Aahil parked his car, turned off the ignition and just sat there looking at the house. Sanam's dream house. He got her the dream house she'd wanted; the one with the beautiful garden and a bright sunny house full of windows. He gave her the blue bedroom with the attached children's room. A kicka** kitchen a chef would kill for and his own quiet study room.
It was home. Their own piece of heaven. They moved out into it after Ammi's true nature was exposed. It was Rehan who told him, helped by Sanam. He'd been heartbroken and depressed and angry altogether. But Sanam made this house a new beginning for them. He had finally let go of everything.
Then a year later, his business was flourishing and he had come out of his depression, Sanam became pregnant. He watched his beautiful wife glow and swell with the pregnancy. He fretted and worried, obsessed and scolded, she bore it all and loved him for it.
Then their babies were born. Twins: Zain and Sara. Gorgeous, twins chubby babies with their mother's thunderstorm temper. He laughed to himself. He didn't know how they had survived that time. It was absolutely mad! When one slept the other cried, waking the other, until both are yelling at the top of their lungs! Both got hungry at the same time, both did potty together too. It was tough. Nothing had prepared him for that time.
Sanam was a Nazi about cleanliness and nutrition, especially when he was the Fun Dad who fed the toddlers Nutella. With a spoon! When they got sick, however, Sanam remained calm and firm and Aahil dissolved in a puddle and sat by their cots all night worrying.
But no doubt, it was the happiest Aahil had ever been his whole life. So much bright sunshine had replaced all the darkness he had wallowed in before. His Sanam did this. He owed her everything.
And today was their 6th anniversary. And he bought her a car. He had been teaching her how to drive for a while now, and he thought she'd love his surprise. He kept it at the office, because he was taking her out to dinner later, romantic dinner for two. Then the surprise.
A loud screech rang shrilly through the house, making his heart jump. What-the? And he rushed in. And saw the weirdest sight ever.
"Ammi !! Look at Zain! He's laughing at me!!"
His princess, Sara, seated in the middle of laid out papers and a stonefaced Sanam was cutting her hair in clumps, looking a little demented. As soon as he started breathing again, Sara spotted him and ran most dramatically into his arms. "Abbu !!! Abbu!! My life is over Abbu !!"
That's Sara, over dramatic 4 year old. He saw Sanam roll her eyes heavenward and shake her head. Aahil was horrified at the state of Sara's beautiful hair. "Sanam? What are you doing to her hair?? Why? What happened baby girl? "he soothed his weeping daughter. But she only clutched at his neck and cried loudly.
What's going on here? He gestured at Sanam. She pursed her lips and frowned. "Some boys stuck chewing gum in Sara's hair at the kindergarten. I have to cut it, it's just stuck ! " she said helplessly.
Aahil raged. "WHAT?! WHY DIDN"T YOU CALL ME?? What kind of children do these things to others? Why target my poor Sara? I tell you what I'm gonna do..! Sanam ! How could you let this happen? Look at her hair?? She loves her hair?! I knew that school wasn't a good one, but you insisted!!"
Sanam gaped at him and raged back. "Excuse me ? I did call you! MANY TIMES! You didn't answer! Besides, this is about one naughty boy who stuck gum in your daughter's hair. Why drag all this into it?? Me? What did I do?"
"No, Sanam. We should be able to protect our kids from these things! Look at my princess ! My poor baby girl? Are you okay sweetie?" Sanam seethed with narrowed eyes, as Sara nodded and hiccupped into her daddy's neck.
Sanam swiftly turned and marched to the quietly seated Zain, right hand bandaged up to the wrist. She was checking his temperature when Aahil balked again.
"Sanam?? What school is this?? What happened to Zain now? Who did this to my boy?" Zain smiled sheepishly as his Abbu sat at the couch and cuddled both his kids to him. Aahil went on a rant, police reports and assault charges and lawsuits were threatened. He didn't notice everyone else but himself had gone silent. He stopped suddenly.
"What?!"
"Are you done? If you stopped to breathe I can tell you, Zain hurt his wrist punching the boy who put gum in Sara's hair. His wrist is slightly bruised but okay, I got it checked by the doctor. I gave him some painkillers for the pain and he's fine. If you let me, I need to cut the rest of the gum out so I can give Sara a nice bob haircut. Like Aunt Sunehri, Sara? Remember?"
