Always and Forever Part 59: Journey to Udaipur

Udaipur… Just the name brought so many memories that sometimes she felt overwhelmed. It was their first college trip and her second long trip after Mt. Abu. Even then it had been so difficult to get permission from home, especially with Taiji repeatedly broadcasting, “jawan ladkiya hai… kuch unch-neech ho gai toh.” Somehow with lots of pleading, arguments about education, promises of calling every day and toeing the line they had been allowed to go. Chachaji had influenced the decision a lot, even though her father had been totally against it. He had mentioned how he had been able to keep an eye in Mt. Abu, but there was no one in college who could personally keep a watch. But Chachaji had said that they should trust their daughters, and had assured that he would personally talk to the teachers in college to ensure that all safety protocols were followed and special care was given to the girls. The fact that Swati’s mamaji lived in Udaipur had also played an essential role in the permission.

The alarm beeped loudly causing Sameer to stir awake and he reached out to turn off the offending equipment. Before he could open his eyes he felt a soft kiss on his cheek and smiled. “Good Morning”, his wife chirped.

He licked his lips, and blinked his eyes open, “good morning sweetheart.” She grinned at him, her face shining fresh as morning dew, her hair falling over her shoulders felt cold on his bare chest. His brows furrowed as he looked at the white bathrobe, and touched the damp hair, “tumne naha liya? Kabse jag rahi ho?”

“Ek ghante se”, she informed, “Udaipur ke naam se itni excitement ho rahi hai na… Sapne aa rahe the raat ko…”

He raised his eyebrows, “really? I thought humne jo kiya uske baad tumhe sirf sexy sapne hi aayenge. Par tum toh kaafi boring nikli…” She pinched his waist causing him to let out an yelp, and then he laughed, “mazaak kar raha hun sweetheart.”

Her eyes sparkled as she queried, “tumse aisa kisne kaha ke Udaipur ke sapne sexy nahi ho sakte?”

He blinked in surprise, and then an elated expression lit up his face, “fantasies?”

She laughed, “not exactly…” He pouted, and she traced her thumb on his lower lip, “tumhe yaad hai jab tum mujhe school le gaye the… Yaadein taaza karne…” He nodded, opening his mouth to suckle on her finger. She chuckled at his action, “tumne parking lot se leke library tak har jagah mujhe kiss kiya tha…”

He left her finger, and frowned, “haan… toh?”

Her lips curved in a lopsided smile that tripped his heartbeats, “mujhe bhi Udaipur ke har uss location pe wapas jaana hai jahan hum college me ghume the, aur har jagah tumhe kiss karna hai…”

He gaped at her, “par… par… woh toh public places hai…”

She shrugged, “woh tumhari problem… mujhe toh kiss chahiye…”

“Naina”, he whispered, “tum theek toh ho na?”

She blessed him with a loud kiss on his jaw, “bilkul theek hun… bas bahot saara romance karne ka man hai.”

He slid his hand in her hair, “sweetheart romance hi karna tha toh yeh robe pehenke kyun aai ho? Abhi dikhata hun main romance…”

As he lifted to kiss her, she placed a hand on his mouth, “uh uh… aaj nahi… time dekho zara… Abhi romance me lag gaye toh Udaipur pahonchne me late ho jayega.”

“Honeymoon pe thoda toh time yahan wahan hota hai na”, he countered.

She combed her fingers through his hair, “jaanti hun… par aaj sach me late ho jayenge… Humne milke plan kiya tha na ke jaldi niklenge aur sunrise raaste se dekhenge… Aur tumne kaha tha kisi thele pe breakfast khilaoge…”

He observed her excited face and then glanced at the clock, giving up the idea of lovemaking with a sigh, and smiled, cupping her face, “fine… tum kapde daal lo bag me… main jaldi se nahake aata hun…”

She grinned, lifted up and captured his lips in a soft tender kiss, “I love you.”

“I love you too”, he reciprocated with pleasure. It took them around thirty minutes to wrap up everything from the room, with Sameer specifically ensuring that they were not forgetting any stash of condoms. Ten more minutes went by in check-out formalities, and they had some coffee before leaving as he wanted to ensure that he didn’t feel drowsy. Dawn was breaking over the horizon when he pulled the car out of the hotel premises. Naina had requested to keep the windows open and not use AC as it was so early. She had complained, “tum AC itni tez rakhte ho ke mujhe lagta mere sharir pe thand ke wajah se jhurriya pad jayegi.”

He chuckled now on seeing her lean out of the window a bit and dragging in a deep breath of the clean fresh air. Today Naina was dressed in a yellow-green salwar-kameez, her long hair open, golden jhumkas twinkled on her ears and her hand was still full of the red-green chuda. The mangalsutra tied by him gleamed on her neck and her forehead adorned a bindi and sindur… To him she looked ethereal. Sometimes he still had a hard time believing that finally Naina was his wife. All his life he had lived in fear of losing his loved ones… After Nanu had left him, he had had the same fear about Naina. Even though he trusted her love totally, he didn’t have much faith on his own fate, but it seemed for once his destiny was absolutely sure about his life.

The horizon started to turn golden, and she pointed to the side of the road, “thodi der rukte hai na suryoday dekhne.”

He nodded, parking the car on the side, and she immediately got out to watch the sunrise. He stepped out, closing the door, his eyes fixed on his wife. She had closed her eyes, turned her face up as if absorbing the light and energy of the sun, and her arms were wrapped around herself. He moved behind her, looping his arms around her waist, and pulled her back to his chest… She came willingly, a small smile curving her lips, her eyes still closed.

“Tum aaj bahot khoobsurat lag rahi ho”, he whispered against her ear.

Her smile widened, “aaj pink nahi pehna maine…”

“Koi farq nahi padta”, he affirmed, “you are gorgeous.”

She sighed happily, opening her eyes to look at the mesmerizing sunrise. She had never imagined her life would be so perfect… It felt like a dream. Folding her arms over his at her waist, she stroked the skin of her forearms, “Sameer… tumhe yaad hai jab humne pehla suryoday saath dekha tha tab tumne kaha tha ke aasman me itne saare rang hote hai woh tumhe uss din hi pata chala.”

