#Fun Fact- Apples, peaches, and raspberries are all members of the rose family.

Annika walloped her lips beholding the mouth-watering spectacle ahead of her, her husband walked towards her pushing the crowd off holding a plate of Schezwan fried rice. With just visualizing the taste she was in pure ecstasy, floating in her dreamland.

Wonderland. Food.

Her taste buds were perked up, even after two paneer rolls, a portion of pav baaji. But still, her paunch was open to an insignificant food. And even ice cream wouldn't mind.

"Chalo, jaldee khao," Shivaay announced softly and settled opposite to her on the wobbly white plastic chair.

[Trans- Come on eat fast.]

Nodding cheerfully at him she dug into the food ravishing as if she was not privileged of the food. Shivaay rolled his eyes watching her animalistic eating style. He didn't so hold interest in her bad moods however her few habits were imprinted on his heart and soul which made him apt to overlook the flaws. He wasn't ready to join her in if she had beforehand told her plans for street food. Considering their first date he stayed mum and tried enjoying her involvements.

"Annika eat like an adult. You are degrading my hoodie with the sauce." He gritted his teeth watching the tomato sauce fall on his favourite clothing piece.

"Shivi and his OCD." Not heeding to him, she muttered and continued eating the fried rice.

"Annika?"

"Hmmm."

"Listen to me."

"I'm listening. Speak up Shivaay." She glared at him for coming in between her food and her.

"Let's talk about us." Shivaay pushed his chair forward-leaning to hold her hands, stopping her from gobbling.

"Yeah."

"I'm a decent ladka from a good family. Though my family names hold more weight than mine, I'm struggling to make my name. I hope you understand." Shivaay sincerely explained his life not giving room to doubt him or his family.

[Trans- Boy]

"To kya main ek badamaash ladakee hoon?" She raised her brows questioning him of the choice of words.

[Trans- So am I a badass girl?]

"Areee, eise nahi. What I meant is - never mind. Let's get talking about us." He encouraged her to speak further.

[Trans- Hey, not like that.]

"I'm low at maintenance. Just a few street foods, love and loyalty towards me is more than enough." He grinned at her mockery, watching him laugh she burst out laughing with snug eyes in gratified.

"Achaa?" She nodded at him.

[Trans- Is it?]

"See I don't want any tramp coming in our life, saying that she was your girlfriend, now an ex. Better, if you spill it now." Shivaay felt off guarded with her unexpected alteration.

"I don't have any. Ask papa."

"Thank God. I was restless thinking that my married life would be like that of TV series. Bappa mala ananda jhala." She looked at the steel sheet above her as a ceiling as thanking God.

[Trans- Bappa I'm glad.]

"Aren't you crazy?"

"Only for my husband." As she winked at him, he melted. Just like a hot molten metal coming in contact with the flaming fire.

"In my generation of family members, there is not even a single girl child. Precisely, we don't have females born in the Oberoi family. So no worries, your husband is in safe hands." Shivaay added with his usual smirk and went ahead in gulping the water from the sealed water bottle.

"So you are telling me that no baby girls are born." Shivaay bobbed his head at her amusing voice. "Then what about our kids? I want a baby girl. I was skilful to name her as Sitara."

Hearing the unexpected from her Shivaay spilt the water he was having and watched her with shock riddled eyes. Annika helped him as he began wheezing to settle on his seat.

"Annika? We are just at starting. Are you sure you expect years of marriage? Let alone our daughter, Sitara?" He inquired her with utmost importance.

"In future." She shrugged off her shoulders. "Yeah, I'm sure of it. Otherwise, Aai will take care of you."

"What are you five? Always Aai, Aai. Even Rudy doesn't complain this much when he gets scolded by baade papa." Cackling at her, he grabbed a fist full of tissue papers and wiped his mouth and wet areas.

"Whatever I'm, I'm yours. Mala hatalayala sika." Sensing his complicated expression, she translated the last few words of her mother tongue. "Learn to handle me."

[Trans- Learn to handle me.]

"Fine. I accept my defeat to my wife." Shivaay dramatically bowed to her making her hidden smile to stretch till her twinkling eyes.

Helping her to stand on her feet Shivaay took off to pay the bills. When he returned he found Annika leaning on the nearby pole and saw intensely looking at some banner. Walking past the billing counter Shivaay made his presence beside with faking a cough.

"Let's go get a tattoo. What say?" He blinked his eyelashes grasping at her words.

Was she real? She comes up with some of the other stupid things.

"I already one have." Shivaay rolled up his jacket aiming to show his arms, bearing three inverted triangles and a thick line depicting the continuity of the cycle.

"Couple tattoo."

"Are you sure you want it? I don't want us to regret it later." Shivaay sounded saddened by her fast-moving pace.

She was everything he wasn't. She was spontaneous in deciding major problems of life while he would analyse the gain and losses. It was the same when he wanted to pursue his career in cooking, he had struggled to stick to his words. In one word he was confused soul searching for solace.

"Do you accept me?" She asked twirling to face his sulking countenance.

