Rohit had been a fitness freak since his college days. Many girls admired him, but he was drawn to Ruchi. Her mesmerizing green eyes made Rohit fall for her. However, Ruchi ignored him every time. Determined to win her over, he made a grand gesture on Rose Day, giving her 500 roses and proposing in front of the entire college. At last, after months of trying, Rohit finally impressed Ruchi, breaking many hearts.
Soon after their graduation, Rohit went abroad for further studies, planning to return only after three years. Although Ruchi initially felt sad, she consoled herself and they remained in constant touch.
While he was away, Ruchi continued to stay in Pune and taught less privileged children because teaching was her passion.
Three Years Later
Rohit returned for good. He got a job with a hefty salary at a multinational company in Bangalore.
A year later, they decided to get married, but their parents opposed the relationship due to caste and cultural differences. Over time, they won their family's hearts, received blessings, and eventually tied the knot in February, coincidentally on the Rose Day before settling in Bangalore.
The wedding was a cozy and intimate ceremony at a resort in Pune, with both families sharing the expenses. The venue was decorated with roses, lilies and orchids, whose fragrance filled the air. Different shapes and sizes of lights hung everywhere, adding warmth. Soft music played in the background. The feast was a delightful spread of Maharashtrian and Punjabi delicacies, celebrating their cultures in harmony.
Three Months Later
Ruchi found a job at a school near their home, saving her from long commutes. She had often heard from Rohit that Bangalore’s traffic was relentless at any hour. Hence she felt it was a great blessing to find a job nearby.
They shared household chores and always appreciated each other, no matter how small the effort was. Both believed that appreciation was the key to a happy life.
Their life seemed set, or so they thought….
Two years later
Ruchi always followed her principles. She believed in waking up as early as 5 a.m., sometimes even earlier to do her exercises – something she had never skipped in years.
On the other hand, once a gym enthusiast, Rohit abandoned his fitness routine and indulged in junk food, influenced by his foodie friends. Ruchi often encouraged him to continue with his fitness regime but in vain.
One day, while rummaging through her drawer for some documents, Ruchi found an album. As she flipped through its pages, nostalgia ran through her veins and a lone tear rolled down her cheek.
“Good morning, baby.” Rohit playfully pulled Ruchi’s cheeks and greeted her.
“Hell with your good morning. I am filing for divorce.” Ruchi stared and bellowed.
"Div…divorce? Why? What happened? I am sorry if I hurt you unknowingly." Rohit stammered.
Ruchi ignored him and continued with her household chores. She was running late for office.
Rohit followed her. “Okay, I know the reason. I will help you wash the dishes, I won’t leave wet towels on the bed, and I’ll never forget your birthday—I promise! Please don’t leave me for such silly reasons.”
“Silly reasons?” Ruchi’s face contorted with rage.
“I am sorry again. I mea….mean” Rohit stopped midway.
“Listen, Rohit, my anger this time is not for the above reasons. Look at yourself. Enough is enough. I can’t take this anymore. You promised discipline, didn’t you? Do they even last for a week?” Ruchi said, her nostrils flared and eyes widened.
“Which promise have I broken?” Rohit asked.
"You forgot? Great! I am talking about your eating habits and the weight you've gained. You’re putting on weight like there’s a competition and you are racing to win it. One day, the weighing machine might give up on you!”
"Oh, silly Ruchi! Rohit, tell her these are signs of prosperity. Not loving buttery food is a crime! She isn’t fit—she looks sick. Ignore her so-called wisdom." Tumtum muttered and Rohit burst into laughter.
“This is no joke. I am serious, Rohit.” Ruchi scowled and continued.
“Your indiscipline is causing me stress. Doctors advised you to shed ten kilograms, but you've added an extra eight. Your belly seems to have declared independence – it's hanging out and waving its flag! You should realize that you're not getting any younger." Ruchi replied, irritated.
"I am just thirty-three, cutie pie, and I don’t overeat. I eat only two stuffed rotis and a bowl of cucumber and tomato salad you pack for me for lunch. I don’t know how my weight is going up. Maybe the doctor is at fault," Rohit retorted.
“Ah? How?” Ruchi asked, her brows furrowed.
"The doctor advised me to eat something every two hours. So, following his instructions, I generally grab a bite from the office canteen around 4:00 p.m. and before leaving. Mind you, they are fresh," Rohit muttered.
"You have diabetes, damn it. Hence, the doctor suggested small meals every two hours. What do you eat in the canteen?" Ruchi inquired.
