And she had done it again....

I ran. Fast. Out of breath. Lungs bursting. Legs hitting the earth. I thudded up the path, around the corner, right up the stairs and reached the door. I flung it open and .......

Was hit by fumes of smoke. The disgusting smell, the room all enveloped with grey clouds of stink..I stood there resigned, and watched, as my boys ran in behind me.

An hour earlier, the group of boys, along with my son, had jumped around at the thought of coming to our house after their cricket practices. It was the perfect weather, and they wanted a break from the strenuous evening.
It was a perfect day for a swim. So rushing in, throwing their clothes around , changing, they started bundling out of the door.

They had to be fed milk and some snacks, so I was in the kitched getting things ready...I was planning their dinner with a smile. These were boys, with a good apetite, and they so loved coming home. They had their favourite kati rolls, and pizza food joint right opposite my house. Thats when I heard the door open, and one of them saying a "Come fast, i'm going down.."

I ran out to look, and saw all of them rushing down and none had their towels. I quickly ran into their room, took all their towels, and ran after them. There needed an adult to be around because the children were all under 12 and needed supervision. While I sat there and watched them swimming, enjoying themselves, caught up with my neighbours, and chatted all along. The friend was talking of making sweets because she had guests, and that she was planning to make kheer and she had to step out to buy some milk. And I bolted, said a quick "I'll have to go", and ran. The boys seeing me, also had gotten out of the pool. It was an hour anyway. And ran after the mad aunty, who was running up the stairs..not even waiting for the elevator.

And then I had opened the door...to find the house filled with smoke..rushed into the kitchen..and switched off the gas. Looked down woefully at the pan on the stove. All blackened and pieces of ash and black soot flying over. Forget the milk, I wondered if there was anything left of the pan too..Sigh!! I had done it again..forgotten the milk on the stove but this time..it was all charred and winking at me from nowhere..


This post was written as the response to the 'Saturday's theme' and day 15th post of ' MARATHON BLOGGERS'