11 October 2016
7 am
Raman and Ishita's bedroom

Ishita woke up with a start as the murmur of subdued voices reached her sleep befuddled brain. She slept very lightly these days, always on the watch out for her babies cries, ready to jump up to attend to them.

She opened her eyes and sat up, looking around her. The sun had risen and the room was bathing in its warm morning glow, a golden sheen on everything. A chuckle reached her ears again and her eyes swiveled to its source.

Raman was sitting on the sofa facing the balcony, Ishaan in his arms. He was talking earnestly to the smiling baby, who was gurgling up at his father.

Ishita sat still for a few moments, just watching father and son, marveling at the love she saw in her husband's face, the trust with which their son looked at him. She brushed away a sudden unbidden tear, chiding herself and smiling as she got out of bed.

As she stood up, she stretched uxoriously as she basked in the warmth of the morning, and then padded softly over to the alcove where the babies cribs were kept.

Raashi was still fast asleep, minute soft snores escaping from her. Ishita stood for a few moments peering through the latticed divider, admiring her tiny daughter, relieved that she appeared to be in a deep sleep. Although the babies did not wake up as much during the night as they had used to, Raashi still woke up early almost every morning. So the sleep in this morning was a bonus.

Raman had heard her moving around, and unbeknownst to her, he had turned around to stare at her, his eyes shining with love as he watched her watching their daughter.

She sensed him and turned around, and their eyes met. He was unabashed at being caught staring at his beautiful wife, and gave her a sweet smile.

"Look here mumma" he called out softly. " Someone wants to say good morning to you"

Ishita gave one last lingering look at her sleeping daughter and then walked over to the sofa where her husband and son were having their little morning rendezvous. She sat down beside Raman and put her head on his shoulder, one arm going behind his back as she snuggled against him, the other reaching out to tickle her son under his chin.

"Good morning Ishaan my darling" she said softly, as her son's face broke into a grin. He could recognize his parents, and while he was happy to be with anyone in his family, he reserved for his parents these special, delighted smiles of pure joy. And every smile made his mother teary eyed. She blinked back those tears now, bending her head to sniff his special baby scent of milk and talc, before kissing him softly on his downy head. "Your mumma loves you sweetie"

"And me?" Her husband asked in an injured tone. "Meri toh koi value hi nahi rahi aajkal" (I have no value these days)

Ishita looked up at her husband and grinned, wrinkling her nose at him.

"Good morning Raman my darling" she whispered. "Your biwi loves you sweetie"

"And my kiss?" he asked hopefully.

She grinned and stretched up, kissing her husband on the top of his head, as she had their son.

"And here" he grinned, puckering up his lips at his wife. She patted his cheeks instead and got up with a laugh "That after I freshen up"

***********************************************
Twenty minutes later, when she walked into the room from the bathroom freshly showered, with a towel slung around her neck, her son was fast asleep in his crib next to his sister and her husband was sitting on their bed, patiently awaiting her.

"Come here" he grabbed at her, pulling her into his lap.

"Raman" she protested for a second, before sighing and surrendering to his hot lips, letting him have the kisses which had been his only repast in recent months, since her advancing pregnancy and uncertain health had made intimacy an impossibility for them.

"You know what day it is right?" he murmured against her lips.

"Happy Anniversary Raman" she whispered in response.

"Happy anniversary my love" he sighed against her lips, before capturing them once again with his.

"Raman" she whispered a few moments later, as they drew apart. "Thank you for being so patient with me"

"Does that mean I get my gift tonight?" he asked hopefully and she burst out laughing.

"Haan baba, tonight. I've spoken to Mummyji and amma. Nurse will stay over tonight too. We can stay over at the hotel after dinner if you like"

"Are you sure?" he asked her gravely, staring intently at her.

"Haan baba. Ab aap ko nahin aana hai kya?" (Don't you want to come with me?)

"Abhi chalte hai na" he answered eagerly. "Raat ka intezaar kyun? No time like the present, is there?" (Let's go now. Why wait for tonight? No time like the present, is there?)