He hummed, “haan… yaad hai… Mt. Abu ki woh khaas raat aur haseen subah… Aur tumhari bhalu wali dress…”

She lightly slapped his arm for teasing her, and said, “dekho zara… aaj bhi utne saare rang hai aasman me… lekin tumhe pata hai… meri zindagi me aaj isse bhi zyada rang hai… sirf tumhari wajah se…”

He drew in a breath, finally moving his eyes to the sky, looking in awe at the multitude of colors, and incredible warmth fill his heart at her open declaration of how he had filled her life with more colors than the sky held. She tilted her head back on his chest to look at her husband… He had his head lifted up, his eyes squinting at the sun, his jaw tilted at a proud angle… The sharp line of his jaw marked with slight stubble still had the capacity of tripping her heartbeats… She loved touching his jaw to feel the rough texture, when she kissed the rasp of his stubble against her lips felt like static bursts of electricity that made her spine tingle… She recalled the sensation his stubble grazing against the soft skin of her breast, belly and thighs when he kissed her, sometimes leaving tiny red marks behind, and just that reminiscence made heat pool in her belly leaving behind a throbbing ache between her legs… Suddenly, driven by impulse, she lifted on her toes, and placed a lingering kiss on his jaw. He sucked in a sharp breath, closing his eyes for a moment, and then looked down at her, unable to believe she had kissed him on the road. His eyes held surprise as he asked, “kya hua?”

She shrugged, biting her lips, “man hua…”

“Stop that”, he groaned, “tumhe yaad nahi kya, aisa karogi toh main kiss kare bina reh nahi paunga.”

Her cheeks flushed, but she boldly declared, “filhaal toh mera bhi man aisa hi ho raha hai.”

Drawing in a deep breath, he loosened his hold on her, taking a step back, “tumhari timing bahot kharab hai… Hotel me kyun man nahi hua tumhara?”

She laughed, turning to him and cupped his face, “meri kya galti ab achanak cheeze yaad aane lagi toh… khair… chalo jaldi jaate hai… Jitna jaldi Udaipur pahonche utna achcha.”

He definitely agreed to that, and within the next two minutes they were on their way again, very soon turning onto the highway. The road was fairly empty so he could pick up the speed, and after an hour and half they touched Tonk. Going by the time, he decided to take the exit and enter the small city for breakfast. A quick enquiry at the petrol pump landed them at the gates of a restaurant called Chatkara.

She frowned, “yeh thela toh nahi hai.”

“Thele pe Udaipur jaake khayenge na”, he pacified, “I know maine kaha tha, lekin thele pe khake pet me kuch gadbad ho gai toh poore raste problem hogi.”

Just because she agreed to his logic, she gave in, entering the small non-AC restaurant. They were immediately assailed with delicious smells, and at a corner one man was frying fresh jalebis. Her eyes widened in delight, and she looked at her husband expectantly. Sameer chuckled, “haan khayenge… lekin pehle proper kuch khao… sirf jalebi se pet nahi bharna.”

As they sat down, a boy came with a laminated breakfast menu listing ten different items. Naina demanded a dish of pyaaz ki kachori and maska bun, while Sameer added kachori-sabji after the waiter told them the kachori filling will be different, and also a dish of mirchi wada with bread, plus two cups of tea. Once the waiter left, Naina giggled, “itna saara abhi khayenge toh lunch me bhi bhuk nahi lagegi… Aur upar se sab fried.”

“Maska bun fried nahi hai”, he concluded, “waise bhi iss side yahi sab chalta hai nashta me… I mean local food me.”

She hummed, glancing at the menu that also had some pictures, “mujhe na pyaaz ki kachori ki recipe chahiye. Ek-do baar khai hai, itni yummy hoti hai na. Chachiji ne ek baar try kiya tha ghar pe, ram jaane kya bana diya tha.”

He laughed, fairly aware of Chachiji’s cooking experiments, and teased, “matlab ab tum bhi Chachiji ki tarah experiments karogi kitchen me.”

She wasn’t deterred, “haan… ab mera apna kitchen hai toh banta hai… Tum taste nahi karoge mere experiments?”

He held her hand, lifting it up to his lips and dropped a kiss on her fingers, “aree meri jaan… tum jo bhi khilaogi aankh bandh karke kha lunga.”

She blushed, and quickly pulled her hand back as the boy came back with all their order, miraculously balancing the dishes in his hands. Sameer took in a deep breath, “wow… mast smell aa rahi hai.” The saucers were plonked before them with overflowing cups of tea, a trademark of street-side restaurants. Naina picked up her cup, delicately sipping on the hot tea, while he bypassed his own cup and pulled the kachori-sabji towards him. “Oi”, she quickly put her cup aside, “usme mera bhi hai.”

He laughed, “akele thodi na khaunga main? Chatori biwi meri…”

She broke off some kachori and dipped it in sabji, “tumhara bharosa nahi… bhukkad toh school se hi ho…” She moaned at the taste, the crispy kachori with the spicy sabji with just a hint of kasuri methi was perfect.

“Pyaaz wali bhi taste karte hai pehle”, he suggested. Every item they had ordered was delicious. The pyaaz kachori was crisp and flavorful, the maska bun was slathered generously with homemade white butter, the mirchi wada were huge and stuffed to the brim with potato mixture. Sameer placed a mirchi wada on a bread slice, and folded it, holding it up for her to take a bit. She obliged, and understood that the plain slice of bread balanced out the oil and spice of the wada. They had to order another round of tea to wrap up the meal, and then naturally it was followed by a dish of hot jalebis. After a quick trip to the restroom, they started their journey again, this time closing the windows and he turned on the AC albeit keeping the temperature high so it didn’t turn much cold.

Naina had planned for a couple of stops along the way to see some places of interest and also they would serve as spots to break the journey without much detour. An hour after their breakfast, they reached Hadi Rani Kund, a stepwell dating back to the 13^th century BC. The heat wasn’t much and so they could enjoy the splendid architecture. On three sides of the well, steps were arranged in sets of thirteen going all the way down to the water level. None of them wanted to go down, but they sat on the steps for some time. Sameer took some pictures of the area and of Naina, and then set the camera on auto mode to capture some shots of them together. They spotted couple of other people as well, maybe tourists… Twenty minutes later they resumed the drive.

Sameer turned on the radio, and Naina settled down closing her eyes, her mind wandering back to the memories of school and college. The Mt. Abu trip from their school time would always stand out, but the college trip to Udaipur was spectacular. While during the Mt. Abu trip there was no clarity about their feelings, especially from his side; in the Udaipur trip they were sure of their relationship and so that planning extended beyond watching stars and clicking photographs. The friends had made a quick trip to a market near their college, and she had helped Sameer choose t-shirts and shirts. He had insisted to buy some dresses for her, but she had refused citing that there was no way to hide them. He had persisted, but then after her continuous refusals had fallen silent. She hadn’t been able to see him sad, and so she had tried to think of a way… After all she was adept in making plans and implementing them just to make Sameer happy… Be it learning to bake a cake and having it delivered to his home as an apology, or learning to make aloo parathas because it was his favorite dish, or attempting to cook matar-paneer for his birthday… If she could do all that without letting her family know of her true intentions, then surely there had to be some way for this as well… And after five minutes, she had had a brainwave, “idea hai… hum abhi kharidte hai par tum apne paas rakhna… tum hi Udaipur leke aana… Main wahan pehnungi aur phir tum wapas apne paas rakh lena.”

