** Balika Vadhu... Mohabbat Karle Zara...Oneshot Contest.. Voting **

"Gorgeous!" exclaimed Anandi while staring at the moon.

She was busy wrapping her work in the kitchen for the day when suddenly she got a glimpse of the brilliantly shining full moon from the kitchen window. It exactly looks like Shiv's love for me, she thought with a smile while admiring the beautiful moon.

For a moment, she left what she was doing and moved closer to the window craving to get drenched in the moon light. Anandi closed her eyes, consumed by a strong desire to get bathed in its blissful blue warmth. Her face glowed and she felt beautiful within herself as the warm white rays touched her heart.

"Anandi, Where are you?"

Anandi smiled to herself as she heard Shiv's winsome but grumbling voice.

"There she is, always busy trying to keep everyone happy."

Shiv grumbled to himself. On any other day he would understand, even he had been very busy lately and often came home late.

However, today was a very special day. He needed to share something important with her, and desperately wanted to be alone with her as soon as possible. He had rushed home wrapping up work earlier than usual to be able to spend some time with Anandi. To his disappointment, he found Anandi very busy with dinner preparations and other important things at home. Maa was also not keeping very well, choti ma and chote papa were on a short trip out of station.

"How long will you take? I am waiting for you since ages!"

Shiv stood by the kitchen door as he watched her. He became restless and a little annoyed at his wife who was obviously very busy making some dough.

"Shiv, just five more minutes, I have to clean the kitchen."

He was so used to hearing this from Anandi nowadays. Shiv quickly checked out here and there, no one was around. He stepped inside the kitchen and silently closed the door. Then he quietly tiptoed up to Anandi and crushed her with a hug from behind.

"Shiv, what are you doing?" Anandi was taken by this surprising but a very familiar hug from her husband.

"Shh, Anandi, people will wake up!" Shiv mumbled incoherently as he started to rub his cheeks on hers. "Stop tickling me and let me complete my work." Anandi said laughingly with a fake attempt to wriggle out of his hug.

He slowly whispered in her ears, "I am not going from here without you! Dinner is finished too, right? What are you doing now? Can't you finish these chores tomorrow morning?"

"Shiv, I have invited a few Bhaili employees tomorrow for breakfast since I had to plan an early morning meeting at home, so I just wanted to make some preparations now, am almost done."

With his arms still wrapped around her waist, Anandi finished with kneading the dough. Then she slowly turned around as Shiv held on to her, gazing into her beautiful eyes.

Anandi sweetly smiled and shot him a pleading look begging for two more minutes.

"Your infectious smile renders me powerless!"

Shiv helplessly gave in to her, "Just two more minutes, okay?"

"Yes, sir!" she said lovingly.

Shiv reluctantly left Anandi in the kitchen and forced himself back to their bedroom.

Anandi turned her focus back to her work rushing to complete, her heart fluttering its wings desperate to fly to her hubby dearest and be cradled in his arms.

They had recently completed one year of marriage, she didn't even realize how fast this year had passed by. This marriage has been a life changing experience for her, it made her realize that true love does exist in real and has happened to her.

She was overwhelmed and amazed to be loved so deeply by this charming man, he was the greatest blessing God had bestowed on her, and she was so proud to be his wife. She intensely enjoyed being the center of his attention and loved the way he cared for her tiny little wishes. Nothing mattered more to her now than shiv's happiness. At the same time, she also wanted to keep his family happy, as she knew that Shiv's family was very important to him. It did involve plenty of hard work and many a times, she had to do this at the cost of their own privacy. She was glad that Shiv understood and always supported her.

When she had committed to this marriage, she wanted it to work for her dead mother's sake, but now she couldn't imagine her life without Shiv in it. She was willing to do anything for shiv and family's happiness.

"Anandi beta?"

Quickly, Anandi came out of her thoughts and saw Daddu standing in the hall just outside his room. "Daddu, you are still awake? Do you need anything?"

"I am looking for my specs, can't find them. Since I was not getting sleep, thought of reading a book."

"I think I saw them on the side table in the hall", Anandi swiftly went to the hall, grabbed the specs and handed them over to Daddu in his room.

"Daddu, I know you don't like drinking milk in the night, but please try some warm milk today, this would help you getting some sleep." Daddu smiled and nodded his head agreeing to her proposal. Without wasting a second, Anandi rushed back to the kitchen and quickly fetched a small glass of warm milk for Daddu.

"Thanks Anandi. What are you doing so late in the kitchen? Call it a day, go to your room and relax beta. "

"Yes Daddu, I was just about to go, Good Night!" Anandi smiled back at Daddu.

"Good Night!" Daddu greeted her back.

While waiting for Anandi in the bedroom, Shiv reached out for his laptop, pulled his chair near the window and started checking his personal emails. As he got slowly immersed in his work with his back facing the door, Anandi entered the room with soft steps. She made best efforts to soundlessly pick her nightwear from the cupboard and ran towards the wash room bang across the entrance with a suppressed giggle.

Shiv lifted his head and watched her rushing through, with a dangerously naughty look on his face, the killer look that was well known to Anandi. He made a playful gesture as if to grab her which she could successfully avoid and managed to enter the wash room.

Shiv gave her a mock defeated look and they both started laughing aloud.

"Better luck next time hubby dear", Anandi said teasingly and shut the door. Shiv was still laughing while staring at the closed door.

As his laughter subsided, his gaze slowly moved towards the window where he noticed a thin stream of pale white moonlight falling on him.

"Wow, what a beautiful sight!" he thought to himself.

He quickly dashed to the switchboard, dimmed all the lights of the room, came back and stood near the window. It was a beautiful full moon night, bright gorgeous moon shining in the sky with its magnificent rays gently illuminating the environment all around him. Shiv took a deep contented breath and slowly closed his eyes.

"Thank you God for sending Anandi in my life, she completes me, in fact she is now my life!"

Shiv had never imagined that one day he would fall hopelessly in love with a girl like Anandi, and his life will start revolving only around her. He used to get amused at his friends who had succumbed to love marriages. He always thought the perfect picture of a life partner that he had visualized for himself simply did not exist in reality, but Anandi proved him wrong. She had all those qualities in her and much more!

Once the initial ice got broken, she had surrendered herself completely to him, took care of him and his family in such a way that now he felt incomplete and lost without her beside him.

His chest filled with pride recollecting the fact that a well-respected ex-Sarpanch of a district was now his life partner and the Annapurna of his family!

A gush of cool lavender scent urged Shiv to open his eyes and he caught sight of fresh as a daisy Anandi watching him intently. With a dreamy look, he tilted his head towards the sky to see the moon peeping from the window and then looked back at Anandi, his gaze lingering on her face.

It was a beautiful sight to watch a sparkling Anandi in the backdrop of the moonlight.

The mild air with penetrating warmth engulfed both of them in it. These little beautiful moments were enough for Shiv to make his heart vibrate with intense emotions for his beloved.

Could this get any better?

He smiled at her, touched her face gently, "You look beautiful". She gave him her brightest smile and put her arms around his neck, "and you look mighty handsome".

Shiv pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight, gently caressing her back. Anandi rested her face on his chest and closed her eyes. This was her favorite moment that vanquished all her fatigue developed over the day.

"I have some wonderful news for you sweetheart!" Shiv said softly to her after a few minutes of silence.

"Really, Shiv?" Anandi opened her eyes and tilted her head towards him and looked at him with joyful anticipation, "What is it? Tell me quickly."

"Guess what it could be?"

"Hmm", she thought for a moment. "You got a promotion, right?"

