Serenity - A collection of short stories

Mehenga Tohfa - Part 6

Song : 'Perfect' by Ed Sheeran 

          ***

First Person P.O.V. (Male)

          ***

I am left blank with her words. "You love me?" I ask her with butterflies fluttering in my stomach. Brushing her lips against my ear , she says those magical words. "Yes Mr.Arora , I love you, all of you , so much." I can't breath. As a teenager, I always day dreamed about hearing those words. But then left the hope. Hearing a confession in such a romantic setting , makes it so much better. I can feel my cheeks heating up. We stay in each others embrace, taking everything in.

Pulling back, she says, "Well, I have a request." I nod my head. "I truly value what you did today. This date. But please I don't like you spending unnecessary on such fancy stuff. In the end, it's just the memories right. So please. Just heartfelt moments count. Me aapse pehle se hi pati hui hu, bs ek chocolate aur rose me hi kaam ho jata aapka. 3000 ki chocolate nahi chahiye mujhe. Aap chahiye." ("You already have my heart. You just had to give me a rose and chocolate. I don't want this expensive chocolate. I want you.")

She's a gem, I'm planning to keep, forever. "Hmm baat to theek hai. But kabhi kabhi to chalta hai madam. Don't worry about the expenses. Aur vaise bhi this is part payment for the missed honeymoon." ("Yes, you're right. But it's okay to do it occasionally. Don't worry about the expenses. And this is part payment for the missed honeymoon.") She smiles wide. "Vaise kitne kharach liye aapne aaj." ("By the way , how much did you spend today?") She asks absent mindedly. "Zyada nahi. Bas 10 ke aas paas." ("Not much, just around 10.")

"Achaa ... Bas 10 ... KYA?AAPNE 10000 KHARACH KIYE? ... Mukul Ji ..." ("Oh ok ... Just 10 ... WHAT? YOU SPENT 10000 RS?") She stares at me as if I have grown horns. "Rehne do na. There's chocolate, balloons , flowers , this cute fort and of course, food. Itna to lagta hi." ("Let it be. There's chocolate, flowers, balloons , this cute fort and of course food. It is minimum.") I reply back to coax her. "Aapki patni bnate bnate. Me ladkiyo ki tarah sochna hi bhool gayi hu." ("Being your wife, I have forgot to be a girl.") She says back thoughtfully.

I look at Mishti confused. "Matlab?" ("What do you mean?") She sits back on her heels and keeps her hands on her mouth. "Oh my god babyyy. Aapne mere liye itna kuchh kiya. I am so touched. I loveee youuu sooo muchhhh." ("Oh my God baby. You have done so much for me today. I am soo touched. I loveee youuu sooo muchhhh.") She shouts in a girlish, high pitched tone of a teenager that I have to scoot back on the mattress. I am worried the neighbours would come barging in. Then, we both burst out laughing.

I kiss the back of her palm lovingly and stare at her. She looks down blushing. What a sight! She is so beautiful. "Ab mere efforts ko paani me nahi jaane dete hai na." ("Now let's not waste my efforts.") I tell her and she replies back. "Haan haan. Let's enjoy! Me phone laati hu. This needs to be captured." ("I'll bring my phone.")

We click hundreds of pictures in so many couple poses. I grab my phone to send them on my phone, money well spent. But stop on not finding my contact in her phone. On typing my number, I am shocked. The contact name 'Chashmish🤓' glares back at me. I look at her. She giggles mischievously , "Aap ho hi chashmish, me kya Karu agar aapne laptop me ghoor kar aakhein phodi hai toh." ("You are a Chashmish, what should I do if you have squinted your eyes by staring at the laptop?") She giggles loudly.

Feeling like a child again , I reply approaching her with menacing steps and an evil grin, "Me abhi btata hu ki ye chashmish kya kar sakta hai." ("Let me tell you what this Chashmish can do.") She squeals and runs around the living room. We enter our bedroom and she jumps on the bed. Laughing , she says , "Ahaa , mat kijiye na." ("Don't do it.") "Shuru kisne kiya? Shaza to milegi." ("Who started it? You'll get punished.") Saying that, I pull her hand and she falls on the bed. I get on top of her and start tickling her. She laughs , squeals and cries , kicking her feet in the air. 

"M-Mukul ... Jii ... Nahi ... Nahi naa ... Ok ... O-okk ... BSS ..." ("No , no please stop.") I stop hearing her plea and lay my weight atop hers. "Hatiye! Aap bhari hai bohut!" ("Get up! You're heavy.") She fake groans. "Me bhari nahi. Tum tingu ho." ("I'm not heavy. You're just tiny.") I reply back to rile her up. "Haww, meanie!" She slaps my arm and says, "Toh aap chhotu ho , Mukul ji" ( "Then you're chhotu Mukul ji") , showing her tongue. "Hey!" I hug her , still being on top of her and murmur against her neck, "I prefer Mukul or better , baby." Feeling her smooth skin, I can't stop myself from loving her. She stops breathing. "Mukul ji aaj nahi naa. Khana khate hai please." Feeling wet kisses on her neck , she tries to stop me with her cuteness. And it works.

We move back to the living room and devour the 'mahengi wali chocolate'. Feeling courageous and free spirited, I get down on one knee in front of her and giving her the neatly made bouquet, I ask ,"Can I get a dance , milady?" She acts like a high profile lady and replies sassily , "If you can handle me, then of course."

Chuckling, we put on some music. 'Perfect by Ed Sheeran' plays from our home speakers. Hands on her waist, I pull her extremely close, but she being short, end up at my chest. So, I lift her on my feet. Face so close that we feel each others breath , the air gets thicker.  She has a beautiful smile on her face and can't stop staring in my eyes. We dance to the beats, our hearts singing the melody. This , this love. 

"I think ... I am falling for you too." I confess , giving her an eskimo kiss. She looks so elated as if she has won the moon. She bites her lower lip which awakens my desires and presents me with another bomb , "Well, I fell for you two years ago and I continue doing so. But it's a story for some other time." How heavenly the day has gone by, I can't help but steal a steamy kiss. We make this home-date a success with a tasty meal and watching a rom-com.

Later at night ,in the wee hours, when she finally sleeps in my embrace, I can't help but recall all my life events. Keeping her close to myself, I wonder whether life made me face all of this , so that I can get the love I deserve. Maybe I did make good life choices, to get this sweet "Serenity" , my Mishti , my life sweetner.

                                                                               /THE END/

           ***

Your thoughts and suggestions please. 

           ***

We always come across such a couple in our family or while on the streets or in the malls. And don't deter from commenting - 'Look at HER and look at him, no match.' 'Ise vo kaise mil gayi?' Maybe, they too have a story like this. Men too suffer from insecurities we never try to address. They are humans too. If we talk about equality, then it truly means to keep standards same for both the genders.

But a bitter truth is that men don't have to be perfect. Many women accept them for their support. But even today , women are chosen and rejected for their beauty.

With love,

Ivraa❤️