"I do." As the words were out as a whisper, he was dragged to the tattoo artist by his wife. He had no objection in the matter however he was all new to this relationship stuff and that made him mystify somewhere.

•••••

"It's done." Annika chirped as the artist lifted his machine needle and swiped the droplets of blood with a cotton bud with a specific solution.

Shivaay grinned looking at his just now printed tattoo. The design dwelled between his wrist and the elbow of his left hand. The semicircular silhouette was at the edge, with two outer borders with traditional layouts and in between the border, the word 'Ina' was doodled. The lettering had efficient spacing and towards the end of the words, the exact connotation of it was presented.

New beginning.

A light that brightens the sky.

"My turn." He pulled his lower lip, struggling not to crackle up watching her flip her hands, jumping and ready to be summoned by the artist.

"Aren't you frightened?" He asked seeing her with over-enthusiasm.

"No." Frowning her answer he stared at her finding any fibbing, not found none. "I know. I'm different. I loved needles and after pleasure is the best. The cool air hits the harmed area. Ahh, it's so nice."

From the corner of his eyes, he could notice that the artist was narrowing his eyes and with that, he found his wife crazy once again.

"Arranged marriage?" He bobbed his head as the artist questioned him. Seeing so the artist laughed at the weird pair and congratulated them.

"Shivi?"

"Yes?"

"You drink?"

"Yup. I drink water every day. It's good to have every hour."

"Ouch." Rubbing his shoulders where she had hit him, he restrained his eyes at her.

"Beer. Whiskey. Etc." Emphasising each words Annika gritted her teeth glare at her dumb husband.

"Oh. Like that. Then I love white wine. Jab main hight school main tha, Maine beer peene ke koshish ke aur main ise sambhaal nahin paaya. I puked a lot."

[Trans- When I was in high school I tried beer and couldn't handle it.]

"After that? Did your family get to know about your deeds?" Sniffling her growing laughter, she asked.

"Don't ask me that. Mom and baade papa were so cruel, as a punishment for drinking underage, I was asked to assist him a whole month without any salary." He shook his head not wanting to remember the hard time his baade papa had given him.

Just for drinking, he was forced to clear up files and attend the phone calls on behalf of Tej's secretary. Not only that, he was forced to speak to others with at most respect, with the sweetest tone which he wasn't habitual.

"Bappa. Bappa." In fits of her laughter, she gripped his hands as the artist started inking the design. "I thought being super-rich like Suneo, your family wouldn't believe in punishing kids."

"Who Suneo? Is it your friend in Japan?"

"Aree, nahi. Suneo from Doremon. Cartoon."

[Trans- hey, no.]

"Ohh. That guy with a fox face. But isn't it an anime series?" He scratched his forehead.

"You are diverting the topic." He smiled sarcastically watching her gritting teeth with anger.

One quirk he understood these days is that Annika was too moody, one minute she would be irritating him to the core or flirt with him and the next being snappy at her.

She was too complex to understand.

Minutes later they found themselves admiring the design inked on their forearms. One difference was Shivaay had it on his left while Annika had on her right forearm, contrary to each other. However, when both forearms were brought together it was a full circle, with 'Ina' on either side.

Well, 'Ina' was her choice of word.

"Let's take a picture." Annika urged.

Agreeing to her Shivaay raised his mobile phone to click a selfie, both flexing their tattooed forearms.

"I always wanted to ask something." Hesitantly Shivaay started. As she nodded approving he continued. "Without having basic background information how did you come with me? Trusting a man?"

"I trust you." Her answer was short and crisp making him wriggle his brows.

"Huh!"

"Aai wouldn't have let me go with you if you were bad. Even though you are bad but not for me. The day you asked me to get settled in the adjacent room the respect I held for you grew much more. You aren't judgmental like others and what I was attracted to you was your passion for cooking. I love hardworking men. Not nepotism."

"It was a long speech," Shivaay mumbled.

"That was needed."

With each step, time flew. Her hands made their way towards his waist hugging him. It was sensuous. It felt oddly good nor he resist her approach.

"I don't know any cliche lines but I would promise you to stand by you in every path. I will try my best in this relationship, to love, to be loyal and do whatever you expect as a husband. But financially all I could say is to wait, owing to my popper state." He joked lighting the atmosphere.

"We will start slow."

"Yup."

"Thank you." He still sensed her hot breath hitting on the sides of his mouth. He bolted realizing that her mouth was inches away from his. Gradually with every second, she slinked to him, and the very next period her soft plump, tasting tomato sauce lips were on his chapped, dry lips.

Synchronising with their heartbeat both sensuously moved their lips. Moulding in each other.

"What was that?" Grasping for a mouthful of oxygen he said with his hands rested on his knees.

"Ahh. Valentine gift, the start of new life." She replied.

"That was nice."

*****

What would you do if you get a jinn and you are asked for two wishes?
- I would ask to spend a maximum period with my father than I do now. And the second one would be unlimited happiness.

How was the snap inset to their Valentine's day? I would love to hear your opinion.

:-P