"Nope",

"Your dream project proposal got approved by the PMO?" An excited Anandi shouted.

"Well, I would want that to happen too, but we are not there yet darling, one last chance for you."

"Shiv, tell meee pleeeaaase" she was getting very curious.

"Okay, but after that I should get my prize, deal?"

"Deal, now tell" Anandi eagerly pressed her hands on his rounded biceps.

"Do you remember I mentioned to you sometime back that we need to explore new avenues to get funds for Bhaili? Well, I just happened to try our luck since last two months. I kept applying online detailed funding requests to a couple of international programmes. To my delight, I received online approvals and very positive responses from two very reputed organizations today. Even if one goes through, we are guaranteed to get funding worth a few millions of dollars."

"That's simply great news Shiv." Anandi was wonder struck.

"Yes, I know how passionate you are about Bhaili, and it is just lack of time nowadays why you couldn't do this yourself. All I did was to forward the information to the right places and followed-up with them on a regular basis. You already had prepared such marvellous marketing and promotional material for the NGO which did the job! Last step is a meeting in person that's planned during next week with one of them."

Shiv was talking excitedly and Anandi just watched him. For once, she was lost for words!

Shiv held her shoulders and moved a little away from her so that he could get a full view of her face. He cupped her beaming face with his hard but gentle hands.

"Congratulations honey, we are almost there!"

Shiv slowly moved closer and brushed his lips on her cheeks, eagerly moving towards her mouth and planted a tender kiss on her soft lips. Anandi felt heavenly, and eagerly kissed him back.

Though absolutely excited by her response, Shiv raised his head and moved away slightly as if to be in control of the situation. He gazed at her face looking into her eyes that were brimming with joy with a hint of tears on the sides.

"You took time out from your busy schedule and did all this for me?" Anandi became emotional.

"Anandi, I did this for myself, because I want to associate myself with you as much as possible, be an important part of your life, personal or professional. It is a wonderful feeling for me to know that you can depend on me just like I depend on you for anything and everything."

"You are my inspiration Shiv. Thank you for motivating me to realize my dreams of doing something unique, something that will make a positive difference in our society. I promise to you today that I will pursue my dream relentlessly till it becomes a reality! "

"That's like my Anandi!" Shiv felt very happy to hear this from Anandi. He wanted Anandi to give more time to her pet project, Bhaili and make it a successful example for others to follow. He truly believed Anandi was not just made for love and marriage. She was not just another run-of-the mill woman.

She had brought contentment in his life and made his dream of getting an ideal life partner come true by marrying him. Now he passionately desired for all Anandi's dreams to become true as well, and wanted to fully support her. As he understood, this would be a true gift for his valentine.

Shiv lovingly took Anandi back in his arms. Anandi snuggled closer and quietly voiced "I love you." Shiv pulled her even closer and whispered to her with his warm breath melting her pink lips "I love you too".

Wrapped together in love, one moment they were at peace with each other, the next, there was an unabated heated desire burning inside Shiv and Anandi to be even closer, to become one!

The angelic full moon beams smiled at the beautiful couple blessing them with a lifetime of enchanting togetherness.

Title: Gift of Love

Setting : A little over an year from present, in a quaint little town Rampur ( a district headquarters ) where Shiv has been posted as DC , a few months back...

Anandi approached her house with slow and measured steps. Though, it is relatively early in the evening, as it was approaching wintertime it is already nearing twilight. She had got down from an auto rickshaw at the corner of the street and had chosen to walk down the long, curving lane which leads to Circuit House, in order to give herself some time to think. Inspite of it being a public holiday, She had a long day at her newly opened branch of Bhaili' in that quaint little town of Rampur, as she had to put in extra hours to complete the administrative procedures and documentation.

To top all of this , she hadn't been feeling very well lately. She had been awfully tired for most of the past month, and it wasn't the sort of tiredness that came from her workload at her office nor was it because of the inevitable and continual bustling of trying to find a balance between her family and profession.

This was a tiredness, leeching all her energy and concentration from her at the most vexing of moments. She had been feeling such an intense lethargy that for the last several mornings Shiv had been the one to prod and nudge her out of their bed, which was unheard of as she had always been the morning person.

So, today Anandi had left her office at the end of the afternoon and proceeded to meet her doctor for a check-up. She didn't think that anything was seriously wrong, but it never hurt to be on the safe side. She knew Shiv would be glad that she'd gone., though he would be a little cross with her, in not giving him a chance to accompany her. In fact, he had been urging her, that he will take her for a check-up for the last two days, which she kept on postponing. The poor dear is so worried about how tired she is , she could see it in the crinkle between his eyebrows and sense it in his touch. He'd even taken on more than his usual share of the housework lately., though there was quite an amount of help from her maid.

She sighed as she continued to stroll down the sidewalk. She unconsciously crossed her arms over her stomach and gazed at the houses in the quiet part of the town, where her home is situated, while she contemplated with nervous anxiety, on what the Doctor had told her.

As she arrived at the front gate of her home , she was just beginning to think of how to tell Shiv about her visit to the Doctor and the delightfully surprising, not unwelcome, reason for her recent fatigue.

The house is located after a short distance from the front gate, a pebbled walk way running between a neatly kept garden with soft lawn grass on one side and a tree shaded muddy yard which served as a small playground on the other side.

On treading through the walkway, she noticed, there were footprints everywhere in the muddy yard, and though they were mostly child-sized, here and there she spotted Shiv's shoe prints mixed in with the rest. The soft lawn is as pristine as ever, much to her surprise.

The yard sported three wooden wickets on either side of a make shift pitch, all standing together in a nice group, the one in the middle of the group had been decapitated, the one on the right was listing at a dangerous angle, and the one on the left is standing straight. The front of the house was smeared in muddy trails. Her attention had been drawn to the porch, where several pieces of antique wall hangings have fallen to the floor - mercifully unbroken, and the Ganesha idol on the front door hanging askew. The other set of wickets as well as the remaining items of cricketing gear were strewn around haphazardly.

She for a moment contemplated, as to what sort of a mini earth quake that happened here? She was a bit perplexed about why Shiv hadn't asked the children to clean up the yard and the porch after what appeared to have been a mammoth game.

She quickly moved up the porch and entered through the front door. The house is mostly silent, though she could hear the sound of cartoon channel blaring from the living room. As she entered the living room, she immediately had her answer.

Her gaze then fell on the plush couch that is the centre piece of the room.

Instantly, any displeasure, however fleeting, she may have felt about the mess in the front yard and porch was forgotten. The sight of her husband caused Anandi to bite back a giggle and clap both hands over her mouth, but she could barely resist laughing.

The sight in front of her is just too sweet. Shiv lay on his back with his head at the far end of the couch. His eyes are closed and it is apparent by his deep breathing that he is sound asleep. He is also covered from his chest to ankles in a veritable blanket of Amol.

The sight is so dear to watch that it gave her a surge of energy the likes of which she hadn't felt in quite a few weeks. She quietly padded over to the other end of the couch and pressed a couple of quick kisses , one on Amol's hair and the other to the center of Shiv's forehead. She straightened up, and was just about to tiptoe into the kitchen to see what could be done about dinner when she heard a whispered " Anandi" coming from the direction of the couch. Turning back , she found Shiv slowly blinking himself awake and looking at her with concern.

"Kaha reh gayi thee aap ? aapka phone bhi switch off aa raha tha...Aapke office mein bole, ki aap nikal gaye the..."

Anandi smiled.

"Doctor ke paas gayi thi Shiv...mein theek hoon, sab theek hai..."

