Next day, the blue sky was dotted with fluffy white clouds that drifted lazily in the gentle breeze. Dappled sun shone through the trees, creating mysterious shadows as Kavin passed by the streets in his car, on his way to the bureau.

"Nikhil!...DCP sir ne kal jo documents maange the wo ready ho gaye kya?"...Sachin asked, coming to Nikhil.

"Sir!...Wo documents Kavin sir ke paas hain...Main bhi unhi ka intezaar kar raha hoon."...Nikhil replied, looking at him.

"Kavin ab tak nahin aaya?...Strange!"...Sachin murmured, glancing at his wrist watch.

"Are!...Samjha karo!...Kal raat wo apni belated first anniversary mana raha hoga ya shayad Purvi ko mana raha hoga!...To late soya hoga bechara!"...Abhijeet expressed, keeping his hands on their shoulders.

In the interim Kavin entered inside the bureau looking very tired. He walked slowly to his desk without looking at them. The three of them went to him while he sat on his chair yawning.

"Good morning Kavin babu!...Kya baat hai bahut thake hue lag rahe hain aap?"...Abhijeet remarked, looking at him yawn.

"Good morning sir!...Sorry late ho gaya!"...Kavin yawned, pressing his head.

"Hmm!...Hota hai bhai!...Hum samajh sakte hain!...Raat ko late soye hoge?"...Abhijeet speculated with a teasing grin as his eyes caught a faint lipstick mark on his neck.

"Hmm!"...Kavin hummed lowly, running his hands in his hairs.

"Kya baat hai!...Shabaash mere sher!"...Abhijeet exclaimed, patting his back. (Abhijeet was Kavin's love guru. He was the one who encouraged him to talk to his parents about Purvi.)

"Aah!...Aaram se sir!...Peeth mein dard hai!"...Kavin whimpered in pain.

"Peeth mein dard?...Aisa kya kiya kal tune?...Koi bhaari cheez utha li kya?"...Sachin teased him when his gaze fell on that faint lipstick mark on his neck.

"Shut up Sachin!...Peeth mein dard sofe pe sone ki wajah se hua hai!"...Kavin rasped, glaring at him.

"Sofe pe?...Kal raat sofe pe soya tu?...Aakhir hua kya kal raat ko?"...Sachin interjected in stupefaction, sitting beside him.

Kavin looked at him before drinking a glass of water.

"Kal raat jab main ghar pahuncha to Purvi ne darwaaza khola...Bahut sundar dikh rahi thi wo...Aur pata hai usne dinner mein sab kuchh meri pasand ka banaya tha - veg biryani, veg kolhapuri, dal makhani, malai kofta, ras malai aur chocolate caramel cake!"...Kavin began, looking at them.

"Sir!...Mooh mein paani aa gaya!...Phir kya hua?"...Nikhil remarked, licking his lips imagining the tasty food.

"Phir..."...Kavin sighed and told them whatever happened yesterday night till he and Purvi cut the cake.

"Purvi ne tumhe itni aasani se chhod diya!"...Abhijeet exclaimed all confounded after he came to know everything.

"Sir!...Kavin sir ne bahut punya kiye honge!...Jo inhe Purvi jaisi samajhdaar aur suljhi hui patni mili!"...Freddy, who just stepped outside the record room with a file, commented.

"Freddy sir!...Agar punya kiye hote to kal raat bhar sofe pe nahin sota main!"...Kavin groaned, looking at him.

Kavin and Purvi had a delightful dinner. Later they retired to their bedroom. Kavin shut the door behind them and impatiently turned towards Purvi.

"Kavin!...Kaisa laga aapko mera gift?"...Purvi asked when her gaze fell on the wrist watch he was wearing.

"Bahut sundar!"...Kavin whispered sensually, pulling her closer to him by grabbing her waist.

Purvi fell on his strong, well-sculpted body and accidently her lips alighted on his neck. Kavin smiled at the unintended touch and moved his hands on her back, his fingers knotting in the fabric of her backless blouse.