He had been puzzled, “par main rakhke kya karunga Naina?”

“Main shaadi ke baad pehen lungi”, she had suggested without any qualms. He had been surprised at her words, but then a wide grin had bloomed on his face, “perfect idea.”

And so for the first time she had chosen the jeans she liked, few tops that they both liked, and a light pink salwar-kameez as per his choice. A few shops down the line Sameer had pulled her inside a showroom and asked her to try on a royal blue heavily embroidered salwar-kameez. She had loved it, but had been concerned, “Sameer yeh toh bahot mehenga hai.”

“Main kamata hun Naina”, he had calmly stated.

She had smiled, “mujhe pata hai… lekin… college trip pe aisa dress pehnungi toh sab sawaal karenge…”

He had leaned closer and said, “yeh ek khaas occasion ke liye hai… tum le lo… baki ka plan Udaipur jaake bataunga.”

She had given in in-front of his strong determination, and if she was honest she could have done anything for that million dollar smile on his face. And true to his words he had surprised her by asking her out for dinner in Udaipur, asking her to wear the blue churidaar. Once more she had been stumped, as she had never faced such circumstances. Going out alone with him was not an issue in her heart, but her mind refused to betray her principles and the teachers… He had assured that they wouldn’t go out of the hotel, and he understood her hesitation… He had asked her to trust him, and that she always did… So she had dressed up, and to her extreme surprise Swati and Preeti had helped her do a hairstyle and makeup… Munna and Pandit had come to escort her, and she had been stunned on seeing a small corner of the hotel terrace decorated with some lights and set with a table and two chairs. The food was there in takeout boxes, and he had revealed some authentic Rajasthani dishes much to her delight. It was probably their first date, organized in a way that she hadn’t even understood what he had attempted, but nevertheless had a lovely time sampling the food, feeding each other, talking and then sitting side-by-side watching the stars light up the sky. He had given her red rose, complimenting how gorgeous she looked, and when he had traced the rose on her cheek she had indeed felt beautiful.

Sameer didn’t know but she had packed the same blue dress this time too… It had been lying idle in his cupboard… She had been able to use the jeans, tops and even the pink salwar-kameez slowly when Chachaji had started to give them some money, allowing them to buy some clothes of their own choices. She had saved the money, and instead brought those gifted clothes back home… At that time, using the available opportunity, Sameer had also started to gift her more dresses and trinkets, which in turn meant that all her money was saved. He had helped her open a bank account to deposit that amount, and she had gotten the permission easily from Chachaji who was pleased to know that she was saving money even after her shopping. While all the other clothes had been used, the blue dress was too heavy and too expensive to even justify buying it at her home. And so it had stayed in his cupboard, carefully wrapped up in paper, with naphthalene balls stuck inside the folds. This time she had packed it in with her clothes, keeping her own surprise plan in her mind.

The slowing down of car made her stir and she realized that she had fallen in a light doze… still able to hear the sounds subconsciously but not fully awake either. He seemed surprised, “mujhe laga tum so rahi ho.”

She adjusted her hair, “nahi… bas purane trip ka sochte-sochte pata nahi kaise jhapki lag gai.”

He gestured towards the area, “petrol bharwa raha hun… do ghante ho gaye road pe… thoda break bhi lete hai… fresh ho jao aur yahan dukaan se kuch chahiye toh le lete hai.”

She checked the time, “lunch me toh kaafi time hai abhi…”

He nodded, “haan… aur teen ghante baad Rajsamand lake pahonch jayenge… Main soch raha tha, wahin thoda late lunch kar lenge… waise bhi breakfast itna khaya hai…”

She agreed to the idea, “chalega… thoda paani le lete hai… khatam hone aaya hai bottle.”

“Tum bathroom jaake aao pehle”, he suggested, “main petrol bharwake car wahan shop ke paas le jaata hun…”

Naina washed her face with cold water, touched up her liner and lipstick, and since it was starting to get hot outside she tied her hair in a loose braid. By the time she came out, Sameer had parked the car in-front of the single shop in the premises and had gone to freshen up himself. The shopkeeper was seated inside, a single table fan directed towards him, and he was writing something in a small notebook, probably the details of the day’s transactions. Even though the shop was small, it was amazingly stacked with so many items that she was surprised at how everything fit in. She asked for two bottles of water, a pack of little hearts biscuits, couple of pan pasand candies… Sameer came up behind her, surveying the stock and asked for a pack of uncle chips, and a pack of frooti. Naina’s eyes suddenly lit up as the shopkeeper opened the fridge, and she chirped, “uncleji… ek pepsi chuski de dijiye… kala khatta wala.”

He quirked a brow, “seriously?”

She giggled, “yaad nahi… college me kitna khate the…”

He nodded, “haan… uncle mera bhi ek orange chuski… aur frooti rehne dijiye…”

After paying the bill, they stowed the snacks and the spare bottle of water on the back seat, and slurped the chuski on the way. She held hers up for him to taste and he obliged. When he teased her by not offering his orange chuski, she grabbed his hand helping herself, making him laugh. In a while she asked him to see if her tongue was colored, and he teased once more, “side me gaadi rok ke theek se check karta hun…”

She slapped his arm, “Mr. Maheshwari… Romance pe thoda control…”

Sameer grinned, loving her playful side, and fondly recollected how she had been amazed at the ice chuskis when they had had it first time. It was a new thing in market… And several people had several names for it, ranging from pepsi, to cola, to chuski and many more… She had insisted on having one daily until she had tasted all the available flavors, and then declared that kala khatta was her favorite, while he had stuck to orange mostly and sometimes mango, not really sure about the contents of the blue, green, red colors. But for Naina, it was magical to see her tongue colored blue, or any other shades and would repeatedly ask him to check. He completely adored at how she enjoyed these simple things with so much enthusiasm, something which her family had never witnessed. It had made him want to protect her childlike innocence all the more, and he had vowed to make her enjoy and experience as much as he could.

“Sameer”, she mused, “ghar pe bhi yeh bana sakte hai na… kala khatta sherbet ya orange rasna ko freeze karenge toh chuski ban jayegi… bas jaise kulfi ka saancha aata hai waisa hi chuski ke liye kuch chahiye.”

He smiled, “tumhe yeh sab banana kyun hai? Dukaan se laake freezer me rakh dena… Ya Ramdhari ko bhejke mangva lena jab khane ka man ho.”

She chided, “offo… main kahan kuch naya-naya banane ka soch rahi hun… Aur tum ho ke Ramdhari bhaiya ki parade laga rahe ho.”

