Malharji's Birthday
"Aaj Malharji ka birthday hai!!" Kalyani woke up with a smile radiating her excitement and happiness. She knew that Malhar was not one to celebrate his birthday but she was going to have her way.
She gazed around and saw that both Malhar and Pillu were missing from the room. Looking at the wall clock she was shocked to see that it was 10 am. "How had she slept for such a long time?" Annoyed with herself, she rushed into the bathroom.
Showered and dressed, she dashed to the kitchen only to find that Anupriya and Swara were cooking. Searching for both her cutie pies, she asked, "Aai! Malharji aur Pillu kahan hai?"
"Tumhara beta Atharva ke saath khel raha hai aur tumhara pati bina naashta kiye police station chala gaya. Aur kuch???" Anupriya retorted.
"Aai tum mujse gussa ho? Pata nahin kyun itna late hogaya utne me."
"Chalo Vahini ab tum bhi hamari madadh Karo. Aaj dada ke favourite dishes bana rahe hain hum. Dada ka birthday celebrate karne ka moka nahin mila kabhi. Tho aaj hum sab milke unhe surprise karenge...kyun", Swara chirped in.
"Oops !" Kalyani could feel her plans going down the drain. No, this definitely did not fit into her game plan. "What to do… " she began thinking.
"Kalyani….kahan khoyi ho….ab bhi neend puri nahin huyi kya?" Anupriya jerked her daughter to the present.
"Aai! Swara! Main aaj puri din sirf padhai karne wali hoon. Tabhi Malharji khush honge. Haan.. Main yahi karoongi.. Aap donon Aaj mere Pillu ko bhi sambhal lijiye. Mujhe disturb math karna pure din. OK bye bye."
Kalyani ran away from the kitchen unbothered about the perplexed looks of her mother and Swara.
Back in their room, Kalyani locked the windows and door and began setting her plan into motion. She brought out a big bag of decorations which she had hidden under the bed since 2 days and decorated the room. All of this took her around 4-5 hours and she was exhausted. She opened her pizza box which she had ordered for herself for lunch with instructions to deliver at their balcony and not at the main entrance. Looking around the room, she felt satisfied and excited.
Anupriya had called her out for lunch but Kalyani had refused saying she wasn't hungry. Anupriya and Swara were curious to know what she was doing but they couldn't even get a glimpse. They had given up ultimately.
Malhar had been meddling with his phone all day waiting for a call from his lovely wife. She hadn't called. She had been sleeping when he left home and he hadn't had the heart to wake her up though he failed to understand why she had to be on her phone until the wee hours instead of getting a good night's sleep.
He was disappointed that she did not remember his birthday. Though he had never celebrated birthdays earlier, he had wanted to this time with his whole family and especially with his wife.
He started home. At least he could spend time with them if not celebrate.
As he entered home, his entire family threw a surprise at him shouting "Happy Birthday". Malhar broke into a broad smile as each of them hugged him. He took blessings from Aao Saheb and his father. Moksh also wished his Baba in his own language.
His eyes searched for Kalyani who was not there. He looked questioningly at Anupriya who said "Malhar Mujhe bhi patha nahin Kalyani kya kar rahi hain. Subah se naashta bhi nahin kiya, lunch bhi nahin kiya, sirf bola ki wo padhai kar rahi hai aur hum me se koi bhi use disturb na kare. Pillu ko bhi nahi dekha usne. Pata nahin kya chalta hai is ladki ke dimaag mein."
Malhar was genuinely surprised "Padhai?". Before he could think further Swara pulled him along to the dining table and fed him his favourite food. Though Malhar was missing his Kalyani, he had no heart to disappoint his sister whom he had reunited with after a long time.
He grabbed Moksh and started towards his room when Anupriya and Sarthak stopped him.
"Malhar aaj raat mein aur Anupriya Moksh ko sambhalte hain. Tum jakar Kalyani ko dekho, may be uski tabiyat theek nahin hain."
"Haan Malhar tum jao Aur agar uski tabhiyat kharaab hain tho Mujhe bula Lena."
Malhar nodded his head and handed over Moksh to them. His disappointment had now been replaced by worry for his Pagli. "What was she doing? If she was not well, she would have gone to Mai..was it something else which was bothering her?" These thoughts in mind, he knocked the door but found it open at his light touch.
Kalyani had heard him coming, opened the lock and quickly hid behind the bed.
"Kalyani… ", Malhar entered the room calling out her name. He stood wide-eyed seeing the room decorated beautifully with candles, flowers, balloons and numerous pictures of them. The bed looked inviting with new bedsheets embellished by rose petals.
As he stood there taking it all in, two arms circled his waist from behind.
"Happy Birthday Malharji! "
Malhar's heart warmed as he pulled her to the front. He cupped her face and kissed her forehead, "Thank you Kalyani...mujhe laga tum bhool gayi".
"Aise Kaise bhool jaongi. Bas thoda sa apka patience test Karna tha mujhe."
"Woh tho tum hamesha hi karthi ho…...abhi tak Mujhe jawaab nahin diya... " he murmured to himself.
"Kuch kaha aapne? Chaliye ab time waste math kijiye, cake kaatiye, Sabne cake khila diya lekin mainne nahin...ye hamara private celebration hai." she pulled him towards the small cake with a single candle.
Smiling naughtily she added,"Jaldi se wish maangiye, shayad puri ho jaye."
Malhar had only one wish, to receive an answer from her and that's exactly what followed to his amazement.
There his Kalyani was on one knee, holding out a single rose to him, "I love you too Malharji", she said huskily.
His handsome face filled with joy as he accepted her rose. Rising to her feet Kalyani tenderly placed her lips on his surprising him even more. He deepened the kiss and soon they were engrossed in suckling each other's lips.
Kalyani's hands roamed all over his back feeling his muscles as she moaned and shivered in a desire which was unknown to her. They fell on the bed still entwined. Slowly Malhar broke their kiss and gently brushed the hair from her face. He did not want to hurry her.
"This is my best birthday Kalyani. You gave me the most wonderful gift, your immeasurable love, which I promise to cherish every day of my life. I love you."
"I love you too Malharji" she snuggled closer.
"Tumne khana nahin khaya na, main hum donon ke liye noodles banake ke laata hun."
Later, Malhar and Kalyani fed each other and relished the noodles. They spent the whole night in each other's company in anticipation of their budding romance and much more.
------
Writer: Rekha1975
