"I work here only on the weekends you know..." he said as he smiled at me.

 I looked at him. Medium height, fair complexion, a hint of stubble and a pretty attractive face.

 I smiled at him.

 "So what do you do over the weekdays?" I asked him. The devil in me wanted to say - so you want me to know that you don’t work here all the time, eh?

 "Oh! I work full time for a bank and I study too." he said with a relief in his voice that seemed to suggest that he was happy the bait was taken.

 "You are a very busy man..." I replied.

 He smiled. I paid for the groceries and left flattered very much that a man who could be called handsome had started to flirt with me. He had offered me a mango drink free of charge, my favorite! Very interesting indeed.

 "We are out of fruits again.." my husband said as he plopped in the sofa.

 "Oh! I forgot completely. I had been to the grocery store today. I could have bought them so easily..."

"Well I will get them tomorrow on my way back.." my husband continued.

"No! Don't bother...." I said. "There are a couple of other things I need to pick up too. I will do it."

 I am glad he did not ask me what the other couple of things were because I did not know them myself.

 "I am turning in..." he said as he yawned and stretched. I looked at him. He somehow seemed so much older. More tired than usual.

"You should be taking good care of yourself you know.." I said as I ran my fingers through his thick hair.

"Well why should I do that?"

I knew what was coming next.

"...when you are there to do that for me..." I lip synched.

"Well I can’t baby sit you all the time. It would be good if we took responsibility for ourselves from time to time and not just let ourselves go thinking that someone is going to take care of us..."

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa..Where is this lecture coming from all of a sudden?" he asked smiling.

"Good Night" I told him.

"Good night..." he said softly as he got up and gave me a kiss.

"When are you going to sleep?"

"I can take care of myself.." I said.

Pretty mean I know. Bitchy even but I was exasperated. Nothing I ever said seemed to move this man. He was always calm and serene.

Always ending the day with a peck on my cheek no matter how bad we fought, no matter how hard I cribbed, no matter nothing happened.

 I watched TV paying attention to nothing in particular.

 The conversation with the grocery store clerk was going through my mind when I heard the gentle snoring coming from our bedroom. That was another thing. No matter if the roof fell on our heads, no matter if a tornado was going to sweep us away, the minute his head touched the pillow, he'd be fast asleep. The gentle snoring giving the fact away. I increased the TV volume.

 "Did you get the fruits?" he asked.

"Uh-huh" I said, a small bead of sweat forming over my forehead.

"We should make our famous fruit salad..." he said.

 "What are you doing buying so many fruits? Making a fruit salad..." he had asked with a wink.

"Who knows, I just might" I said.

"I hope so...I would not want to think otherwise." he said, his face very serious.

"What otherwise?" I asked him. I was asking myself where was this 'dare' in me coming from.

"Well you know some people make trips to the store just for the sake of making a trip"

"Oh! They do, do they?"

"Yes"

"Well I am glad to say I am not one of them..."

"I am sure you are not. I would hope there would be other reasons to make the trip..."

"What other reason could there be other than buying fruits..."

"You should know that better."

I laughed. This was so refreshing. I could have stayed there forever talking to this man. Had been long since I had flirted..correction anyone had flirted with me. But there were customers behind me in the line and I had to hurry.

I took the bags and stared to leave.

"Sana" he called after me.

I turned, surprise writ large on my face.

"Your credit card..." he replied, handing it over to me.

"Thank you...Sameer.." I said reading the name tag.

"Don’t forget to bring me some if you do make it.." he said.

"Smooth..." I said.

"Thanks" he said, as he walked backwards towards the desk.

 "So shall we?" he asked as he walked into the kitchen.

"Yes" I said simply.

 Sana & Rohan's famous fruit salad. He cut the fruits, I made the custard. He was very careful with cutting the fruits. If you measured them I could bet that each one of them would be of the same size. I was a pro at making delicious creamy custard. Together we made the most delectable dessert of a fruit salad. There was never enough of it when we threw a party. The first thing our friends and family would say to us was - I hope it’s the same dessert as always. Yes it was always the same fruit salad. Always delicious. Always enjoyed.

The only complaint was that we never seemed to get to eat it. We were too busy making it when the party started and by the time it ended the bowl would be wiped clean.

 "Just for you and me..." he had said.

 "For me?" he asked as I handed the container to him.

I nodded.

"You took it seriously. I was just joking you know.." he said.

"I know but still..." I trailed off.

"Thank you so so much. Has been a long time since I ate anything home cooked..." he said.

"Well I am glad. Let me know if you like it..."

"And how should I do that?"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Should I do that when you come to the store the next time you need fruits..which I assume will not be for a very long time."

I looked up uneasily at him. He did not seem the least bit perturbed.

 I opened my email as soon as I got home. 1032 messages. What the...! OK I will deal with that later.

How long had it been since I had opened my account. Only when friends or family would send pictures. Not because I would want to see them but because I knew they would ask them - did you see the pics we sent you yet? What do you think? Better to see the pics!

 "It is delicious." was the 3 word email.

 "Want some? It is delicious..." Rohan said as he walked with the bowl of fruit salad into the study room.

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