"Bake until golden and a cake tester inserted into the centre comes out clean, 30 to 45 minutes." Sameer read out as he stared at the book that was placed before him on the black marble countertop. As he had preplanned it, he came early from office, gave helpers the early out and was busy cooking for Naina now, while Ria was seated on a stool by a kitchen counter munching on some apple slices that Sameer gave her to eat.
He trasferred the cake batter from a glass bowl to to the baking pan that he'd already greased with butter and levelled with an offset spatula. He then opened the oven door and slid the pan into the preheated oven. When the door was shut, he set the time for thirty minutes and breathed a sigh of relief. "Lo ji, ye kaam to ho gaya. I hope it will be as good as Naina's!" He said, while turning around. Ria saw his face and burst into laughter straightaway. Some cake batter was spilled on his apron, some was stuck on cheeks, and a little piece of white chocolate peeking out from his muddled hair.
Sameer scratched his head, wondering Ab iss shaitan ko kya hua? She was laughing, laughing and laughing. He just stood there looking at her; her mind was off somewhere he didn't know where. While trying hard to stop laughing she said, panting "Papa", she paused for some seconds, "Aap to mere sare favourite cartoons se bhi jyada funny lag rahe ho." She spoke out and fell about again. It was only now that Sameer noticed his stained apron, and found himself smiling anon, because it was impossible not to smile with her eyes sparkling freely, long hair that was pinned up in a bun started slipping from it as she laughed, and the cute sound of her laughter rippled toward him like music, for which he could forever be as funny as barrel of monkeys.
He'd been bewitched by his own creation, until her small hand gestured for him to come closer, once she packed in her laughing, panting a little. And when he came before her she climbed up onto her stool and much to her disappointment could barely reach his chest, let alone his face. It triggered the corners of her mouth and they turned down naturally. Sameer chuckled at her behaviour, "Aww baby, you're only 5 years old." He said, as he lifted her into his arms and inhaled her sweet aroma of strawberry soap and shampoo. She let out a victorious smile before she reached out to wipe away the batter from his cheek with the pad of her fingers. When she showed those brown spotted fingers to him, they chortled synchronously.
Having finished the cooking, they rushed to his bedroom. Spread a new bed sheet, changed to matching pillow covers, freshened the room with lavender freshner; Naina's favourite and changed Ria's clothes made her wear the clothes Naina had brought for her. It was a cute pink rosette bodice knee length dress made of satin. It made Ria's cute feature standout as though it was made for her only. They teamed it up with pink belly shoes to complete the look and Sameer let her hair down, for styling those long locks was surely not his cup of tea.
"Papa apko to kuch bhi nhi aata."
"Bas beta, yahi kuch mauke hote hai jo mujhe ehsaas kara jate hai ki boy cut duniya ka sabse acha hairstyle hai."
"Papa mai kaisi lag rahi hu?" Ria asked excitedly as she twirled around.
Sameer smiled, pulled her close and hugged her fondly, "Papa ki jaan is the loveliest girl in the world!"
Ria then sprinted to her room to put the finishing touches on Naina's gift, while Sameer took a quick shower, focusing his thoughts on Naina's possible reactions to the surprise. He came out the bathroom, wearing just a towel wrapped around his waist. He opened his cupboard, ran a hand through his wet hair, pondering the question of what clothes to wear, while some drops of water fell to his shoulders, became one in the way to middle of his chest and finally trailed down to his navel, got disappeared into the dent. He ruffled through his shirts for a minute or two, then settled on a black and cream color full sleeves stripped t-shirt that fitted his size and teamed it up with a blue jeans that complemented his height. His hair had dried by now soft and silky and appealingly disordered. He didn't comb it but shook his head, his locks of black velvety hair swaying from side to side. Then he ran his hand through his hair from front to back. He then sprayed a little perfume at his neck and wrists, put on his watch, completed his look with a pair of black moccasins and looked handsome as always.
Naina smiled when she returned in the evening and saw Sameer's car already parked outside. She walked along the marbled pathway, reached the door of the house and put out her hand to ring the bell. But her arm fell back to her side as she saw that the door was not quite closed.
The door opened silently as she pushed in and she stepped in, her mind was alert to a strange feeling. As the hall was still and dark, opposed to Sameer's habit of turning on every light in the house in evening. She called his name but he didn't reply. "Shayad Ria ke saath upar room me hoge?" She murmered to herself as she turned to left side of her body, moved her hand to feel the switch, turn on the light and then went up to her room.
She walked in pushing open the door with her right hand, unaware of the surprise waiting for her, and was astonished at the decoration of the room filled with balloons, flowers; cards and glitters scattered everywhere. There was a small red paper bag and a package on the bed waiting for her attention. She walked over to them, curiously and picked up the red bag first. It had something that seemed like a greeting card, she pulled it out and it was actually. The card was simple rectangular and folded,it had a beautiful picture on the cover: a man kissing his woman on forehead. Just over the picture was a printed message, that read: You're my friend, You're my love, You're my heart, You're my soul. Happy Valentine's Day to the most beautiful woman I know.