"Purvi!...Tumhe yaad hai shaadi ke do din baad, yaani ki aaj ke din, hum honeymoon pe gaye the?...Tumhare favourite hill station - Ooty?"...He whispered in her right ear, kissing and nibbling on it.

"Hmm."...Purvi hummed, meeting his gaze after pulling away from him.

"To aaj hamari pehli honeymoon anniversary hai!...Right?"...Kavin breathed against her lips, wrapping his arms around her.

"Hmm."...Purvi hummed, keeping her hands on his broad, well-chiseled chest.

Kavin pecked her lips and took out an orange envelope from his blazer pocket and gave it to her. Purvi glanced at him before ripping open the envelope. She saw two tickets to Shimla.

"Wow!...Shimla!"...Purvi exclaimed blissfully, looking at him.

Kavin smiled at her and swept her hairs aside and kissed her just over the collarbone. Afterwards he nibbled at her neck, and then sank himself into her arms.

"Mhm-hmm!...Rukiye ek minute!...Mere paas aapke liye ek aur gift hai!"...Purvi expressed, pushing him firmly.

"Gift?"...Kavin speculated, rubbing her lower lip with his right hand thumb.

"Hmm!...Personal gift hai!...Main abhi aati hoon!"...Purvi whispered seductively in his right ear before walking inside the bathroom.

She blew a kiss to him before closing the bathroom door.

"Personal gift?...Kya ho sakta hai?"...Kavin speculated, gazing at the door.

He smiled and sat on the bed with his eyes still focused at the door.

"Jo bhi ho...Ab main aur wait nahin kar sakta...Jaldi aao Purvi!"...He mumbled impatiently, rubbing his hands.

Ten minutes had passed and Purvi had not come out of the bathroom yet.

"Purvi!...Jaanu!...Bahar aao na!"...Kavin uttered impatiently, knocking over the door.

"Aa rahi hoon Kavin!...Please lights off kijiye na!...Sirf night lamp rehne dijiye!"...Purvi interjected softly.

Kavin quickly did what she told him to do. Then he looked at the door with great anticipation.

Finally the door opened and he sat hypnotised on the bed as Purvi stepped outside the bathroom dressed in a black babydoll nightgown.

Purvi was shimmering in the darkness. She smiled and walked slowly towards Kavin who already seemed so much enchanted by her.

"Kavin!...Kaisa laga aapko gift?"...She asked sweetly, snapping her fingers in front of his eyes.

Kavin blinked his eyes and didn't speak anything. He just grabbed her tight and tried to gobble her lips. Purvi kept her right palm on his lips and pushed him away.

"Rukiye!"...She mumbled, getting up from his lap.

"Ab kya hua?"...Kavin groaned annoyedly, looking at her.

"Mujhe sharam aa rahi hai!"...Purvi asserted, fidgeting with her fingers.

"Huh?"...Kavin exclaimed open-mouthed.

Eventually he laughed and stood up from the bed. He again pulled her closer to him and put his arms around her.

"Main kounsa tumhe pehli baar kiss kar raha hoon!...Humne to kitni baar-"

Purvi kept her index finger on his lips before he could speak anything more.

"Aap aankhen band kijiye na!...Please!"...Purvi whispered against his face, removing her finger from his lips.

Kavin shook his head smiling and closed his eyes leaning forward for a kiss. Purvi slowly freed herself from his hold and pushed him out of the bedroom.

"Purvi!"...Kavin exclaimed shockingly, opening his eyes with a jerk.

"Aapko kya laga?...Aap hamari pehli marriage anniversary bhool jaayenge, aur baad mein mujhe koi mehenga gift denge, ya mujhe candlelight dinner pe le jaayenge, to main maan jaaungi aur aapko maaf kar doongi?"...Purvi thundered, glaring at him.

