It was a beautiful Sunday. Om felt the golden rays of the sun penetrate through his boy spreading its warmth as he opened his eyes to the light pouring in through his window. He woke up feeling happy and refreshed. It was a Sunday. Who wouldn't be happy. And another reason would be Riddhima's birthday. He wanted to surprise her by taking her to his fully furnished Art Gallery. She had been asking him since the beginning but Om wouldn't budge. And today, he was going to do that. He got dressed and headed down towards the Living Room where he found Riddhima sitting with Anika and Sowmya discussing about the day. Riddhima looked radiant in her flowery yellow one-shoulderkurti and ankle-length pant.. She was laughing at what Anika was saying. Her laugh was really sweet, thought Om. He went ahead and wished the girls.
Om : Good Morning girls !!
Anika : Aapko bhi Good Morning.
Sowmya : Good Morning Bade Baal Wale Bhaiyaa.
Riddhima : Morning...
Om chuckled. He knew he was the reason for her anger. She had wanted him to wish her first but then he had slept just because he could give her this surprise. He looked at her lovingly and then at Anika with raised eyebrows. Anika understood his face and said
Anika : Ummm.. Oh.. Mei tho bhool hii gayi
Riddhima : Kya hua ?
Anika : Ghar me bhool aayi hu mei apni note ko. Usme hii saare details hai shaadi ki. Agar Baghad Billa ko ye pata chal gaya tho Junglee Billa ban jaayenge.
Riddhima : Haan tho le aa sakti hon a
Anika : Are nahi nahi nahi. Saara kaam sar pe pada hai mera. Riddhima, tum ek kaam karo. Tum jaao na.
Riddhima : But mei akeli kaise jaaungi
Sowmya : Umm.. Bade Baal waale Bhaiiya hai na. Vo drop kar denge.
Om : Haan. Mei kar dunga.
Riddhima (not happy) : Fine. Ok. We'll go.
Om smiled at Riddhima's anger. She was really a kid. He winked at Anika and Sowmya as a token of thanks and both let their thumbs up to him. He rushed out where Riddhima was waiting there. She was standing against the car waiting for Om. Om went and stood infront of her. She moved away and kept her face turned to the other side. Om opened the car door and she slid inside gracefully, her slender figure complimenting her slid. Om grinned and drove the car away.
Silence... That was the only emotion that prevailed in those moments. Riddhima sat quietly looking out while Om kept stealing looks at his girlfriend who looked furious. Om took a right turn that startled Riddhima..
Riddhima : Are. But we were supposed to go straight na. You could have asked me right, if you didn't know the way
Om : Relax. I know where I am going Riddhima. Now calm down.
He took a piece of cloth and covered her eyes with it ignoring Riddhima's protests of What are you doing, Om He held her hand in his, the soft one brushing against his calloused one. He savoured the feel of her hand in his, getting nostalgic about their memories of the past three years. He led his girl carefully inside. His girl.. He loved the sound of that. Slowly leading her inside, he let go off her hand and went behind her. His eyes roaming around her intensely, he raised his hands towards the cloth and uncuffed it. Away fell the cloth and presented her naked eyes to the world. She was blinded. The fold was too tight. She rubbed her eyes with her palms and squinted to try and adjust to the atmosphere. A blurred vision of Om came into view and slowly he became clear. There he stood. The greek God with chiselled features, hair to die for and intensity to fall weak for. She looked confused as he walked towards her and behind her to close her eyes with his palms. Leading his lady through the right way, he halted and took his palms away leaving way for Riddhima to open her eyes and gasp at what she saw. She was standing in the middle of a room filled with sculptors. Beautiful sculptors standing proudly in their full glory. Her lips spread into a wide smile as she turned to him. Om had his arms open wide for her with a smile on his face.
Om : Happy Birthday Riddhima.
Riddhima's eyes started to fill with tears as she ran towards Om and put her arms around him, crushing her frame to his. Om wrapped his arms around her slender frame and enveloped her into a passionate hug burying his face in her scented hair. They broke moments later with Riddhima having an unbelievable expression on her face.
Riddhima : Ye sab ?
Om : Surprise. I knew you wanted to visit my Art Gallery after its opening. And what better day than your birthday ?
Riddhima : You could have done this with everyone na. Why only me ?
Om (naughtily) : Can't a guy have his girlfriend all to himself ??
Riddhima (blushing) : Om !!!!
Om (smiling) : Now how about fulfilling the birthday girl's wish ?
Riddhima : What ??
