These are a few of my favourite things...

The weather was gloomy, or was it just her mood, Shreya couldn't decide. She finished her breakfast, gave her Pilates a miss, and then made her cup of tea, with lots of sugar, her instructor would have given her a "if looks could kill" looks, if she got to know that Shreya was adding empty calories to her body. In the figure department, Shreya didn't have to worry much, she still had her slim waistline in place, and by now was used to the "You don't look like a Mother of a 5 year old" line, and she always wondered, how does someone 'look' like a Mother? Brushing off these thoughts, she walked to the balcony with her cup tea, infused with ginger and pepper. She was just looking out in the horizon, when her nosy neighbour, Pallavi spotted her, from her balcony, "Hey! not taken bath yet? Howcome?", Shreya politely smiled, thinking why is she bothered about her bath? They lived in a upscale condo in Benson Town in Bangalore, they had bought it few years ago, when the project had just launched, with her immaculate taste, she had done up the interiors herself, warm and earthy, just like her. Her husband's foresight made them buy a 3 bedroom, cum study combination, in the beginning itself as opposed to her, suggestion of a cosy 2 bedroom, as now with the parents and inlaws dropping in twice a year in turn, after the birth of their son, Akhil, the extra space seemed to make more sense. She was always appreciative of Sahas's foresight. He had the true acumen of a planner, and it was no surprise that he was doing so well in life. She put her career on a backburner, as it was commonly done by many women, after Akhil's birth, and in 5 years, she never regretted the decision, as the son was growing up to be a well mannered happy kid, as compared with the other children who were brought up by 'Ayahs'. She gazed at the picture wall, it was a series, their courtship days, their engagement, their marriage, honeymoon and finally with Akhil. Her Mother in law every now and then dropped a hint of expanding the family by 'adding on' another child, but in this matter Sahas and she were very clear that they just wanted one child. Her life was like a cocoon, she was a stay at home Mum, while her husband slogged and traveled extensively, she had adequate help at home, with Akhil growing up to be more independent, and the long hours of school, Shreya finally had begun to get back to her hobbies and pursue her interest. Her love for learning languages, made her join the Max Mueller Centre for German, her husband was supportive as always.

So what exactly was missing in her life? Anybody who learnt about her lifestyle would wonder, she had a perfect family, a perfect house, she was looked after well, then what was it that was constantly gnawing her?