Dee woke up to heavy eyes and fading evening colors. The orange glow outside the window saddened her and she wanted to crash back into the bed. But the grumbling in her stomach had turned to a roar. She was mentally exhausted and had to adjust to her entry into the real world.
What day is it today? She wondered. Did she have a bad dream? Had Raj really stood her up, or was it just a really bad dream? She couldn’t make the head or tail of it and just then the phone buzzed. She picked up the phone and saw a bunch of message notifications and missed calls.
Must be Raj, she thought and forced herself to look at the messages even though she just wanted to chuck the phone away and eat.
Missed call – Mayuri
Message: call me!
Missed call – Mayuri
Message: are your free?
Message: can you come here tonight?
Message: Plans for evening?
And there were many more.
Dee tapped the last call record and called Mayuri, her cousin, living only a couple of streets away. “Finally. Thank God!”, exclaimed Mayuri. “I was about to call off all the evening plans. Sorry. Are you free tonight? Dee.”
“ What are you talking about? What plans? You are not making any sense. Yes, I am free, unfortunately.” answered Dee reluctantly.
“I want you to come here, right now. Jay planned a surprise dinner and I don’t have anyone to look after the baby. Get here, now, please.”
“Do you have food?” that was the only thing Dee could think of at that time. Dee grabbed her bag and Activa keys and left for Mayuri’s. Mayuri let her in, thrust a sandwich in her hands and began instructing her about the baby’s things. “I know, I know. This is not the first time! I know where everything is, you just get ready and leave. You must not keep Jay waiting . . . well . . . maybe a little. ”
The evening was event-less and Dee spent most of her time in front of the TV watching Gone with the Wind. Mayuri and Jay returned rather early.
“I just couldn’t stay away for too long. Can’t wait for him to grow up, give us some breathing space. Otherwise it’s just one Pampers to next. Looks like he slept through?” inquired Mayuri.
“More or less, yes. Gave a few grunts, but fell asleep again. I am glad I didn’t have to change the diaper. ”, said Dee.
“Aah ha. Here it is. Told ya. A diaper change is never too far. Now you will get to see my last ritual of the day before bedtime. Pay attention, you will need this information one day.”
“What ritual?” asked Dee reluctantly? She wanted to grab her bag and run as fast as she could. Who wants to see a diaper change? But she could not do that and waited for Mayuri to do her thing.
“You know, babies, they pee all the time. And if it’s wet, you can say at least an hour goodbye. So I take extra care in the night. I use Pampers Baby Dry pants. I specifically use these at night and when we are traveling. The fancy thing has some gel that absorbs a lot of liquid and keeps the internal surface dry. No need to shower with talcum powder. It cakes anyway and then gives an awful smell.”
Dee was patiently nodding at Mayuri as she continued with her daily ritual of cleaning the baby and changing the diaper, and brought her abreast of the latest diaper technology. But she also appreciated the loving touch and looked at Mayuri as she lay the baby in her cradle and began to rock and hum a lullaby.
“do you . .”
“Shhhhhhh. . . “ Mayuri put her index finger to her lips to tell Dee to sit silently on the other bed in the room, as the baby fitfully fell asleep.
Dee sat there in the corner, thiniking this may not be what she had in mind for the Valentine’s Day, but she was glad for the distraction as Raj hardly intruded her thoughts the last few hours. But what about tomorrow? or the day after?