Om gave a crooked smile and connected his mobile to the speakers he had there. He started playing Pashmina and grabbed two brushes in the process, handing one to Riddhima and taking charge of the other one. He pointed to her the paint and the empty wall waiting to be splashed in the color of love. He reached out a hand to her who took it shyly and both headed towards the paint. A dip was what that was needed as they painted their way to their love's content dancing in the process.
pashmina dhaagon ke sang
koi aaj bune khwaab aise kaise
vaadi mein goonje kaheen
naye saaz ye rabaab aise kaise
pashmeena dhaagon ke sang
A stroke. And then another. Two strokes met and entwined to give a meaningful mix of a third color and with the magic, the one beautiful stroke that got created. Om caught hold of Riddhima and lifted her up in the air catching he waist. Riddhima's breath caught in her throat at the close proximity they both were in at that exact moment. Letting her down, he caught her fist. Dropping a small kiss, he twister her around until they reached the paint.
kaliyon ne badle abhi ye mizaaj
ehsaas aise kaise
palkon ne khole abhi naye raaz
jazbaat aise kaise
A dip again and the two eyes met. Intense ones boring fire into the shy ones drinking in the shyness with such lust that passion would feel ashamed. Again dancing their way back with steps being retraced backward, a heart was formed which would reveal their deepest desires they had for each other. Eyes stealing a glance at each other.
kachchi hawa, kachcha dhuaan ghul raha
kachcha sa dil lamhe naye chun raha
kachchi si dhoop, kachchi Dagar phisal rahi
koi khaDa chupke se keh raha
main saaya banoon, tere peechhe chaloon
chalta rahoon...
For him, he felt the love. The love he had for her, the lust his eyes held for hers just to watch them droop down at the sight of him. She was his beautiful shadow. His beautiful temptess. For her, she felt warmth. Warmth of the Greek God beside her. Warmth of the love he was spreading through her at that moment. He was her sunlight. He was her passionate sunlight. The paint meant for what was to done with it reached its end and together they held hands and swayed slowly towards the paint world that was glistening with different colors. A dip and another here and there, They raced forward to complete their Art Of Love.
shabnam ke do qatre yoon hi Tehel rahe
shaakhon pe wo moti se khel rahe
befikr se ik dooje mein khul rahe
jab hon judaa, khayaalon mein mil rahe
khayaalon mein yoon ye guftagoo chalti rahe
Two dewdrops walking just like that, playing with the paint on the art of their love like pearls. Opening to each other. Their love had no limit. No one to interrupt. It was just them. Him, her and the love hey brought together into this world. They might be away. But their thoughts weren't. This time, their eyes met as they bumped each other, proximity be damned. It was a promise. A promise that promised to keep their thoughts binded as long as they walked on the Earth. Binding their dreams together like the chords that cannot be broken..
And then formed their masterpiece. A beautiful work of art, love radiating from it. Riddhima looked at Om. Om looked back with a smile and noticed a drop of paint on her face. He shook his head grinning and walked to her. Raising his thumb finger to wipe the paint away, he let his finger linger on her face and savour the feel of it as she closed her eyes. Sliding the finger towards her neck, the finger turned into hand and mesmerised by the soft skin, he let his hand down as she inhaled a sharp breath. Taking his hand away immediately, Riddhima felt cold again. His hand was so warm against her cold skin and she wanted to feel it again.
Om : Ab chalo.
Riddhima : Kaha ?
Om : Are you even human being ?
Riddhima : What ?? Why ??
Om : Don't you feel hungry ?
Riddhima : Oh that..
Suddenly both heard a grumbling sound. Om touched his stomach and knew it wasn't his. He looked mischievously at Riddhima who had gone red-pink by then. Om patted her head lovingly.
Om : Come on Bhukkhad. Let's get something to eat.
He led her to a table where a cake was standing there waiting to be cut surrounded by various Chinese delecacies.
Riddhima : Om !! Did you do all this ?
Om : Ehh yes.. With a little help from Shivaay in the cooking part.
Riddhima : Its so beautiful Om. Thanku so much.
They sat in their quiet nest, with each other for their company as the cake was cut and the lunch was consumed. It was a sumptuous lunch and both were full.. Om took her around his galley explaining about his each and every painting and the story behind it. Riddhima's eyes widened as she listened to few particular lines of his stories. And then came the section Riddhima was so eager about. The Sculptor Section. She was that little kid that cried with joy when it saw dolls. She touched a sculptor drinking in the feel of the cool marble and the clay that lay beside.
Riddhima : Om. How many types of sculptors are there ?
Om : There are many. But what I make are marble, modern-art, clay and cameo.
Riddhima : Cameo ?
Om : Cameo is carving. Carving from something.
Riddhima : Oh ok. Can you teach me to make one ? Please.
Om : Ahhh.. Am not sure about that Riddh...
Riddhima : Birthday girl ki wish. Please ?????
Om : You know I can't say NO to any birthday wish. But first, you need to change. I think I might have some spares in the cloakroom. Come along.
Both went to the cloakroom where indeed, Om had spares. He handed one over to Riddhima. Both changed into the spares. Om was waiting in his white used button-up shirt and black pants for Riddhima who came out wearing a white button-up and ankle-length black pant. She let her hair down and it cascaded in wavy loose curls. She came up to Om and stood infront of him. Om smiled as he put on his gloves.
Om : So. Iss Miss. Birthday Girl ready for her first class ?
Riddhima : Yes she is.
Om : Mind her. I am very strict.
Riddhima : Let's just say that she knows how to handle them.
Om : Then let's begin.
Om showed through a step-by-step process as to how to make clay first with the exact proportion of water and then to the first step towards Sculptor Making. Om put on a song like he always does to work in peace. Riddhima managed to be the messy one and got some clay on her face. Om chuckled.