Aap akele gayi thi ? mujhe bataya tak nahi ?! - Shiv pouted and enquired anxiously, "Kya bole the Doctor ne ?"

" I'am sorry Shiv...kaam jaldi khatam hogaya tha...sochi thi ek baar milke aawoo...aap boliye...kya kar rahe the Papa, beta milke ?" - she question in return, smiling.

Shiv with a sigh of relief, glanced down at Amol and grinned, "You wouldn't believe it," he said, "but Amol aur uske friends ke saath bahot masti kiya aaj...

and he added, "Anandi, Don't worry about dinner. Next door Dadi ji Pulao bheje the, hum sab ke liye..."

and sheepishly said, with a glint of pride in his voice," aur maine aur Amol milke, we made raitha. We both are just waiting for you to get home to eat."

With the idea of steaming hot pulao enticing , Anandi came back over and perched on the edge of the coffee table near Shiv's head and inquired,

"mujhe abhi se bahot bhook lagi hai ...pehle yeh batayiye, kya masti kiye aapne ?"

"Hum sab aaj cricket khele the, Amol, Umpiring kar raha tha.

I'm sorry I didn't get them to clean up better afterwards. The kids were tired...well, I guess we all were, and the nap just...happened." - he ended apologetically.

Anandi reached out and brushed back his fringe gently. "parwa nahi, hum baad mein sab set karenge, par abhi toh bahot bhook lagi hai., chaliye, Amol ko jaga denge.. "

Smiling and laughing, Shiv and Anandi gently woke Amol and told him dinner is ready.

Just as she is stepping into the kitchen, she suddenly remembered some thing., and an idea flashed in her mind.

She called - "Shiv ?"

"Hmmm..."

"Aap Amol ko Dinner serve karenge jaldi., mein abhi fresh hoke aati hoon..."

"Are you okay? Aap bahot weak lag rahe hain. Doctor ne kya bola Anandi?...sab theek hai naa ?"

"Arrey baba..Mein bilkul theek hoon, bass thoda thakaan ...mein abhi aayi..."

He looked as though he didn't quite believe her, but nodded.

"Go ahead...aap jab tak waapas aayengi, aapko bhi plate ready kar deta hoon..."

Anandi smiled and dashed quickly towards the master bedroom. Flinging open the door, she went over to the nightstand on her side of the bed and grabbed an ornate box from one of the draw.

She opened the box and gazed at the beautiful little piece embedded in it.

Unfortunately, Anandi didn't have much time to reflect on all this, so she quickly washed herself, changed her clothes and grabbed her ornate box. She quickly ran back and, just before entering the kitchen, took a swift detour to place the box, among the scattered things in the porch.

************

Dinner had been a cheerful affair, with Amol & Shiv telling her about all the front yard extravaganza . Looking at Amol, who is visibly tired, Shiv had taken him to the bedroom to tuck him in.

Minutes later, Shiv and Anandi finally found themselves alone in the kitchen, with him coming up behind, sliding his hands around Anandi's waist, just as she started clearing up the dining table.

He kissed on a sensitive spot on the back of her neck, nuzzled her collarbone and moved up to kiss her hair, making her feel dizzy.

Slowly , but with firm grip, and right amount of pressure, he began to massage the area near her shoulder blades, taking away all her tension knots., then he started to enquire..."Anandi, now tell me, What did the Doctor say ? "...nothing to worry right ? "

Anandi felt her heartbeat quicken with anticipation and she spun around to face him. Communicating with her eyes that all is well, She pressed her palms against the solid wall of his chest, rested her forehead on his heart and inhaled deeply. He smelled lovely.

She lightly pressed a kiss to the centre of his heart. She was rewarded with a satisfied sounding groan from him. She knew that now is the time to set her plan into motion.

"Shiv ?"

"Hmmm..."

"Ek chota sa kaam karenge ? Bahar porch pe wall hangings sab, bikhre padhe hain...dekhne se theek nahi lag raha...aap jake, pls theek rakh denge., mein itne mein Kitchen clean karke aati hoon ?"

Shiv made a grumbly sort of noise that she secretly found adorable, but began moving towards the door that led to the hall.

Perfect.

Anandi quickly set about clearing the table. She then busied herself with a few other kitchen chores and waited excitedly for Shiv to come back. For a short time , she heard the soft sounds from the porch as Shiv moved about.. She was in the middle of putting away the now clean and dry dishes when she heard him come back into the kitchen.

"Anandi ?"

"Haa...Shiv?"

"What is this?" She turned and saw that Shiv had found her ornate wooden box, just as she had hoped he would.

He is standing in the kitchen doorway wearing a puzzled expression holding a tiny rattle with his long fingers. She chuckled as he began to wiggle it on his fingers.

"Woh..? juhnjuna hai" she said biting back a giggle, arching an eyebrow at him.

"I know that,...it's a rattle.. But this does not belong to Amol...and its for babies... he trailed off and looked up at her beaming face, a speculative look in his eyes. "Anandi...does this mean what I think this means?"

She nodded, sliding her right hand over from her hip to just barely rest on her abdomen.

"Haa...Shiv, Aap puch rahe the naa, Doctor ke kya kaha ? yehi bola hai..."

Shiv continued to look thoughtful for just a few seconds, and then broke out into a blindingly wide grin. He crossed the kitchen to where she stood , rattle still between his fingers, scooped her up, and twirled her quickly around. As he set her down, he gave her a soft, lingering kiss.

When they broke apart, he said, "I think that's wonderful, ... aap khush hai ?"

Anandi nodded enthusiastically and hugged him.

" ... toh, isiliye, aap ko itna thakaan mehsoos ho rahi rai kuch dino se.." - He concluded as if he finally solved a thoroughly engaging puzzle.

Anandi laughed, as he'd hoped she would, and tugged on his fingers holding the rattle.

*************

The happy couple lay curled up on their living room couch, Anandi listening to Shiv's heartbeat while his hand absently stroked through her hair every few moments. Just when she thought he had fallen asleep, Shiv spoke.

"The rattle is a brilliant way to tell me, Anandi. Par ek baath ka andaja nahi mil raha ... "

Anandi smiled, although she knew Shiv couldn't see it.

"Aur woh kya ?"

He pressed a quick kiss to her hair and chuckled, his chest vibrating underneath her ear.

"Just that how you continue to surprise me with your brilliant ideas...," He went on, saying,

"Ab yeh boliye, kitne members ka team banane ka irada hai ?"

"Shiv!!!!" - Anandi laughed, utterly failing to sound scandalized and moving to swat him on the shoulder, but Shiv intercepted her hand and leaned down to kiss her again.

And that was the last word either of them spoke aloud for quite some time.

Love is composed of a single soul inhibiting two bodies'.

-Aristotle.

Ganga had never known only heard of this feeling till she had not met her Doctor Saab. The words Doctor Saab' overwhelmed her when she said them. God only knows what happened to her when she was in his presence. She felt all mushy and tingly inside. More than a year had passed since she had first met him but it seemed like to have passed in the blink of an eye. In a very little span that they had been married he had shown her love and its various forms, friendship, companionship, mutual respect and passion lots and lots of it. She blushed remembering their passionate times. She picked his pillow and hugged in tightly. She took his picture from the side table and kissed it. His contagious smile always brought a smile to her face. Waiting for her Doctor Saab to return she slowly drifted into sweet sleep dreaming of him. An hour later the door of their bedroom creaked open. The silver moon light spread though the room and there he saw her sleeping holding his pillow and photo frame. The sight took his breath away. He knew she missed him a lot because of his busy schedule but never knew how much. He changed and snuck into bed with her. She felt him close by and snuggled with him. The happy and very much in love couple slept peacefully in each other's arms, their haven and heaven.