"Raman" she hit him lightly on his arm, pulling out of his arms and standing up, just as Raashi gave a yelp, announcing her return to Bhalla house from the land of dreams. "Aap ja kar ready ho jayo. Mein shaam ko aap ko milti hoon. Abhi mujhe meri beti bula rahi hai." (Raman, go and get ready. I'll meet you this evening, Right now, my daughter is calling me)

"Yaar meri toh koi value hi nahi hai" he repeated in a bereft tone as he watched her walk away. (I said I no longer have any value)

"Hai" she said laughing as she picked up Raashi. "Raat ko maloom ho jayega" (You do. You'll find out tonight)

"I can't wait" he smiled at her, blowing a kiss to his wide eyed but for once silent daughter as Ishita brought her to their bed.

"Listen Raman" Ishita put Raashi on the bed, pulling down her diaper. "I'll make the booking, baba. Just meet me at 7, okay? I'll text you the exact location in the hotel."

"Kya baat hai madam" he took the dirty diaper from his wife as she changed Raashi, wrinkling his nose at his daughter and eliciting a smile from her. "Koi surprise hai kya mere liye?" (So what is it madam?Do you have a surprise for me?)

"Aisa hi samajh lo" (Something like that) Ishita laughed. "Now go and shower, papa and go to work, right Raashi? Tell papa, huh?"

And she held her daughter close as her smiling husband retreated into the bathroom.

********************************************
7 pm
Hotel Paradiso - Milan Italian Restaurant

Ishita looked nervously at the maitre d as he proferred a bottle of Brut champagne to her.

"Will this be acceptable madame" he asked haughtily.

"Yes" Ishita said confidently, hoping that her complete absence of knowledge of champagne vintages was not evident to the sommelier. "Please serve it as soon as my husband arrives."

She grinned to herself as the man bowed and retreated, and then looked anxiously at her watch. Seven pm. Raman would be arriving soon. He had been texting her all day and she knew just how much he was looking forward to this night.

She looked around herself and then surreptitiously pulled a small hand mirror from her purse to check her reflection.

"Relax Ishita" she told herself for the umpteenth time. "It's just Raman, your Raman, and everything is fine. You look fine."

She had taken extra care with her makeup and dressing tonight, taking the help of the skilled beauticians at the hotel, where she had arrived an hour ago. Both Raashi and Ishaan had been extremely clingy, as if sensing that their mother was going somewhere without them, but she had managed to tear herself away from them, and after a hundred instructions to her mother, her mother in law and the baby's nurse, Aarti, she had left the house at 5.30pm.

She had called home twice since arriving at the hotel, but Mummyji had demanded that she stop worrying and enjoy herself, and had taken a promise that Ishita would not call again that night.

"Zaroorat pada toh hum call karlenge puttar. Lekin sirf koi bahut badi piroblem ho gai toh) Mein ne bhi chaar bachon ko pal kar bada kiya hai, tere yeh dono hifazat hai, mere aur madrassan ke saath" (We will call you if we need to my dear. But only if there is a very big problem. I have brought up four children. Your two little ones are safe with me and your mother)

"Mummyji, Ruhi ne khana kha liya na" (Mummyji, has Ruhi eaten?)

"Ishita, ab tum phone mat karna bas." (Ishita, just don't call anymore)

And an exasperated mummyji had put the phone down on her. So here she was, obeying instructions and waiting for her husband. She patted her hair, which she had had straightened and ironed by the beautician. She knew just how much he liked her long tresses, how he loved to hide his face in her hair, tuck errant strands behind her ears.

She smiled and blushed, hugging herself as a sudden shiver raked through her body. Her hands encountered the flimsy chiffon of her saree and she blushed anew.

It had been so long since she had dressed up in a saree. Four months into her pregnancy, her swelling stomach had made her switch to salwar suits and loose kurtis. She had retained that wardrobe since giving birth, it being easier to feed and care for the babies in those more practical clothes. But she knew he loved her in a saree. Removing her sarees and cholis had always been one of his favorite parts of foreplay. So tonight she had worn a pale pink chiffon, teamed with a sleeveless choli, and she had to admit it made her feel almost sexy. Almost.

She frowned as she wondered whether she had lost enough weight, what he would think of her... Her thoughts trailed away and she gasped as a firm hand clasped her shoulder from behind.

"What are you thinking of jaan?"

She turned her head to look at her husband and he swooped, kissing her slowly, his lips lingering on her cheek.

"Raman" she whispered, her blush deepening, as he let her go, taking his seat in front of her.