Om : And you ask why do I treat you like a kid.
Riddhima (pouting) : Why ?
Om : Look at yourself. You are a mess. This is why I adore you a lot.
As Om wiped her face with his kerchief, Ang laga De started playing. Riddhima blushed and Om secretly enjoyed her red face blushing only for him. She was his. And with that one thought, he applied clay on her left side of her face. Riddhima opened her mouth in shock but watching him smirk naughtily, she did the same thing and ran away.
Ang laga de re
Mohe rang laga de re
Main to teri joganiya
Tu jog laga de re
Om caught up with Riddhima from around the waist and pulled her to him. Inhaling her sweet fragrance of vanilla made him lose his senses for a minute. She was his drug. A drug pulling him into oblivion. Riddhima balled her fists tightly as she felt Om's lips touch her collarbone. The color of love spread as the warmth filled her body. Om backed her towards the wooden table and turned her around. He held her hand and together they moulded the clay. And so did their love mould into a feeling of togetherness and trust. Om took the chance gracefully to apply clay to her as he enjoyed the beauty against him and the way she made him feel complete.
Ram ratan dhan
Lagan magan man
Tan mora chandan re
Ujli kori preet piyaa
satrang laga de re
She could inhale the sandal fragrance which was radiating off from his body. His love filling her with such an emotion she'd never felt before. And all of a sudden, it was gone. The warmth, the fragrance of pure sandalwood. Everything was gone. She looked around to find herself being led by the hand to another room. It was an open varandah which was populated with cushions and a fluffy makeshift in the middle.
Riddhima : Om.. Ye kya hai ?
Om : Time for your last wish to be fulfilled.
Riddhima : Meaning ?
Om : Just come, Love. You'll see for yourself.
He pulled her along to the makeshift bed and went to the corner to pull on a rope. Riddhima looked confused at him. As he pulled down the rope, the sheet that covered the top of the open varandah came off leaving Riddhima in wonderous surprise as the stars and the moon shone and twinkled. Om joined her and put an arm around her shoulders.
Om : Shall we ?
Riddhima : Hmm ?
Om : Shall we dance ?
Riddhima : Sure..
Om took her hand inside his and both dances to what remained of Ang Laga De..
Raas hai raat mein
Teri har baat mein
Bolo main kya karoon
Aise haalaat mein
Hoon main teri malang
Tu hi mera nasha
Chadha de re bhang chadha de re
Prem ki bhang chadha de re
Om turned Riddhima and let his face bury in her hair. He slowly moved down to her back and groaned at the shirt that was being the thorn in the way. Riddhima turned and looked down while Om pushed away strands of hair that had fallen on her face. He put his finger under her chin and forced her face up. She looked beautiful with her flushed cheeks, kholed eyes with the moon-light gazing at her face. She was breathing heavily, her chest swaying in rhythm from the shirt that was very dangelously low showing her cleavage. Om removed her ear-rings slowly from her ears and kissed her earlobe slightly. She shivered. He was enjoying every bit f it and did the same to her other earlobe too. Riddhima shivered. He was her sweet torture. The sweet slow torture that gave her immense pleasure. He worked his way to her neck and swept her hair away to her other side. He put his lips to her neck an dragged it along her collarbone. Riddhima was shivering in pleasure. He was too evil. Too evil to say. The Satan of Pleasure and intensity. Om smirked as she moaned when he sucked a bit on her collarbone. He was fighting a battle himself. She was his seductive temptess, his Riddhima, his love. She was his. He bit slightly on her skin making her give a gasp. Om stopped his torture. Riddhima looked at him with her eyes full of innocence, her lips quivering. He bent down and caught her lips in a kiss. Her lips were soft and tasted of chocolate. She returned the kiss with the same passion. His stubble felt scratchy against her face. But the passion was too strong. He broke the kiss, led her towards the make-shift beds and pulled her down with him.
Om : Time for your last wish to be fulfilled.
Riddhima : O. How do you know about my wishes ?
Om : Riddhim. You had left your personal diary in my room. When Rudra came to my room, he had found it and had gone through to see whose it was He read it and persuaded me to go through it.. I found all this there.
Riddhima : Thankyou so much Om. I don't know what I would have done without you. That day when you told we shall end it here, I was heartbroken.
Om : Riddhima. Please let's not talk about her. She proved herself to be defensive with definitions that were baseless. I let a stranger make my decision for me. I was blind. I was wrong. I didn't listen to my heart and I hurt you. I almost destroyed us. Never again. Never again, Love.
Riddhima : Om please. Let's not talk about her. You are here with me and I am here with you and that is all that matters. Let's enjoy the present and not think about the future. People say talk about future. But when Present is here, why do we even think about the future. Please Om. Let us enjoy this moment.
Om : True Riddhima. Let us, Love.
Om kissed Riddhima on her forehead and cuddled her to him as they watched the stars twinkle above them and the moon gave them the light. They were Meraki Yuanfen
NOTES..
1. Meraki - Greek word. It means "Doing something with soul, creativity and love"
2. Yuanfen - Chinese word. It means "A relationship by fate or destiny"
Anupamaa