“Nothing special. Something light like crispy hot samosas freshly made, mini pizzas loaded with VEGETABLES and some cheese, burgers topped with LETTUCE and creamy mayo. The day I sit longer, I mean evenings, the canteen fellow makes mouth-watering Chole-bhature. That’s it. Oh, I forgot to mention. The gravy he prepares is infused with cumin, coriander, and a special garam masala. You know, chole is packed with protein. You should try it at least once—I will get it for you, okay?
“What about bhature? What does it give you? A bigger waistline! Cheese and fried bread surely earn you a ticket to a nap. Superb,” Ruchi said sarcastically.
Ignoring her sarcasm, he continued, “Do you still think I am not disciplined? Oh c’mon, for such a small issue, you will give me a divorce? Seriously?”
“Rohit, you are taking your health for granted and I can’t let that happen. Why don't you change instead of gobbling all these unhealthy foods? Either break up with unhealthy foods and alter your diet or let’s break up,” Ruchi warned.
“I apologize. I seriously do. The new year is only a couple of weeks away. I assure you, I will stay disciplined and not disappoint you.” Rohit pleaded with folded hands and a sad face.
"From now on, all your food will be cooked in olive oil. I am changing your diet. If you rigorously follow the diet I tell you, you will be allowed a meal of your choice once a month. But if you fail, I will leave you. This is your last chance, Rohit," Ruchi said, sighing heavily.
“No, you can’t do that to me. I will turn weak and look sick like Ruchi. You promised you would give me rich delicacies in the new year. Buddy, I need butter and cheese. No olive oil, please.” Rohit’s belly, Tumtum grumbled.
“The battle is between me and my wife, but you need not worry darling Tumtum. I will choose to listen to you over my wife, forever, always. I love you so much. Muahhh! You will have to trust me.
Bear with me for a few weeks. I will keep my promise. I will give you rich delicacies with butter, not some stupid oil. Now, don’t make any noise lest Ruchi hears,” Rohit said, burying his head into his shirt.
“What are you murmuring, Rohit? Go to sleep. You need to change your sleeping habits too. You stay up late every night for no reason and snack again which is not good for your gut and overall health.” Ruchi said in disgust.
"Yes, you are right, Sweetie. I have some important emails to send. Give me thirty minutes." Rohit muttered.
“Ok, but no entering the kitchen.”
“Yeah, darling, I won’t.” Saying this, Rohit and his Tumtum both grinned mischievously.
“Hey, I am your darling, Ain't I? Don’t call her by that name. I feel jealous.” Tumtum said making faces.
“Aww…my darling Tumtum,” Rohit cooed in response.
“Ouch! I am going to burst from pain! Why did you stuff me so much? Quickly take me to some doctor.” Tumtum yelled.
“Shh! Don’t yell. What happened all of a sudden, Tumtum? Firstly, I did not stuff you. You asked for it even when I thought it was enough.
You are washing your hands by blaming me, Tumtum. I am taking you to the doctor right away.” Rohit said and glanced at his wristwatch. It was quarter to nine already. He wore his shoes and rushed to leave but stopped in his tracks. Ruchi was standing there.
“Where are you up to at this hour, Rohit?”
“Rohit, don’t waste your time talking to her, I am dying in pain.” Tumtum interrupted.
Rohit ignored Tumtum’s plea and answered Ruchi, “I am just going for a short walk in our compound.”
“Are you sure?” Ruchi asked doubtfully.
"Yes, of course! Now that I am trying to change my habits, you're doubting me? That’s not fair, honey," he said, rushing down the stairs.
***
“This is a stomach infection, Rohit. Look at you. You are panting, too. I think you need to go for a thorough health checkup.” The doctor said, and, warned him about the health risks if he did not control his weight.
"Oh no!" cried Tumtum.
"Chill, Doc. It's just an infection, and I will be alright in a day or two. Your building lift was under repair. I used the stairs, hence panting. Anyone would. No big deal. You know that, right? Don't exaggerate," Rohit said coolly, dismissing all warnings.
“Boss, is it serious or can I still have my dessert and other food without worrying?” inquired Tumtum.
“Yes, dear, you can have whatever you wish to except for two or three days.”
Tumtum danced from left to right in joy.
In a couple of weeks, the New Year arrived. Ruchi decided to kick off the year with a healthy and scrumptious meal. The dining table was filled with a vast spread: Broccoli Soup, beetroot salad, tofu, Indian bread without butter and mixed vegetable curry.
Seeing the spread, Tumtum grumbled, but Rohit shut it up and joined Ruchi for lunch. Though he was unhappy, he appreciated her efforts.
“At least give me some sweets,” Tumtum said softly.
Rohit quickly buried his head in his shirt and signalled Tumtum to keep quiet.
