"Kms"

A silent drop of sweat gently flowed down beside amma ears. Few more droplets emerged on her forehead....

Doc checked the AC buttons...All working fine...OHOHO..cmmon sree nothing to worry!! It’s normal for ppl of sirs age...

Amma worries weren’t misplaced... The sugar levels of my dad’s blood has been on a bullish run...The best of efforts to calm it down were not yielding any results...

Doc continued..."why not go in for some tablets!!”

Achan reacted “Ayyoo Nope doc...Tablets tend to be addictive...I don’t want to start a new habit at this age...Suggest me some other healthy ways...”

“Hmmm... There aren’t any new ways...It’s all same”...looking at amma he continued “sree we had discussed before... Go by the same routine...Drink lots of water... Dietary controls... And most importantly loots of exercise...”

“But doc, I do all three quite well...”

Amma too sided dad “Yup doc he drink lots of water...Diet is about 99% strict...and for exercise we walk everyday to pathiyoor temple”

“Ohh cmmon pathiyoor temple is hardly a stones throw from your home!! Not enough!! Here, am speaking about Kms!!”

Spreading his palms and drawing two inverted commas on air...he reiterated “Kms”

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Inside the car too, There was an unusual melancholy...

Dad broke the silence “why u so depressed”...

“Depressed!! Chetta, the lifestyle diseases of a man puts direct light on his Mrs's Ineptitude at home.. today’s doc session reminded me of the PTA meetings I used to attend with kuttu...ohh..dreadful times tat...all credits for his flop shows fell on me, his visible parent!!! since i was just a mortal with normal abilities, i couldnt bring any change then...sigh..
amma takes a deep breath n continued
aahh..tis is purely god's plays..this is ma second big chance...you are just a medium, darlin.. the battle is between me and the sugar levels...Whatever be the way, i will floor the Sugar levels”

dad scratched his head hard and appreciatively responded “Sree,good..you are my perfect soul mate..lotz of passion...and nice to be the reason for the newly drawn battle line!!!..but...pls sree, dont compare me with that irresponsible fellow of ours...oommph..Luckily only I happened to hear your weird comparison...”

“he he he..okay...cmmon... lets be serious again..The emphasis this time should be more on exercises...”

Ohh...Exercise!! (dads veiled laziness slowly starts to stem out) You know very well that I can’t run on a treadmill or do aerobics...they aren’t suitable for a man of my age and physique... highly boring... probably i can walk more...okay lets visit the temple twice..Anyway kathoos exams r nearing... (a George Banks of the Father of the Bride moment)

“but chetta..Forgot Kms (aping docs gestures)”

Achan retorted losing almost all his  calm “be specific then?? How much more should I walk”

“hmm”..After some mental calculation, Amma passed the verdict
“every day from home to office and office to home”... A cool 4 to 5 Kms

Dad braked hard...the best of aerodynamics couldn't save maruthi from a wheel to roof shake..a true out of blue Allan Donald bouncer...

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Dad protested and suggested alternatives...but for amma nothing was as good as a everyday 4 km walk!!

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Next day mom woke an hour early..Pulled all her normal morning schedules an hr earlier...when clock struck 9.00 mom was at the door waiting with the Tiffin and suitcase...dad steadied his spects and reluctantly moved towards mom...Both walked till the gates and mom handed over his office gear..As a passing note, murmured "try walking fast and all the best..."

Dad didn’t reply and hesitantly crossed the gates...he took a deep view of the road ahead and set off...
Mom too rushed off to her office on her Activa and tataed her pedestrian hubby ...

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An hr later...Mom from her office phoned dad...

(Excitedly) how was it??

Good!!Very good...

I knew it!!.. Feeling fresh??!! Or r u tired??!!

Real fresh...a la liril fresh!!

Ohh...nice to hear tat...When did u reach office

Hmm, 9;05!!

Wow... Wait..... but how so fast??

Met Sasi on road...

So?!

He was on his bike...

So?!

He offered me a lift...

So?!

Since i never say a No to anyone, I Accepted his genuine offer!!
Bye!! bye!! Dump!!

Hellooo hello

That nite...Amma gave idea star singer and Devi mahathmyam a miss.. Calls from me, kathu n ammomma were unanswered...kitchen lights didn’t blink!! And dad and brownie went to bed with half a litre water and lots of air in their tummies!!!