Holiday Hypocracy!!

Jenny was elated of the approaching five days Eid break already declared by the Company she worked for. “Danny, year after year, every holiday we entertain guests and we never seem to get out of this place to enjoy ourselves. At least this holiday shall we go and spend our holidays somewhere, out of the country, I mean?” she asked her husband. They definitely needed to break the routine, Jenny had decided long back. “That’s a wonderful idea Jenny, tell me where shall we go” his enthusiastic approval and the query stirred up her excitement at the prospect. “Let us go to Dubai, we can get the visa on arrival, I will make airline and hotel bookings online!”

“But before I make any arrangement, let’s call Arun and wish him, it’s his birthday today”. Arun was one their close family friends working in Oman, living alone for almost a year now, since his family had settled down in their native place as their two teenage daughters were studying in one of the renowned Colleges there. Jenny dialed his mobile which was engaged, “ah! drat, this guy is always busy.. Happy Birthday Arun!” she sang out her greeting when she finally got through the line! ‘Thank you man, so nice of you to have remembered me” Arun piped in! “Your line was busy, who were you jabbering with for so long you yoyo?!”, “Oh, it’s the Home Minister, man!”, that’s how the conversation between Jenny and Arun, went on always! “Danny, come and wish Arun please”, Jenny called and passed on the telephone to him. She was sure they would be on for a while, so she went to the kitchen to forage for some savory snacks, as she could hear her stomach growling!!

“Jenny, Arun wants us to visit him in Oman instead of our going to Dubai, what do you think?” Danny asked her when he ended his conversation at last. “Since Anju is’nt around, his only concern is that you’ll have to cook your own breakfast, lunch and dinner and strictly no non-veggie stuff.. if you feel like having any, well, we can always eat outside”. “I think that’s a splendid suggestion...and...it’s ages since we met each other.. Danny.. oh, then let’s go to Oman”. “Arun says Oman is a beautiful country with lot of mountains and scenic places to see!” “Oh, how I love mountains and greenery around”, in her mind’s eye, Jenny had already reached Oman as she was a nature lover! “Call him up and be a pet, tell him to expect us”, Danny always expected Jenny to arrange everything.. “Well..” she thought “I’ll have to do it, so let me do it”, she called Arun and conveyed their decision to visit Oman, which pleased him.

“Awfully sorry man, I can’t be there, let’s make it next time!”, Jenny saw an email message from Arun, next day evening. Anju wanted him to tackle an urgent issue back home and holidays were handy. “Here goes my holiday and there goes my mountain!”, Jenny wailed inwardly quite disappointed. She knew they could still go to other places, but Danny had a lousy habit of developing cold feet easily which she knew, he would now. She hated to give up the whole idea but changes in plans did not go well with Danny. Well, you can take a horse to the water but can you make it drink? Nooooooooooooooooo!

“Tring, triiing”, their telephone rang, it was Danny’s sister and brother-in-law from Saudi. “Hey guys, we want to come and visit you both for the holidays”, almost every year they visited Danny and Jenny. “Oh, it’s a pleasure, come…come!” “Is he the same Danny who told her that they would cook up an excuse if someone wants to visit them during the holidays” Jenny wondered! To her dismay, after a while, again the phone jingled and this time it was her sister from Qatar ‘Hi Jen, how are you, what about your plans for Eid holiday, are you going out anywhere?”, “My brother-in-law Igor wants to visit you, I’ve given your contact number, he will get in touch with you.. would you mind if he visits you?” Thank God, she waited for Jenny to respond to her queries, all uttered breathlessly in a few seconds. “Mind…hummm… I don’t think I have one right now”, “No, No..honey.. he is most welcome, it would be a pleasure to meet him. We are fine..fine, everything is fine and we are not going anywhere”.. she assured her sister. “You hypocrite!.. who do you think you are fooling?” Jenny chided herself. “Did she detect a hint of sarcasm in my voice.. perhaps, no.. good for her,” cynical Jenny worried as she did not want to hurt her sister “See what a glass of red wine and a peg of whisky – courtesy Igor during their recent trip to Qatar and visit to Igor’s den - brought on you Jenny!!” Weren’t they obliged to entertain IGOR? “Of course.. Of course Your Highness…!”. Well, she could very well take advantage of Igor’s visit.. she could send through him the play station which she promised to her nephew in Qatar so long back!

“I hope, there are no more visitors”, Jenny wished seriously! She was not averse to visitors or guests, rather she loved people visiting them, but she needed a change too.. a fact which nobody seemed to care, understand or even be aware of. “Well, we will not be taking a break anyway, better enjoy their company at least ..though holidays ain’t be holidays anymore. For all I care, I will be in Timbuktu for my next holiday!” Jenny defeatedly mused and started preparing her innumerable things-to-do list before the honourable guests’ arrival!!!!!!