Well friends, today is a special day...so I wanted to do something special...
Yes, today is Mona's b'day and I want to gift her this piece of my ff. 😳 I hope she will like it (I hope you all will 😳 ). I tried not to make it cliched, but somehow I think you will all guess what's coming, especially dear Kashish, who can write romance so much better than me. 😳 Still I hope it will be worth your time.
Chapter 19 – The Anniversary Dinner
Kaajjal sat and looked around her, still amazed at the effort Dev had gone to in decorating the place just for her. The sweet fragrance of the flowers were filling her nostrils and reviving memories of her childhood, running freely across the meadows. As she breathed them in she remembered the day she went to pick the flowers in the wood, and Dev, realising they were poisonous, came running and grabbed them from her hands. She could still picture the anxiety in his eyes that day, still hear the panic in his voice when he scolded her for being so foolish. The memory brought a smile to her lips as she mused that from that moment on she had been certain of his love for her. Turning she looked across at him. The flickering light of the candles softened his face and shone in his deep eyes so beautifully she felt she could gaze at him for ever. When he looked at her he was surprised to see such a dreamy look in her eyes and smiling he snapped his fingers under her nose, waking her from her reverie.
"Kya hua?" he asked as she shook her head and lowered her eyes in embarrassment.
"Kuch nahin," she replied quietly. "Bas..."
She trailed off, unable to put into words the sense of immense joy he gave her. How could she explain to him that from the first days of their romance till now he had lit up her whole world. She had never known what it was to love another so intensely until him. It was a feeling that could not be described...just felt, and that was why when she looked up at him again her eyes reflected her inner emotions, though her lips faltered to bring them into words.
"Woh...main...I was thinking that....woh....Dev, I don't know what to say...sirf thanks."
"Thanks?" he asked with a quizzical frown. "Kis liye?"
"Is pal," she replied. "Every moment you have given to me. Dev, you have given me so much...aur ab yeh..."
She gestured with her hand to the terrace.
"Kaajjal it's nothing," he told her. "Bas...I wanted today to be special kyunki aaj hamara pehla anniversary hain."
Kaajjal smiled at him, a small blush sweeping across her cheeks.
"Waise," she added, glancing about again. "How come we are the only ones here? This is a resturant, nah?"
Dev folded his hands one on top of the other and looked down with a bashful smile.
"Woh...I have booked the whole restaurant in my name," he explained.
"Kya?" she exclaimed, her eyes widening in amazement. "Paar kyun Dev?"
He looked up at her and his eyes flashed with a glint of mischief.
"Kyunki," he said, reaching out and curling a hand about hers. "I wanted my wife all to myself."
He arched his brows at her with an impish grin, which made her blush and lower her eyes, laughing softly.
"Dev, tum bhi nah!" she said in her shy tone.
Dev smiled brightly at her, enjoying this shyness and delighted that even after all this time he could still make her blush. While she sat gazing around her he lifted the lid off the dishes in the centre of the table and began to serve her. The strong, tantalising aroma of spices recalled her attentions and turning she saw to her delight her favourite dish of saag, accompanied with roti and sweet scented rice. Her eyes lit up like fiary lights.
"Dev, yeh dish mera mann pasand," she cried. "And you had it made for me?"
"Haan Kaajjal main jante hoon," he replied with a smile. "I told you, I wanted today to be special for you."
Kaajjal smiled at him with so much love tears glistened in her eyes. Just then the waiter arrived at the table and asked if they would like any other dishes to be prepared.
"No I think we're fine thanks," Dev replied.
"Arre, what are you saying?" Kaajjal cried. "Waiter," she addressed the man, "Order some daal for my husband. He also has to have his favourite dish, nah?"
The waiter smiled and nodded his head at them.
"Kya jodi hai!" he exclaimed.
"Matlab?" Kaajjal asked with a quizzical frown.
Her head was turned towards the waiter so she did not see Dev waving his arms as a signal to the waiter not to say anything further. The waiter was either partially sighted or did not care to notice him, however, for he responded with,
"Madam ji, Saab sarre khanna khud ko prepare karte the."
Kaajjal's heart missed a beat and she looked round at Dev with astounded eyes. Dev had his head lowered and he did not look up at her as the waiter continued to speak.
"Aur ab you are ordering his favourite dish. Kamal! There is so much love between you!"
This was the waiter's parting shot as he left the couple sitting in stunned silence. Kaajjal knew that Dev was embarrassed at his secret being disclosed, but she was so full of joy that she could not contain it to herself. She had to say something to him.
"Dev," she said softly. "You made all this food yourself? Aur woh bhi mere liye?"
"Kaajjal," he replied with an awkward tone, glancing up at her. "Please, don't make an issue of this. It's nothing."
"Do you know how much it means to me?" she asked him, reaching out and wrapping both her hands round his.
"Please Kaajjal, it's the least I can do," he answered quietly. "I am your husband after all."
"Haan," she replied with a sweet smile. "And I love you. I love you very much Dev."
As she said this she brought his hand up to her lips and pressed them to it, a small tear trickling down her cheek as she became overwhelmed.