He laughed, “sweetheart… agar naya banane ka try karna hai toh different cuisines try kar sakti ho… Matlab sirf roti-sabji ke jagah kuch Chinese ya Italian khana… Ya phir different flavors ke ice-cream jo hamesha shop me nahi milte… Home-made kulfi bhi bahot achchi hoti hogi shayad…” She sat back lost in thoughts once more, and he was sure she had started to think about recipes. He gently asked, “waise yeh sab kyun Naina? I mean… It’s not necessary ke tum housewife ki tarah hamesha cooking me hi time spend karo.”

She was mildly surprised, “aisa kuch nahi hai… actually jab Chachiji naye recipes try karte the na tab main unki thodi bahot help kar deti thi… lekin kuch sujhaav do ya experiment karna chaho toh Taiji tokti thi, ke videshi khana banana sikhke konsa inaam haasil karna hai… Ek baar chilli-paneer banaya tha, toh Taiji ne sazaa di ke agle teen din tak subah se leke raat tak ka saara khana mujhe hi banana hai, kisiki madad bina… Aur woh khud jhule pe bethke nazar rakhti thi… Tab main school me padhati thi toh thodi mushkil ho gai kyunki subah jaldi nikalna padta tha.”

He was annoyed, “tumne yeh mujhe bataya kyun nahi?”

“Tum Mumbai gaye hue the”, she informed, “yaad hai woh Mittal group ka tender tha… Tum itne pareshan the toh main upar se aur add nahi karna chahti thi… Aur jab tum wapas aaye toh tumse milke sab taklif bhul gai.”

A smile curved his lips at her words, “Udaipur se recipe books le sakti ho, agar chaho toh… Rajasthani recipes wali…”

Her expressions turned excited, “wow! Bahot achcha idea hai… usme toh pyaaz ki kachori ki recipe bhi mil jayegi… Aur gatte ka pulao… kadhi-pakora…”

He was amazed at her enthusiasm, “tumhe jo bhi cuisines ke recipes chahiye mujhe bata dena… Gayatri didi ki ek friend ka book store hai Mumbai me… Wahan se books courier karwa lenge.”

“Nahi”, she objected, “hum jab jahan ghumne jayenge wahan se books leke aayenge… yaadein hogi uss jagah ki… Aur maine magazine me dekha tha, fridge ke upar lagane ke magnets hote hai… Woh bhi lenge…”

He agreed, “tumhe jo chahiye sab lenge.”

After an hour she fished out the pack of little hearts biscuits, and fed him and herself alternately, as they talked about the upcoming days and how she had changed the plan to visit attractions. He really appreciated how she had taken into account that it would be too hot to visit places in afternoon, thus keeping most of the days as evening visits and a couple of early morning trips. “Hum clock tower zaroor chalenge”, she exclaimed.

He frowned, “ghadi dekhni hai tumhe?”

She chuckled, “nahi Sameer… wahan clay ke kaafi achche bartan milte hai… toh main soch rahi thi ke do handi lungi badi wali… Biryani ke liye… Ek Chachiji ko denge. Usme dum-biryani achche se banegi… Aur lac ki chudiya sabse achchi wahin milti hai…”

He liked the idea of bangles, “aur kya kharidna hai Udaipur se?”

She promptly replied, “Taiji ke liye crockery ka kuch dekh lenge; Maa ke liye Lake Palace ke wahan se saree lenge; Rohan, Munna aur Pandit ke liye traditional Rajasthani kurta; Deepika ke liye achche embroidery wale dress; aur mujhe ek carving wala lakde ka dibba chahiye study room ke liye – choti choti cheeze jaise pins aur stapler rakhenge. Aur haan… Gayatri didi ke liye ek saree aur Munshi kaka ke liye dhoti-kurta…”

He was amazed at her thoughtfulness to include Gayatri didi and Munshi kaka as well. Smiling a bit he teased, “poori duniya ka soch liya… mere liye kuch nahi?”

She blinked her eyes innocently, “tumhe kuch aur bhi chahiye? Maine socha bathroom aur nighties kaafi hai…”

He was rendered speechless for a minute or two, and then rasped, “tum na… bahot zyada shaitaan ho gai ho.”

She giggled, “ise shaitaani nahi kehte Sameer…”

“Toh kya kehte hai Naina”, he mimicked her tone.

She laughed out, her throaty lilting voice filling the car and seemed to lift away the tiredness he had started to feel from the constant drive. By 1pm they reached Rajsamand lake, a grand waterbody that was deemed as one of the five most famous lakes in Mewar, with a wide embankment of white marble. It was beautiful, but unfortunately it was too hot in peak afternoon to sit and enjoy. Sunrise or Sunset would have been an apt time to visit, and so they chose to leave and instead go to some place for lunch. Naina had chosen a place called Kumbhal Palace Restaurant that had the view of Kumbhalgarh fort, and served homely Rajasthani meal.

The restaurant was settled amid green lush garden, built in all white, the architecture similar to the palaces of Rajasthan, but the arched jharokha-like-windows were framed in glass and the inside cool from air-conditioner. As soon as they entered a waiter dressed in neat black-and-white outfit guided them to a table. There were several people in the restaurant as it was peak lunch time. Ice-cold water was served, and thick menus were placed in-front of them. Sameer wanted to use the restroom and so he left asking Naina to choose and order… Unlike the beginning of their trip, she didn’t hesitate at all. She scanned through the large menu and asked the waiter about what was included in the traditional thali, as the menu mentioned that items changed daily. The waiter detailed out each item, and she placed the order for two thalis… Once Sameer came back, she went to freshen up, and sighed in delight on finding spotlessly clean bathroom. She washed her face thoroughly, wetting a napkin to wipe the back of her neck too. She spent some time to adjust her hair, especially the wayward strands and retouched her liner. After she came back, Sameer asked, “tired?”

She shook her head, “nahi… thakan toh tumhe lagni chahiye… kitna saara drive ho gaya aaj.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, “haan… thank God journey break kiya tha… warna pata nahi kaise karta.”

Her gaze was sympathetic as she said, “hotel pahonchke massage kar dungi…”

He smiled, “okay… kya order kiya?”

“Thali”, she informed, “yahan items roz change hoti hai thali me… aaj kaafi achcha menu hai. Maine socha kuch heavy gravy wala khane se better hai simple ghar jaisa khana khaye…”

He hummed, “peene ko kuch bola?”

She nodded, “usme hi included hai… pudina wali chaas.”

The waiter came with a tray and placed a dish with three bowls of chutneys, sliced onions and tomatoes, green chillies; another dish of papad churi, and two tall glasses of chilled chaas. This was followed by another waiter who placed the large thalis with several bowls and small dishes. Sameer was delighted to see the spread, and asked, “Naina… yeh saare items ka naam pata hai?”

