The Smile

Splashing some cold water on my face, I energise myself at 5 am. I greet my colleagues at 7 am and bid goodbye to them by 6 pm. “It could be overwhelming” my manager said when I took additional tasks and “isn’t it overburning?” Someone asked and all that I had was a smile. No answer to the questions they had nor to the questions of what I want! But yes “happiness” is just one word to say how I feel when I take up my passionate tasks.

Finishing my tasks at home, I plead my little toddler to go to bed but in vain. There I retire close to midnight to notice that my husband is still not home. “When was the last dinner together?” I questioned myself and remembered the day when we had gone out for dinner and he got a P1 call with a customer that I finished my dinner all alone!

“In a meeting. Will call later” – the standard set of texts that I get when I call him. Waiting for a ping, Im almost dozing at the table.

There I get one – “Whole Datacenter is down. I need to engage my experts and be on call with clients. Will be late home” – I send “take care. Good night” with a hope I can meet him tomorrow morning being weekend. “Weekend activity” my brain reminded of the maintenance weekend he mentioned about. I smiled! “Yet another weekend” should I sigh or “just another weekend” should I smile?

Though this has been the situation for over a decade now, I still keep up the hopes and move on with a smile. I really mean it – “probably he’s the man from whom I learnt dedication and passion. That’s my husband to me” – no midnight cakes or flowers to celebrate our special days but only business discussions. Yes, he’s been my mentor too!

There have been days when I got fed up too but I don’t like to complain as I am adamant of my career too. I respect that he respects me and isn’t that a mutual relationship too? “Are we successful in career?” you may ask “we are happy” I smile!

“Hope your day is fine. Take care” is all that I could say to make it easy on him than sending million texts to fight and lose my peace.

But yes, I don’t regret for I know he’s mine and I’m his. With hopes to meet him this week, I retire to bed!

Need no pities from anyone around as you can still see me smile. It was only to say that “happiness lies in our hands” – find it in love or job or family or relationships but don’t lose it in you. Happiness starts with you!

⁃ Dedicated to most Indian IT couple. Be passionate about what you’re doing and move on with a smile. Do not crib about what you’re going through as this is our choice! If you still are worried, there is an easy answer – “quitting”. If not, keep the curve on your face moving high – the smile and the passion!