Happy Valentine’s Day my love!

“Happy Valentine’s Day ladies!”

“Hubby dear gifted me the biggest red teddy bear ever! It’s so cute“

“A pearl necklace waited for me by the bedside when I woke up today”

“I don’t fancy gifts and all… but the bouquet of roses he gave me, stole my heart”

“My boyfriend promised a candle light dinner in a posh restaurant… “

“Need to go to the parlor today… took out that red dress”

“A staycation this weekend!”

Rachna kept scrolling through her phone and her social media and Whatsapp groups were  overflowing with similar messages from her friends and acquaintances. She diligently wowed all of them but in return her friends wanted to know about her plans too since it was her first Valentine’s Day after marriage.

A candlelight dinner by the seaside at a beach resort with a live orchestra and the sound of waves crashing in the background…

These ornate words garnered a lot of attention and admiration. She thanked them all and put her phone down. After all, it was a lie.

This morning was usual. Manav woke up early and rushed to the office and Rachna got busy with her office. She was working from home. Both didn’t wish each other anything other than a customary goodbye.

The day was also like any other normal day when she juggled swiftly between work in the office and at home except for one major fact. The Valentine’s day madness kept haunting her, travelling from online to her mind like a wireless connection. The social media was in control of her brain today. She never cared about this day before but today she was nervous. As the day passed, this display of love from the spouses of her friends and even random people on the internet had made her jittery. It seemed as if Valentine’s Day was a criteria to measure the love of one’s husband.

She logged off early from the office and kept her phone away. It gave her some relief.

The doorbell rang.

“It’s a scam! It’s a big scam!” 

Manav hollered as soon as Rachna opened the door. His wide open eyes and flared nostrils reminded her of angry Jerry from the cartoon show Tom and Jerry. She suppressed a laugh. It was not the first time her husband was agitated about some worldly matter. He held a laptop bag in one hand and a paper bag in another. 

“You’re early today!” Rachna felt happy for the first time in the day.

“Yes… and I bought groceries too… you know every red color thing in the shop was priced twice! It’s a business strategy to earn more in a short period of time.” Manav said as Rachna took the shopping bag from his hand.

“I couldn’t believe it was the same grocery shop. As soon as I entered, I bumped into a big banner with a picture of roses. What’s the point of putting it on the way? If people want to buy roses then they will. An awkward banner can only cause accidents. I raised my concern to the manager.” Manav sat on the chair and untied his shoe laces. 

“So, then he must have removed it upon your objection?” Rachna gave him a glass of water to cool down.

“No… but they said they will”

“Thought so…” Rachna smirked “Why do you get into all these? It’s Valentine’s Day after all!”

“No it’s a ‘Businesstine’ day… commercialization in the name of love” he fumed.

“Hehe that’s an awful word”

“The whole shop looked like a… what to say… a falooda! Bunches of red and pink roses, cards with hearts, chocolates, candies, soft toys, heart shaped pillows. Everything is twice the price. Even your favorite Red Label tea made its way to the first aisle!”

Rachna laughed at her husband’s unique sense of humor.

“Yesterday in one shop, I saw a gigantic red teddy bear! It was the size of a human covered in scary red fur with a pink heart in its hands. My eyes bled just by seeing it.” 

“Someone’s eyesore might have ended up being another one’s pride! I’m sure that red teddy must have made its way to many whatsapp groups…”

“What?”

“Nothing…” Rachna kept the kettle on the stove and hid a smile.

Manav fidgeted inside his bag and kept a brown packet on the kitchen counter.

“This is for you…” 

Rachna’s heart skipped a beat. After all these speculations, did he really buy a ‘red eyesore’ for her?.

She wiped her hands and opened the packet with her heart hammering in her throat.

“Chyawanprash?!” Her voice came out so loud that she almost choked and coughed.

“See… I have noticed that you are catching cold easily these days. Have one spoonful with hot milk in the morning. It will build your immunity.”

Rachna stood speechless fidgeting with the bottle in her hand.

“Well… the bottle is red in color…”

“What did you say?”

“Erm… Thank you”

“And yes, I have booked your mom’s ticket to visit Shirdi.”

“You did?…  it had gone completely out of my mind!” 

“It’s ok… I can understand that your responsibilities have suddenly increased after our marriage. You are now managing this new household. I’m not of much help. Things are bound to slip away from your mind. So, I booked it before tickets got over.”

Rachna looked at his husband of 6 months.

Theirs was a completely arranged marriage. She had met him multiple times after their alliance was fixed. But after they started living a life together, everyday she got to know him a little better, a new surprise, a new revelation. Few things she liked about him and a few she detested. He was not too vocal about romance and way too practical about life compared to her. But she knew that care and compassion for the family, a quality which he possessed, never goes out of fashion. 

She decided it was time he knew a few more things about her too.

“Rachna, have the tea before it gets cold!” He was about to take a sip.

“We will have tea but not this” She took away the cup from him.

“Why?” 

“Now wear your shoes and lock the door…” Rachna picked her purse and wore her sandals and threw the keys towards him.

“Where are we going?” Clueless of what happened to his wife all of a sudden, he caught the key.

Rachna didn’t waste anymore time. She took out her bike and signaled him to sit on the back seat.

“Happy Valentine’s Day hubby! I’m taking you to the beach for a Valentine’s Day party… no, not in any of your red rose themed overpriced cafes… but in a small joint at the beach… coffee in tiny paper cups and maybe roasted peanuts to go with it… the prices might be hiked due to love birds like us flocking our way to the beach for an economical celebration… But come to think of it, how much can one hike the price of a pack of peanuts?” Rachna laughed at his ‘confused Jerry face’ and started the bike.

It was Manav’s turn to go speechless.

“Come on… hop in! The Valentine’s day evening is getting over”

The bike glided on the road. Thankfully, the road was not that crowded. Rachna concentrated on driving and Manav was mostly silent as if deep in thought. Soon, the cool and salty breeze brushed their faces signaling that the beach was near.

“Rachna… I’m so sorry” 

“For what?”

“How do I say it… I should have been more thoughtful about your emotions… I should have bought you a gift at least… ”

“No thanks… my eyes would have bled too if you had bought that gigantic red teddy for me!”

Manav smiled.

“Manav, I like to celebrate small things in my small ways… hence I planned this party… Valentine’s Day wishes, cards, gifts etc are not that important for me… but your love is…”

For a while only the noise of traffic and the whooshing seaside wind ensued between them.

‘Even if your love is in the form of a bottle of Chyawanprash, I’m good!” Rachna broke the silence.

Rachna chuckled as Manav hugged her waist from the back seat of her bike, brought his lips close to her ears and said.

“Happy Valentine’s Day my love…”

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