"Hey, don't cry!" Dev cried, disentangling his hand and placing it on the side of her face, his fingers meshing with the soft curls of her hair. "I hate seeing tears in your eyes Kaajjal. It always makes my heart ache."
"They are khushi ke assoon," she assured him.
They smiled at one another and the gentle light from the candles bathed them in a dim, romantic light that seemed to radiate with the love shining in their eyes. Their moment was only broken when the waiter reappeared with Dev's daal. After that they fell quiet for a time, savouring the food. As they were finishing the sweet tones of a romantic song began to reach their ears from the stereo system.
"Arre Dev, it's my favourite song!" Kaajjal cried excitedly, her eyes glowing with delight. "It's Main Agar Kahoon from Om Shanti Om!"
Seeing the light dance in her eyes as she began to sway back and forth to the music made Dev smile, and rising he held his hand out to her. She looked up at him in surprise, the smallest of frowns furrowing her brow.
"Dev...what are you doing?" she asked.
"Come and dance with me," he requested her.
"Dev...dance?" she laughed nervously. "Paar..."
"Paar kuch nahin Kaajjal," he told her, taking her hand. "Come and dance."
She was powerless to resist the plea in his tone and she allowed him to lead her into the small space in the middle of the terrace. He twirled her round and she found his strong arms about her waist, holding her tightly. Gazing up into his deep brown eyes she placed his hands on his shoulders. As they swayed back and forth to the music she found herself drowning in his eyes, as she had done many a time before, but tonight there was a special magic in those eyes. She couldn't tell whether it was the soft light of the candles reflected in his eyes or if the stars above their heads had spread some sparkling dust in them, but there was definately something that held her captivated. She searched his eyes, finding all the answers to her questions in them, and seeing his deep love for her too. He held her close and his hands resting against the skin of her waist were spreading a fire through her body. She marvelled at the way her every nerve end tingled and the racing of her heart. The music was washing over her, folding her in its magic waves and for those few minutes it was as if it were just her and Dev and no one else in the world.
Dev spun her round and she laughed in delight. Twice more he spun her, and the last time she stumbled and nearly fell, but before she hit the ground his arms had caught her and she found herself gazing up into his face, her eyes wide and startled, his dark and filled with passion. Both their hearts were racing and Kaajjal was actually trembling, though she couldn't tell if it were due to her near fall or the magic of Dev's touch. He brought her back onto her feet and they gazed at one another, the flickering candlelight in their eyes highlighting the passion lurking in the shadows of their irises.
Without saying a word he held his hand out to her and she slipped hers into it with a small smile, her eyes never leaving his. He led her from the terrace, down the steps and out into the moonlit street below. It was a beautiful night; the sky was a deep violet and a thousand bright stars glittered above their heads. Kaajjal could see those stars reflected in Dev's eyes as they walked through the deserted streets. Dev was gazing at her face, thinking how it resembled the moon: beautiful and filled with an enchanting light. Both were lost in one another and their love for each other. It was a perfect night and the song was still playing in their minds, it's words speaking to their hearts.
They had reached a small bridge over a stream and here they stopped.
"Kitne sunder hai aaj ki raat," Kaajjal said, gazing up at the sky with glowing eyes.
"Hmm," Dev agreed with a smile. "Lekin tum sab se sundar ho."
As he said this he brushed a lock of her hair gently behind her ear. When his fingers touched her skin she shivered in delight and lowered her eyes shyly. Dev was gazing at her, mesmerised by her sweet blush and shining eyes. Placing a finger under her chin he made her look up at him and he saw her love deep within her eyes. There was a small smile on her lips and he wanted to steal it and make it his own. He brought his lips close to hers, so close that they could feel the other's breath. Kaajjal was feeling mischievious, however, and before his lips could touch hers she darted off with a gleeful laugh.
"Arre Kaajjal, that's not fair!" he cried.
"Haha, sorry Dev!" she laughed. "Lekin...if you want to kiss me you have to catch me first."
Dev arched his eyebrows at her as she giggled, twirling round and spreading her arms out wide, throwing her head up to the sky, enjoying the feel of the cool night air against her skin. Dev didn't miss his chance. Sneaking up on her he caught her and lifted her into his arms. She shrieked in surprise and turned her wide, amazed eyes up to his. He was looking down at her, his face glowing with glee and triumph and when her eyes met his he arched his eyebrows at her again.
"Toh...I caught you nah?" he said with a wicked grin that made her heart skip a beat.
"Dev, you cheated," she told him. "I don't accept your victory."
"Oh really?" he replied. "But what are you going to do about it?"
"I'll scream," she said decisively.
"Accha, go ahead then," he invited her.
"Dev...don't provoke me," she warned.
"Me?" he asked innocently, his eyes showing his glee.
"Haan tum. I am telling you, if you try to kiss me then..."
"Then....?" he asked her.
His lips were inching ever closer to hers, but in her rant she never noticed, obliviously carrying on with her words.
"Then I will really scream," she declared. "I mean it, I..."
Her words died on his lips. She didn't scream, instead she wrapped her arms about his neck and lost herself in his kiss, forgetting everything except that one sweet moment.
Hope you all enjoyed it. 😳 Please do comment...I cannot tell you how much I enjoy reading your comments and how much they mean to me. 😳
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