OS: Colors In Love

"In our life there is a single color, as on an artist's palette, which provides the meaning of life and art. It is the color of love." - Marc Chagall

A stroke of pink, a heart so red, a dance so breathtaking, a year so full of pure heartbreak and so full of profound love. It's surprising how 12 months can change the course of your life from no destination to being on the best journey of your life. Madhu still remembers that day a year ago so vividly. He strolled into the chawl like he owned the place and of course back into my life like he owned it too. He always created a storm in my life, came like a tornado turned everything upside down, and then left. It didn't matter what he had done to me, to us only mere months ago but how dare anyone apply color on HIS Madhu before him on their first Holi. RK had of course succeeded but then everything went to hell in a hand basket. Madhu knew RK wanted to be the first person to color her and he wanted her to color him first as well. Unfortunately nothing in their love story ever worked out the way they had planned. Bhujang had appeared with his men to kill Sultan, in order to save him for his son; she had run away from the man who bought color into her life. She still remembers the look of hurt on his face as she dashed away. So much had happened to them since that moment from Sultan, to Meera, to Papa's infidelity, to RK's proposal and their marriage, to RK's ban, to her launch into films, to Pabho's tortures, to RK's paralysis, to the loss of their first child, to Bhujang and RK's duplicate; so many painful memories and a million happy ones in the span of a year. But here she was a year later trying to rectify that mistake with no luck as her beloved husband had banished her to their room. According to him she wasn't allowed to come out, celebrate Holi or attend the Holi party downstairs. It hadn't helped that he had disappeared before she had woken up and she couldn't argue her case.

Madhu knew the reason behind RK being her constant shadow. Ever since they found out they were expecting again a little over a month ago, he has become her personal bubble. The theda RK has become the ideal husband and a doting father to be. Madhu knows the reason other than his pure excitement at becoming a father; she knows the guilt still lingers from their first child not just for him but for both of them. Madhu didn't know when she had fallen asleep going down memory lane till someone was shaking her awake. She heard a faint "Biwi" "Biwi" till she was fully alert and realized it was RK. RK helped her into a sitting position, adjusted the pillow behind her and moved to get her a glass of water. As soon as RK moved away Madhu got out of bed but RK rushed back to her when he noticed her standing. Madhu adored that he doted on her but his constant mother henning was having a negative effect.

Madhu cupped RK's face in her hands, looking lovingly into his eyes and said, "Rishabh, I love that you are taking such good care of me but I'm pregnant not an invalid. Sometimes it gets to be too much. I know you love the baby and me..." she trailed off as she noticed the gulal on RK's cheeks when she removed her hands. The shock was evident in her eyes and the drop in her jaw which remained open but no words came out.

RK's ever present smirk was plastered on his face as he took in Madhu's shocked expression but immediately softened as he too applied gulal on his Biwi's cheeks, "Happy Holi, Biwi!"

The questions still lingered in Madhu's eyes so RK's simple statement answered them all, "I know after last year, you wanted to be the first to apply color on me...," he trailed off not knowing how to explain banishing her into their room all morning.

Madhu closed the distance between them and hugged RK tight; he immediately reciprocated both overwhelmed by their emotions.

The beats of the drums from the Holi party filtered in through their balcony yet they remained lost in their own world. As the gust of wind from the open balcony blew in, the various colors' tray Madhu had prepared for Holi created a twister of colors. As RK and Madhu began to dance to the barely audible All of Me by John Legend, the tornado of colors launched its attack on coloring the two lovers.

RK held Madhu close to him, swaying but barely moving, he serenaded his wife as he sang along with the song.

What would I do without your smart mouth?

Drawing me in, and you kicking me out

You've got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down

What's going on in that beautiful mind

I'm on your magical mystery ride

And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright

My head's under water

But I'm breathing fine

Madhu joined him as she too mouthed the words to the song.

You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

'Cause all of me

Loves all of you

Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh

Madhu rested her head over RK's heart hearing, the steady beat that kept her alive. They didn't know when the twister of colors ended its assault or when the song ended; they continued to dance to the music that only they heard. Madhu didn't know how she had imagined their first Holi after marriage but today what RK did for her was beyond her imagination.

"Happy Holi, RK" Madhu wished the man who bought so many different colors into her life as she snuggled closer into his embrace.

"Happy Holi, Biwi" RK wished as he kissed her forehead and held her tighter.

Disclaimer: The lyrics and the song All of Me By John Legend DO NOT belong to me but to its proprietor.