The two months went by with little fights and lots of laughter for Anand and Gitanjali.

Gitanjali had gone for a weekend to her parents house and they had insisted on Anand coming for dinner but Gitanjali knew what an awkward fest it would be, so Gitanjali asked her parents to not call him for stay.

The rare times that Anand had met her parents for dinner, it was her mother pestering him to eat more and Anand being reluctant to try his non diet food and her father and him would speak for sometime. While Gita insisted her parents to not call him "Anandji" (denotes respect) and just Anand, but her parents always addressed him with utmost respect.

After that incident, Gita always goes alone to her parents place so that she can be spend her time with her parents, without them stressing about Anand and trying to make him comfortable.

Gita was excited and couldn't calm down to plan for tomorrow. It was their anniversary! Their wedding anniversary. The first one! Oh, how the year went by. She smiled thinking about this and wanted to plan a special surprise for her husband.

But first, she should know his schedule and only two people could help her out. Actually, they can help her to map out the plan better.

She called Priti and asked her to take Prakash on concall.

"Tell me about his schedule for tomorrow." Gita demanded like the wife she was.

Prakash told her his entire schedule along with their special dinner in the end. With Anand, there were no surprises. He had told her a week back that he is taking her out for dinner on their anniversary.

"Ma'am, sir has booked The Grand Empire and Platinum League for your stay. Do you wish for any changes in that?"

The Grand Empire was the elite of hospitality industry in the county. Only people like Anand could afford a stay there. The prices of The Grand Empire were infamous as they would cost you easily around lakhs. Gita was still the same girl whose mother taught her to keep a check on her spending habits and not to indulge in unnecessary temptations.

"Yes, tell him to cancel the stay. We can just go for dinner." A stay at such an expensive place was unnecessary. She knew she can't cancel the dinner as it is his gift for her but canceling the stay is something she can do.

"Can you both please help me choose a gift for him? I am thinking of giving him some gaming console or I don't even know what is it called....but help me!" Gita urged both of them. She had checked Anand's closet. He had everything and beyond - from watches to clothes to apparels. So Gita thought of giving him something related to gaming - in hopes that it would bring smile on his face and the excitement that she wants to see.
Promptly like the superhumans they were, Priti and Prakash sent her the links of various games and gaming equipments she can gift Anand.

--

Anand came at 1AM at home and by that time, it was already their anniversary! To Gita's surprise, he brought a cute bento cake to celebrate their anniversary at midnight. The one where it was just the two of them. No staff or security around them.

"Anand, did you even know what was bento cake?" Gita asked giggling, knowing very well Anand would have no clue about these cute small round delights and this was definitely Priti or Prakash's idea.

"Ugh. Definitely not. I gave my PAs a brief about something cute for tonight and they suggested this. But isn't this just a cake in small size? Why is it called bento?" Anand asked genuinely curious about the story behind the name. Gita was his own quirky Google. Her excessive reading of lifestyle and food newspapers and magazines made her knowledgeable of amazing facts and stories. Her being a teacher to curious kids also required her to read vastly about different topics.

"Oh seriously! You are interested to know about this?" Gita asked him.

"Hmm. Tonight, I am more interested in other things as well." Anand murmured.

Gita pushed him playfully, "Do you only think about this when you are with me?" She asked smiling.

"No, I think about a lot of things when I am with you. Like your adorable smile, those chubby rosy cheeks, this mole on your chin, your wavy hair.." Anand took a curl of her hair in his hand and twirled it.

"Enough, enough." She stopped his flirtations. "Everything is a big lie! Why are you being so romantic today?" She quizzed him.

"As if you don't know." He rolled his eyes at her stupid question. "And why would I lie to you about my real thoughts about you? I really think about all these things and more when I am with you." Anand said earnestly.

"There is something more I got you. And for this one, no PA suggested me anything" He quickly got up and went to his closet. Once he came back, he did what Gita didn't ever imagine.

He bent on his knee and presented her with bouquet of pink roses.

Gita was overwhelmed with his gesture and the flowers. She never thought her rude husband, who bends the world to his will would be on his knees for her!

She bent on her knees and took the flower from him and gave him a peck on his cheeks. She loved his gesture but she believed partners should be equal. While he is on his knees, she couldn't just stand and accept the flowers.

"Tch Gitanjali," Anand wiped her kiss off his cheeks, "We are not kids for you to kiss me on my cheeks." He was visibly irritated for a moment with her kissing him on the cheeks.

As they both got up, she hugged him.
"Thank you Anand for making this so beautiful. I love love love the flowers." While they did gardening together, she had talked to him of flowers and their different types but not once had she told him that she would love flowers as a gift. It finally clicked! Her husband was attentive when she talked about random things and he figured this on his own. She thought Anand, who is always loaded with work, never listened to her random ramblings and just nodded along but she was proved wrong.

As cliche as it sounds, she loved old school gifts like flowers. For her, they are the first admission of blooming love, just like they showed in the old classic movies. Expressing love with flowers can never get old!