She was supposed to surprise him, but got astonished by him instead. She hit herself lightly in the head at her forgetfulness.
The card was indeed the best she'd ever seen and those words were magical enough to spread a smile across her lips. She opened the cover and her smile grew wider for the right inside side of the card has an attached message on a paper written by him. She knew that cursive handwriting. She read it,
Naina My love,
Bhool gayi thi na ki aaj kya hai. I knew it. :P You know no words can descibe my feelings, my love for you, but here I am, penning down my heart in this message. You know love is so simple and effortless. Expensive gifts, a big bunch of flowers, romantic candle-lit dinner it doesn't really need such extraordinary deals, because it exists in more basic things, like a sweet smile, talk through eyes, a good morning kiss or a tight hug. With you I found that kind of love, the love that I've fallen hopelessly in love with.
Our life is not a fairytale, and trust me it's way more better. I love every small things you do for me, like when you bring me water if I am too tired or lazy, massage my head if I have headache, make me my favourite food whenever I ask for, just hug me close at night aur jab tum khud se jyada meri khushi ka khayal karti ho, I feel on the verge of melting down Naina. Sach tumse phle mujhe kabhi kisi ne itna pyaar nahi kiya. Mera dil karta hai mai tumhe khud mei sama lu.
Nothing can steal my love away from you, not even death, as I always pray to God, to make you mine, forever, in the Earth and in the Heaven. I love you and I'll always love you kyunki tumhe chahe bina to mai apni life imagine bhi nahi kar sakta.
Happy Valentine's Day Meri Jaan. Hamesha aise hi rehna hasti muskurati, sabse pyaar karne wali, aur mujhse sabse jyada pyaar karne wali meri Naina.
With lots of love,
Tumhara aur sirf aur sirf tumhara
Sameer.
Even though Naina tried to stop, a tear leaked out of the corner of her eye. It was a hybrid tear of delight and overwhelming sense of being loved unconditionally, she had been trapped in, for she knew he meant every word. How she wanted to be in his tight embrace right now and kiss him senseless.
She read the message again as she talked to herself silently, "Life ne aisi bht si chize di hai jinse dher sari khusiya mili hai mujhe. Lekin sabse badi khushi to ye pal pal mere saath rhne wala ehsaas hai ki koi mujhse itna pyaar karta hai jitna mai soch bhi nahi sakti thi ki kiso ko kiya ja sakta hai. Tum mujhe khud me sama lena chahte ho, lekin ye kaise ho sakta hai kyunki tum to khud mere dil mei base hue ho."
She wiped underneath her eyes with gentle swipe of her fingers, put the card carefully into her handbag. With a trace of smile played across her face she untied the red bow on the package. It was a saree. As she lifted it up, a note fell out. She picked it up and read the note,
Waise to tum jo bhi kuch pehno mujhe hamesha hi achi lagti ho janeman. Naina chuckled, then read further, lekin,kaash tum meri aankho se khud ko iss Saree me imagine kar pati. And believe me it is made for you only. Please wear it for me and come quickly, Ria and Papa are waiting for you in the living room.
She smiled as she rubbed the soft fabric between her thumb and finger. It was a lovely plain black saree with sequin border and she really liked it, but she couldn't say the same about the blouse. When she raised it, her eyes widened, her smile left her lips and they parted as her jaw dropped. Not that it wasn't beautiful, it was indeed a very lovely black colour blouse with golden work throughout the wide straps stretching from the back covering shoulders and meeting at the front, but it was so small, that for a moment Naina wondered if it would fit her?
She could feel him around, giving her the puppy eyes look that enkindled her inner warmth and made the tinge of rational thought that had begun to arise in moments just passed, to sink into oblivion for the nonce. She was going to wear it for the man she loved like crazy.
She washed her face first, and then got into the blouse which lifted her perky bust, creating sexy feminine cleavage, since the blouse was of pushup variety and it did its job perfectly. She thought that the saree would help her, but it seemed there was no way to escape. Her blouse and her bare waist were clearly visible through the transparent material. She almost couldn't recognize herself in the mirror. The black saree made her skin glow and her eyes sparkle like never before in the yellow light in their room. It was quite irregular to think of herself as sexy, but she certainly felt more beautiful and sexy than she could ever remember. Quite soon she put the thoughts aside, wore her diamond stud earrings, loosened her hair and it fell in long untwisting waves below her waist, she brushed it until it was soft and flexible, put on moisturiser and minimal makeup. She took one last glance at herself before she made her way down to the living room.
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