"Arnavji! Wake up!" Khushi whispered with a huge grin, as she sat awake on her bed. But he seemed to be fast asleep to hear her. Looking at the bedside table once again, she made sure that everything was in order. Glancing at her mobile, she saw that it was 11:58 pm and with only two more minutes remaining to strike 12, she panicked.
It was Arnav's birthday and she had wanted to be the first one to wish him. Ever since she had learnt from Anjali that Arnav never celebrated his birthday and never allowed anyone else to do so, she had made up her mind that this time it was going to be different.
The whole room was dark except for the glow of twenty eight tiny candles lighting up his sugar free chocolate cake that she had specially baked for him.
"Arnavji!" she shook his shoulders violently and it was then that he finally stirred from his deep sleep.
"What happened, Khushi?" he murmured with sleepy eyes, wondering what his wife was up to.
"Wake up!" she ordered loudly, panicking seeing that it was just a minute away from 12.
Arnav opened his eyes to see the room bathed with the glow of warm candlelight and sat up astonished at the sight. "What's going on?" he panicked.
"Wait, wait!" Khushi replied, waiting for the clock to show 12 and then excitedly jumped over him, hugging his fiercely, taking him aback with surprise. "Happy Birthday, Lard Governor! Oops! Arnavji..."
To say he was shocked would be an understatement. Infact, he was overwhelmed with her gesture. He had assumed she didn't know or forgotten about it. For fourteen years, he hadn't celebrated his birthday and now, when it was, he didn't know how to react.
"You are a year older and wiser now, although I doubt the latter one." She replied chuckling, as she kissed him warmly on his stubbly cheek. "And here's your cake." She said, breaking apart to bring the cake from the table to him. "Blow the candles and make a wish."
"But Khushi, I don't eat cakes." Arnav replied, staring at her in awe.
"Arnavji, I've specially made the sugar free one for you so that you can eat it." She replied, handing over the knife to him.
Looking at her bubbling excitement, he was reminded about the days when his mother was alive and celebrating his birthdays with the same enthusiasm and now, remembering it, he felt his eyes moisten.
"Blow the candles! What are you waiting for?" Khushi waited for him and he immediately closed his eyes and blew all of them, wishing for only one thing in the world that he would be able to celebrate all his forthcoming birthdays with Khushi just like this.
As the candles blew off, Khushi switched on the table lamp and asked. "So what did you wish for Arnavji?"
"I thought wishes don't come true if you tell them aloud." Arnav answered back, slicing the cake.
"Oh yeah!" Khushi smacked her forgetful head.
Taking out a big chunk of cake, he moved forward towards Khushi and fed her. "Thank you." He whispered gratefully, hugging her tightly. "For everything."
"Arnavji, no need to thank me. I love doing this for you." Khushi replied, feeding the remaining piece of cake in his hand to his mouth. "How is the cake?" she asked tensed, wondering whether he had liked it. Suddenly, she realised that his eyes were glistening with tears. "Arnavji, what happened? Was it that bad?" she asked worriedly, cupping his face.
"No, it's just that I wasn't expecting anything like this." He admitted, holding her hand.
"I thought you would be furious at me if I organised a party. But this is just you and me. I thought you would like it this way." Khushi replied, apprehensive about whether he really liked this surprise or not.
"Khushi, you have the ability to make anyone around you feel special and today, you have made me feel special. And I love you for this." Arnav said, pulling her on his lap, while she proceeded to kiss away his tears and later, claim his lips.
"Arnavji, the surprise is not yet over." Khushi spoke, moving apart, brushing aside his messy hair from his forehead.
"There's more?" He asked smilingly.
Bending over the edge of the bed, Khushi picked up a plate and seeing it, Arnav's eyes widened with even more surprise than a minute ago. "Jalebis?"
"Yeah, sugar free ones. I thought a party wouldn't be a party without Jalebis. Please Arnavji! You have to eat one for me, this time. Please!" she begged, and this time, Arnav relented. This was the least he could do to show his gratefulness to her.
"Mmm... it's delicious." He exclaimed, tasting his wife's speciality, jalebis, for the first time.
"You really like it?" Khushi's eyes widened with happiness. "Then, I'll make them everyday for you."
"Oh no! no!" Arnav choked on the jalebi. "I would prefer them to be birthday specials only." He panicked, dreading the sight of a plateful of jalebis waiting him every night when he returned from work.
"I was just teasing you Arnavji!" Khushi laughed, nudging him arm. "There's one more surprise." She exclaimed as she got up from the bed, and making sure that every door or window was closed, she walked towards the music system.
"Wait! What are you doing?" Arnav exclaimed out loudly.
"What's a party without music?" Khushi winked at him and instantly some random Bhangra song started playing.
"Khushi, you are unbelievable!" Arnav grinned at her, as she pulled him on the floor and started dancing to the beats. "Arnavji, don't be shy. It's just you and me."
"And it's the middle of the night." Arnav replied, as Khushi held his arms and made him dance along with her. "But only for you, okay?" he added, as he twirled her around sending her crashing into his chest.
"Are there more surprises waiting or shall I start giving you the return gifts?" he whispered huskily as he headed towards the music system and switched the music to a sexy romantic number, swaying his hips along with her.
"I'm waiting for them." She smiled cheekily, blushing hard, hiding her face on his chest.
"I guess, this is the best birthday ever." He replied as he hugged her back protectively.
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