Author's POV:-

'Mujhe kuch dik nahi rahi beta ,kaha leke jaa rahi hain' Anjali asked as Preeti covered her both eyes taking her somewhere.

'Uff mumma..kahi leke nahi jaa rahi hu..bas apke room mein jaa rahi hu..ready karne aapko' she said excitedly.

'Ready ?? Kis cheez k liye??' she said as Priti took the palm from her eyes .

She stared at her dumbfounded.  Like seriously??

'Kis cheez k liye matlab? aaj aap dono k marriage anniversary hain na?? toh ready nahi honi kya ?? Achi dikhni chahiye na??' she asked..

Anjali chuckled lightly, shaking her head. "Haan, anniversary toh hai, par hum log toh celebrate kar chuke hain lunch ke time. Ab phir se ready hone ki kya zaroorat? Mujhe kahin nahi jaana!" she protested, waving her hand dismissively.

But Preeti wasn’t one to give up easily. Without responding, she thrust a rich, blood-red jamdani silk saree into Anjali’s hands.

"Jaiye aur ready ho jaiye. Hum kahin bahar nahi ja rahe. Ghar pe hi aap dono ke liye ek chhota sa surprise hai," she revealed with a wide grin.

Anjali’s eyes widened, and she gasped softly. "Ab kya hua?" Preeti asked, noticing her hesitation.

Anjali held up the saree, eyeing it warily. "Itni dark saree? Aur woh bhi main pehnungi iss umar mein? Tu pagal hai kya?" she exclaimed, genuinely surprised.

Preeti rolled her eyes. "Ab isme kya problem hai? Red saree hi toh hai! Toh kya hua?" she challenged, folding her arms across her chest.

Anjali hesitated before murmuring, "Yeh sab saree nayi dulhane pehenti hain. Hum jaise logon ke liye nahi hai..."

Preeti smirked and leaned in mischievously. "Aap bhi toh aaj nayi dulhan hi toh banne ja rahi hain. Ab jaiye na, pehen ke aaiye..." she teased, nudging her mother toward the dressing room.

Anjali’s cheeks tinged with warmth, but deep down, she couldn’t deny the soft flutter in her heart at the thought of dressing up for Amit again.

Anjali sat still as Preeti worked her magic, carefully applying subtle makeup to enhance her natural beauty. She dusted a light blush on her mother’s cheeks, dabbed a soft nude lipstick, and gently pressed a small red bindi on her forehead, completing the traditional look.

Next, she gathered Anjali’s long, silky hair into a neat bun, adorning it with a string of fragrant gajras, their delicate scent filling the air.

Finally, she took out something special—Anjali’s original mangalsutra, the very one Amit had tied around her neck during their wedding. As she fastened it, a wave of emotions washed over Anjali. Her fingers trembled as she touched the sacred thread, memories of their union flashing in her mind.

To complete the transformation, Preeti slid a pair of red and white choodas onto her mother’s wrists, the soft clinking of the bangles adding to the nostalgia.

Taking a step back, Preeti gasped, placing a hand on her chest.

"Haaye..." she whispered, sitting down on the cabinet as she admired her mother in awe.

Anjali chuckled at her daughter's antics. "Kya hua?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Preeti simply shook her head with a bright smile before leaning in to plant a sweet kiss on her mother’s forehead. "Aaj papa aapko dekhte hi reh jayenge... Itni pyaari jo lag rahi hain aap," she whispered playfully.

Anjali’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink. "Chup kar nautanki," she mumbled, trying to suppress her smile.

The entire space was transformed—red and white balloons floated elegantly in the air, their soft glow reflecting off the fairy lights strung around the room. A banner spelling out "Happy Anniversary" in golden letters hung above the main wall, shimmering under the dim lighting. In the center of the room, a huge heart-shaped velvet cake sat proudly on the table, its deep red color symbolizing love and passion. The flickering candlelight made it look even more mesmerizing.

Anjali placed a hand over her chest, overwhelmed. "Yeh sab…" she whispered, her voice trailing off.

Before she could say more, her attention shifted as Piyush entered from the other side, carefully guiding his father with his hands over Amit’s eyes.

"Bas bas, ab aur kitni der chalwana hain?" Amit chuckled, feeling both amused and impatient.

Piyush grinned. "Bas ek second, Papa. Abhi mat kholiye aankhein."

When they finally reached the center of the room, Piyush slowly removed his hands. Amit blinked a few times before his gaze landed on the decorations, the cake, and finally—his wife.

And then, he froze.

Anjali stood there in a breathtaking blood-red jamdani silk saree, her hair neatly tied in a bun adorned with fragrant gajras. The soft glow of the candles illuminated her face, highlighting the small red bindi on her forehead. Her delicate mangalsutra rested against her collarbone, a silent reminder of their journey together.

Amit’s breath hitched. She looked… ethereal. Timeless. He couldn't even able to move his gaze from her.

Anjali looks down blushing heavily with his constant gaze.Preeti nudged her mother playfully.

Amit, on the other hand, was still lost in his wife's beauty. He himself looked striking in a red shirt paired with a black blazer, his salt-and-pepper hair only adding to his charm. Despite the years, his presence was still strong, still captivating.

Their eyes locked.

For a moment, it felt like time had rewound, taking them back to the early days of their love—the stolen glances, the shy smiles, the unspoken words.

Their children clapped, breaking the moment. "Enough romance, you two! Let’s cut the cake!" Piyush announced.

Both then pushed their parents in the centre.

'Chalo ab dono cake cut kijiye' Priti said handing them the knife.

As soon as Anjali took the knife, Amit placed his hand gently over hers, their fingers intertwining. Together, they slowly cut through the heart-shaped red velvet cake, the soft texture melting under the blade.

"Yayyy!!" Priti and Piyush cheered loudly, clapping their hands in excitement. The room filled with happiness, love, and the warm glow of celebration.

Amit took a small piece of cake and held it up to Anjali’s lips, his eyes twinkling with mischief. She signalled him to first fed their children but he shook his head, "Pehle meri biwi ko."

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her blush. Opening her mouth slightly, she took a bite, savoring the sweetness, while their children whistled teasingly.

She then took the same half eaten piece from his hand and brought to his lips. He leaned forward, taking the bite without hesitation.

'Uff.. romance to dekho inka' Priti teased dramatically, making Piyush laugh.

After a night filled with laughter and playful teasing, the family enjoyed a delightful dinner, with their children ordering food from their parents’ favorite restaurant. Once the meal was over, Piyush and Priti eagerly pulled their parents toward their bedroom, excitement gleaming in their eyes.

"Abhi bhi baaki hai tum log ka surprise? Aur kitna?" Anjali asked, eyeing them suspiciously as they smirked in response.

"Bas yeh aakhri gift hai aap dono ke liye," Piyush assured with a mischievous grin.

Before Amit and Anjali could question further, the siblings playfully pushed them inside the room and swiftly locked the door from the outside.

"Ab yeh darwaza kal subah hi khulega! Good night, Mumma-Papa!" they shouted in unison before running upstairs, giggling.

Inside the room, darkness engulfed them, leaving Amit and Anjali momentarily disoriented. Amit reached for the switch, and the moment the light flickered on, both of them froze in their tracks. Their eyes widened in astonishment, taking in the breathtaking sight before them.

Anjali, caught off guard by the unexpected surprise, felt a deep shade of red bloom across her cheeks.

__________________________

Leave your comments below ❣️