Karthik tiptoed into the hall when it was nearly midnight. He wanted to make sure everything was perfect to the plan. They seldom got a day to themselves like this. Everyone at Goenka Villa had gone to a relatives wedding in Mumbai. Karthik and Naira were supposed to go too, however Naira had not been feeling well. She was down with a high temperature and Karthik was very worried for her and decided to stay home. Moreover he was also content being alone with her as they rarely got to be alone in GV. Not that he did not want family around, but sometimes he felt that solitude is also good.
He had planned a midnight surprise earlier, but now since she was sleeping, he thought otherwise and decided to let her sleep and not wake her up. Just checking the arrangements, he came back to his room. He saw her sleeping peacefully. He touched her forehead which was still warm, however it had not been burning hot as earlier. Relieved, he took the wet sponges from the bedside to the dustbin and came and sat beside her. He smiled looking at her innocent face. Given a chance, he thought he could just be by her side watching her till eternity.
He caressed her forehead lovingly as almost 3 years if memories came rushing into his mind. Their first meeting on the banks of Ganga where they could not even stand each others presence, him running into her often in Rishikesh, both of them not leaving a chance to bully each other. He remembered her eyes fill with fear when she dropped his phone in the water and he threatened to call the police. As he saw her frantic, something inside him broke though he was not able to identify what it is. He saving her from goons, trying to stop her from suicide, she was there wherever he went. There was no way either of them could stop it.
And then there he was, an employee in her fathers company and a paying guest in her maternal grandfathers house. The ice between them broke slowly, very slowly, they both progressed from enemies to friends to best friends to lovers; and then were bound by the Almighty into marriage. She had made his life colourful as much as he had made hers. They both had given back each others their families and their happiness back.
Wiping off the moist in his eyes from being overwhelmed, his focus now shifted from her face to her stomach where a small part of both of them was growing. 5 months pregnant and her small baby bump made her face glow with happiness.
He smiled again thinking of all their fights over the past few months where she was grumpy and complained that her mendak loved their tadpole/tadpoli more than her. Of course he loved the kid, but not less than what he loved her. She meant the world for him and his world revolved around her.
He was pretty sure the baby was a girl, his princess and his pari, though she seemed to think otherwise. He laughed at how she irritated him with her pregnancy tantrums, her sudden cravings and her mood swings. It drove him crazy at times, yet he loved to watch her small nose flare up in anger and her soft tiny fists hitting him.
It was almost midnight. She was still fast asleep probably tiredness from the fever and from carrying their bundle of joy. He switched off his bedside lamp and snuggled close to her. Very softly he pecked her on her forehead and whispered " Happy birthday sweetheart"
A smile broke on her face instantly as she buried her face into his shirt. " Thank you Mendak. No surprise this time for me? See? You stopped loving me nowdays" she complained with her eyes still closed
"Of course Not. You are unwell and hence no surprise at midnight. Tomorrow you shall have a grand surprise" he said holding her close, but careful not to hurt her or the baby bump
"Really? what surprise" she asked popping up fast sitting on the bed, making Karthik alarmed
"Naira, what are you doing? You are not supposed to exert yourself" he scolded her
Disregarding it completely, Naira continued " Karthik, please tell me na? What surprise?" she asked
"Ur mumma is such an idiot baby. You better get Papa's brains. Ask your Mumma how will it be a surprise if I tell it now" he mused talking to her belly
"Papa is such a mendak, he knows only to do tar tar tar" she retorted back
"Tell Mumma that today is my most favourite day in the world" he said sweetly
"I thought your favourite day in this world was the day you saw me in Rishikesh" she said cutely
"Che, why would that day be my favourite day? I regret that day. I wish I had not seen you" Karthik said with a disgusted look on his face
"You do not love me right? Why did you marry me? Go tomorrow morning and divorce me. You hate me." Naira said and stopped sobbing
" Hey I was joking stupid" Karthik said and hugged her tight.
"No you are not , you regret meeting me na?" Naira said still crying and sniffing in between her sobs.
"My princess tell your mumma that the day I saw her is my second most favourite day. Today is her birthday and my most favorite day. Because this is the day your Mumma came into this world and it is because of this day I have her in my life"he kept a hand on her belly and spoke to his kid and planted a small kiss for his kid as well.
Naira punched him on his stomach and stuck out her tongue " I dont like you" she said in a child like voice
"Why?" he asked making her looking into her eyes
"Because I love you" she said gazing into the same eyes for which she had fallen in the first place.
"I love your Papa a lot. More than you. More than anyone else in the world" she said her voice cracking.
"Shhh, No crying. Papa loves your Mumma too" he said putting his arms around her.
"Sleep now , we shall celebrate tomorrow" he said and patted her forehead as she drifted off to sleep again.
Karthik kept patting her forehead until his eyelids turned heavy . He slept, but not before she slept ad making sure she was safe in his arms , tucked inside the blanket and snuggling with her to keep her warm
...
Bollywood
Kumkum Bhagya
Anupamaa
5