She chuckled, “haan… maine pucha tha…” Pointing at each one of the items she listed boondi raita, papad-mangodi ki sabzi, kadhi-pakora, ker-sangri, panchmel dal, pithore, mirch ke tipore, alu-tamatar sabzi, rice, jowar ki roti and plain roti, and a bowl of stuffed gulab-jamun. The chutneys included green mint-coriander, garlic chutney, and aam launji. Without further ado he delved into the food with enthusiasm, absolutely loving the taste. It was perfectly spiced, and the vegetables were cooked without onion-garlic in light homely gravy. The rotis were soft and the tangy raita, launji gave a proper break from the spice. Naturally he got some alu-tamatar and rice from her share too, though she finished up the dal and other vegetables. The chaas lent a soothing finish, and the pista-almond stuffed gulab-jamun was declared as one of the best dessert ever by him.

It was 2pm by the time they were on the road again, thankfully he had been able to park the car under a shade, so the interiors weren’t so hot. Both of them suckled pan pasand toffees, rarely talking… She was checking the paper map, trying to estimate by when they would reach. After 30 minutes he queried, “Haldighati me rukna hai?”

She had thought of visiting there and seeing the famed turmeric colored mountains, but the heat was too much and also Sameer was tired. It was better to not prolong their journey any more. And so she refused, “nahi… hotel chalo seedhe… woh itna bada hotel hai toh check-in me bhi time lagega…”

He was relieved at her decision. If she had said yes, he wouldn’t have refused since it was their first trip together, but he was starting to feel some pain in shoulders and lower back, most definitely because of driving, and was longing to have a refreshing cold shower. Naina kept observing him, the way his hands remained steady on the steering wheel, his shifting legs as he accelerated or applied brakes, the way he would sometime straighten on his seat to change his posture. After much deliberation she asked, “tumne car chalana kab seekha?”

He frowned thinking, “Nainital me tha tab Kabir ke papa ki car leke seekhte the… Woh log itne ameer the ke unko zyada kuch padi nahi thi ke unka beta rules tod raha hai… 15 saal ka tha jab pehli baar try kiya… Phir Ahmedabad aake Nanu ki car leke aur theek se seekha, unse chupke… Par ek din Munshi kaka ne dekh liya aur Nanu ko bata diya… Uske baad se bandh ho gaya… Lekin phir Pooja didi ke shaadi ke time jab Nanu bahar gaye hue the tab tumhe aur baki sabko impress karne ke liye car leke aaya tha tumhare ghar…”

She chuckled, “haan yaad hai… aur Chachaji te tumhe mana kiya tha aage se bina license ke drive karne se.”

He nodded with a smile, “haan… sach kahu… Nanu ke baad pehli baar kisi adult ne mere fikar ki aise… aur tab toh main anjaan tha… Chachaji ki baat maani bhi thi maine kyunki tumse dil ka rishta tha toh tumhare parivaar se bhi maano rishta ban gaya tha… Phir Delhi se wapas aaneke baad license banva liya, taaki zaroorat pade toh college me le jaa saku car.”

She watched in silence as he navigated a sharp turn on the road, “maine toh aaj tak sirf cycle chalana seekha hai… Umm… Tumhe kya lagta hai… Car chalana seekh sakti hun main?”

He was bit surprised at her question and glanced at her once, before paying attention to the road again, “kyun nahi… itna difficult nahi hai… aaj kal toh driver’s training center bhi hote hai… Woh log sikhate bhi hai aur license banvane me bhi madad karte hai.”

“Main soch rahi thi”, she mused, “agar main bhi car chalana seekh jau toh aise trips pe help ho jayegi na? Thodi der tum chalao aur phir main… Aise alternately chalayenge toh thakan nahi hogi.”

He smiled, “idea toh bahot achcha hai… Gayatri didi se kehta hun ke check kare driver’s training center me.”

She bit her lip, “uh… tum seekhao na… agar office ke baad sikhane me tumhe problem na ho toh.”

“Mujhe koi problem nahi hai sweetheart”, he assured, “lekin seekhte waqt pehli baar shaam ko chalaogi toh takleef hogi tumhe… Din me seekhna better hai… Aur sirf Sunday ko sikhogi toh koi matlab nahi rahega.”

She sat back, thinking about it, and then finally agreed to his idea of taking professional help. It took them an hour and half more to reach Udaipur, and once there it was absolutely easy to reach the Lake Palace Hotel. Built in 1746 the palace was a historical royal residence in the middle of Lake Pichola, that was now converted into a hotel so that people from all over the world can come and experience the grandeur of the palace and the majestic hospitality of Udaipur. There was a dedicated dock for the lake palace hotel, where they were asked for the booking details before allowing to park on a private parking spot. For the entire duration of their stay that spot would be reserved for them. Naina descended, looking around in delight at the huge lake, distant mountains, and the white gleaming palace. Sameer unlocked the boot, and a man helped take out the luggage, placing it neatly on the side.

A huge velvet umbrella provided them shade as they stood waiting for the boat… Water was served in terracotta glasses, and soon a small shikara like boat arrived. Sameer climbed in first and then extended his hand out to help her in. The center of the boat had places to sit, with a shade overhead. He looped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her firmly to his side, and she grinned up at him, “kitna cute boat hai na.”

Sunglasses still covered their eyes, so he wasn’t exactly able to see the expressions in her eyes but her wide grin conveyed her excitement. It was past 4pm in the evening, so the heat was starting to reduce, and she wondered if they would be able to see the sunset. It would take time to check-in and then freshen up… Their luggage was loaded, and then they set off… To their delight it wasn’t a motor operated boat, but rather the traditional paddle style. The boat glided smoothly on the water, and she sighed, tilting her head on his shoulder, “perfect.”

“Abhi toh shuruwat hai”, he replied, tightening his hold a bit more.

The dock near the palace was lined with green carpet, and just as they stepped up onto the shaded marble verandah that would lead to main gates and lobby, a shower of red petals welcomed them. Couple of women came forward with aarti plates, applied tilak on their forehead, made them wear garlands, and greeted them in traditional Rajasthani language with folded hands and bowed heads. At the reception they were given iced kokum sherbet while doing their check-in formalities. Surprisingly it didn’t take as much time as she had thought it would, and very soon a smartly dressed man in bowtie was escorting them to their royal suite, and another man followed with the trolley of their luggage.