The moon's shift of taking the couple into sweet sleep was over. Now it was time for the sun shine bright and early in the morning to wake them up. It was the morning of a very special day. It was Valentine's Day. Ganga woke up with a smile and looked at Jagdeesh sleeping next to her. Her smile reached her eyes as she was planning her first surprise for him. He had done so much now for her she was going to do something for him. She was sure he would not be expecting her to know of Valentine's Day and she did not until a few days ago when she was checking e-mails when an advertisement for Valentine's Day gift popped up on her Tab which he had gifted her during her pregnancy. She got out of bed to get ready for the day. He was being disturbed by the sun rays and stirred in his sleep. She remembered the scene from Kaho na pyar hai' and did what Amisha Patel had done. She stood between him and the sunlight then shifted only to see him scrunch his nose like Mannu. She repeated this for a while and smiled on his changing reactions. She lay on her side and ran her fingers through his hair so that he could sleep peacefully.

She loved him so deeply before they had been married. Could she have fallen more in love with this man? Yes she did. Twice. First on the day when he told her that she was more important to her than having a child and could not lose her over a baby. She was deeply touched by his words because she knew he had gone through the pain of losing a child with his second wife Gauri. She knew that he would be an excellent father to their child because he was one to her son Mannu. Mannu, he was the second reason she fell in love with him more.

Flashback.

It was the naamkaran sanskaar of their new born son. The entire Badi Haveli was decorated with flowers. Guests were pouring in. Jagdeesh and Ganga were seated for the poojan and the ceremony. After the poojan the ceremony for the naming began. Just as the pundit began to chant mantras Jagdeesh stopped him.

Dsa: What happened chhora? Why did you stop Pundit ji?

Jagdeesh: Dsa it is the day of our son's naamkaran sanskaar, but I would like to name our older son first.

Ganga: What do you mean? What are you trying to say Doctor Saab? Mannu has a name.

Jagdeesh: Yes Ganga, Mannu has a name. But from this moment on he will be know by his bapusa's name. He will be known by my name.

Everyone was confused as to what Jagdeesh was saying. Mannu was his already considered as his son. So what was so different now? He understood the confusion on everyone's face. He looked at each and every one of them and then with pride announced that he had officially adopted Mannu with ganga's permission. The Singh family looked at him with pride. Ganga smacked herself on the forehead as they had spoken of this and she had also signed legal documents.

Jagdeesh: Toh Ganga should we name our older son first?

Ganga and Jagdeesh did Mannu's naming ceremony first. Jagdeesh named their older son Manan Jagdeesh Singh'. Their younger son was named by Dsa on Ganga's request. He was named Kanha Jagdeesh Singh'. Ganga and Jagdeesh Singh introduced their sons Manan and Kanha to the guests. She fell more in love with her husband, her friend and the father of her sons. She did not remember being more proud of him before that day. He was truly a gem of a person.

Present.

A tear trickled down her cheek as she remembered this. It fell on Jagdeesh's cheek. She gently wiped it off and saw the time on the alarm clock. Just as she was about to get up Jagdeesh captured her between his arms and the bed. They exchanged smiles and Jagdeesh came closer but Ganga stopped him.

Ganga: Morning breath.

Jagdeesh: So I love that too about you.

Ganga could not say no to her Doctor Saab. They spend some passionate time but it was interrupted by a knock on the door. Ganga opened the door. It was Sumitra with Kanha.

Sumitra: Ganga he has been crying for some time now. Did you not hear him on the baby monitor? Here I have checked him, he is dry I think he is hungry.

Ganga felt shy as Sumitra understandingly and lovingly tapped her on the cheek. She took Kanha in her arms and sat on the bed to feed him. Jagdeesh sat there admiring the beautiful mother son bond. She had to plead with him to go get ready. After feeding she took Kanha to Sumitra as it was her who daily got her two grandsons ready for the day. Today there was only Kanha as Ganga had as a preparation for Valentine's Day sent Manan in advance to visit with his kakisa and kakusa in Udaipur. Jagdeesh and Ganga got ready and left for the hospital after breakfast. At the hospital Ganga placed Kahna at the Balvaadi. She got to work but since Jagdeesh knew it was Valentine's Day, he was in no mood to work. She had not once come to see him since they came at the hospital. She used to drop in his cabin everyday at least every hour. He looked at her photo on his desk.

Jagdeesh: Today of all days my wife has decided not to come give me my small portions of love. That is so not done.

Jagdeesh went on his rounds early and saw Ganga in the children's ward checking on a patient. He called her to his cabin for some urgent work. When Ganga walked into the cabin, it was empty. She called out to him but did not get a response. She turned and her heart leapt out of her chest.

Ganga: Doctor Saab you scared me.

Jagdeesh: Oh yeah? So now that you are scared I should comfort you right?

Ganga: Doctor Saab what are you doing? Please leave me. This is our place of work. I tell other nurses not to bring their personal life to work and that is what is exactly happening here. I am not your wife here. We are co workers, more than that you are my boss. Please leave me at this instant.

Jagdeesh: What has gotten into you today? In the morning it was morning breath stopping you to let me come close and now this? Don't you know what day is it today?

Ganga: Of course I do. It is 14^th February. A working day. Now please let me go I have rounds to make.

Jagdeesh had to let her go as she was in a no romance mood. He could not force her to be romantic with her. She left from there, but a second later popped her head in to see her pouting husband. She smiled as she was getting him the exact place she wanted. He was not expecting what she was planning and that would make her plan a success. The pout would turn into a huge grin. The day passed by and Jagdeesh caught only a few glimpses of Ganga. She was simply avoiding him. She did not have her lunch with him. She did not meet him at the Balvaadi on their scheduled family time. He was very sad. She could not wipe the smile off of her face and he the pout. Jagdeesh moped around the hospital the entire day especially after Lal Singh told him about his and Koyal's plan for Valentine's Day. The only thought that brought a smile to his face was that it was evening and now they would go home. Then he would tell her all about Valentine's Day and they would celebrate it. He picked up Kanha from the Baalvaadi and came to Ganga.

Jagdeesh: Ganga let's go home.

Ganga: Doctor Saab I can't. Actually Sarita had to go home for an urgent matter. You see her mother in law has slipped in the washroom. She requested me to take her night shift. I could not say no.

Jagdeesh: But Ganga she did not inform me.

Ganga: She asked for permission from Dr. Lal Singh.

Jagdeesh: What about Kanha's feeds?

Ganga: Oh here please take this. I have pumped enough milk for the night so that Kanha would not have any problem. I will see you in the morning. Good night.

Kanha got a good night kiss from his mother but he did not get any from Ganga as it was their work place. Jagdeesh left half heartedly from the hospital after wishing Ganga good night. On his way home he thought that there was no ways he was not spending Valentines with his wife. Jagdeesh who was well on his way to go home planned to return after sometime to surprise Ganga with the beautiful valentines he had bought for her. He wanted to surprise Ganga but he was in for a surprise. On reaching home he gave Kanha to his mother and went to his room. He had hidden the valentines in the compartment under the settee near the window. They were red satin hearts in little heart-shaped boxes, painted post card valentines, and a card-board box containing a beautiful black sari. Before he could get the valentines he saw on the bed small rectangular object wrapped in a shimmering red paper. He picked it up and saw a tag on it.

Doctor Saab

From Ganga'

Jagdeesh: What kind of a tag is this? So formal. Where is your love Ganga? You are my Ganga. Could you not say it like I do?

