"Do you know how to make curry?", the woman asked the man who was busy checking the bottled labels.

Seeing the word 'extra hot' on the box she was holding, he shook his head. "Nope."

"Wanna try it out?"

He gave a little thought, then answered, "I have burger patties in the fridge."

She read the instructions on the back. "I think we can use it as substitute for the meat."

"Have you tried making one before?"

"With burger patties? Nope.", she replied. "But I can try."

They were supposed to eat outside, but the woman decided to stay indoors. Sounds convenient for him as he wouldn't spend more money, as long as he wouldn't help out.

But knowing her, that'd be impossible.

He suggested take-outs or some easy-to-cook like pancakes but she declined the idea and went with heavy meals that involves rice.

"Where can you find a man with an empty fridge?", she commented while unloading some bags in the vehicle.

"The one right here.", he answered. "But it's not totally empty."

"No wonder you're losing some weight."

"My wife is not cooking for me anymore, so why bother?"

She hummed. "Can't blame her. She caught you red-handed banging somebody inside her own bedroom."

"We did not sex."

"Whether you inserted your dick or not, both of you were naked."

"I'm half."

"Doesn't matter.", she rebutted, then pointed a wafer she munched towards his face. "Try reasoning it to the court."

He took a bite of it. "You're spoiling your appetite with this chocolate."

"I'm famished."

He turned on the engine and drove in silence.

When they arrived at his house, she went to the living room and slammed her whole body on the sofa.

"It's been a while since I last came here."

"That's because you engrossed yourself in Mumbai for months.", he said as he carried all the bags to the kitchen. "You're not finished telling me about your new bistro there."

"Well, same as usual. People there were open with any type of cuisines. Everybody eats food, as long as it's good."

"Any eye-candy there?"

"Nuh. I'm busy. Besides, I'm always surrounded with old people.", she replied while entering the kitchen, and opened one of the bag's contents. "How about you? How's work?"

"Compensations and allowances are not as good as my previous company, but the work environment was great. My teams are good. We're currently bidding one of city project's infrastructure. Oh, and she's still dating my ex-supervisor.", he added before she could ask.

He removed the frozen burger patties on the freezer after loading the fridge with grocers, and when he looked at the label, he realized that the expiry date was today.

"Found some old veggies here.", she said, checking a box she pulled out from the lower cabinet. "We can salvage some carrots and potatoes here, as long as we remove the molds and sprouts."

He placed the pack on the table, then leaned towards her. "Oh. My sister sent these last month."

"She did?", she exclaimed joyously. "Give her my best regards."

"I will.", he scoffed. "If she'll gonna talk to me."

"Then we're the same."

"Really? Even you're best buds since college?", he questioned with a hint of surprise, and when he saw a handful she placed on the sink, he grimaced. "Are you sure that's still edible?"

"Are you asking a culinary instructor?", she gave him a beady stare that raised his hand as if surrendered, and sighed. "We're not in good terms  -your sister, I mean - after what happened. But despite of it, I'm still thankful for her that I met my first love."

He pulled a rice cooker from the pantry. "You sounds like a naive teenager despite of your age."

"Age doesn't matter when you're in love.", she defended, then began peeling the carrots. "She felt guilty about it, about me experiencing a painful ending after that five years of sticking with that fucker."

"Ouch."

"That bastard I loved so dearly exchanged me to a weird bimbo with fake racks and silicone butts. I may accept my utter defeat if she's pure and natural, but good Lord! You men and your libido! He might've learned at the end about his losses, I don't - ouch!"

"What happened?", he stopped his work and glanced her with concern.

"I scraped my finger."

By reflex, he grabbed her hand - but she was fast enough to move and suck the wound.

"Hey, get me some band-aids.", she said.

Resigned, he went to the other room for the medicine kit while averting his eyes on his wife's luggages piled on the corridor. He ought to get two band-aids, but decided to bring the whole kit in case he needed to disinfect her.

She was waving the pack of almost-thawed burger patties when he returned. "Today's its expiration date."

"So I've read."

His telephone rang. "Sorry. Got a call."

She nodded when he left, then took an item from the kit.

"What's up?", he answered, knowing that it was his attorney based on the caller ID.

"I would like to inform you that your divorce papers has been approved."

"I see."

"Your wife might've heard it from her lawyer already, but in any case, would you like me to relay it to her personally?"

"I don't see it as a problem if I informed her directly."

He stood there for a minute after the call ended. After gathering his thoughts, he took a glass of wine from his display and went back to the kitchen.

She was done with all of the ingredients.

"I'm officially single now.", he told her.

"I see."

He raised the wine, shook it. "Wanna do some celebration?"

"Of course."

With two goblets, he poured a small amount and handed it to her. She offered a toast, "To the singles."

"To the singles."

When the liquor subsided, he coughed it while she, on the other hand, barfed it.

"So gross!", they chorused, and laughed together when he found out that the cork was not sealed properly for a long time, making the wine bland.

He started to prepare the table after the rice was done. Steam bellowed as a portion of curry was poured on a large bowl.

"Looks like curry, smells like curry...probably tastes like curry.", he remarked.

After giving their thanks, he scooped a spoonful of it and swallowed.

The carrots and potatoes were cooked perfectly, blending the thick sauce with some hints of additional seasoning like peppers. The patties were sliced into bits yet able to give some dominant flavour. The white rice goes well with it and gave that warm feeling once ingested.

He couldn't help but sigh. It's been a while since he ate a home-cooked meal.

"It's delicious.", he said.

She nodded, and resumed eating with tears forming on her eyes.

"I think I ate a chili.", she said.

Afterwards, she cleaned the dishes.

"What would you do after this?", he asked.

"My cousin will get my things and fetch me here. I'll be staying with his family tonight since I'm taking the first flight back to India."

"Want me to wrap up some curry for them?"

"You don't need to.", she laughed. "They're not fond of spicy foods."

He was about to say something but interrupted when his doorbell buzzed.

"That might be him."

A tall, middle-aged man was there when he opened the door. He eyed him from head to toe, then uttered "You lost some weight."

"So I've heard."

The man entered meekly, took all the luggages and left without glancing to the woman who was busy placing the left-overs inside the plastic container.

Closing the door, she tapped his shoulder. "You can pre-heat the curry in the microwave tomorrow as your breakfast."

"I will."

Her gaze hovered at him for a moment, and when she was about to speak, he wrapped her with a warm embrace.

"Take care of yourself."

"I will."

When he released her, she moved and pecked a kiss in his lips.

"Goodbye.", she said.

"Goodbye.", he said.

The sight of her small back as she left reminded him of his emptiness and solitude, and the aftertaste of curry on his mouth was gradually erased by the saltiness of tears.

The silence of his home was like a pain that reverberated through his bones.

"I'm not fond of curry.", he confessed with a thought that she knew about it all along.

- END -