Naina could barely control her excitement as the men left after wishing them a pleasant stay, and as soon as Sameer closed and locked the door, she twirled in happiness. “Kitna sundar room hai”, she exclaimed in glee. And indeed it was a beautiful room with cream and cracked-grey alternate criss-cross tiled floor, and cream shaded walls. A ceiling fan whirred at top speed, and the air conditioner had already been turned on by the staff. The living area was covered in a beige-brown floral printed rug and had a huge creamy leather sofa, an oval wooden coffee table, and a gold-red artistically printed love seat. Against the wall was a work desk with a single chair. At the far end was floor to ceiling glass leading to a private balcony that overlooked the lake. The bedroom area was separated by thick cream satin curtains that could be drawn close by pulling strings on both ends. The bed was a mahogany four-poster, quite similar to what they had in their own bedroom, but in this one four columns were inscribed with gold leaves. The thick mattress was covered in deep purple satin, with a gold bed-runner near the foot, and four pillows – two purple and two gold… On both sides of the bed antique tables with drawers were kept, and a big wooden chest with gold leaves on door was kept on the right side, that housed the mini refrigerator. The bathroom door was white wood with square fogged up glasses, and the interiors were once more a play of cream and gold with gleaming copper faucets, and wooden cabinets containing towels in shades of white, purple and red. Thick bathrobes hug in the cupboard, and all the essentials were on the sink counter-top, including a bottle of bubble path that was kept near the white bath-tub.

Sameer was plugging in the mobile to charge it when she came out of the bathroom, and rushed up to hug him from behind. He smiled and teased, “time mil gaya pati ke liye.”

She giggled, “room toh dekho… kinta khoobsurat hai… hume na hamare sab dosto ko thank you bolna chahiye.”

He turned to her, looping his arms around her, “bolenge… par Ahmedabad wapas jaake… Filhaal yahan ke teen din sirf tum aur main…”

She hummed, leaning on his chest, “iraade kya hai Mr. Maheshwari…”

“Iraade bilkul nek nahi hai”, he rasped, nuzzling her hair, “par energy ki kami hai filhaal…”

She drew back from his arms, her concerned gaze roving over his face, “tum shirt utaarke love seat pe betho… bathroom me coconut oil ki bottle hai, main maalish kar deti hun kandhe pe. Uske baad tum thoda garam paani se naha lena, dard kam ho jayega.”

He nodded, agreeing to the idea, and started to unbutton his shirt. She decided to wash-up a bit, and upon a moment of brainwave, turned on the geyser, filled a glass of hot water, dipped the small bottle of oil in it. Letting it warm up, she washed her face, and ditched her dupatta, hanging it behind the door. Rubbing her face dry, she checked the oil, and found it to be warm enough. Sameer was sitting on the love seat, rubbing his left shoulder with his right hand. She understood how tired he must have been, since they had come into the room he hadn’t even tried to kiss her once, which was a complete anomaly from his usual self. Coming up behind him, she dropped a kiss on his head, “relax…”

He hummed, closing his eyes as he felt her hands gently stroke the side of his neck and shoulders. She poured out some oil in her hands, warming it even more between her palms and then rubbed it in circular motions over his tired muscles. He groaned, sinking back a bit and exhaled in relief almost immediately. He truly hadn’t anticipated that the drive would tire him out so much, maybe it was because of the heat as well, but all he felt like doing right now was dozing off. But the time was so wrong… If he slept now, he won’t get proper rest and his night’s sleep would also be spoiled. She lifted his arms one by one, massaging the oil down his skin and pulled his fingers. Instructing him to lie down, she rubbed the oil on his entire back, using the heels of her palms to apply pressure. A sound escaped from the back of his throat when she rubbed his nape, and she smiled, “thodi der so jao.”

“5pm ho raha hai”, he protested weakly, “sunset…”

She stroked his shoulders, “6pm ke baad hoga… 30-45 minutes jitna so jao, main naha leti hun phir tumhe utha dungi. Abhi maalish ki hai na toh achcha rahega thoda rest karoge toh.”

He could only manage to hum before dozing off. She chuckled, grabbing a towel from the bathroom and covered his back with it. Opening their suitcase she took out the unworn clothes and kept them in the cupboard. And then she went to take a much needed shower… The bathtub was inviting, but she avoided it for now, thinking to soak tomorrow. Dressing up in Patiala pants with a pink chikan kurti, she brushed her long hair, detangling it and left it open. She had spotted the room service menu on the bedside table and after quickly scanning through it she placed an order of masala tea and mix pakora, instructing them to send it after thirty minutes.

Waking up Sameer was slightly difficult, but when she sat down on the floor near him, and kissed his cheek he stirred, a smile curving his lips. “Hey sweetheart”, he mumbled sleepily.

She smiled, stroking his head, “hi… thoda achcha lag raha hai?”

He rotated his shoulder slightly and nodded, “haan… tumhare haatho me jadoo hai… itna achcha maalish karti ho ke sab dard gayab…”

She ruffled his hair, “thank you… chalo ab uthke naha lo… maine chai order kiya hai… adhe ghante me aa jayega.”

He sat up, pouting, “kuch khane ko nahi bola?”

She chucked, “mix pakora bola hai… aur raaste se kharida hua uncle chips bhi hai…”

“Perfect”, he glanced outside, “main jaldi se nahake aata hun… phir balcony pe bethke sunset dekhte hai.”

She nodded, “haan… tumhare kapde rakh diye hai bathroom me… jao.”

While he showered, she once more called more used the phone, this time to call at the reception, and confirmed the necessary arrangements that she needed. Sameer felt refreshed and much better than before after taking a long bath. He had alternated between hot and cold shower, using the shower head to pulse on his shoulders and back which had provided him a lot of relief. Dressing up in the tracks and t-shirt Naina had taken out for him, he sauntered out of the bathroom. The air-conditioner temperature was turned high, the fan switched off, and Naina was already sitting at the balcony, keeping the glass doors closed to prevent the room from turning hot. He slid the door open, grabbing her attention, and she smiled, “kaisa lag raha hai ab?”

He stood watching her for a moment; the sun had started to dip towards the western horizon, a golden glow covering the lake. There were no boats on this side, leaving the expanse blank for their view, and the distant mountains looked like looming dark shadows. He ambled over, and lifted her off the chair, in his arms… She squealed, “Sameer! Kya kar rahe ho?”

He sat down on the vacated chair, placing her on his lap, and hugged her tight, “I love you sweetheart…”

She relaxed in his hold, looping her arms around his neck, and tilted her head to place her cheek on his hair, “I love you too Sameer… Kya hua?”

“Room me aake tumhe theek se hug bhi nahi kiya”, he lamented, “kiss bhi nahi kiya ek baar bhi… tum itni excited thi room dekhke lekin main… ekdum boring… sorry Naina…”

“Shshh”, she hushed him, “isme kya sorry… mujhe pata hai tum thak gaye the… Warna room me ghuste hi tumhari shararatein shuru ho jaati.”