"Purvi!...Maine sorry kaha na-"

"Mr. Kavin Singh Rathod!...Sorry does not solve all the purposes!"...Purvi interjected angrily, crossing her arms across her chest.

Kavin felt extremely remorseful after hearing her.

"Ek aurat ki zindagi mein gaadi, banglay, dhan, daulat, in sab cheezon ki koi keemat nahin, Kavin...Use sirf ek achchha pati chahiye jo use pyaar kare aur jiske kadamon mein wo apni duniya rakh de."...Purvi added softly, lost in the pool of her own thoughts.

She looked at Kavin who was already gazing at her contritely.

"Maa-papa ki shaadi ko kitne saal ho gaye lekin aaj tak wo apni anniversary nahin bhoole, ek doosre ka birthday nahin bhoole aur aaj suna na aapne papa ko maa ko USA le jaane ka promise bhi yaad tha."...She remarked, looking at him.

"Purvi!...Main jaanta hoon tum bahut hurt ho!...I am really sorry-"

"Papa ne kya kaha tha?"...Purvi interjected sternly, looking at him.

"Kya?"...Kavin asked meekly.

"Apni galati ko maano, maafi maango aur phir manao."...Purvi pronounced, looking at him. (So Kavin had shared the ideas of gifts given to him by his colleagues and ACP Pradyuman with Purvi when they were having dinner.)

"Main samjha nahin!"...Kavin mumbled, looking at her.

"Aapse yahi ummeed thi!...Dekhiye aapke anniversary bhoolne ka to hum kuchh nahin kar sakte!...Lekin is saal hamare kisi na kisi special moment ki first anniversary hai-"

"To?"...Kavin interjected looking bemused.

"To Mr. Kavin Singh Rathod main aapko aapki galati suhdharne ka ek mauka deti hoon!...Hamare honeymoon ke baad next memorable moment kya tha?...Yaad hai?...Agar yaad nahin to yaad kijiye aur uski celebration plan kijiye!...Aur-"

"Aur?"...Kavin interjected, gulping down some air in apprehension.

"Aur poore ek din tak aap is kamre ke bahar soyenge!"...Purvi retorted, giving him his pillow.

"Purvi please ek baar-"

"Ek hafte!"...Purvi extended the days, glaring at him.

"I'm your husband, not your student, Purvi!...Jo tum mujhe aise punish kar rahi ho!"...Kavin remarked, looking at her.

"Ek mahine!"...Purvi again protracted the days, glaring at him.

"Is se pehle ki Purvi ek saal bol de, mera yahan se chale jaana hi behtar hai!...Isi mein meri bhalai hai!"...Kavin mused, gazing at her.

He sighed and turned to walk off with his pillow.

"Suniye!"...Purvi called from behind.

Kavin turned back with the hope that she might let him in.

"Ye mere students ki answer sheets hain...Saath mein question paper aur marking scheme bhi hai...Aaj raat bhar aapko neend to aayegi nahin!...To aap ek kaam kijiyega, sabke marks calculate karke ek blank page par likh dijiyega...Okay?"...Purvi demanded, giving him answer sheets of her students along with question paper and marking scheme.

"Like seriously?"...Kavin mused, staring at her in disbelief.

Eventually he nodded with a sigh when he noticed Purvi's stern gaze at himself.

"Suniye!"...Purvi again called him from behind when he turned to walk off.

Kavin again turned back and looked at her.

"Greeting card mein poem bahut achchhi likhi hai aapne."...Purvi praised, looking at the greeting card he had bought for her.

As the years go by, and they just fly,
I give thanks to the Lord above
For you, my adorable, beautiful wife;
Our anniversary fills me with love.

Each day by your side is a blessing.
Each year is worth more than gold.
Your hugs and kisses are thrilling;
They still warm me when I am cold.

I think of you day and night.
I try to please you, as you please me.
Our marriage is so fulfilling, so right;
I'll love you eternally.

Kavin grinned ear to ear as she praised him and read aloud the poem written by him. Now he felt absolutely sure that she would let him in.

