The Anniversary

Piya stared at her clothes. She has been doing that for god knows how long. As she fingered through the materials of each of her dresses trying to decide what would best suit the specialty of the occasion, she could not suppress a smile that kept spreading through her lips however much she tried to hide it. It was her and Raghav's third year anniversary. she felt like a teenager again, heady with love for her husband. Suddenly her eyes fell on the ring on her finger and it opened floodgates..
* * * *

Raghav and Piya had always been friends. They had the same group of friends in college who always thought that Raghav and Pya were meant to be together. So, it didnt come as a surprise to when they started dating. One year later, it was 16th of January. Raghav took her for a long drive after the night show movie. While sitting in the car and kissing eachother deliriously he popped the question--
"Will you marry me?"
Piya didnt know what to say..
"Don't you think it's a little too early baby?shouldn't we at least give it some more time?"
Raghav smiled."I know you are scared darling. You might think that I wont love you as much as I have. But you are wrong. Piya you are my word, my life and at every point I will always keep you as my first priority come what may. I love you and am never going to hurt you."
As the cold ring slid on her finger glittering there, Piya felt a sudden desire to cry.
"I am so happy. I cant believe i am so happy."
* * * *
The clock chimed 5pm. bringing Piya hastily back from her reverie. She felt a tear roll down her cheek.
"Stupid me" she thought as she got a pink sari out of her closet. Raghav loved this sari. She had worn this when she had first gone to meet Raghav's parents. It held special memories for her. It was in this that they had first made love. It had been beautiful and painful. She remembered every moment of it as she moaned and savoured it. It felt like homecoming to her. Finally she had found fulfillment. The sari had a lot of memories...
* * * *
Raghav had forgotten it last night that it was their anniversary the next day. Piya did not blame him. He was engrossed in a lot of work. She smiled and gave him his gift. It was a t-shirt he had liked.

"You aren't angry na baby?" Raghav asked with his face all puckered up like a child.

"No darling. I'm not. but you better not forget it tomorrow." She had laughed and said.
Raghav also laughed and took her in his arms--
"No baby, I wont forget it again. And I'm going to make it so wonderful for you, my darling wife."

She had suddenly felt a will to cry.
"I'm so happy. I can't believe I'm so happy" she thought.
Suddenly she felt very vulnerable. As she cuddled up to him she whispered into his ear:
"Raghav let's make the day really special tomorrow. Let's forget our work, our friends, everything..and just be with eachother...like a date or something where we get all dressed up and stay up all night."

"Whatever you want baby. I'm all yours"Raghav muttered as he kissed her. The watch chimed. It was 12am.
* * * *
Piya did not go to work today. She took the day off and just surrounded herself with memories. The more she remembered, the more she felt alive. She realised that buried beneath the pressure of their work, she and Raghav had both let go of the beauty of their relationship. They loved eachother but always forgot to show it to eachother through their actions. The nightly "I love you" followed by a kiss was more like a ritual now than a sacred moment.
"I guess life does this to people"she thought. She decided that from now on she will make more of an effort to show Raghav how much she loved him and appreciated him. And that has to begin from today. This anniversary will be a new beginning for her.
"It's going to be so special".
* * * *
It was 7pm now. Piya had dressed up in all her finery. She looked like a queen in her attire.
"Queen" she laughed as she thought about it. Raghav used to always call her his Queen because she didnt not like being called a Princess which he used to call his ex-girlfriend by.
She looked at the mirror and smiled secretively. She had indulged in really expensive sexy lingerie for him. She knew how much he loved it when she looked all sexy. The sari brought out her curves. She felt....very feminine...very alive. Running after her work she often forgot to dress up just for the heck of it.
"This feels good" she mentally remarked. She could not wait for Raghav to come back.
"He wont know what hit him. He wont be able to keep his eyes off me. Oh God! I love him so much. I can't believe I don't do this for him everyday" she mused..
* * * *
It was 8pm now. Piya called him up.
"Where are you? How long will you take?"
"Hey baby, actually there is this office friend's birthday party today. He absolutely insisted. I'm sorry baby. I will be a bit late."
"But Raghav you promised...you promised that we will keep this day for ourselves"her voice cracked.
"I know darling. But I seriously couldn't get out of it. I'm so sorry baby. But the plan remains. I'm going to get out of this as soon as I can mayb in another one hour and then we spend the enitre night out together-just me and my pretty wife.What say?? please baby..."
"Ok. But please don't be too late. I'm waiting here."
"I know. I wont be. Love you darling."
"Love you too."
* * * *
It was 11.50pm. Piya sat flipping through the channels., her fingers pressing the buttons of the remote mindlessly. her kaajal has got smudged. The lipstick was barely visible on her lips. She looked at the clock. 10 more minutes and it would be all over. Suddenly she heard the car stopping outside. Piya's face lit up. Her earlier langour now gave way to nervous excitement.She adjusted her sari and touched her make-up. She looked like a Queen again...his Queen.
* * * *
With a spring in her steps she went and opened the door. Raghav stood there smiling. He looked very tired and a bit drunk.
"Hey baby." he came near and kissed her.
"Hey my tiger."
He went straight to the bathroom and came out after changing into his night shirt.
"Uh...aren't we going out for a drive?" Piya's voice faltered as she twisted the end of her sari with anticipation.
Raghav looked sheepish." No baby. I'm really tired to go out now. Lets just celebrate here...in the bedroom...you and me with the lights out..." He gave her his devilish smile.
Piya couldn't help laughing. This was so like Raghav. he Got her all angry and then made things all right with these comments.She gave him a sexy smile.
"You never said how i looked?"
"you look beautiful."
She smiled."You make yourself comfortable on the bed Mr. Raghav. I have a special treat for you."
"Achcha??... I can't wait... Don't keep me waiting baby.."
She laughed and went to the bathroom as she saw him climb up on the bed. She hurriedly took off her sari and then her blouse and petticoat. She now stood only in her black lingerie.
She felt so naked , yet so happy. She knew he would love it. They would make love all night long and wake up in the morning all spent up in each other's arms --tired but divinely happy.