He nuzzled against her neck, “abhi kiss karna hai.”

She chuckled at his demand, but drew back a bit, cupped his face and tilted his head back… His eyes glittered in the light of the setting sun, and her breath caught in her throat. Her fingers spanned the bristly jaw, feeling the rough texture, and she let herself lose in the moment… Brushing her lips against his once, twice, thrice, she reveled in the way his breathing escalated. She opened her mouth, tasting his lower lip, gently sucking on it, making him groan in pleasure. His body shuddered, and he sighed in delight at the way she was exploring… Moment drew out, one second melding seamlessly into another, the sun continued its journey in the west, while she kissed the corners of his mouth. Her fingers sank in his hair, her head tilted to the side, he felt slight pressure from her lips as she coaxed him to open his mouth… With a deep shaky breath he gave in to his temptress, and moaned as her taste flooded his mouth. She quivered, teasing his tongue with short strokes, inhaling the fresh clean scent of him, and pressed herself more on his body, deepening the kiss to an extent that he forgot to breathe.

A jarring sound broke into his subconscious, but he couldn’t understand what it was… His body felt lax under her spell… She slowly softened the kiss, rubbing her nose with his, and whispered, “main abhi aati hun…”

His lips trembled and he sank back in the chair, his eyes glazed as he stared at the glowing ball of red in the distance… In few minutes, just as the sun started to disappear over the horizon, she came back with a tray holding a kettle, cups and saucers, and a deep dish of pakodas. He licked his lips, feeling so relaxed in that moment that he didn’t feel like moving an inch… She smiled at him, and went inside once more for a minute to get the packet of chips and then came back to sit on the chair next to him, crossing her legs. Turning the cups up, she poured out the hot tea, and removed the cover from over the pakodas, “khaye?”

He nodded, lifting the cup for a sip of hot tea, and mused, “kiss me koi drug milaya tha kya?”

She laughed out softly, “aisa hi samjho… tum bas relax karo aur aaj ki shaam enjoy karo.”

His brows furrowed, “puri shaam? Aisa kya karne wali ho?”

She winked, picking up an aloo pakoda and fed it to him, “tumse pyaar…”

He bit into the hot pakoda, and then took the remaining piece, feeding it to her, “bahot achcha plan hai…”

They watched the sky turn from orange-red to purple-blue, the lights of some houses in distance turning on. Their balcony also had an overhead lamp that she switched on, and once they finished the tea, pakodas and chips, he carried the tray back inside. Grabbing his mobile he came outside once more, and they spent some time talking to their families, informing them that they had safely reached. Finally when it was around 8pm, she got up, and grabbed his hand, “chalo… taiyar hona hai.”

He frowned, “abhi bahar jaana hai?”

She shook her head, “hotel se bahar nahi… chalo na…”

He followed her inside, “par kahan?”

“Uff”, she turned, hands on hips, “kitne sawaal puchte ho… thoda dheeraj rakho, sab pata chal jayega.” Opening the cupboard she handed him a fresh pair of jeans and a white-yellow striped casual shirt, “tum yahan taiyar ho jao aur wait karna… main bathroom me taiyar hoke aati hun.”

Perplexed he nodded, and watched her take out a polybag from the cupboard before disappearing in the bathroom. He couldn’t understand what was going on in her mind… They had one dinner in the fine-dining restaurant, but when they had asked at the reception she had chosen to have it on the last night of their stay. For today he had thought they would simply order room-service because there was no way he was driving once again today. But it seemed she had other plans… He didn’t know anything, but obeyed her instructions. Wearing his shoes, he sat on the sofa, waiting for her.

In fifteen minutes she came out the bathroom, dressed in a royal blue churidaar that looked extremely familiar… But what caught his attention was the wavy long hair that was left open just like he loved, the sound of payal chiming as she walked, the chand-baali from their Jaipur shopping trip at her ears, and the rose colored lipstick on her lush lips… He stood up, inhaling a shaky breath as she walked towards him… The heavily embroidered churidaar had transparent full sleeves, the copper threadwork on the body almost glinting like gold in the light, and the dupatta was pinned on one shoulder the folds falling down her arm. The chuda, mangalsutra and sindur remained enhancing her beauty even more…

Coming up to him, she stared in his admiring gaze and smiled, “kuch yaad aaya?”

He was confused and still lost in her beauty, “kya?”

She shook her head, “kuch nahi… chale?”

He nodded; she slipped on her sandals, grabbed the room keycard and then guided him down the corridor towards the stairs. They climbed up one floor, walking across a short lobby, and a traditionally dressed man greeted then, confirmed their room number and then held the door open. Naina took his hand, and together they stepped out onto the terrace, a part of which was converted into a small rooftop restaurant. The parapet was lighted, and several other tall lamps were placed at a distance all over the terrace. Given it was an outdoor setting, the seating area had rattan furniture, the table tops were covered with white marble; and the chairs had waterproof seat cushions. A table at the far end had a set of three small lanterns in the center, and it was towards that table that she guided him to… Upon reaching there she gestured him to sit, and then sat on the chair across him… He still looked perplexed… She pointed towards the small placard on the table, that usually showed reserved sign, but on this one there was an addition of a card saying “Mr. & Mrs. Maheshwari”. Beside it there was a single red rose, and she picked it up… He smiled thinking she would offer it to him, but she bit the corner of her lower lip, and instead gently traced the rose down his cheek.

His eyes widened in surprise and in that instant a memory resurfaced making him whisper, “oh my God…”

She laughed out, “finally… main kabse wait kar rahi thi ke tumhe yaad aaye.”

He gaped at her, taking in her look once more, and muttered in awe, “Naina… yeh toh… wahi dress… college trip wala…”

She nodded, “haan… kaisa laga surprise…?”

“Fantastic”, he said in a husky tone, lifting her hand to kiss her fingers, “aur tumhare baare me toh ab kya hi kahu… Tab bhi mere hosh uda diye the aur aaj bhi…”

She blushed, lowering her eyes, “tumse chupaake yeh pack kiya tha…”

He smirked, “mujhse chupaake iss trip ke liye bahot kuch pack kiya hai tumhe…” Her face flushed even more at his inherent reference to the nighties she had packed for the trip. He mused, “soch raha hun ek baar check karu aur kya-kya laai ho.”

She slapped his hand, “chedo mat na… ek toh itni planning ki.”

He smiled, “I am impressed sweetheart…”

Just then a waiter came to keep their food on the table, and once more Sameer was stunned as he realized that all of this was pre-planned by his wife. Once the waiter left, he asked, “yeh sab kab kiya tumne?”