Jagdeesh removed wrapper of the gift packet as quickly and as mercilessly as possible. In it he saw the Tab which he had gifted her. What is so special in this?' he thought. He plopped on the bed and took Ganga's picture from his bedside. He looked at the Tab in hand not knowing what to do with it. Just then he received a message. Turn it on' He did as the instructions came. He clicked on a recording. He saw his beautiful wife in a flimsy black net sari with silver sequins all over and a sequined border.

Jagdeesh: Wait a minute!! That is the sari I bought for her as a Valentine's Day gift. When? How? Forget it Jagya she is Ganga who knows what else she is capable of.

Jagdeesh smiled as he looked at Ganga. She was saying something very emotional. He could see it but not hear it. He had to hear what she was saying. Just then he received yet another message. I know you want to hear what I said. See you at the hospital terrace in 10 minutes'. Jagdeesh dashed down the stairs and out of the house. He made a quick stop at the florist and bought a bouquet of her favorite flowers, Red roses. When he reached the hospital he slowed his steps. He heard hushed voices and muffled giggles behind him. When no one was there he ran and applied breaks as soon as he saw someone. He felt like a fool in love. Only fools fall in love' he remembered. He followed his wife's instructions and reached the terrace.

When he reached there he could not believe his eyes. The entire terrace was decorated with heart shaped lanterns and balloons. There were big, small and medium sized bouquets of flowers. In the middle of the terrace he saw a table on which there were heart shaped candles, chocolates, a heart shaped cake and a bottle of non alcoholic champagne. Everything seemed like copy pasted from a romantic Hollywood movie. His village belle had come a long way. He loved her Valentine's Day surprise and was very happy with her and her efforts. Everything was perfect. He also saw his Valentines arranged on the table. He did not know that she knew about Valentine's Day and about her surprise but she knew about his. The pout which had resided on his face the whole day was replaced by a huge grin. Everything was there the way he liked just his wife was missing. He wanted to see her, hug her, tell her how much he loved her and how much his efforts meant to him.

Jagdeesh: Ganga where are you? Please don't make me wait any longer. What did you say in the video? My heart is yearning to hear them.

Mere meet tum hi ho,

Meri sachhi preet tum hi ho.

Mere praano se priya

Mere Bhagwaan tum hi ho,

Aapke bina adhoori hoon main

Mere poorak tum hi ho...

Jagdeesh heard Ganga pour her feelings for him in a poem. His heart and eyes overflowed with love for her. He could no longer wait for her to come to him. He asked her to show herself. Ganga came in front of Jagdeesh. She looked stunning in the flimsy black sari he had brought for her. He bought it on a whim not sure whether she would wear it but he should have known better she loves him and would do anything and everything for his happiness. Her long black hair tied in a fish plait. She looked stunning. He opened his arms and she rightfully placed herself on his chest.

Ganga: Doctor Saab, the night that I first met you is still fresh in my mind. I had no idea that on that day while running for my life I would meet an angel. You are God send for me. Even though we were strangers you stood up for me and helped me stand up for myself and Mannu. You were my friend who helped me. You became my true friend who let me have total freedom to be myself and especially to feel the way I wanted to or, not. You became my world and I the center of yours. I love you Doctor Saab.

Jagdeesh: I love you Ganga. Waise I do have a name. You know it don't you?

Ganga: I love you Manan and Kanha's papa.

Jagdeesh: Don't you think this way to address of me is a little longer. Why don't you shorten it? Give me one more Valentine's gift. Say my name.

Ganga: I love you Jagdeesh.

Jagdeesh tighten his hold on her. The cold breeze could not cool the warmth of their embrace and love filled hearts. Ganga took Jagdeesh to the table and they cut the cake and fed each other. Ganga saw that Jagdeesh was very impressed with her surprise.

Ganga: I surfed the internet for ideas. I did the best I could. I wanted to impress you.

Jagdeesh: Should I be honest with you Ganga? Please don't take it in the bad way. You don't need to do anything to impress me. I was impressed by the fire I saw in you. Have you realized that you have changed so much? I love you but at times I miss that village belle of mine. I miss her accent and that earthiness. Ganga you have given me a lot. Can I ask one more thing of you? Please don't change anymore.

Ganga: I have not changed Jagdeesh. I am still the same Ganga you fell in love with. Yes I have gone through some minor changes but deep inside I am still the same with the maati ki khushboo, the village belle.

Jagdeesh: Ok my maati ki khashboo wali village belle, tell me one thing. When and how did you learn to lie? I was on my way to the hospital and met Sarita's husband. I felt so foolish when he reminded me that his mother had gone on a pilgrimage and that it was sponsored by Dsa.

Ganga: Sorry Doctor Saab. Maafi de do.

Ganga held her ears and smiled. Jagdeesh smiled at her success in tricking him. Jagdeesh hugged her once more as they wished each other on Valentine's Day. Jagdeesh poured some bubbly in the glasses and they toasted to their love. They sat on the swing feeding each other chocolate and whispering sweet nothings. Suddenly Ganga stood up and asked him for a dance.

Jagdeesh: Ganga there is no music.

Ganga: Jagdeesh we don't need music. Our hearts sing the love song. Alright if you insist on having music I will play a beautiful song I heard in Mangalore. It is the most beautiful song I have ever heard.

Ganga put one ear piece of the head phone went in her ear and the other in his. Jagdeesh and Ganga enjoyed their first dance to the fullest. She played the song Tum hi ho' from Ashiqui 2. This was the longest personal time they had spent since Kanha was born.

Ganga: Jagdeesh promise me that we will always be this happy.

Jagdeesh: I promise. Mera sab kuch ab tum hi ho.

He began to sing the song Tum hi ho...' and she could not control her laughter on hearing his singing voice. Jagdeesh ran after her to punish her for laughing at him. They were like little children playing catch and cook. Finally he caught on to her and kissed her senseless.

Ganga: Jagdeesh take me home and show me how much you love me. Shower me with all your love.

Jagdeesh: Your wish is my command.

He lifted her in a swift swoop. They reached home and showered each other with love. The candle lights flickered and slowly diminished as the two became once again one in body.

Jagdeesh: Happy Valentine's Day Ganga.

Ganga: Happy Valentine's Day Jagdeesh.

Satiated by their love making they gradually fell asleep in each other's arms. Ganga and Jagdeesh had started off as strangers and preceded to being friends, teacher- student, husband - wife, parents, and lovers.

Love is like friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame very pretty, often hot and fierce but still only light and flickering. As love grows older our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep burning and unquenchable.

That winter evening, Jagdish was driving home with Ganga after offering prayers at their far away ancestral temple. The country road ride, the passing scenic landscapes, the infinitely long empty roads and the ticklish wind ,... made him slip into a nostalgic trip! Recollections...reminiscences from his hitherto life, dotted with .. some sweet, some bitter..some regretful... events and episodes!

Then Ganga trespassed into his arena..accidentally, unaware of the shape of things to come,... the transformation, the metamorphosis that was waiting to happen!

With a child in tow, draped in innocence, armoured with resilience , seeking solace..not mercy, seeking happiness.. not physical gratification, looking for a new life with dignity.. pure at heart, not thinking ill of any one, always willing to give, but hesitant to take...Above all, she loved him by heart and soul ...a true love!

Yes...! He found what he was praying for..a perfect partner, always striving for the happiness of her family ! But he never told her how much he loved her!

The cool breeze was toying with the hair locks on Ganga's face that was glowing with a new found radiance and contentment...

