Dear Better Half

I’m not fair, tall and slim.
I’m far from being the standard beauty
and that spares you  countless rants
about calories and sun tan.
And whether or not the woman next door
is prettier or uglier than I am.

My rotis are not round
but they are edible.
If the roundness matters
we can always order a pizza.

I don’t believe in gender roles.
I wouldn’t stop you
if you want to try cooking.
If you want to quit
a high paying, stable job
because it’s just not right for you,
I won’t try to persuade you against it.

I will let you watch
your cricket matches in peace.
Don’t expect me to remember
the umpteen number of players
and rules of the game.

You wouldn’t be penalized
for not remembering birthdays
and petty anniversaries.
I won’t remember them either.

I would appreciate your efforts
and not brush aside your success
as ‘a blessing of god’.
I don’t believe
in the grand old gentleman, you see.

I can move the furniture
but I would need your helping hand.
I can do our laundry,
but don’t trust me with the whites.
The off-whites, creams and pinks too.
Any light coloured clothes, actually.

I am a strong person
and I can easily laugh off
any misfortune that comes along.
But there are times,
when hormones take control.
And on those days
You’ll find me crying over Nemo
and even X-Men and the Avengers.

I don’t promise you a bed of roses.
I don’t expect one either.
But we can keep each other occupied
till the next season of Game of Thrones airs
or my letter from Hogwarts arrives.