Her eyes lit up, “Ahmedabad se… Lake palace ke baare me padha toh yeh roof-top restaurant ka pata chala… Aur tumhara college trip wala plan yaad aa gaya. Tabhi phone karke reserve karwa diya tha… Rose, card aur khane ka order Jaipur se de diya call karke jis din tum meeting me the… Aaj aaneke baad bas confirm kar liya sab jab tum nahane gaye the.”

His brow quirked in appreciation, letting her know without words that he was surprised, impressed and also loved the plan immensely. The food was another surprise for him, as once more everything was traditional Rajasthani food, but these dishes were the one they hadn’t yet tasted. There was kanji vada, bejad roti, dahi wale aloo, sev-tamatar, and masala bajra khichdi. For drink there was thandai, and the dessert was ghevar-rabdi. As he sat replete with the delicious meal, their table was cleared and a small dish with two meetha-paan was placed before them. “Wow Naina”, he sighed, “sab kuch kitna amazing hai.”

She smiled, “mujhe bas tumhe surprise dena tha…”

“I am surprised”, he admitted, “aur bahot khush… maine toh socha tha hum aaj room me khana mangvayenge… par itna achcha maahol hai yahan pe… hawa bhi thandi ho gai hai, aur upar se itna badhiya khana… aur saamne itni khoobsurat biwi.”

She grinned, helping herself to a paan, and showed him a thumbs-up. He took the other piece, and they sat talking for some time. The other part of the terrace was lighted but left empty, and so they strolled over there for about fifteen minutes… Finally he asked, “room me chale?”

She nodded, slipping her hand in his, and they walked back to their room. He locked the door, and toed off his shoes, removed his socks. She removed her sandals and then went to the dressing table, thinking to remove the earrings… But before she could do so, he came up behind her, “main help karta hun…”

She let him help, standing docilely as he slipped off the earrings and placed tender kisses on hear ears, opening his mouth to slowly suckle the lobes. “Tum kamaal lag rahi ho iss dress me”, he whispered, his hand spanning across her waist as he watched her in the mirror, “jab college me tumne pehna tha na yeh, I wished main tumhe choo paata… Gale laga paata…”

She smiled, leaning back on his chest, “woh din hamari first date thi na? Bas mujhe uss waqt pata hi nahi chala tha…”

“Hmm”, he responded, undoing the pin at her shoulder, letting the dupatta slip to the floor. Moving her hair aside, he placed a kiss on her nape, “aaj pata chal raha hai kya ho raha hai?” He supported the question by pressing his hips on her back, letting her feel his response.

Her smile widened, and her breasts gently surged up and down with each breath, “bahot achche se…”

“Good”, he mumbled, tracing a finger down her spine, unzipping her kameez on the way. Her breath hitched and as he started to tug the sleeve down her shoulder, she turned in his arms, hiding her face against his chest. He stroked her bare back, watching through the mirror, recalling the first night he had spent in her room at Agarwal house, the way he had landed up and found a chance to explore new territories. He dipped to kiss her shoulder, “tum theek ho?”

She nodded against his chest, starting to unbutton his shirt, making him grin. The shirt and her kameez dropped to the floor, and he lifted her up, carrying her to the bed. She looped her arms around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss, and his hands wandered over her body. In a minute her black bra was disposed, and his thumbs flicked her nipples, making her moan in his mouth. Her entire body lifted to the contact, her nails on his back urging him on… His open mouth left a burning hot trail down her throat, nipping at her flesh, and closing over her breast, a groan rumbling from the back of his throat at her taste. She tasted divine… An oasis in middle of a desert… And he was a parched traveler, quenching his thirst, moving down to lick at her navel. He tugged open the thread of her churidaar, and after a bit of a struggle with the clingy fabric he managed to remove it, lifting her leg to kiss. He came up to her breasts again, his hand dipping beneath her black panty, his long fingers gently thrusting into her. She arched up, writhing under his touch, and tried to get him to come on top of her.

“Condoms”, he whispered.

She gasped, “tumhare side wale table ke drawer me.”

“Ek minute”, he rumbled, and slipped off the bed, shucking off his jeans and boxers. Pulling out a condom, he rolled it on, and then climbed up again, tugging off her panty down her legs. Parting her thighs, he leaned once to kiss her belly, and then slowly guided himself in stopping at half-way. She moaned in protest, “Sameer…”

He dipped to kiss her lips, “shsh… aaj kuch alag hoga…”

She opened her eyes, confused, “kya alag?”

“Tumne kaha tha ne ke aaj main relax karu”, he reminded, “aur tum mujhse pyaar karogi.” She nodded, and he grabbed her, rolling on his back so that she was on top of him. She gasped in shock, sitting up immediately and her own weight aided in sliding down over his length, enveloping him completely. He hissed, his hands fisting on the bedsheet, and his back arched as she sheathed him fully, her inner muscles clenching over him… She had her eyes closed; her head tilted back, her teeth biting her lower lip as she tried to calm her breathing. It felt incredible… She remembered the Mt. Abu trip just before their marriage where she had been in a similar position and sought to learn more… Slowly she blinked her eyes open, only to find him staring at her, his eyes dark and yearning. He trailed his hands up her waist, “tumhe pata hai na kya karna hai? Yaad hai na…?”

She leaned forward, placing her hands on his chest, and rolled her hips experimentally. He squeezed his eyes shut, “oh yes…” A thrill coursed down her spine, and slowly she started to lift up and settle again on him. He groaned, loving the feel of her, and his hands cupped her breasts, gently kneading. Her pace increased, her eyes fixed on his face that exuded the bliss he was feeling, and it made her feel powerful that she was capable of giving him so much pleasure. He shuddered, cupping her bottom, helping her move faster, and in another minute she whimpered… He pulled her down for a kiss, his hips lifting to thrust hard and she dissolved with a keening cry of pleasure that was swallowed by him. He kept thrusting, prolonging her pleasure, and soon groaned aloud, pleasure pulsing through his veins.

She collapsed on him, her face tucked under his chin. He held her to him, his chest heaving as he dragged in heavy breaths… After a moment, she lifted her head up, and asked, “theek tha?”

He stroked her hair, “amazing tha sweetheart…” She blinked at him, smiling, and settled on his chest again. He rolled to the side, placing her on the bed, “main abhi aata hun…” After a quick trip to the bathroom, he joined her again on the bed, and pulled up the blanket over them. He thought she had fallen asleep…

But to his surprise, after few minutes, she called out, “Sameer.” He hummed, and she nipped at his chest, “subah jaldi uthaane wali hun main tumhe.” A surprised chuckle escaped his lips, and he tightened his hold on her, kissing the top of her head, and then dozed off, looking forward to many more such delightful surprises.