"Jyada khush mat hoiye!...Do ghante to mujhe aapki handwriting samajhne mein lage!...Kitna ganda likhte hain aap!...I wonder aapke teachers aur professors aapki handwriting kaise samajhte honge!"...Purvi commented, keeping the greeting card aside.

Kavin's wide smile diminished in no time after hearing her.

"Khair ab kya handwriting sudharenge aap!...Jaaiye aapne jo galati ki hai use sudhariye!...Hamari life ka next memorable moment yaad kijiye aur uski celebration plan kijiye!"...Purvi concluded strictly, closing the bedroom door.

"Raat bhar main uske students ki answer sheets check karta raha aur yahi sochta raha ki hamara next special occasion kya tha!...Abhi tak kuchh yaad nahin aaya hai mujhe!"...Kavin imparted lowly, pressing his head.

"Baap re!...Purvi ne tumhe khila-pila ke halaal kiya!...Wo to Tarikaji se bhi khatarnaak hai!"...Abhijeet remarked all shocked after knowing about whatever happened yesterday night.

"Abhijeet!...Biwi ke prakop se koi bach nahin paaya hai aaj tak!"...Daya, who was silently listening to them standing at the bureau door, remarked.

"Beshak sir!...Har patni bidaai ke waqt rone ka dhong karti hai, phir poori zindagi pati ko rulati hai!"...Freddy remarked, looking at him.

"Kya baat kahi hai!"...Abhijeet agreed, looking at them.

He looked back at Kavin when he remembered about his tickets to Shimla.

"Achchha Kavin!...Tumhari honeymoon anniversary ka kya hua?"...He queried, looking at him.

"Sir!...Honeymoon ka to aap naam mat lijiye!...Purvi ne hamare honeymoon plan ko family trip mein badal diya aur mujhe chhod diya sofe pe raat bhar machchharon ke saath honeymoon anniversary manane!"...Kavin revealed gloomily, looking at him.

"Wo kaise?"...Sachin asked confusedly.

"Usne maa aur papa ke liye bhi Shimla ki tickets book karwa li hain!"...Kavin replied, meeting his gaze.

"Mujhe to pehle hi laga tha ki Purvi tumhe itni aasani se maaf nahin karegi!...Ye biwiyon ko samajhna bahut mushkil hai Kavin!"...Abhijeet commented, chuckling at him.

It's late afternoon. Purvi and her best friends - Kajal, Shreya and Tarika had gathered in a restaurant and were having a great time.

"Thanks Purvi!...Is treat ke liye!...Belated first marriage anniversary yaar!"...Tarika chimed in, side-hugging Purvi.

"Waise tune bataya nahin ki Kavin sir ne kya surprise diya tujhe?"...Shreya asked curiously, looking at Purvi.

Purvi sighed and told them everything that happened - how Kavin forgot their first marriage anniversary and didn't plan any surprise for her.

"What?...Main to kehti hoon frying pan uthake maar!...Akal thikane aayegi uski!"...Tarika growled after knowing everything that happened.

"Tere nails dikha?...Meri baat maan badha le inhe!...Bahut kaam aate hain!"...Shreya advised, checking out her nails which were short.

"Agar Sachin shaadi ke baad aisa karega to do punch maaroongi main use!"...Kajal glowered, looking at them.

Purvi chuckled at her friends' eccentric ideas and told them everything she did with Kavin. They laughed and shared high-five among each other after they got to know how she took her revenge from him.

"Bahut achchha kiya yaar!...Proud of you!"...Kajal and Shreya reckoned in unison, patting her back.

"Exactly!...Ye patiyon ko to aisi hi sazaa milni chahiye!"...Tarika remarked, inclining her head in agreement.

"Hamare patiyon ke liye shaadi ek hadsa hoga lekin, hum patniyon ke liye shaadi ek haseen hadsa hai!"...Purvi quipped, looking at them.

Kajal, Shreya and Tarika shook their heads concurring to her.