The little girl climbed out of Aahil's arms and sat back in her stool for her mother. Aahil turned to Zain and lifted his shy, quiet boy onto his lap. Zain was a lovely boy, very loyal to his Ammi and sister, always up for football and PlayStation with Abbu. Smart and serious, he was a lot like his Ammi. Even when he wasn't well he just bore it silently.
"Hey champ. How's your hand? Does it hurt? Lemme see..." As Aahil took a look at Zain's hand, his son gushed about how the right hook Abbu taught him totally disarmed Sara's bully. Aahil felt his heart swell with pride , he turned to share the feeling with Sanam.
But Sanam was cross and absolutely refused to look at him. Uh OH... Bad call Aahil.
He got up and went by her side. Sanam stiffened and turned away, in the pretext of cutting Sara's hair. SO he watched her, and soon Sara's hair was cute and pixie like and Sara was all giggles again. Sanam picked the girl up and handed her over to Aahil.
"Here, go give your princess a shower, while I get their dinner ready." Completely avoiding his eyes.
"Hey Jaan. I thought I'll take you out to dinner today...okay?" he cajoled softly.
"Are you kidding? I've been cooking all afternoon, and now you say you want go out? You eat out then, Aahil. I don't feel like it today." She hmmphh-ed and marched off into the kitchen. He turned to Zain, who lifted his eyebrows and said, "You're in trouble Abbu...".
Aahil sighed.
This was not the anniversary evening he had planned.
Later at dinner he felt even more guilty. Sanam had prepared a very special dinner, all his and kids favourites. There was a lot of yummy gushing around the table but Sanam still wasn't looking at him. Now even the kids were trying to help him out with Ammi. But nothing worked. Sanam smiled, spoke and laughed but pointedly refused to look at him.
Later after the kids went to bed, he waited for her to appear from the washroom. Sanam is very sensitive about their wedding day. Although they loved each other a lot, every anniversary she is reminded of the tension of their nikaah. Both not really sure of each other, desperate, sacrificing for others, not focussed on each other and in love as most weddings would be.
So every year, Aahil would make a big do on their anniversary; last year they went to Europe with the kids, the year before they went on a cruise. Sanam was sure she was happy but he always felt the need to over compensate.
Sanam came out of the washroom. Her face was scrubbed clean of cosmetics, hair wet and looking fresh and smelling heavenly. Sexy as hell. She pottered about her creams and lotions as he sat back and watched her.
He approached her from behind and held her around the waist. Propping his chin upon her shoulder, he breathed in her scent.
"Are you still mad at me?" Softly, meltingly, he knew she always melted when he talked to her this way.
Hmmm ? But she kept silent, but she watched him through the mirror.
I'm sorry Jaan... Don't be angry...please?
You do know right?...
His fingers were drawing circles on her stomach, distracting her. His lips nipped at her shoulder lightly, as he watched her breathing hitch.
Don't you?... he let the sentence hang...
After some anticipatory moments...
"Know what?" she asked, relenting. Her body language was softer now, curving into his front, her head moving slightly to one side to allow him access.
Aahil smiled. This is one of the reasons he would love Sanam til the day he dies. She was just too beautiful a person inside, she loved selflessly. She never liked to see him grovel and beg for forgiveness, although he deserved it sometimes. He didn't know what he did to deserve someone like her in his life.
That you look like a grumpy schoolteacher when you are sulking?
Sanam balked and playfully hit his hands and chased him around before he caught her and twirled her around, both laughing helplessly. He tossed her over the bed and made to crawl over her when she pushed him off and got up.
" Aahil, close your eyes..." He obliged and was instantly rewarded by a glorious smell, a favourite smell.
Apple pie... Another memory washed across his mind, and he smiled and opened his eyes.
Sanam stood with a gorgeous looking pie in front of him.
"Aahil, I don't know what to buy for you as a present, I can only make things I know you like. I love you Aahil. Happy Anniversary..."
"Sssh, Sanam. This brings back beautiful memories to me, of happy times, crazy times. Thank you Sanam, this means more to me than presents" Sanam was trying to remember all the happy memories of their love. Wait till she saw his surprise !
" Hmmm... Now that we are reliving our memories. What say I catch you and toss you into the pool???" he jumped up playfully and chased her as she laughed and darted out of reach.
They laughed and played all night. Remembering all the good times, and being thankful for the present...
The end.
Cricket