She hastily dabbed some perfume on herself and then with a nervous feeling walked out of the bathroom into the dim light of the bed room. She saw him lying on the bed waiting for her.

"I'm going to so tempt you tonight. .. I will be your sex goddess" she purred in a sexy tone as she walked towards him. She got on the bed and slowly came near him, almost trembling with anticipation...when he will touch her..when he will claim her.

He was asleep.

"Raghav! Raghav!"
He groaned."Ya baby. I'm awake. Tell me."
"you are not awake. I can see you are sleeping."
"I'm sorry baby. " His eyes cracked open. "I'm just really tired out. But i promise I'm going to make it up to you. It's just one day darling."
"But this one day is our anniversary" she almost shouted.
"I know that baby. I love you and I promise I'm going to make it up to you."
"What if I'm not there for you to make up to?"she threatened.
"Don't leave me baby. I always try to make you happy. Please understand. Its just one night." he looked at her drowsily. "Love you darling". He came up and kissed her.
"Love you too" she said in a dead voice.
He smiled: " Good night baby. I love you so much. We will talk about this tomorrow."

He rolled off to sleep. Piya felt very stupid. She felt broken and stupid. She felt an amazing urge to cry. sitting in her lingerie, she let the tears fall.
"I am so happy. I can't believe I'm so happy" she muttered to herself. Somewhere the clock chimed for a new day.

a date to remember

one bad date can ruin ur entire  dating reputation...well i learnt this from my friend nick. from a dating must he turned into a dating no no.. nick has always been popular with girls.. with his cherubic face and charming ways he was always a girl magnet. being friends with him we saw a string of girls sigh for him everytime he passed them. well in spite of being so popular he never really went for dates as according to him he was too shy and was waiting for the right one. well the right one did come ...and disaster followed suit.

anne was a senior to him. when she started being all friendly with him we realised that nickboy has hit a jackjpot. dating a senior is always great ego booster and reputation builder. eliot said that april is the cruelest month..but for nick the undoing came in the innocent month of september. finally he asked anne out. it was a grand affair. he got all ready and everything and took her to a fancy hang out place.. and then disaster struck.

nick always had a soft spot for chicken..he can hog on for hours. well the date was no different. he ordered every kind of chicken dish available. the problem was that anne was also an avid chicken eater. so the moment the chicken came there was almost a marathon like race about who could eat more chicken. but our friend nick with years of practice finished his plate first. anne was savouring hers bit by bit...nick started drooling looking at that and then he did the unthinkable. in a swift second  of weakness he stretched out his hand...anne thought he was going 2 clear out some spot on her face...but slowly the hand moved away from her face and towards her plate and ..he grabbed the piece of chicken and in one swift motion stuffed his mouth with it. anne was too shocked to react.  she just sat there petrified not being able to believe that behind that angelic face lay a psycho glutton who snatched food from ur plate. taking advantage of her stupor, he said looking at her plate " are you going to eat that?" and before she could answer he took the plate from her side and started eating out of it...

i guess the date ended then only unofficially. but still the bill paying was left. the waiter came with the check. anne said that she would love to share the bill but nick was insistent that he pays the bill as he had eaten most of the stuff from both their plates. well she let him. i guess she was already tired of him and wanted 2 get this over with as fast as possible. then came the second shock...

nick opened his wallet and there was no money. he suddenly remembered that he had left it at the bed side table. he started signaling to anne..at first she couldnt understand what was the meaning of the profuse winking and weird hand gestures...finally nick drew his chair close to her and whispered..."i kinda left my cash at home...so can u pay the bill??"...anne couldnt believe it.. not only had she the worst date of the century where she was still hungry, but also now she had 2 pay for it..she gave him the meanest look she could come up with and took out the money and gave it. and walked out.

nick ran after her and said " dont i kiss u good night?"....

a resounding slap ...and nick had never had a date in college again...