Alarm rings at 4.45 A.M.

Brush.

Drink one litre of luke warm water.

Jogging outfit on.

Leash the dog.

Run for 45 minutes

Stretch for 15.

Get home.

Hard boil two eggs.

A glass of milk.

No sugar.

Shower.

Formal white shirt.

Formal trousers.

Matching tie.

Shining shoes.

Instruct maid.

Leave for work.

 Check mails.

Answer each one.

Call team for daily project briefing.

Drink water.

Eat seasonal fruit.

Work on client request.

Take calls.

Sandwich lunch.

Presentation for the bosses.

Meetings.

Lemon tea.

Submit project report.

Pep talk to team.

Answer more mails.

Black coffee.

Schedule next day’s work.

Leave for home.

Salad dinner.

Take a shower.

Call mum.

Check if clothes have been ironed.

Check fridge for stocks.

Play with the dog.

Glass of warm milk,

Lights off. 

The dog sleeps next to me… like you used to.

I am everything you wanted me to be. Will you ask God to send you back now?

 Uma Iyer is writer, a mother and a freelance consultant for marketing communication to several organisations. She was raised in Mumbai and currently lives in Delhi. Her retirement plan includes two dogs, many books and a shack by the sea.