Anniversary

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The screeching sounds of curtains awakened Avish from sleep. The shiny rays of Sun pricked his eyes, to make sure he stays awake.

‘Happy Anniversary, dear husband!’ A jocund Mekhla stood beside the curtains.

‘Ungh! What? I am sleepy, lady. Don’t ruin my Sunday?’

‘Actually, I preferred ‘Happy Anniversary to you too, honey’.’ Her face sulked, ‘I have switched on the geyser. Breakfast will be ready after I return from temple.’

‘Yeah yeah got it, usual stuff. Accha listen, could you please hand me the robe, its chilly.’

‘Hmmm, gift in the guise of robe’ She mulled in excitement and opened the wardrobe. To her disappointment, it was just the robe, sans present.

‘Mekhla, robe please.’

She handed him the robe and turned, but something stopped her, ‘Oh! He wants to cuddle, to surprise, wanting me close; yay!’

She turned. He was there, busy reading the newspaper; her saree was stuck with the quilt. She released and exited the room, for temple.

‘Avish is so changed, of late. Where’s the love gone; no ‘love yous’, no messages, no cuddles, no … leave it.’ She returned home, indulged in her own thoughts.

But her hankerings again took a surge, when she saw a courier boy conversing with Avish, ‘Bought me an online gift haan! Surprise surprise.’ She slowly moved towards the entrance. But as adversity has it, the courier boy was there to enquire for another address.

Saddened, she prepared the breakfast, completed her chores and crashed on the sofa, exhausted, ‘I am gonna need a nap.’ She snoozed.

‘Hey Love! Wake up, Happy Anniversary.’ He planted a kiss on her lips.

She opened her eyes slowly, ‘I knew you remember, just teasing me. Now come here, take me in your arms.’

‘I will always take care of you, sweetheart.’

‘Everything feels so dreamy, but I love it.’

‘May be because it is a dream.’ He winked.

‘What…?’ She got up suddenly, alas, it was a dream. She looked around; it was still afternoon, but the dark clouds have made it look like evening, and she was alone.

She got up to make her tea. A teardrop rolled from her eye, flowed through her right cheek, hanging at the chin. A palm appeared suddenly, the tear fell on it and the palm closed. She turned, astonished.

‘My love’s every tear is priceless; I won’t let it fall like that’ Avish stood there with a warm smile, he opened his palm, it held a diamond ring, ‘Happy Anniversary, Mekh! Though this ring, this diamond.... aah, enough words, enough of the teasing, I just wanna say, I will always Love You.’

She covered her mouth, but the blush on her face was evident, few more tears rolled, this time of joyous.

They come closer, much closer, it was time for love, just like she had wanted it to be, for the anniversary.

{Image Courtesy: Instagram}