Ashu:-
Through the car's windscreen, I saw road that snakes up with humps and bends leading us to dimly lit farmhouse. I can smell rich aroma of coffee and pepper in cold winter air'I can hear cold ruffling of leaves, grasshoppers chirping from meadows, it sounding like lullaby to us 'to me and my dear wife, She stir and slowly open her eyes to the screeching sound of tires on the gravel drive of farm house '. She smile, smile which always brightens up my mood 'even during my darker days! There was excitement and a strange kind of happiness in her eyes' She is everything I have' my true treasure'what I would have been, if she was not at my side during my difficult times, she is my true strength! When I lost all hopes on baba, she is the one who strengthened me from inside 'I wondered from where she drive such strength! How much distraught, worn out we were, when we came to know about BB's illness...But she was quick to buckle up and push me to think beyond my fear 'yes , I was angry with her for pushing me to operate on baba , Yes I fought, shouted and hurt her somewhere whenever my grief got too much on me .. But in between all this she loved me , not even judging me , criticizing me for the behavior I am showing towards her ..She just loved and stood with me.
Thinking all this, I get down and walk up to her, slowly taking her cold frigid hand, Her groggy eyes, heavy with sleep stare towards vast grey hills situated to the east, all the while holding on to my hand, she snuggle into me, like a small kitten she rub her cheeks on my chest 'I smile, I like these small things she to do which make me feel so warm and loved, I don't know how but she just know to make me feel good.
. "Sir'.I kept your luggage inside "I turn around and nod my head 'Strange kind of silence surround as our driver leave us alone in this farmhouse 'As he leave, I pull her to me, inhaling her deep familiar scent, I feel so warm and more at home as I whisper "happy valentine's day '.my dear" she tilt her head smilingly rubbing her cold tipped nose over my cheeks .. And we stand holding each other in moonless night as thick fog cover us like thick blanket, slowly and eventually '
Nidhi:-
Even before I could open my eyes, I feel him near 'I feel his arm around my waist, his leg carelessly thrown over my hips 'his head buried near my neck , I can feel his warm breath , his constant slow rhythmic hear beat pounding near my back ..Slowly, I let go of his hand and come out of his grip 'he stir but then again he go back to sleep '
Like small kid running into park, I leap out of door'excitedly
Mud crunches below my feet as I walk along plantation, an elderly man come to me holding cup of hot coffee, my skin tingle with cold, wind glide past me sending chill to the core of bone '.I stutter "thank you" to that elderly man , as I wonder, how can he manage to stand so upright in this cold winter morning, wearing only his thin layered shirt'.
I remember, When Anjie told me excitedly about her V-day plan, I cribbed silently. When jyothika told me about gifts which she is expecting from her husband, I sulked each minute. I wished for single sign, single hint from Ashuthosh 'each time, I asked him about V-day..He shrugged his shoulder all the while ignoring my question'yes, to be honest, he irritated me, and somehow I hated him for ignoring me so much 'I did not expected gifts or grand dinner ..All I expected to spend sometime with him, only him 'Is it too much to ask?
Then, How should I know that my dear husband was planning something seriously to surprise his wife 'now thinking back, it all looking like a dream, He must have been enjoyed looking at my surprised expression...how I stared at him as if he is the eight wonder of world, with my mouth half open and my eyes grown to size of 10 rupee coin..His amused expression slightly changing huge grin as he extended his hand asking me to hurry up so that we don't miss out on our flight which was due in few hrs '
Startled ,I look down to find a black puppy licking my toe finger, it is so cute that I could not resist taking it in my arm 'Suddenly I get an idea , as I take him to our room where Ashuthosh is sleeping and then I leave him on our bed as I sit to watch both of them silently 'its been while I played pranks on Ashuthosh , wow I just love it 'when I give him hard time , I love the way his face tighten to show that he is annoyed but in truth he is not 'suddenly, I see puppy sniffing cold sheets and moving forward towards Ashuthosh who is fast asleep 'it stare at ashu for sometime and then at me ..I just smile'. as if it was waiting for my command, it start licking his face 'startled Ashuthosh get up from his sleep abruptly and jump out of bed with shocked expression '..I suppress my giggle but somehow , it escape my lips as I burst out laughing staring at Ashuthosh and then small puppy , who is by now staring at both of us all the while wagging his tail '
I saw his expression change to upright anger as he slowly but curtly mutter 'what the hell is this Nidhi ...?" I lower my head because I feel may be ...I gone too far ... I mutter sudden meek sorry to find his lips stretching until he burst out laughing '.I pout, he laugh..I sulk 'he chuckle some more and then I don't find any option so I take my puppy in my arms and go out muttering " I hate you '"
As I get out, I hear him calling back at me "No, you love me '." I hear happiness in his voice, peace and content which was missing from so many day '.even though I was angry with him, strangely I get this urge to go back to him, cuddle him once for all '..As I stand there watching little puppy run along cold mud route, I feel his arm tighten around my waist as he mutter "say it, that you love me "
My lips involuntary stretch until my facial muscles pains and then I close my eyes as I feel his sweet kiss near my nape whispering "say it, that you love me .."
And I do '.. I do tell him how much I love him.
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