While driving ...Jagdish was silently observing Ganga, her smiling face... and in her smile he saw something more beautiful than the moon ! Those eyes were alluring him...enchanting him...evoking romantic feelings in him... Today is the day! Today I will tell her!'

Ganga saw his smile in the mirror and said.. we presented the offerings to the Kuldevta ,in the name of our Abhimanyu..by God's grace everything went on well,now let us go back to Jaitser fast...kids must be waiting for us !'

He stopped the jeep on the road side ... Jagdish took out his mobile and dialled home ...Sumitra answered and Jagdish talked with her and then ... winking he said-

Ganga ...Mannu is playing with Nandu ...Abhi is sleeping . So let us stop for a while and spend some time together!'

He stopped the jeep near a river. Slowly the sunlight was yielding to the darkness of the night..but being a full moon day, the moon was at his best and shining coolly and brightly, spreading romance in the air!

The water was tranquil and still , as if waiting to witness a passionate moment ...

Ganga went nearer to the river and walked along the bank for a while and sat there under a Peepal tree.

The waning sun's last rays mixed with the moonlight... giving a golden glow to the waters, with the reflection of the full moon swaying back and forth by the small ripples made by the cool breeze... looking as if a beautiful lady was gyrating to her lover's music !!

A gusty breeze hugged her suddenly like a passionate lover ! Her heart missed a beat...a strange feeling at that moment..a longing for warmth...

A small wave gently touched the river bank and drenched the white sands at its edge and receded silently !! Then another wave...followed by another... and so on .. making a rhythmic music, which was the only sound that could be heard in that still... silent environs!

Ganga saw a beautiful flower bush nearer to her and plucked some flowers ...with half closed eyes...she smelt them ... That fragrance made her heart bloom...and brought a sweet smile on her lips and dreams in her eyes ... she was lost in another world !!!

After a while, she felt the presence of her man nearer to her and turned back and saw her handsome husband with some fruits and snacks in a bag that he brought from the jeep !!

Suddenly she remembered that temple attack...and caught his hand and held tightly and said -

No...no.. let us make a move...deserted places are not good for a stay !!'-Her soft tone was at variance with her sudden trembling...fear !

She even started walking towards the jeep...but Jagdish stopped her and said with an assertive voice"

No Ganga...nobody will do any harm to us. We passed through all those troubled times! Now we are a couple...with a strong family bonding !! I am here for you and you are for me...we together... for each other !!

No danger , no hindrance...only love ...faith!

Let us spend some time together and have some fruits and snacks'!

He sat nearer to her and caressed her gently and put his hand around her shoulder ...and pulled her towards him!!

The fragrance of flowers in her lap attracted Jagdish's attention . He took some flowers into his hand and smelling them raised his eyebrows, looked at Ganga with a wink in his eyes...a mischievous smile on his face!

The motherly instinct that dominated her so far ... was suddenly overpowered by the cupid... love!!

She was feeling the togetherness of her man and a romantic moment for them after a long time !!

There is never a time or place for love or passion. It happens suddenly, sometimes accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment!

Suddenly the cupid caught them unawares . Ganga felt like choked with that enthralling moment !!

She offered some pieces of apple with shaky hands to his mouth, looking lost in his eyes and he fed her a few !

The nature was watching them silently...the floral fragrances were embracing them... the hovering clouds in the young night's sky were watching them and trying to hide them in a canopy... putting a veil on the love birds. The Peepal leaves were swinging gently with the touch of that wet breeze...as if they heard the enthralling song of an unknown lover ...Dew drops were waiting there to come down and wanted to tell the love stories of folklore to every flower...the replica of a woman's heart !!

A sudden movement of Jagdish...Ganga stopped him with her hands...with a mischievous smile, Jagdish asked why not !?'

I am the only person on earth who knows your.. this particular secret ... your habit of hiding a small flower nearer to your heart ...under the wraps...Ganga ...why this unique habit ?'---

shyly smiling she revealed ...

I love the sweet fragrance of the flowers ..their tender touch...I always feel that somebody is nearer to my heart...sharing my breath with me secretly...it is nothing but a longing for a friend... a companion... a habit of seeking solace from the previous painful stage of my life !'

With tears in her eyes... held his hand and said I knew... the moment I met you that night... there was something about you I needed. Turns out it was n't something about you at all !! It was just you!'

Her cooing voice encouraged him to say what he wanted to say ...was longing to say ...

Ganga ...I want to know every curve, every freckle...every shiver of your body... your heart !

I want to be your friend...your best lover ever... ever ...forever, in the entire world !

We are meant for each other ! We complete each other! The circumstances brought us together and the sweet emotions of our love lead us to marriage...since then I wanted to say this ...Ganga I love you ...my heart calls out for you !!

It is said that love can make a poet of anyone !! Ha ...at this moment ...I am a poet ...a lover ...yours own lover !'

Ganga tightened her embrace and whispered something in his ears...Yes...his heart heard that !

Love is the union of a want and a sentiment ...two solitudes touch and greet each other !!

At that moment Jagdish realised that...the true strength of a man isn't in domination ...it is in respecting her life choices ...her individuality.. her totality !!

They were engrossed in a passionate embrace for a long long time!

Slowly Jagdish whispered ...' Ganga, you know...I am lucky, I could confess my love for you so openly for the first time today , because today is the day when lovers express their love for each other...a special day...VALENTINE'S DAY!'...he took out a flower bouquet from the bag and presented it to his lady love in a dramatic way! ...the dew started descending and precipitating on the grass and the stories are yet to be told!!!

"Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, Jagya..." Lal Singh said. I was in Mangalore, accompanying Ganga during her final exams. Lal Singh was aware of my feelings for her, and he also knew well that they were mutual. "Do you plan on surprising Ganga?"

"I had no clue tomorrow is Valentine's day...damn. When I'm with Ganga, time just flies...I don't really stop to look at the date..."

"You've got it bad, Jagya...you've got it real bad...you're in love, my friend."

"I know." I blushed. Luckily, Ganga was in class so she wouldn't have to see me blushing. "I guess I'll plan something now..."

"Hmm, Koyel isn't into the Western stuff but I'm taking her somewhere...maybe you can do the same thing...you're in Mangalore...there's plenty to see and do."

"Wow, Lal Singh the love guru..." I joked.

"Haha, very funny..."

I was happy he'd given me this idea. Ganga had a few days in between her first and second paper. She was extremely tense and could barely smile these days. She was worried about failing even though I knew she would actually get the highest marks out of anyone in her class. I could do something for her which would help her take her mind off things for a while. I just had to think what to do. I knew that Ganga had never seen a movie at a movie theater. I went online to check if there was any romantic movie playing on Valentine's Day. There were two, so I booked tickets for one. After that, I made reservations at a restaurant. My final surprise was going to be something we couldn't do in Rajasthan. It was something Ganga loved. It was going to be special. I owed Lal Singh big time for putting this idea into my head otherwise I'd miss out on a great occasion and a chance to make her feel special.

Ganga had probably never seen Valentine's Day celebrated before or even heard of it. Back home, not many people knew about it, so it would be a pleasant surprise for her. She came home, looking stressed out as usual. The next paper was after two days. She sat down, slumped in her chair, with Mannu in her lap. It was time to put my plan into effect, so I excused myself and went out, to buy her a gift.

When I came back, it was time for dinner.

"Dr Sa, what's Valentine's Day?" She asked, appearing confused. The confusion made her look so cute. Confusion could be wiped away, but that tension she was feeling the past few days, the exam anxiety, that needed more work to get rid of.

