And, this one is for Malika
I had written this OS specially for the birthday thread, but have posted it as an EARLY BIRTHDAY WISH for Sidji, because Malika feels that OSs do not get the treatment they deserve within an AT.
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A dozen days it had been. A dozen days that they had been married. A lifetime it seemed, in terms of joy. And a lifetime, in terms of waiting, for Shiv.
The wedding had taken place on November 30, 2012. A red-letter day for Shiv and Anandi. The arrival of the dulhan in her flower-bedecked doli. The enraptured dulha. The serene pheras. The haunting shenai. The despairing bidaai. The rapturous welcome at Circuit House. The festivities that ran through the night. The trip to Udaipur to visit Kesar Bagh. The joy of a new beginning.
Not a day went by without Shiv gifting his love something tender.
1) A silver keychain with the keys to his house (and, unspoken, to his heart.
2) A sindoor dibiya (with which he took great pleasure in adorning her maang everyday).
3) A gold locket (with their sagai photo in it).
4) A gold waistband (anchoring her to him forever).
5) A pair of turquoise earrings (to match her engagement ring).
6) A silver surma daan (for the surma to enhance her beautiful eyes).
7) A bejeweled clutcher (so she could leave her beautiful hair loose).
8) A delicate bracelet (to feel her every pulse beat).
9) A dinner service for two (to share their meals alone).
10) A soft blue stole (to embrace her in his absence).
11) A midnight blue ghagra choli (to see her in his favorite color).
12) XS Pour Elle by Paco Rabanne (the female version of his favorite perfume).
Anandi glowed with pure joy at the receipt of each gift, but each word of caution was wasted on Shiv's deaf ears.
On December 12, Shiv and Anandi had to return to Jaitsar. Duty beckoned. Amidst an outpouring of tears and hidayats to take care, they drove off in Shiv's jeep. Exchanging glances, they set off toward their new life, alone finally after 12 days of chaos! Resting her head, Anandi turned slightly to be able to adore her new husband without being obvious about it. But, she had underestimated him, as usual. He kept turning to exchange glances with her and smile tenderly at her unwavering gaze.
Reaching Jaitsar, Shiv first dropped her home and then hightailed it to office; he had plenty to contend with. Anandi got busy tending to the neglected house, cooking food, sending a dabba to Shiv, and attending to all the myriad duties of a new bride.
Shiv was busy the whole day through, able to grab only a few minutes to speak with his beloved. Late night, finally slamming his files shut with a sigh, he grabbed his jacket and set off for home (finally a home, and not a house) with a jaunty step. As he drove up, the softly shimmering lights in each window gladdened his heart. Without bothering to knock, he strode in, to almost reel back at the wondrous sight within. The house was glowing with warm blue candles, strategically placed in all corners. The curtains had been changed into a deep blue silk set. Her blue stole was draped over the sofa. His dinner service for two was laid on the table. A pair of deep blue orchids presided over the table. The air was redolent with his favorite perfume. But his wife was missing.
As he turned to look for her, he heard the unmistakable chan chan of her payals. Standing at the door of their bedroom was a vision. A vision he had seen in his dreams many times, but never in reality. Clad in "his" midnight blue ghagra, turquoise earrings twinkling at her ears, "their" locket hanging low over her pallu, the waistband cinching in her already tiny waist, the house keys suspended from her waist, and surma outlining her beautiful black eyes. Her hair flowed freely down her back, secured only by the clutcher. He could not move a muscle.
Smiling gently, Anandi held out the sindoor dibiya to him, inviting him silently to adorn her maang. With shaking hands, he did so' As they gazed into each other's eyes, Anandi said, "Aapne mere liye itna kuch kiya in beete dino, mujhe kuch soojh hi nahi raha tha. Main aapke ye gift kaise lautati? Phir socha ki yeh mera sabse achha gift ho sakta tha aap ke liye. Aapki diyi hui cheezein, aapke favorite rang, aur main, bas' Aur iske baad, hamare beech koi dooriyan ho hi nahin sakti. Aap mere liye anmol hain."
As Shiv heard the unbelievable words, he was drawn down automatically to the sensuous lips saying them. Like a moth to the fire, he stooped lower. Blood roared through his ears, tingeing his whole consciousness with a bright blue fire. Letting go of all his inhibitions, he took the dive into the deep blue sea and stole his first kiss. The world was lost to them forever.
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