One candle too many

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One candle too many  

Rishabh  never talked about his birthday, in fact  for the first year of their contractual marriage it was non existent.

The year after that he was conveniently away on business. 

Prerna sighed contemplating this.

She sat watching him at a distance  at the  kitchen counter, pulling  out a notepad and pen from a drawer she began to make her shopping list.

Little giggles disturbed her train of thought.  When she looked out into the lounge and she saw Mr Bajaj in his chair cuddling Sneha.

 Well it began with a cuddle and up ended with Sneha pulling her das ears then his hair, and when  he raised a eye of caution she snuck back into his chest, It was adorable.

Prerna smiling  got back to her list. What to buy a man already had everything one could ask for. 

‘Whisky!’ .. she scribbled,  later  realising that was always George’s gift she crossed it off her list.

‘Cuban Cigars’  but she didn’t want to encourage that habit and quickly crossed that off.

She crossed all the things that came to mind off eventually and decided she’d make this year special whether he liked it or not.

‘Icing’

‘Flour’

‘Candles’

‘Balloons’ ..

...

This was one of Kukis favourite trips, the supermarket and particularly the baking isle. Flour! She tip toed to the shelves she could reach and the rest Prerna had to reach for.

Then came the celebrations isle.. Kuki looked up at a big yellow balloon and her mind was made up.

Next came candles, she knocked off as many as she could into the trolley but the store only had a few.

“Maybe just the one” suggested Prerna thinking of other shoppers “we’d cause a fire hazard if we got as many as we needed for your pa in any case”

The lady shopping close by laughed out loud and Prerna smiled.

...

Later that day as Rishabh did some paperwork with Mehra in the lounge of Bajaj house Mehra rightly called out the occasion  “Happy Birthday for tomorrow sir” thank you Mehra 

Any plans? Asked Mehra knowing this year was very different for Rishabh. Mr Bajaj however didn’t seem to think so.

“Just the usual” he replied closing the file at hand with a smile. 

Rishabh had a routine he liked to follow where possible. It started with visiting his mother’s memorial, picking out a new car, spending time with Kuki who was often oblivious to the occasion until reminded and then he shared a drink with George. 

Kuki happened to pass the gentleman at the time with she seemed up to something carrying along a little box of stationary card and odd things. Both father figures able to tell when the kids were up to something! 

...

That night as Prerna took off her jewellery in front of the mirror, Rishabh who was already  in bed mentioned he didn’t want a fuss over his birthday. 

“Of course not” replied Prerna in agreement, fuss wasn’t what she had in mind at all.

...

The next morning Rishabh had put on a new suit kissed Prerna good morning whilst she was a asleep. 

The driver knew the routine. First stop was the memorial later once he was done there they drove to a destination only few new of where a run way of the finest cars had been lined up for him.This was his gift to himself, his taste would differ on the mood he was in. At times he’d want to pick the most lavish car and other times he’d want to choose something other eyes would overlook but he’d see potential to give car a new lease of life. 

When he returned home mid afternoon, he took comfort in knowing things seemed per norm. He walked to his armchair unbuttoned the fastening of his blazer and sat back. He closed his eyes for a moment to thank higher powers for everything he had in life and when he opened his eyes there stood Prerna either side was kuki and Sneha. Mrs Bajaj looked incredibly pretty was the first thing he noticed, followed by the cake she was holding  with one candle steadily alight and then Sneha on the right who seemed to have something hidden behind her back and kuki on the left who held a sizeable birthday baloon she went on the tie to the arm of his chair.

“Hapi-birday Da” called out Sneha in a muffle!  She’d  been practicing that for a whole day. Her adorable big eyes and the way she pulled out what looked like a hand made card by the girls melted Rishabhs heart away. He smiled taking the card but first and foremost  pulled Sneha into his lap and caressed her before kissing the crown of her head “thank you sweetheart” he replied.. only for kuki of course  to jump onto the other side of him and kiss him happy birthday on the cheek. 

Prerna watched with a smile keeping the candle alight but only for so long. She quickly put the cake onto the coffee table in front of Mr Bajaj hurrying them along. 

Rishabh had just enough time to catch Prernas eyes to thank her. Her eyes smiling affectionately a job at him. 

“Make a wish pa!” Said kuki excitedly. He did as the girls wanted and blew out the candle. Later cutting into the first slice after which  Prerna looked after the rest whilst  he read the card from the girls. 

A bright blue card with Sneha and Kukis hand prints on top and toddler scribble within.  A few cute words from Kuki. Little did the girls know that this was the most affection he’d received on his birthday for years. 

Not that he was discontent with how other years had been but this was the moment he truly realised what all those years could have been. 

The girls were quick to get there fingers into the cake, pick of the best bits and whilst they were distracted Prerna took the opportunity to feed Mr Bajaj a slice. To his surprise she wanted to wish him a little more discreetly. Putting her lips close his ear she  whispered ‘Happy Birthday ...Rishabh’

Whilst Rishabh was left feeling surprised  and not to mention tempted by his wife Prerna had no problem continuing like she had no clue  how flirtatious that really was. Maybe she genuinely had no idea. 

It was just as well the girls reminded Rishabh of the homely setting. Pa!! Kuki called and Rishabh had to give her attention.

“How old are you?” She looked up at him with the million dollar question. 

“That’s a secret” he replied cleverly with a smile. 

This awkward answer made kuki think. 

“Must be very old” she concluded after scratching her head for second.

What makes you say that? He asked amused by where his daughter was taking her conversations these days. 

“Mom said if we bought all the candles we really needed for your cake it would be a fire hazard!” she revealed innocently 

Rishabh raised a eyebrow “I see” he replied looking towards Prerna the as if to Mark this conversation for later. 

...

Later that night Rishabh and George were having there tradition of a drink or two but as the night started to come to a close Prerna walked into the lounge check on the pair.

“George chale gayey?” She asked Rishabh who was sat with the last of his drink to hand. 

“Did you have a good time?” She asked casually as she put cleared stray glass George had left behind. 

“I was thinking about you the whole time..” replied Rishabh watching Prerna in her nightgown be her organised self putting the glassware back at the mini bar.

“Undressing you ..Romancing you .. 

Hearing my name from you” .. 

“Put your old man out of his misery Mrs Bajaj” he added to get her attention.  

That made her smile.. before she realised it Mr Bajaj was stood against her back. His lips caressing her neckline. Something that instantly made her week at the knees. 

“Aap jante hai na woh mera matlab nahin tha.. “ ( you know I didn’t mean it that way) her eyes lowered nervously  a display of regard for him in her life but also a response to his ways. 

She didn’t have to explain. Everything about prerna to her faintest of heartbeats were dutiful and she gave him more respect then he felt worthy of. One of the many things that made her so attractive. Rishabh turned Prerna in a quick motion, picked her up walking her to their bedroom where he expected receive his birthday gift from Mrs Bajaj.

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