"Valen what? Day who?" I pretended to have no clue. She smiled. "Even I don't know what it is. My friend was talking about it after our exam. She said she's really glad the next exam isn't for two more days, otherwise she wouldn't get to celebrate Valentine's Day."

"Oh...must be a children's holiday or something...you know, like Christmas..."

"Oh, that one with the old guy that has a big belly..." Her face light up like a child's, and she batted her eyelashes with excitement.

"Something like that, I guess...but what do I know?" I shrugged. She nodded.

"Well, I'll go put Mannu to sleep, and then I have to study."

"Yeah, study...do that tonight..." I said.

"Sure." She said, looking confused.

Study tonight, and relax tomorrow, because it's Valentine's Day, and I'm going to make you feel loved.

The next day I was ready to surprise her. I left a bouquet of red and pink roses outside her door along with the gift, and a note in the morning. I left for a while and when I came back, she smiled shyly when I entered.

"This isn't related to Valentine's Day, is it?" She asked.

"Um, no...I have no clue what this day is and why you're even talking about it. I just felt like buying you some things, to help cheer you up, since you've been so stressed out with your finals."

"Thank you for the beautiful flowers, and this saree...I'll wear it once we go back to Jaitser..." She said.

"No you won't, that saree is for tonight. We're going to see a movie."

"A movie? Where?" She asked. She looked worried.

I laughed. "At a movie theater...Kaka will take care of Mannu..."

"If it's a movie, I'll wear my regular clothes...I don't want to ruin this pretty saree." She said.

"Ganga, wear the saree...I want to see how that color looks on you." I smiled.

"It's pink... you've seen me in pink before..." She said. She looked so shy and uncomfortable. She pouted and her big eyes became even bigger and more expressive, like a little kid.

"Please..." I folded my hands and begged her. She nodded, still a bit reluctant. I waited outside for her and she came out wearing the pink saree. I'd chosen a simple one for her because I knew simplicity was the essence of her personality. Somehow, she made the saree look like it was adorned with endless sequins and designs, when she stood in front of me. She didn't make eye contact. A smile spread across my face.

"Wow." I said. She wrinkled her nose.

"What? Don't you like it?" I asked.

"I do...but I'm not used to going out...wearing a saree..."

"Ugh, Ganga...you're full of excuses" I sighed. Her hair was open but she covered her head with her pallu.

The movie theater wasn't far from the house, so we walked there. We watched a movie together and Ganga was astonished by the size of the screen. It's safe to say that the movie wasn't what I was watching closely, it was her. Afterwards we went to dinner at a restaurant. The entire time, I didn't tell her that it's Valentine's Day. We had to go to the beach next and that's where I planned on wishing her.

Finally, we arrived at the beach. We walked barefooted on the beach together. I took the initiative to grab her hand and hold it tightly in between. She made eye contact for just a second when I squeezed her hand. Slowly, I pulled her closer and closer, until she couldn't escape, until she was right next to me. I put my arm around her shoulders and eventually she gave in too, and put an arm around me. I held her tightly. We walked pressed against each other for a long time. I kept looking into her eyes, she blushed and her face light up.

"You better soak this up...there are no beaches in Jaitser." I said.

An older couple walked past us and the woman smiled seeing us. Ganga quickly moved away from me and tried to push my hand away.

"This won't yield you good results..." I threatened. She laughed and managed to push my hand away and continued to walk but at a faster pace. The pace soon quickened till she was practically running from me and I began to run after her. Ganga was a pretty good runner. She seemed to mind that people were staring at us when we were holding each other, but didn't seem to mind that they were staring at a pretty girl randomly running at high speed on a beach. I caught up to her and grabbed her, and we ended up falling down. I was on top and I smiled at her.

"I win." I said. She was breathing fast. It was evening now and getting dark fast. We looked deeply into each other's eyes. Her eyes sparkled. I had a chance to kiss her and I held her face. She closed her eyes and I closed in on her. Both of us were completely breathless. I was just about to kiss her, but a loud sound startled both of us. We looked around to see where it was coming from. Ganga pointed at the sky.

"Look Dr Sa..." She said. I looked up. The sky light up with fireworks. They were everywhere. Ganga and I were still on the sand.

"Let's look at the fireworks..." She said.

"No, they just started..." I said.

"But...Dr Sa...everyone is looking..."

"Who cares? I asked. She tried to push me off. "Dr Sa...please...not here..." She said.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Ganga..." I said.

"What?" She asked.

"Yeah, that's why I took you out...because I love you...and today is about love..." I told her. She looked surprised.

"Oh, so that's what it means..." She said.

"Yeah, and I took you to a movie, dinner, and brought you here to see fireworks...and you're still trying to push me away. How rude!" I teased. She looked away and at the sky, so I quickly kissed her cheek and held her face, and finally kissed her lips. It was the best Valentine's Day gift I could have ever hoped for.

"I love you..." I said when we stood up, and she hugged me in reply. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

Entry : #4

"Ganga, are you listening to me?"

Ganga was stunned. She couldn't believe what Jagya just said. Jagya was trying to hold her by putting his arms around her.

"This couldn't possibly be real", with her senses reeling she took a few steps away from him, slowly turned her back towards Jagya and started walking briskly.

Jagya shouted "Ganga stop!"

As she felt him coming after her, she started running. A few ploughmen returning from fields after sunset looked curiously at her as she passed them through.

Jagya while trying to catch up with Ganga stopped midway looking at them.

One of the farmers asked him "Dactar sahib is everything alright?"

Jagya smiled and greeted them, "Yes, everything is alright. Ganga is a little upset over an unusual medical case in the hospital, that's all. I will talk to her, carry on all of you, please."

The farmer replied: "Achcha Dactar Sahib. It is not safe to be alone in the fields at this hour. You and Gangaji should also not stay here for long."

As the men proceeded to their homes, Jagya looked around trying to find Ganga. She was nowhere to be seen. While running his hand through his hair he moved his head towards the left side and got a slight glimpse of her blue scarf somewhere between the lush green palm trees that were dancing in slow motion as if trying to kiss the golden wheat fields.

Running aimlessly, Ganga stopped as she heard a slow music coming from somewhere, breathing hard she looked around and spotted a distant temple. The soothing music coming from the temple was generating waves that seemed to gently cool down the warm evening breeze. The breeze helped her to breathe deeply and settle her nerves. As the cool air calmed her senses, warm tears trickled down her face. A sob erupted from her throat and she could no longer maintain her composure.

"Dactar saab loves me!" This confession of Jagya was overwhelming to her. A man of his stature, a highly qualified kind hearted doctor from a respectful family coming to her with sweeping promises of protecting her in this lifetime, seemed too tempting, too good to be true, like her childhood dreams of an ideal man.

She wanted to rudely shake herself out of it.

Brought up as a motherless child in a very unsettled environment, she was married off while very young to a monster called Ratan Singh, now her ex-husband. For years, she bore his emotional and physical abuse, yearning for some love and attention from him, served him and his family in the hope of better tomorrow for herself and her child, but the Almighty chose to test her patience more. Soon, her husband brought a home a second wife and both turned her life into living nightmare. Still, she worked patiently round the clock like slaves during waking hours, but nights were unbearably painful. While she hugged her baby and tried getting some sleep and rest for her tired body, her mind used to become painfully numb listening to her husband and his second wife's moans and groans in the adjoining room.

Everyday she resolved to break free of this slavery to provide a better life for her child, and a chance meeting with Dactar saab made it possible one day.

