"Anandi, sweetheart, wake up" Shiv whispered in her ears. He lovingly caressed her forehead. Gradually, Anandi opened her eyes. Shiv was intently looking at her, caressing her, with a serene smile. She pushed their rug down and pulled herself up. She looked around, it was quiet dark outside and Amol was peacefully sleeping in his tiny bed next to them. Puzzled and groggy, she asked him "Hmmm...what happened Shiv? " She lay her head on his shoulder, still woozy.
Shiv was beaming. He tenderly put his arm around her. "I have something to show you" He whispered.
"Right now? Its 5 in the morning" Anandi questioned, feeling a bit more dazed, since he had wrapped him around her. All she wanted to do was go to sleep again, in his arms.
"Yeah, right now, but for that, we have to go out of the house, are you ready? We will be back soon, I promise" He gently nudged her.
A bit more attentive now, Anandi looked up, inquisitively. His eyes were filled with so much love; she just could not help herself but blush. Her cheeks had turned crimson. "Lets go, but what if Amol wakes up? He will get scared, if he doesn't find us here" Anandi looked concerned.
"Don't worry Anandi, I had informed Amol yesterday, that I am taking his Mammaa out in the morning for some work and will be back before he wakes up, in case we are not there when he wakes up, no need to panic, we will be back soon. Our boy is a big boy, he promised he won't cry. He will practice his exercises and revise his school work, till we come back'' Shiv assured her.
Anandi was gaping at him. Quickly, Shiv placed a peck on her forehead, and discreetly they both crept out of their bed. Amol was unfazed and fast asleep. Both nodded at each other and went out of the room.
Shiv held Anandi's hand and the two of them ran out of KB like school kids, hoping that nobody from KB would see them disappearing early in the morning. Shiv started the car and looked at Anandi. She nodded and he zoomed past the relatively empty roads of Udaipur at a lightening speed.
Anandi had a naughty look pasted on her face.
"Toh behind my back, Amol and you plan and discuss to surprise me now? I cant believe it!! Paapaa, ur already spoiling ur beta!! And ur beta is way too inspired by you already. Uff Papa and beta are just too alike" Anandi laughed.
Shiv grinned and raised his eyebrow. "Madam, we are the coolest duo you would find!!" He smirked.
"True that!! Lucky me" Anandi stroked his cheek passionately. Shiv took a sharp intake. Her touch always had that effect on him.
"Don't distract me Anandi while driving, we have still reached only halfway" He said, pretending to glare at her. Anandi bit her lip.
"Ok, wont do that again. Sorry." She pulled her ears, staring innocently at her adorable husband. Shiv half smiled.
"Atleast tell me, where are we heading?" Anandi was curious. They seemed to be approaching the outskirts of Udaipur.
"No sweetheart, we are playing surprise surprise again and we are about to reach the destination in 5 minutes" He winked.
Anandi was getting increasingly curious by every passing minute. 5...4...3...2...1!!
"We reached!!" Shiv hooted. Anandi rubbed her hands in glee and hopped out of the car.
She was stunned...the view in front of her was magnificent, a scenic splendor. A deep pure lake, so blue in colour, sheer surrounding cliffs, some hundreds of feet high, the little twinkling stars starting to fade away from the sky, as all the elements seemed to be getting ready to welcome a beautiful dawn, with nature's own carpet of wildflowers in the grass before the lake...it seemed the artist right up there had created his own painting in front of her eyes. She was completely amazed by the magnificence around her.
Shiv stood next to her. She looked at him, unable to express anything further. He offered her his hand. She placed her hand on his. Pressing her hand, he urged her to walk further ahead.
As they reached near the edge of the lake, Shiv wrapped himself tightly around Anandi, from behind. Anandi entwined her arms with his. He pressed his hand on her eyes, blindfolding them. She closed her eyes tight and waited in anticipation.
"Just two minutes, Anandi" He murmured. Anandi clutched his arm. After a few quiet moments, where Anandi and Shiv could hear the speed of heartbeats accelerating, Shiv finally took his hand from her eyes.
The sky had broken into streams of peach and red...the clouds were disbanding out...resulting in spatter of blue and red...nature was creating its own symphony...with the gentle whoosh of water and the chirping of birds. The symphony grew louder...as they all gathered to welcome the king of their world, who rose above others...and in a moment, the sun proudly emerged, shining bright as ever, radiating the surroundings, lending all a special glow.
