A Night of Romance
Arti placed the sleeping Pooja into her crib. She hoped the baby would sleep through the night. Since she had come back from the hospital after her delivery and treatment, Arti had not had one complete night of sleep. Pooja's first birthday was just a few weeks away, and she still woke up a couple of times a night. Arti loved her little miracle but right now, what she needed was a break.
Yash came into the room and found Arti half asleep as she rested on the rocking chair. Her beautiful face was lined with exhaustion. His heart clenched – she had had such a rough time with the treatment and wasn't fully recovered yet. The medications had sapped her strength and it didn't help that Pooja would not sleep without her mother – Arti never got a respite.
He walked softly, stealing a look at his beautiful brat of a daughter. She was fast asleep, and if she stayed true to form, she would sleep for the next five hours. A plan began to form in his brain…..
Picking the half dozing Arti in his arms, he took her to the bed. As he placed her gently, tucking her in, Arti opened her eyes murmuring "Yash…"
"Shhh Biwi, take a nap" Yash hushed her. As he started to move, he felt her pulling his hand from behind.
"Yash, I have a backache. Can you massage it please?" Arti asked, struggling to sit up.
Pushing her gently back on to the pillows, Yash scolded her "Didn't I tell you to take a nap? Lie down, I will get the balm and massage your back".
When he came back, Arti was lying down with her eyes closed. Had she fallen asleep? "Arti?", Yash called softly.
"Mmm…Yash? Oh, the balm", said Arti opening her eyes.
"Flip over on to your stomach", instructed Yash. During her pregnancy, she had often suffered from back pain. Yash had taken some tips from the masseuse at his gym and had become quite good at giving massages, at least to Arti.
Arti moved onto her stomach. Yash pushed her pallu aside and drank in the sight of her gorgeous black hair splayed over her back. Her hair was his weakness, he wouldn't let her cut it, and bless her soul, she left it open because he loved it so much.
Pushing her hair aside, his hands strayed to the bow-tie of her blouse. Slowly he opened it, savoring every moment as he pushed her blouse aside now to reveal her bare back.
"Yash? Do the massage please, why are you taking so long" Arti grumbled.
Chuckling to himself he took some of the balm on to his fingertips and started massaging her. Her muscles were bunched tight and as he circled them, gently pressing at all the right spots, she slowly started to unwind. He could feel her relaxing under his touch and knew the exact moment when she fell asleep. Smiling softly, he put the balm aside. He kissed her bare shoulders and covered her with a razai. Let her sleep – it would help alleviate her exhaustion – and get her in the mood for what he was planning for tonight.
"Bhabhi, can I ask a favor please?" Yash said to Vidhi as he knocked and walked into her and Pankaj's room.
"Of course, Bhaiyya, what is it?" asked Vidhi.
"The children have had dinner and I have put them to bed", said Yash. "Do you mind if Arti and I have our dinner in our room?"
"Why would she mind?" teased Pankaj as he draped his hands around his wife's waist and dropped his chin to her shoulder to look at his younger brother.
As Yash hesitated, Vidhi said grinning "I think what he is actually saying is, can we cover for him while he romances his wife!"
The two started laughing as Yash blushed.
"Jao devarji, don't worry. Go romance Arti – its long overdue."
As Yash brought a tray with dinner into their room he saw that Arti hadn't moved. She looked delectable enough to eat, he thought and then grimaced at himself. Well, as long as she slept it gave him time to complete his preparations.
Arti woke up after about an hour, feeling refreshed and rested after a long time. She nearly swore at herself when she saw the time – it was way past the children's bed time!! As she got off the bed, Yash asked her "Feeling better Biwi?"
She nodded "Yes, but its late. I have to put the kids to bed otherwise they will be late for school tomorrow."
Coming to her and holding her hands, Yash stopped her "They are asleep. I put them to bed. They do have more than one parent you know" he chided her gently, alluding to her habit of taking on all the children's responsibilities on herself.
Arti looked at him, and then smiled "I know – they have the most wonderful father in the world. Tha…"
"Don't you dare thank me Arti. They are my children too – and I have the right to feed them, and put them to sleep and take care of them" Yash interrupted.
"Yes patidev", Arti nodded, smiling slightly.
"And I have full rights to take care of my wife and have a special dinner with her", Yash added quickly before she could slip away.
"Special dinner?" Arti asked, slightly suspicious.
Yash nodded, a little smile playing on his lips.
"And what's the occasion?" she asked teasingly, catching on to that hint of a smile.
"Hmm…..its all about me seducing a beautiful woman who takes my breath away, who has been so busy for the last year that she hasn't given me the time of day, who looks at me and smiles but refuses to come into my arms, who kisses our children everyday and whose kisses I long for…."
"Are you seducing me or listing out your complaints?" asked Arti laughing.
"We'll see Biwi", Yash said as he escorted her out to the balcony.
The sight took her breath away – when had he done all this? The entire balcony was decorated with strings of flowers. It was unlit, except for a circle of light where she saw the small table with two chairs. There were candles all around and she could faintly hear a melody. She strained to hear it – "Raabta!" Her favourite! Since he had serenaded her once with that song during her pregnancy, it had become their song. They often played it for each other; humming it had become their signal – they used it to let each other know they were thinking about the other and wanted some time together. The song evoked such lovely memories for her. Why hadn't she used it in the last year, how could she have forgotten!?! Arti was chagrined.
Yash saw her expression and read her thoughts. Turning her toward him, he kissed the tip of her nose. "We both missed out on opportunities Biwi – but we need to make up for lost time now, right?" he asked as he looked at her and winked.
Arti smiled. Hmmm, make up for lost time – she had some ideas about that…..
Dinner had been lovely. Yash and Arti had spent a long time talking; they had taken turns feeding each other with Arti finally moving from her chair to sit on Yash's lap as he pulled her to him. She had no recollection of what she ate – but it had been the best dinner she had had in a long time.
Yash put Arti down and stood up. He went to the music player and increased the volume slightly. Coming back to Arti, he knelt down in front of her and held out his right hand, "Can I have this dance please?"
Arti blushed and put her hand into his. Pulling her to him, Yash held her close as they danced the slow waltz. Arti rested her head on his chest, and closed her eyes as he led her through the dance. She didn't realize when they moved from the balcony into their room till she felt the slight difference in temperature. She looked up enquiringly and was caught in the blazing desire she saw in Yash's eyes.
He shut the balcony door, drawing the curtains closed. As he went around the room lighting up the scented candles he had placed at strategic places, Arti went to the crib to check on Pooja. "She is with Vidhi Bhabhi for tonight" Yash said. "And don't worry, if she cries too much or won't go back to sleep, Bhabhi will bring her back here."
Arti turned around to see the room. Yash switched off the overhead light. The whole room glowed – he must have lit a dozen or more candles. A soft cool breeze came from overhead, taking the heat of the summer night away. Her heart filled with love at all the pains Yash had taken to surprise her tonight.
Walking to him, she reached out and he caught her wrists. He kissed her fingertips one by one, looking into her eyes all the while. Arti stepped to him, closing the small gap between them. She lay her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around him. Yash pulled her in for a closer hug. As she looked up, he captured her lips and drank in her essence.
She sighed into his kiss as she kissed him back – they were finally home…….
Anupamaa