She held Anand's face, his stubble poking her hands. She kissed him, finally granting his wish. Their lips matched each other's intensity and only parted when they became breathless.

He touched her forehead with his, while his hands on her waist in a tight grip. She stood in his embrace finding peace and comfort.

He took her to the bed not knowing whether he wanted to be gentle or just be his hungry self. May be, he wanted to be both and be with her all night along somehow making up for not being able to spend time on both their birthdays.

Gita unbuttoned his white shirt and revealed his toned muscular body. Her fingertips exploring his toned torso, the result of his hardwork at the gym. His back muscles flexed as his hovered over her, not wanting to waste a minute. She gasped at his intrusion and soon the moans filled the room. He kissed her amidst his ministrations. His hands twisting the soft buds. He grinded onto her, heightening her pleasure as they both reached their peak.

He stopped for few minutes, letting her catch her breath and changed their positions, causing her to be on top of him.

"Your turn, baby." He smirked enjoying their new position.

××

She woke up to his sweet kisses. It was indeed a good morning after the pleasurable night. She kissed him back to wish him a good morning.

The calls and messages soon flooded wishing them a happy anniversary, most of which Gita replied while Anand didn't care much.

"I don't want to leave you and go to work." He said while reading on his laptop.

Wow! It was a first. He has not once ever wished to take a leave from his work, not even on their birthdays. Their first birthdays after marriage were as casual and as normal as it could get, as they were busy with their schedules. But this anniversary was indeed special, thought Gita.

"Okay, don't go. You are the boss, you can stay home. But I have to go to work." Gita said.

"Wow, you are so heartless. A lovely husband is trying to be romantic with his wife and his wife cares for work." Anand said with grime face.

"Hahhaahaha! This is you, most of the times - caring only about the work." Gita replied him back showing him the mirror of truth.

"Come to office with me. We even have the room to ourselves. We have never done it before there." Gita almost choked on her juice hearing his wild suggestion.

"Anand, stop this talk and go to work. We will meet in the evening." Gita told him with a straight face. Her face turning red with his suggestion. Anand had a personalized room inside his cabin. He had built it for late night meeting where he could just sleep there and not go home. Ofcourse, all that was before marriage because since the time Gitanjali came to his house, he didn't ever spend a night in that personalized office room.

"Come with me. We can have fun." Anand suggested her, not ending the talk.

"Oh great. You want me to miss my work. But you will never miss a day." Gita glared at him. The discussion ended there as th door bell chimed. It was too early for anyone to visit them. Who could it be? Both wondered.

The answer soon came infront of them, screaming, "Happy Anniversary Bhai and Gitu baby." Isha screeched in her loud voice.

Anand scrunched his face listening to her loud shrilling voice. She knew he hated loud noise and yet she irritates him to this day.

"Not so happy morning after hearing your annoying voice. And don't call her that, it sounds cringe." Anand was annoyed at her presence. Gita giggled looking at the sibling duo. Their bond outside the house was formal and respectful but inside the walls, they were like any normal siblings who annoyed each other intentionally.

Isha showed her tongue to Anand, "I will call her Gitu baby. She doesn't have a problem."

Anand got up from there and went to his office, not wanting to be a part of his sister's craziness.

Isha visited early in the morning as she wanted to meet them both on their special day. Gita and Isha talked about her latest vacation and all the latest gossips.

Isha looked around and got a bit serious.

"I am going to talk to Rohan, about everything." Isha said and Gita just nodded not continuing the topic. Both knew the consequences wouldn't be good if someone else heard it.
Isha bid them adieu and wished them for a good day ahead.

××

The evening dinner at The Grand Empire was beyond words for Gita. She had never visited any place the came close to the grandness and royalty of this place. It was less of a hotel and more of a rich palace. No wonder they charge you your organs, Gita amused.

The dinner got done early. Anand was bit disappointed that Gita cancelled their stay but nothing that his new egame can't cheer him up. Prakash did an outstanding job at the task assigned to him. Gita just paid for it, not even knowing what she got him exactly. But she did it right! She can see Anand smiling like a kid who got their favourite toy.

"Thank you for this. It is really an awesome anniversary gift." Anand was grateful to anyone who added to his gaming collection.

They headed towards the parking after having the best experience of delightful food and classy ambience.

Gita held onto Anand's arm and talked randomly when she abruptly stopped noticing the person infront of them whom she didn't wish to see.
Anand didn't know why his wife stopped her talks and looked at the direction she was looking.

There she was, dressed in an elegant saree and looking as regal as ever, was his mother - Nandini Dixit.

Anand took Gita's hand and walked towards his mother. Nandini stopped walking when she saw Anand standing infront of her.

"Are you going to leave my way?" Nandini asked him stoicly.

"How are you?" Anand asked in a low voice.

Gita was confused. Why would Anand voluntarily go towards her? Gita wanted to leave as soon as possible, not wishing to be in Nandini's presence.

"Leave my way." This time, Nandini ordered him but Anand didn't move even an inch.

