“I am going to kill the person who asks me what my weekend plans are” snarled Priya at her reflection. “Public restrooms were a notorious place to have a conversation to begin with and then she goes on to ask me about my plans – my weekend plans”.

Wiping her hands she headed back to her desk sulking and her mind still wrapped around the weekend. “What’s wrong? It is almost 4pm. Another few hours you can be back home with that beautiful family of yours” her best friend at work, Chris reminded her.  “Why are people so obsessed about weekends? On Fridays they need to know my weekend plans and on Mondays they need to ask how my weekend was? Why on earth should I share these details with them?” Priya was on a roll.

Normally cool and composed Priya rarely broke a sweat but bring on the topic of weekends she was a dragon breathing fire. “Pri, they are just trying to make small talk with another co-worker. It is not like they want are snooping on you. They just want to be friendly” Chris reminded her yet again. “I don’t do small talk – especially on Friday evenings” Priya announced before turning her attention to the to-do list.

“I still cannot believe we are friends. We are so different” muttered Chris checking his phone. His friends groups were busy planning weekend activities – kayaking, music concert, dinner at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, or photography classes – oh the options were innumerable. He just had to finalize what he wanted to do and with whom. A message from a friend caught his attention, “Dude, registered for Middle Eastern Cooking classes at the Round Market. Cannot make it. Would you be interested? For 2 – 120$  – Saturday 2pm. Let me know asap”

Within seconds, he was checking details about the class. The instructor seemed to be a great chef and the menu was interesting. “Yes I am doing this” he muttered and typed an affirmative reply to his friend. He picked up his empty water bottle and walked to the water cooler wondering whom to take along. He was between girlfriends and cooking was not something many of his friends dabbled with. He debated inviting his mom along. She would love it. But it was a long drive from home just for the class and she usually had some social event planned on Saturdays.

He walked back to his office and saw Priya busy creating to-do lists. “You are so outdated. Why do you need paper lists when you have a smartphone. Use one of those apps and save paper” She gave him a warning glance as she kept adding things to the list. “Go ahead – be mad at me but make sure you keep 1.30 -5pm free on Saturday – we are doing something totally fun and you really cannot say no”  “Chris! I am exhausted. It has been a long long week. I am ready to wrap it up and spend the weekend in bed. Don’t even think I am stepping out on Saturday. That too in the afternoon. At naptime. No way”

“Oh Pri! Just listen me out will ya? I have these tickets for an awesome cooking class at Round Market. It is our favorite cuisine– they even have recipes for our favorite hummus and gyros. I need a partner. Please don’t say no” Chris begged her. “I know you treasure your weekend sleep and you rarely give it up. But please. Pretty please. For my sake? Say yes please” “I will think about it” said Priya shutting down her laptop and switching off for the week.

Priya was counting the minutes to get home and to crash. Fridays was when people loved to party – to catch up, hang out but all Priya could think about was sleep and let the exhaustion seep out of her. People were talking about happy hours, dinners, bowling and golf – typical Friday evening banter but Priya couldn’t imagine how people could party on Friday evenings after a crazy workweek. “I am just not a Friday person” she thought. “Now what about Saturday and Chris” she wondered making her way homewards. Home on a Friday night – takeout food, followed by sleep. Weekends are good.

This post is a part of the April A to Z challenge. 26 days, 26 letters and 26 short stories. Come back on Monday.