Page 40 of That Same Old Love

TEN YEARS LATER

It was almost half past one after midnight and the house was quiet. Mahi was getting back from her monthly girls night out with her friends. Ananya and her friends had also joined them and they all had a blast at the ladies-night-out event in one of the happening clubs.

It was also a celebration of sorts because Mahi had been appointed as the CIO of the company a few weeks ago.

Samrat had used his ‘wish’ to make her apply and then interview for the open CIO position. She had been a little reluctant at first, thinking that people wouldn’t like it since the company was founded by her husband and he was still the chairman.

“To Mahi, may you reach more successes such as these,” toasted everyone at their booth.

“God, I hope so. Even though some people at work think it reeks of nepotism,” she said with a wry smile.

“Are you kidding me? You worked your ass off these past ten years, while also getting your MBA and raising a child,” said Ashwini.

“Yes. And you were the brains behind the highly successful apps and games based on education, social awareness and other philanthropic causes,” said Smitha.

“Yeah, Samrat’s support and help made it possible to do all those things.”

“To Samrat and all the supportive hubbies,” said Jhanvi, raising her glass.

Everyone raised a toast to that.

Mahi smiled, recalling how much later that night, they began to swap some funny and naughty stories. It was weird talking about them, when Ananya was present. But Ananya was game, and told them some raunchy, but funny stories involving Sidhu which were truly hilarious.

Both Ananya and she had gotten closer to each other in the last ten years.

Even though they weren’t best of friends, she had often called Ananya to ask for her advice regarding Dhruv, and Ananya had sometimes taken her help regarding Srishti.

They had a healthy respect for each other and met pretty often because they were family.

Mahi went quietly to the kid’s room and looked down.

Dhruv lay on a car shaped bed, his sweet face curved up in a smile while he dreamt peacefully.

Bending down, she kissed him softly on his forehead.

When she stood up to leave, she noticed that next to him on the night stand were a couple of science magazines that had the pictures of the latest inventions and technology.

She rolled her eyes, smiling to herself and went towards the master bedroom.

Three years after their marriage, she began trying to conceive.

She remembered how devastated she had been after the doctors had told her that based on her medical history and the test results, she might not be able to carry a healthy baby to term.

It had made a ton of difference having Samrat next to her, dealing with that news and also later, when he said that it didn’t matter if their child didn’t carry their genes.

Six months after that news, they adopted a baby boy who became their whole world the moment he was placed in their arms.

A few months ago, when Dhruv turned six, they explained to him that he was adopted. They did not want him finding out from some other sources.

“So, I didn’t come out from mummy’s stomach like other children?” Dhruv had asked in fascination.

“No. You came out from mummy and daddy’s heart, instead,” Samrat told their son.

Mahi smiled recalling that part of the conversation.

The bedroom light was still on and Samrat was still up, reading something on a device.

The last ten years had changed his appearance, making him even more handsome and distinguished. With his reading glasses, and a few grays at his temples and side burns, she found him even sexier and sometimes made him wear his glasses during sex.

When Samrat saw her, he put his device away along with his glasses and then leaned back on the headboard with his arms folded behind his head.

“How was the ladies night out event? Did you have fun?” he asked huskily as his eyes swept over her off-shoulder, figure hugging short dress and high heels.

“Very. We danced and shouted like crazy. Most of the crowd was our age, so they played some old throwback songs that we sang along with. I can’t believe I still remember those horrible lyrics,” she said and was about to head to the closet to grab her nightclothes.

“Don’t change yet. Did you forget your promise from early this evening? Come here,” he demanded softly.

“Oh yeah. I remember that. I just thought you would be too tired or sleepy by now,” she said and went towards him with an exaggerated swing to her hips. “So, how was your evening?”

He smiled. “I’m not that tired. My evening was pretty mundane.

Dhruv took a little bit of my help to finish building the last of his three thousand pieces super heroes Lego set.

Then we had a long bath slash play time followed by dinner.

After I promised to read him some bed time story books, he stopped whining, and shoved his food into his mouth quickly and finished everything on his plate. ”

She raised her eyebrow. “I saw those. No wonder he’s always demanding his daddy to read him the bedtime stories rather than mummy’s boring fairy tales,” she said, sitting on the bed next to him.

“Well… six year old boys get bored of fairy tales someday. And if he’s anything like his daddy, then he will find the helpless, innocent and sad little princesses who always seem to be in need of a rescue—very boring to read about.

We like them wild and outrageous,” he said, getting down and then pushing her back gently on the bed.

Then he adjusted her body and kept her legs slightly off the bed.

She laughed. “He definitely takes after you. His eyes lit up whenever the wicked witches made an appearance. And you also passed on your insane thirst of learning how things work and to build ‘cool’ stuff.”

He kissed her feet and slowly dropped one of her shoes on the floor. “Well… then you passed your mischievousness along with pulling some or other tricks on helpless people around.”

She slowly grinned. “I know.” And then she sighed in content. “I thank god every day for bringing him into our life.”

His hands moved under her dress, to pull down her panties, making her groan softly.

“Me too,” he said, kissing her other foot and dropping the other shoe.

Adjusting a little, she widened her legs, so he had better access, “Oh, by the way, I hope you have some plans for our tenth wedding anniversary that’s coming up in a couple of months.

Everyone was asking me about it tonight, and I told them you had a surprise for me, even though I think I can pretty much guess where,” she said shakily, as she felt him kissing his way up.

When he was close enough, she clutched his hair and squirmed restlessly.

“All taken care of,” he said huskily. “Dhruv will stay with my parents those ten days. He loves spending time in the senior community since he’s pampered by so many grandpas and grandmas. And you… just pack our handcuffs and be prepared to order a lot of take-out food.”

The End.