept going through the pages although he could make sense of some news at least. For the time being his dilemma was ignored and replaced by the frail political scenario in one of the states. He kept glancing at her in between, carefully timing them to avoid any eye contact, as today was one of those days when he couldn’t risk being exposed. He had no idea that he was not that good as acting as he thought he was.

The rest of the morning was mechanical. He has gone about his usual routine. Everything was already selected, arranged, all the decisions have been taken. He couldn’t believe the chaos the mornings used to be earlier, when he was just a single person trying to fight the Monday morning blues. Her choice was always in good taste and it was uncanny that how often he knew he would have ended up selecting the same things as she had. His admiration in her was renewed. He was getting too dependent on her and he wanted to avoid that. He dreaded the ticking clock he wanted to delay the inevitable but couldn’t. Breakfast was uneventful except for her. She looked lovely in her dress, which he knew was one of her favorite. He tried to move his glance elsewhere to avoid being caught staring at her and he failed. She looked too occupied with her morning crossword to notice his stares, but he didn’t want to risk it. He finished it in a hurry, which was ironical as he wanted the morning to drag as long as possible, for he didn’t think he was ready to face what awaited him. As he was about to leave she intercepted him.

“Aren’t we supposed to go together?”

He remembered she had told him about her meeting which was supposed to be in the same area as his office. He regretted forgetting it and shuddered at the effects it may entail.

“Oh sorry I forgot, you come I am waiting downstairs in the car.”, he said trying to sound apologetic and sincere.  And he left. He decided against using the elevator and trickled slowly along the stairs. From the 11^th floor it was going to be a long walk, it was going to be a long day and he didn’t knew how he wanted it to end.

To be continued.....