Days passed. There were times when Rohit felt tempted to indulge in all his old favourites, but he tried to resist for Ruchi's sake, even though it meant upsetting his dear Tumtum. Sometimes, he browsed the internet for butter-laden treats, envisioning the fleeting joy they would offer. He would even try to bargain with their cook but nothing worked.
On the other hand, Ruchi signed him up for yoga in the morning and jogging in the evening turning his day into a fitness boot camp. Rohit struggled to cope. Sometimes he tried to fool his wife and skipped his sessions. Still, happiness seemed like a distant dream.
Tumtum had lost almost all hope and was now just a sad, deflated balloon. Ruchi beamed with pride at the transformation in Rohit. For his birthday, she surprised him with a customized T-shirt that read, "From Butter to Better."
“No! No!” Rohit jolted awake, sweat trickled down his forehead. He wiped it off and buried his face in his shirt. Letting out a sigh of relief, he muttered, “Thank God, you’re not a deflated balloon yet. I just had a terrible dream.”
“I am not, but look at me. I am on the verge of becoming one. I am not even chubby and hanging anymore! If you stick to this new diet, the dream will soon become a reality and I will gradually vanish.” Tumtum groaned, energy at its lowest.
“Ok. Stop crying. I will do something. Ruchi is going out for two days. We will have a blast.” Rohit’s words gave Tumtum solace.
Rohit kept his word. He fed his Tumtum with everything it craved for the next two days.
Gradually every other day turned into a cheat day. Rohit began gobbling all sorts of unhealthy food again without Ruchi knowing.
One afternoon after lunch, Rohit left the kitchen messy and went to his room to play loud music. That same day, Ruchi came home early and found the pizza empty boxes on the countertop. Furious, she stormed into the room.
“I had strictly warned you not to eat junk food. Didn’t I? You broke your promise, Rohit.”
“It’s only today, I had Pizzas. I swear, Ruchi”.
"I don’t trust you anymore, Rohit. A few days ago, you tried to cook something for yourself while I was at work. I have no idea what it was, but it seemed suspicious. when I returned home and saw the kitchen messy, I inquired about it. But you convinced me by showing me a bowl of burnt dal and some veggies. Get the weighing machine right now!"
“Bu…but…I…I…really…
“Shut up! No buts and ifs. GET THE WEIGHING MACHINE RIGHT NOW!” Ruchi bellowed.
“From 65 to 70 kilos? How did your weight go up? This means you have been eating behind my back. I am fed up with your habits, Rohit.” Ruchi placed her palms on her forehead and tried to calm herself, taking a deep breath.
She slammed the door of her bedroom and sat on the patio chair, her arms crossed. A flicker of doubt crept in. “Am I overreacting? Should I just let him be? But..hmmm..I am concerned about his health. I need to be strict.” Ruchi thought
“Oh no! Because of Rohit, there's a chance Ruchi will starve me. I’d better take her side." Tumtum muttered.
“Yes, Ruchi, he’s been having burgers with extra cheese and everything unhealthy the last couple of days,” Tumtum said, playing the victim.
“Shut up, Tumtum! You were the one who insisted on butter, cheese, fried food, sweets, and ice creams. And now that I am in trouble, you’re backing out? How mean! What should I call you—a chameleon or a traitor?" Rohit snapped angrily.
You call me by any name. I don’t care nor will I take your side anymore. I am in love with the olive oil and salads. I do not mind becoming a deflated balloon rather than starving.
People have started making fun of me. They call me a bloated gas chamber. They also tease me, saying, “Tumtum comes first, and then Rohit’s body.” It's so embarrassing. Don't you dare snack on the wrong things and spoil my shape. The doctors have cut down on your medications because of Ruchi. You should thank her. How ungrateful you are, Rohit.
***
After weeks of struggling with his diet, Rohit finally, stuck to healthy eating.
“Wooo! Look at me! From round and hanging, I have become flat like a plate. I… Am....loving....it.
Am looking so good, ain’t I?” Tumtum whispered and sang
Yo yo yo
Yo yoyo yo,
Oo la la.
Oo la la.
Rohit realized that no one but his better half would stand by his side, and he needed to respect her efforts.
On their 08th Anniversary, Ruchi surprised him with a treat, thinking he deserved it.
The moment Rohit took a bite, Tumtum grumbled loudly: "Nooo! I love olive oil now! Save me Lord from this butter! True that - girls looked at me in awe and said, " What a flat belly. Ah, wish we, too, had one like this. Pleaseee let me remain a deflated balloon. "
“You are just impossible, Tumtum. Sorry, Traitor,” Rohit softly muttered and gulped down the food.
***
The story is a #Distend of "I Love You" submitted for QuinTale-59