LoveNotes #2|OSGallery|AR OS - AsILoveYou| (Page 9)(May26th) - Page 5

...As I Love You.

He dragged his feet to the door as his apron and stethoscope almost fell from his left arm. He barely had the strength to walk - every inch of his body, almost all his muscles were paining terribly. The day had worn him off -had had five lengthy operations back to back, several patients to run after and take care of who came in after a huge road accident, preparations for the Annual Medical Meet in Mumbai...he didn't seem to recall a moment of peace he had got during the day.

If there was anything that was the cherry on the cake, it was the fact that he hadn't got the chance to see his wife the whole day. Yes, obviously he had seen her in the morning, they left together for the hospital and he had kissed her goodbye...but the usual meeting up in corridors, or having lunch in the cabin, that was he had missed on the particular day.

The thought of his wife somehow alerted him, and he checked his watch. It was 2 am. He breathed a sigh of relief that he hadn't rung the doorbell yet, because the last thing he wanted to do was to disturb his wife's sleep...Although a part of him wondered if she even had had dinner without him, let alone go to bed.

With weary hands, he searched for his keys in the right pocket and pushed it through the keyhole on finding it. Taking off his shoes in the slowest and quietest possible manner, he pushed the door open, and flinched when it creaked despite his efforts. Measuring each move, he placed his shoes in the rack, and tiptoed stealthily to the living room, where he placed his apron and stethoscope on the sofa, and continued towards the kitchen.

He was satisfied when he saw one plate washed, with water droplets still sticking on it, kept on the rack. That meant she had eaten dinner. Surely, there was food for him too, kept neatly arranged in the fridge with lids. How he loved his wife for these habits of hers. Remembering his aching muscles again, he decided he would have to do with cold food, because he neither had the strength nor patience to warm up the food.

Hardly had he started serving himself the cold palak paneer, he heard a voice, unmistakably hers.

"Did you wash your hands, Armaan?",she demanded.

He turned with a sheepish smile on his face, embarrassed at having been caught. "How did you..",he began.

"Know that you're home? I'm your wife baby, I'm supposed to recognize your footsteps...or in this case, tiptoeing steps, shall we say?",she grinned, "And thankfully, I do."

She waved him away from the kitchen counter and switched on the microwave, putting the palak paneer carefully into it.

"You shouldn't really be awake, Riddhima.", he said grumpily.

"I can't bear to sleep when I know that my beloved husband has had a long tiring day and he would be needing me here.", she replied, circling her hands to wound them around his neck.

Almost as a reflex action, he gently pulled her towards him, his hands round her waist as he buried his face in the crook of her neck, and smelled the usual (his favourite) smell of her hair as the strands tickled his face from the loose braid. Comforting would be saying the least. He immediately felt so content as she fitted perfectly in his arms, her warmth enveloping him. He felt as if the whole freaking shitty day was worth this. Anything was worth this.

"Hmmm...",he murmured contentedly against her neck, "I missed you so much.."

"I missed you too...", she whispered, leaning closer to him if possible, her head resting angled on his shoulder. He was nuzzling her hair gently, and his breath came out low and warm on her neck, making her shiver.

"Baby...", she called after a while.

"Hmmm?"

"We have to eat na..."

This definitely caught his attention. Pulling back, he frowned, "We? Riddhima!", he protested.

"No. Don't.", she said, and as soon as he opened his mouth to same something again, she placed her finger on his lips, "No. I said Ssshhh. I was feeling terrible after having lunch, knowing you didn't...and so I didn't want to have dinner without you."

"Thank God you had lunch.", he said with relief, "Otherwise I'd be more angry."

"It's more likely FORCED' to have. Muskaan just WOULDN'T leave me alone.", she rolled her eyes.

"See? That's why I love her.", he smiled.

"Now leave me, we have to eat...You must be famished na.", she tried to wriggle out of his arms.

"No, I like this.", he replied, tightening his grip round her waist, "And anyway I'm more tired, my whole body is aching. Can't I just go to sleep?"