"You look beautiful jaan" his voice was husky as his eyes raked over her, noticing the clinging chiffon, the bare arms. She bit her lips and stared anxiously at him, and he grabbed her hand, bringing it up to his lips.

"Beautiful" he repeated, dropping a series of kisses on her knuckles.

He was looking particularly handsome himself, in a midnight black suit, set off by a creamy white shirt. His short hair was slicked back, and a light stubble grazed her fingers as he kept his lips close to her hand.

The maitre d reappeared just then, the chilled Champagne held aloft, two flutes in his hand.

"Not for me please" Ishita shook her head, smiling, and holding up the glass of orange juice she had been sipping. "This is fine."

She waited until the sommelier had served the champagne and moved away, before clinking her glass with Ramans.

"To us" he said, leaning across the table to brush her lips with hers. She sighed as he sat back, sipping his champagne slowly, and he grinned at her.

"Kya?" (What?)he whispered.

"Happy Anniversary darling" she whispered back, blushing at the intent look in his eyes.

"Happy anniversary my love" he replied. "Do I get my gift now?"

"Dinner first Raman" she blushed again at the naked hunger in her husband's eyes.

"Shall we order" he asked with a pout. "Let's eat and let's get to our room fast madrassan."

"Raman" she protested, as laughing, he motioned to their table attendant, who had been hovering by discretely. The man appeared immediately with two menus which he presented with a flourish before retreating again.

"You order" she said quietly to her impatient husband, and then watched as he reeled off an order for two serves of vegetarian pasta. The waiter gone, he turned his attentions back to her until their meal arrived, his eyes speaking volumes as he devoured her from across the table.

The anticipation in the pit of Ishita's stomach grew, as did her nervousness. This was her husband, the father of her children - but right now, as he watched her with hungry eyes, she knew he would only be her lover tonight. The man who had taught her to enjoy pleasures of the body far beyond her wildest imagination, the man who had changed her completely. That passionate, wildly exciting man had hidden himself beneath the caring husband and loving father he also was, but tonight she knew that her lover would re-emerge.

She thought back on the early days of their marriage. The secret trysts on the roof top, when they had kissed with desperation, wanting more, but not able to take things further; then the magical trip to Rajasthan, that first night in the tent, that slow skillful way he had introduced her to lovemaking. That intense night after their reception, and then all the nights of passion since. One thing that had been constant throughout from the time they met to now, was their intense attraction for each other - no matter the situation, what they were wearing, how they looked, where they were - the attraction had never waned.

And suddenly, all her doubts vanished. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. She had missed him as much as he her. Months of abstinence had taken its toll. She needed him more than she could say.

Her eyes must have revealed her truth to him, for he pushed aside his plate, flicking his fingers for the cheque. And then, before she knew it, he had risen, pulling her to her feet. "I'm not waiting any longer" he whispered, and she had nodded mutely, aching once more to be his inamorata, his pleasure.

"Which floor?" He asked huskily, striding towards the bank of lifts, her hand firmly clasped in his.

"Ten" she whispered. "The Rose Suite. Our suite"

His eyes darkened, and he quickened his pace, as her heartbeats spiraled in response.

And then, just as they reached the lift foyer, both their phones began to ring.

Shaadi ki yaad Kuch din ke baad
Shaadi ki yaad Kuch din ke baad
Aati hai jab khush hoke sab kehte hai ye
Din aata rahe Dil gaata rahe
Happy anniversary to you
Happy anniversary to you

Dhun yunhi yaadein ki bajti rahe
Din din jodi yeh sajti rahe
Aaj yahi hai dil se dua
Pyar tumhaara ho na juda
Din aata rahe Dil gaata rahe
Happy anniversary to you

Din aata rahe Dil gaata rahe
Happy anniversary to you

Beeta hua kal phir jaise aa gaya
Raaz humme koi samjha gaya
Badle zamaana badlo na tum
Saath hamesha ho kaayam
Din aata rahe Dil gaata rahe
Happy anniversary to you

Din aata rahe Dil gaata rahe
Happy anniversary to you

Shaadi ki yaad Kuch din ke baad
Aati hai jab khush hoke sab kehte hai ye
Din aata rahe Dil gaata rahe
Happy anniversary to you
Happy anniversary to you