"How are you?" Anand asked again.

Gita could see where he his qualities from. Both are stubborn and wanted their ways. Gita knew Anand would only leave once he gets his answer but she wanted to see how will Nandini react to her son's stubborn behaviour.

"Why do you want to know? Isn't it enough that you embarrassed me all these years ago. Is there anything left to do?" Nandini asked in her stern voice. Gita was shocked hearing the conversation. Noone she knew dared to talk to Anand in this manner. The last time she said a simple sentence and he gave it back to her in a ruthless manner. But here was he, who didn't back answer to this woman and not even a hint of anger she sensed on him.

"Mom, please." Gita could hear the pleading in his voice. "I am sorry. Please talk to me." Gita had never heard him say the word "mom" before. In the Indian culture, in-laws are considered and addressed as parents but not once had he called Gita's mother 'mom.' He always called her aunty.

Gita's heart melted hearing Anand's voice. She had never heard his voice so weak. But this woman, his own mother, stood heartlessly, not melting at his words.

"You are your grandfather's grandson. Not anything to me. So, don't call me your mom. There is nothing more shameful than that."

Gita's jaw dropped at Nandini's words. How dare she say things to Anand? Yes, she can scold him as she is his mother but this...this is way too far. She was angry seeing Anand not saying a word to her or leave from here. He stood rooted to his place, his face not showing any emotions.

"Enough! He just came here to greet you but you...you are insulting him. You spoiled our good day." Gita said what came to her heart, not caring to articulate her words. If Anand was at mistake, she didn't mind her scolding him. But she went too far and Gita couldn't tolerate Anand's insult. Her nose flared in anger.

"Gitanajli, I didn't come here to spoil your day. Your dear husband came to 'greet' me." Nandini replied with a tight lipped smile on her face.

"If you can't say something nice, you shouldn't speak at all. How dare you say these things to him?" Her voice didn't raise but Gita's eyes had pure anger in them for the lady standing infront of them. She termed being his mother as shameful. Why was she so cruel to Anand?

At her words, Gita felt Anand's grip on her hands tightened indicating his dislike for Gita's words. She didn't believe he was taking her side despite all the things she just said to him.

"Aren't you a naive little girl? Good Anand, you have topped your game. You not just manipulate people but now, you make her see a nice person in you. Wow!" Nandini smirked at Anand.

Gita knew her husband's flaws but this woman...she paints him as evil. Anand never made her believe he is a nice and a kind soul like her. Not once had he lied to her that he loved her despite her confession. If he wanted to manipulate her, he had many chances to lie. Not once had he done that. Not once had he made her believe that he is an ideal prince charming. Infact, Gita always tried to mend his ways and asked him to be nice to people.

This time, Gita took control of his hand and tried to pull him, "Anand, let's leave. I don't want to be in her presence."

"I will see what he is. A manipulative person or not. But atleast, he isn't disloyal to me and our marriage." Gita knew it was a low blow. But she couldn't control herself. She can't take anyone insulting Anand for no reason.

"Gitanjali. Apologise." She expected Nandini to say this. But to her surprise, it was Anand who was fuming in anger. He left her hand.

"What are you waiting for? Apologise. Now." He emphasized on every word. Although, she knew she was wrong but she will not apologise. Why did this woman had to attack Anand?

"Why are you asking her to apologise? Why this two face? Isn't it something that you said to me? I see, you are feeding her ears against me. The last time we met, she didn't react to me nicely either. So, don't act now." Nandini said not being affected at Gita's words. Exactly what affects this woman? Not her son's pleading neither Gita's bitter words.

"Last time? You spewed some nonsense last time also?" Anand asked Gitanjali, confused and clueless about her last encounter with his mother.

Nandini wanted to leave from there but Anand stopped her from taking any steps further.

"I am sorry, Mom. If Gitanjali has said something to you, I am sorry for that as well. Please forgive her." Anand couldn't believe his sweet wife had disrespected his mother with her hurtful words. The girl who always taught him to mince his words and behaved kindly, said rude things to his mother.

"Gitanjali. Apologise Now. I am not going to repeat myself." Anand's anger was back when he talked to Gita.

Gita said a dry 'I am sorry.'

"I am in the car waiting for you. Come soon." Gita uttered the words and started walking towards the car. She turned towards Nandini and said, "Bye Ma'am. Thank you for spoiling our anniversary." She said these words bitterly and left.

-----

6/3/22

A lot of things. It's been 7 days since the last update. The chapter had 700 reads and only 111 votes!!

The target for this will be 125 votes.

Please click the vote button. There were never any targets till the 40th chapter but the ratio of readers to voters is very low.

If you don't like something about the book, you can comment about it. Vote if you like it. But interaction is very important
Silently reading it doesn't help the book in rankings or reaching more people.

To everyone who votes and comments, thank you for your feedback, your thoughts and your time :)
It really means a lot to me.

Also, the 'scene' was on special request from a reader. I know, I know, the scene is short and there will be complaints😂

Take care💕