"Anandi, I was thinking what I should gift you for this day! And then wondered, really what gift can measure your significance and presence in my life. I thought only nature, with its priceless possessions can help me express how you have enhanced everything in my life. You brought in the tranquility of the silent waters and the grace of the flowing river, the sweet scent of the flowers, the stability like the cliffs, the sheen of the stars and the glow of the Sun in my life. I love you and love you more with every passing moment for our life. No amount of measurable time shall be enough with you. Here is to celebrating every moment of ours together! Happy Valentines Day, sweetheart!" Shiv softly placed his feelings in her heart.
Awed by their priceless moment of togetherness and his unique gift to her, she grabbed him into a tight embrace. How was she ever going to be able to put in words how she felt, how he always managed to pull all the strings of her heart into a beautiful song, how he had beautified her in every way, how she felt alive again only because of him, how he was a part of her soul. But she would tell him today, how she felt.
She loosened her grip and looked up in his eyes, tears silently rolling down from hers. He placed soft kisses on them and wiped off the running tears.
"Shiv, I learnt something to tell you what you are to me!" She caressed his hand.
"U don't have to do anything anymore, just stay right here in my arms" Shiv murmured, lost in her.
"Please Shiv" She held his face up and held his hands down entangled with hers. Shiv was getting curious now. "But please don't laugh at me" Anandi bit her lip. Shiv raised his eyebrow and grinned. "No baba, I wont!"
"Ok...I heard that new CD you carry with urself in the car and wrote down the lyrics of a song and learnt it...thought I ll surprise you by singing ur favourite one for you, because I heard you humming the tune" Anandi said cautiously, wondering what Shiv will think about her antics.
He was taken aback. "Wow really?" He pulled her cheek. "You are adorable!" He pulled her closer.
Anandi smiled and commenced, holding him across his waist -
Dhoop paani, pe baras jaaye
Ye saaye, banaye, mitaye
Main, kahoon, aur tu, aa jaaye
Behlaaye, har doori, sharmaaye
Tu saath hai, ho din raat hai
Parchaaiyaan, batlaaye
Tu saath hai, ho din raat hai
Saaya saaya, maahi ve.. maahi ve
Meri har baat mein saath tu hai
Maahi ve.. Maahi ve..
Mere saare haalat tu, maahi ve... o
Maahi ve... o
Haaye sataye, manaye, sataye
Tu rulaye, hansaye, bhi tu hi humsaaye
Har doori sharmaaye
Tu saath hai, ho din raat hai
Parchaaiyaan, batlaaye
Tu saath hai, ho din raat hai
Saaya saaya, maahi ve.. maahi ve..
Mere sab raaz kal aaj tu hai
Maahi ve.., maahi ve..
Meri har udhaan ek tu
Maahi ve... o
Maahi ve... o
Ye jeena bhi, na jeena bhi
Hai dono ka tumse hi vaasta
Ho... main hi toh hoon, tera pata
Hai doosra na koi raasta
Aaye mujh tak wo tumko jo ho dhoondta
Meri khamoshiyon mein hai tu bolta
Ye jeena bhi, na jeena bhi
Jo bhi hua hai woh tumse hua
Maahi Ve..."
...She trailed off. He was proudly staring at her...she had mesmerized him entirely.
He gulped and affectionately planted a kiss on her cheek. She was flushed. His lips moved towards her forehead, swept past the tip of her nose and finally, merged into her waiting lips.
The Sun shone brightly above the two, beaming at the celebration of love, the celebration of togetherness of Ansh.
After what seemed forever, they finally broke the kiss, still reeling under the effect of the exuding passion.
"Amol jaag jaayega, chaley" Shiv mumbled. They smiled and briskly walked back to the car. Shiv drove past the quietly rising roads of Udaipur and increasing hustle bustle.
Quietly, they slipped back into KB and crept inside their room. Amol was still asleep. Anandi and Shiv chuckled and slipped into their rug, reminiscing the time they spent together sometime back...
To a beautiful dawn...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
True love definitely does not need diamonds and candle light dinners. Every moment spent together is special, every moment of love is Ansh and Ansh is love
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