Kavin was sitting glum faced with Sachin in the cafeteria. Meanwhile Dushyant entered there happily eating an apple.

"Aur kitni der aise mooh banake baithega yaar!...Apne Dushyant ko dekh kitna khush lag raha hai, chal puchhte hain-"

"Kavin!...Sachin!"...Dushyant called happily, coming to them.

"Kya baat hai bhai?...Bada khush lag raha hai?"...Sachin asked with a wide smile as he sat on a chair facing them.

"Meri maa ne mere vivaah ke liye ek kanya pasand ki thi-"

"Phir?"...Sachin interjected gleefully. He felt extremely happy that his other best friend will soon be getting married.

"Wo kanya apne premi ke saath bhaag gayi!"...Dushyant squealed happily, looking at them.

Sachin slapped his forehead in disbelief after hearing him.

"Yaar!...Tu shaadi kyun nahin karna chahta?"...Kavin, who was quiet till now, asked.

"Kavin-"

"Hindi mein bolna!"...Kavin interjected as he would never get his 'Pure Hindi' words in his head.

"Kavin!...Tujhse meri khushi dekhi nahin jaati?"...Dushyant rasped, looking at him.

"Kuchh bhi bol raha hai, pagal hai kya tu!"...Kavin scolded, looking at him in disbelief.

"Aur nahin to kya!...Tere saath kal jo hua, uske baad bhi tu mujhse shaadi ke baare mein baat kar raha hai!"...Dushyant remarked, looking back at him in disbelief. (Sachin had told Dushyant everything that happened with Kavin.)

Kavin sighed gloomily recalling the last night.

"Koi baat nahin!...Main samajh sakta hoon!...Kyunki - ye shaadi jo hai na wo public toilet hai, jitne log bahar khade hai na unko andar jaane ki jaldi hai aur, jo log andar hai unko bahar aane ki jaldi hai!"...Dushyant reckoned patiently, keeping his right hand on his shoulder.

Kavin looked at him glumly after hearing him.

"Sach kaha yaar!"...Sachin agreed with a pitiful face, looking at Dushyant.

"I know, I know!...Aur ek baat-"

"Kya?"...Sachin interjected curiously, looking at him.

"Auraton se jitna door rahoge utna achchha hai!...Kyunki - ye jo auratein hoti hain na, ye internet ke virus ki tarah hoti hain, pehle to mard ki life mein enter hoti hain, phir uske dil aur dimag ko scan karke uski saari khushiyan, uski saari aazadi, uske saare bank balance apne account mein transfer kar leti hain aur, badle mein mard ke account mein kya download karti hain-"

"Kya?"...Sachin interjected curiously.

"Tension, tadap, ghutan, bechaini, jhik-jhik, bachche aur, aakhir mein uske chehre ki smile ko delete karke use hamesha hamesha ke liye hang karke chali jaati hain!"...Dushyant stated, looking at them.

"Yaar!...Tu pehle kyun nahin mila!"...Kavin remarked, looking at Dushyant. Actually Kavin and Sachin met Dushyant during their training to join CID.

"Kyun?...Mujhse shaadi karta tu?"...Dushyant snickered, looking at him.

Sachin guffawed at his remark looking at Kavin.

"Shut up!...I'm straight!...Aur itne bhi bure din nahin aaye hain mere!"...Kavin cursed, slapping his laughing friends.

"Bhabhi ne ek mahine ke liye apne hi bedroom se bahar nikal diya!...Ab is se bura kya ho sakta hai tere saath?"...Dushyant stated, laughing at him.

"Shaadi karke phas gaya yaar!"...Kavin muttered to himself sullenly, but loud enough for his friends to hear.

Sachin and Dushyant looked at him and, simultaneously they broke into loud peals of laughter.

*****

Author's Note: Dear readers! This story comes to an end. I had fun writing it and I hope that you too had fun reading it. Thank you so much for all the love and support you have given to this story.