It was the fag end of yet another monotonous week day. Rush to office.....work.... ....work…work…work…MS…rush to school…rush back to office....work... MS.... …work…work…MS…work…work…MS…back home…rush to swimming class and so on.

After swimming class we were ravenous. We had perhaps burnt too many calories (!!!??) so my daughter and I demanded ice creams. The car took a diversion and instead of going home we decided to try out the new ice cream parlor close to home.

It was a cheerful, place with lemony green décor and I loved it instantly. Each of us settled in with our favourite flavours in a waffle cup. Yeah! The sinful thrill of eating the ice cream and the cup. Yippy!

While we were devouring our calories in contented silence in walked an unusual couple. I say unusual because they are not the types you are used to seeing in an up-market ice cream parlor. It was a bare bodied labourer and his wife. They were perhaps in their early 30s. (I know this sort of feels like the Susan Boyle story but then it’s so true and shameful that we do have these terrible mindsets.) Anyway the labourer went up to the startled counter guy and asked him how much it was for a scoop of ice cream. The counter man to his credit, regained his manners really fast. He politely told the man it was 30 Rs for a scoop. “30 Rs! It’s too much I say. Let’s go.” the man’s wife immediately protested. “Today I have the money, we’ll worry about tomorrow – tomorrow.” said the man coolly. She protested yet again and tried to drag him out. At this point, we had all stopped eating our ice cream and watching them with open fascination. The lady was acutely aware of the audience. She smiled sheepishly at us and gestured to me with her hand saying her man was mad! But the man was adamant. He was already intently looking at all the flavours on display through the glass.

The lady shyly looked into the glass counter. I could see that she was in two minds. She wanted to give in to the temptation – but the years of prudence told her it was absolute extravagance. For a while – we all watched while they stared into the glass counter.

Then the man asked the counter guy “I want that ice cream where people eat the cup also!”

The wife was amazed! “They eat the cup? Like donkeys?” she giggled.

The counter guy hastened to explain that the cup was made of edible material and was called a waffle cup – sort of like the cone of a cone ice cream – but more tasty – he assured them.

The labourer made up his mind. He chose chocolate ice cream and wanted his wife to choose another flavour. But the wife still hesitated so the man gave in and they decided they would share the ice cream. Yet again the wife implored – “30 Rs – don’t you think we are being foolish? We can buy food for two days with that!” she whined.

The man smiled at her“I worked extra hard the last two days and I have extra money because I wanted to treat you to this ice cream. I have seen rich people eat it. Why can’t we taste it just once? Why can’t we stop worrying about tomorrow just once? Tomorrow if I die then who will ever buy you this ice cream?” he asked her gently.

The wife punched him and put her hand across his mouth “Don’t ever talk of dying to me – giving dialogue like Tamil film hero! Ok, buy me the ice cream, my hero!” she grinned. Her tired face lighting up with a genuine smile.

We were watching all this in total amazement. My husband and I quietly debated as to whether we should offer to pay for the ice cream. We almost did. But then I felt we would steal away the man’s thunder. The poor guy had worked extra hard to treat his wife and I guess it was only right to give him the pleasure of buying.

So they got one waffle cup ice cream with two spoons. They sat shyly in a corner and ate it with so much relish – I cannot even describe it. They giggled as they ate the cup. They crooned sweet nothings to each other all the time. It was so sweet.

Then they left – and we stepped out with them too. They walked away hand in hand, giggling as we got into our car.

I loved the simplicity of their life. Their live-for-the-day philosophy and their obvious adoration for each other. It really was the sweetest thing I’ve witnessed in a long, long time.