It was the late afternoon somewhere between 3:30 pm to 4:00 pm where the people around the globe would be enthusiastic to get back home to their loved ones either from school, college or offices. But the fact is that not everyone belongs to this category. And I am one of the possessions owned by this second category.

Thinking of all those days where I was greeted by the unhappy hollow home of my return from work something in my heart weighs too much then it can carry and I am sure even shlok would have felt the same, for a fact I can see that pain, regret, and longing in his eyes. I might have ought to myself that I would make him pay for whatever he had put me through. But the pain I saw in his eyes for that one week long, something in me was satisfied, happy and even started healing. Now, how can I break an already broken egg?

When he bent his knees in front of the same woman whom he called several names and accused of God knows what, that was the moment I understood that the monster in him was long dead. The same monster who didn't allow him to think rationally, who made him into a violent person, who was responsible for my pain...for the abuse I have been through, who never had put any effort to have trust in me and most important who would never think of being on his knees in front of me. I for a fact always wanted to punish and assault that particular monster but not my shlok. And now that the monster is long dead...brutally in his hands. And me in spite of knowing it, if I continue to push him I would only end up losing my shlok whom I still love with all heart.

Now...now...I am not that of a very good person, who wouldn't enjoy some guilty pleasures. From past an hour and a half, my husband alone is paddling to move our kayak. We are kayaking in the Halong bay, I don't know about him but I am totally enjoying it.

These days he literally put me and my needs in front of him. If I say he became those caring and loving gentlemen then it would be an understatement. He eats my wantedly made spicy food and sugar fewer coffees without a complain regardless of his hate towards them, he sleeps on the couch in spite of the struggle he needs to go through in the mornings with his stiff back and neck. He endures my not so innocent seductions while staying in his limits waiting for my approval which he is not getting for some more time now.

I slowly bent my back and rested my head on his sweety broad chest with a small smile is playing on my face.

" Need some help, Mr", winking I roamed my left-hand forefinger on his face with no particular direction.

"No thanks, Mrs".

Crude egotistical idiot, I internally laughed at his efforts. He is been acting as if I am gonna minus his marks from his hypothetically imagined examination where he would get his progress card at the end of our trip.

" Acha Chalo, let's go back. I wanna shop some pearls."

"As your wish, madam". I giggled at his selection of endearment.

He simply paddled into the launch position and slowly reversed the kayak towards the launch pad slowly straddling the kayak.

I can literally see the seashells under the water. There are 1600 small islands present here in the Halong bay (known as descending of dragons in Vietnamese). History says that upon the call of the emperor to save them from the invading enemies, the mother and children dragons headed ferociously towards the enemy ships and destroyed them in a blaze of fire. Upon the defeat of enemies, giant emeralds appeared and scattered along the bay. And they say these emeralds are actually the teeth of dragons.

The emeralds were left behind to create an impossible to penetrate the barrier to discourage any future invasions. Peace returned to the country and after a thousand years, these walls of emeralds transformed into the islands and islets that we can admire in Halong Bay today.

This is the place which has witnessed the defeat of greed, and also the celebration of lakhs of people's peace and a threat-free life. At this very place, this country has defeated its worst-ever enemies and conquered peace and happiness in their life. And today I am here with the person who used to be my worst ever fears of life, I conquered him with my love, kindness, patience, and my care. And now it's the time for my celebrations of victory, and the souvenirs of these celebrations are his care, trust, love, guilt, and a life long commitment to protection and vice versa.

"This would be perfect, lift your hair" its a thin light gold metal chain where a semi-white pure pearl is hanging at the end.

"What say? ".

"Perfect" I went with his selection. Truth to be told his choices of selections are always 'the perfect'. I giggled at the thought of I am chosen by him to be his wife.

"What made you to giggle, darling. Any naughty thoughts ? or my touch made u to recall our past endevours ?" He whispered in my ear with his husky tone which send the chills down my spine and directly to my hot core.

"Nothing that you need to know" I took my leave from the shop leaving him behind to pay.

Running behind, soon after he joined me. We walked through the shore of the bay, me while rubbing my hands to create some warmth. He was speaking about the next plans from here. A proven businessman always thinking about his next move.

"Can u please shut up. Let's enjoy the present. Look" I twirled in 360 degrees in order to indicate the environment around us.

He raised his hands up, a sign of defeat, and walked along with me with his hand tightly wrapped around my shoulders giving me space under his warmth. There were no words exchanged between us, me enjoying the sweet silence and him of the fear of his twisted tongue.

A moment of silence can save us from thousands of accusations. They say many a slip, twixt the cup and lip, I would suggest having your cup of coffee or tea in silence rather speaking anything in between. And shlok agrees with this thought of mine and why wouldn't he?