"Without Dinner? NO WAY, Mallik.", her eyes went all round, admonishing him. Then she leaned towards him. "And anyway, I was thinking of a special body massage after this. Personalized touch wala.", she whispered in his ear.

"Really?", he grinned , all his tiredness seemingly disappearing in one split second.

She nodded, unable to hide the blush creeping up to her face, and that smile that only he could bring on.

"Now leave me.", she said, determined.

Reluctantly, he let her go, and then watched her as she took out the palak paneer and warmed rotis out of the microwave and pan respectively, and placed them on a plate. She proceeded to the glasses next, filling them with chilled water . Then she returned to his side, lifting up the plate and forwarding a torn piece of roti to him.

He readily took the morsel, and realized he was indeed famished. And the awesome palak paneer made by his wife wasn't helping, his stomach was paining with hunger now.

"Hmmm...",he murmured appreciatively, "THIS is why I love you."

She giggled, "And to think that we have crossed a year with this sentence coming up every now and then."

His chewing slowed, and he swallowed the food as he tried to make sense of her words. "One year? Basket we have not...", his eyes widened, the realization striking him hard, "Oh Crap. I can't believe I-"

"It's okay, Armaan..", she tried to pacify him.

"NO Riddhima its NOT okay! I can't believe I forgot out First Wedding Anniversary! I mean...How could I? And how are you even talking to me? Why aren't you angry? And why did you wait up for dinner for me when I-"

"Okay, enough Armaan.", she said, firmly , placing her hands on his shoulders, "Baby look at me...", she tried to bring his face towards her, "The day's not over yet...Its only been 2 hours na.."

He looked at his watch, "2 hours and 35 minutes.", he corrected, scowling, "I had been waiting for months, planning this and that...and now when it comes, look what I've done.."

"See I have proof that my dear husband did NOT forget our Anniversary.",

He raised his eyebrows at her, curious, "Really? What proof?"

"Armaan I can't believe you forgot your own surprise!", she grinned.

"What surprise? I gave you a surprise? I know I was supposed to...but wait, did I?", he said, looking puzzled as ever.

"Yes, you did. You put a reminder with a alarm on my phone, for 12am, which had a voice note from you, saying, Happy Anniversary Basket...I think I'm the luckiest person ever to have you in my life. I will say more later, but for now, check the wardrobe, the second drawer on it, which has my belts and stuff...and you will find something waiting for you. Love you!' And I did, and there it was, my Anniversary present. I loved it, Armaan.", she finished, kissing his cheek.

He smiled, "Oh yeah...I get it now, I did do something like this three days back. And...evidently forgot."

"As I said, it's okay. And even if you hadn't done it, I know it was a hard day for you, otherwise you'd never forget this."

"So did you like the present?"

She lifted her right hand and jingled the bracelet on it. The beautifully crafted AR on the bracelet shined against the dim light of the kitchen, and he let out a immensely-happy dimpled smile.

"I loved it. As I love you. ", she whispered, sinking into his arms.

He held her to his chest and kissed the top of her head, "I love you too, Basket. Always. And I will make this day special."

"I know you will.", she murmured against his chest.

"And for now...",he pulled away, a naughty streak glistening in his eyes, "Your Anniversary present for me. The massage! Personalized.", he grinned.

"We haven't finished eating.", she said, trying to evade the question for a while.

"I'm not hungry for food anymore.", he said, back to form.

"Armaan!"

He pulled her to him again, his hands finding their way around her waist. He was unable to hide that freaking grin off his face, "Happy Anniversary Dr.(Mrs). Riddhima Armaan Basket Gupta Mallik."

"I do have a long name!", she giggled, "Happy Anniversary to you too, Dr. Armaan Mallik. "

He leaned to kiss her, lifting her off the ground to their room. Well, tired as he was, he still knew it was going to be a Long, long night. Not that he was protesting anyway.

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Love,

Maitree :D

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