He entered her life like an angel, like a soothing balm on her wounds, gave her hope. She could gradually manage to leave her past behind and move ahead in life.

She owed her new life as a qualified nurse to Dactar saab. She had started worshipping Jagya. He was the first man who made her feel beautiful about herself. She loved being with him, moments spent with Dactar Saab were most precious to her.

Such a man had fallen in love with her!

A sudden panic gripped her and made her feel clumsy. Her heart started beating intensely, so fast that she couldn't process her thoughts. She was trembling from head to feet. She felt like she was going to faint but Jagya caught her arm and pulled her softly against his chest.

"Dactar saab!" Her voice trailed off weakly, choking as a sob welled in her throat. She swallowed, visibly making an effort to pull herself together. She knew better than to ever dream of happy endings. Fairy tales were nice to read but not remotely realistic. Fairy tales didn't happen to girls like her, she thought so. Her heart thudded closely against his chest as she tried to muster courage to talk to him but was too choked with emotion. Jagya held her gently, comforting her, just his mere presence made her feel secure, and here she was in his arms nested on his wide warm chest.

She felt his hug getting warmer. Jagya held her close as if he would never let her go. Jagya always felt an unreasonable passionate need to protect Ganga whenever he was around her, right since the first time when he had met her. Slowly he lifted her face to him watching her with fascination. He put his fingers on her lips, indulging in their velvety softness. Bending down on her face, he kissed away all her traces of tears, pressing his lips to her eyelids, to her cheeks stopping hesitantly near her mouth. She didn't say anything, just buried her head against his shoulder, inhaling his scent. His warmth seeped into her, her heart embracing the touch of a true man, whom she loved deeply.

Jagya reluctantly released her from his hug but held her hand and made her sit on a flat rock placed nearby, kneeling quietly in front of her. One look at her blushed and sweated face, and he started laughing and said, "I am glad that Devi Maa still thinks of me to bless me with someone like you."

Ganga felt very shy, but she couldn't resist looking at a laughing Jagya.

Jagya stopped talking for a while, became a little serious while holding Ganga's gaze, and then said, "We both have been rejected, heartbroken and have gone through similar experiences, but meeting you has given me a new hope."

"As you already know that Anandi and myself were very good friends, we grew up together, we shared a terrific comfort level, commitment just happened between us and my conditioned mind never got beyond thinking that we were soulmates. She gave herself completely to me but somewhere down the lane, cracks began to appear. I became restless. I don't know whether it was her over-commitment to my family or her childlike ignorance to my deepest needs did it. I had so many unfulfilled needs, wanted to do so many things but she somehow never understood, she was content staying comfortable serving my family. I started getting a feeling that she didn't really need my emotional conversational presence in her life.

"She didn't need me as Jagdish but only as Jagdish Singh."

Jagya paused for a moment still looking intently into her eyes.

"When I think of it now, I do realize that I behaved like a shallow and selfish immature man who got married too young. I don't know if I am making sense but this is the first time I felt like talking about it, felt like pouring my heart to you Ganga. "

Ganga didn't say a word and kept listening to him holding his hands.

"With my new thoughts, new ideas, wanted to break free from the four walls of Jaitsar that had surrounded me like a cage getting closer and closer threatening to crush me with their weight. My young restless mind was desperate to explore that other side of the world. Feelings of being trapped in this relationship of chance and not choice were getting stronger day by day."

"And then I met Gauri."

Jagya again stopped talking as he remembered the past memories. Ganga realized how painful it was for Jagya to share these moments with her. Her heart filled with a loving concern for him.

"I was so excited to be with Gauri. She was definitely a sight for my sore eyes and swept me off my feet. I was a self-absorbed rich man smitten by her beauty and the way she carried herself. We were like minded, had similar ambitions and I began to enjoy her company. Soon we became close. My memories of Anandi, my family and my village just faded away in this secret tryst with new life with Gauri."

Jagya flinched for a second and moved his gaze away from her face towards the palm trees that were getting feathered by the gentle breeze.

"Well, the happiness myth with Gauri was broken as soon as the honeymoon period was over and daily hardships stared at us. That's when I saw an extremely possessive, controlling and manipulative woman in her. I would have still continued my life with her had I not accidentally stepped on her deceitful side. I was shocked, suddenly jolted out of my false sense of happiness, but it was too late. All things good in my life had slipped away from my hands. I had lost everything, a loving wife, caring family, financial security, above all my pride! "

Ganga noticed his melancholy voice and gently pressed his hands with hers to reassure him of her presence. With his eyes back on Ganga's face he exclaimed in a frenzied tone.

"Gauri tried her best to change me for her happiness but I don't blame her for anything. I am also responsible for ruining her happiness as I could not after all change myself the way she wanted."

"It has taken me a lot of time to pull myself together. My past failures have taught me to be calmer, constructive and more understanding in life. I understand loss and rejection ".

Saying this, Jagya became silent for a moment lost in his own thoughts.

Ganga was deeply touched and became emotional sharing his pain, his vulnerable self. Slowly she gathered herself together and smiled at him.

Quickly wiping his wet eyes, Jagya focused his attention back to Ganga and smiled lovingly.

He held her warm hands in his and said emotionally to her.

"In all my past relationships, I thought Love was just about giving and receiving, I was so wrong. It is not just about give and take but also about two people connecting with each other. It doesn't bind or cage you within itself, like I felt with Gauri. It doesn't make you feel small and lose the sense of who you are. With Anandi, I felt like I was a no body, it drove me crazy at times thinking that she really didn't need me."

Jagya moved closer and said passionately to Ganga, "As I came to know you more, I felt you are my gift from heaven, you have trusted me as nobody else ever had, made me feel so wanted but never demanded anything of me. I know you think you are not worthy of my love. On the contrary, I have become stronger, more confident of myself since I met you. By accepting my love, you will be doing me a favour, giving me the freedom to be myself without guilt."

Jagya clasped her hands and said firmly to her, "With this open large-hearted sky, this cool breeze, this pure sand of my village as witnesses, I admit again that I love you!

"You represent whatever is beautiful in my life. You are my final and only truth."

"Will you please marry me?"

He then paused a little, and then said smilingly with a twinkle in his eyes, "I promise to protect you and guide you so that you win the best nurse award in my hospital."

Ganga couldn't stop her laughter and bent forward towards Jagya. With their foreheads kissing each other, they laughed and cried together.

Ganga was overwhelmed hearing his words. With great difficulty, she cleared her throat and mumbled in her choked voice, "Dactar saab, I have never met anyone with such a gift of compassion, a man of your stature treating me as an equal."

"I promise to support you in every possible way. I love you and I will marry you!"

She couldn't say anything more, no more words were needed anyways.

Jagya pulled her into his arms, overcome by Ganga's words, gripped by possessiveness so fierce that he could not comprehend it. She had touched him, reached his bruised, guarded heart with no effort. She walked into his life and heart like she belonged there. And he was convinced that she did belong to him.

Hugging her closely, Jagya whispered in her ears, "I will be a good father to Mannu."

Ganga closed her eyes and whispered back to him, "Yes, I know!"

As the wind became stronger rustling the palm trees, Jagya moved away a little, looked with pride at his beautiful sweetheart who was soon to become his life partner. Ganga blushed and gazed at the man of her dreams.

Just then the distant orchestrated melody of temple bells tickled their senses. Their happy hearts felt an immense gratitude to God.

Basking in their new found freedom of love, Jagya and Ganga walked hand in hand towards the temple to seek blessings from God for a happy life together.

AnSh OS: #5 Shall We Dance

JaGan OS: #1 Tum hi Ho...