Riva was pacing up and down their home, kicking away the dupatta she had draped over the flowing red Anarkali suit.
It was a bargain since she saw many newly married ladies adoring themselves in their Bridal lehenga. One time for their wedding was enough for her.
"What did the poor floor do to you?" She heard Raj's teasing voice before she whirled around to see him holding his hands behind his back. She marched to him with her finger in the air.
"You!"
"Yes, me?" He pressed his lips together, trying hard to contain the amusement with his little wife.
"I have not had a drop of water all day for your long life!" She narrowed her eyes. She had managed to get out of the party her mother threw every year. She hosted all the relatives at their home for the night. Riva couldn't imagine herself going through it without going crazy.
"I appreciate the effort. Though I still feel your mother…" If Riva's mother had not lived near them, he was sure his wife would have forgotten about Karwa Chauth entirely, for both of their benefits. But his mother-in-law was a traditional woman in many senses and had drilled her daughter to follow this.
"And you dare come late!"
"I am on time, love! And I bring a peace offering for your sacrifice!" He gave her the bouquet of white lilies, barely able to hide his smile at her frowning face.
Riva pursed her lips, "Hm. No roses."
"Of course not." He said in all seriousness.
"I have taught you well." He threw his head back in laughter at her haughty look.
"Yes, Ma'am! Is the moon up, Vamsi?" He saluted her before turning to their house help.
"Twenty minutes, Sir!" The young man looked nervously at his mistress, bobbing her head at the pleasant smell of her favorite flowers. He had prepared her favorite food while she had stomped around the house.
"Shall we go, then?"
Raj took the Puja thali with diya, sweets, a decorated lota, and a sieve. Vamsi had prepared burfi with great pains for the sweet to break Riva's fast.Â
She handed him the flowers to be placed in a vase.
Raj motioned for her to walk to their back garden, like their first date. He held her dupatta with his other hand, making her smile at the familiar gesture.
"Reminds me of our first meeting. When you promised to kill me at the end." He bent down to whisper in his wife's ears as she set her things on the table.
"I still feel the same sometimes." She lightly shoved her elbow into his torso and began the careful ritual her mother had recited over the phone after the tales of the festival.
Raj stood in attention, his hands behind his back while Riva made circles in front of his face with her thali "Can't decide on the more beautiful one, Mrs. Raj?"
She rolled her eyes, "You are lucky I only have half the energy today."
Raj gave her water first and then fed her the sugary treat, gently taking his fingers back after she bit on it.
Riva took up the glass then and held it up for him to drink. At his raised eyebrow, she sighed before shaking her head, "Vamsi brought back your lunch. Untouched."
"Ah!" he drank and ate the offered sweet, nibbling on her finger lightly. Nothing went past his wife.
He just hoped she hadn't gotten the wind of this as he made her sit down on the chair and bent down to place her feet on his leg.
"What are you doing?"
He took out the pair of anklets from his pocket. He got the pair last week and realized early on it was pretty difficult to hide them from his wife. So, he took the jewelry to his office. He only went to get the pair and the flowers on the day of the festival.
Raj put the pair gently on her feet one by one, loving the way it looked. Riva kissed him for the gift. He knew she loved wearing these, "Thanks."
Raj took her lips again, licking his own as he took the seat in front of her, keeping her feet on his lap.
They only went back in when the clatter from the kitchen reached their ears. Vamsi had set the table for them, but what surprised Raj was the sight and aroma of laal maas. It was similar to the one he used to eat regularly during his time in Rajasthan.
Riva served him generous heaps of fresh chapati covered in ghee as he served her bowl of Rajma and rice.
A moan escaped the soldier's lips as he took the first bite, "You finally made it, Vamsi. Just the way I like."
The man fidgeted on his feet, "Madam made it." before rushing back to the kitchen for more chapatis. Riva had started the preparations for her husband's dinner. She followed the recipe, ignoring Vamsi's suggestions. She didn't want to take any chances.
Raj looked at her in wonder as she made him taste from her plate.
"Can't decide who makes better food, Mr. Riva?" She teased.
He wiped his hands on his table napkin before taking hers and bringing it to his lips, "Definitely wouldn't want to kiss his hands."
"Right, Vamsi?" They laughed as he went back, muttering about going back home to escape them under his breath.
.
Koel laughed out loud as she read the final part of her friend's account for the day. She was right in asking Riva to write about the festival they celebrated last night.
"Something funny?" Ashish asked when she stood up to help him take off his coat.
"Vamsi!" Ashish laughed with her. He had always found the man entertaining with his quirks and mutterings as he walked around the whole house like a grumpy old man, even when he was younger than them.
"Have you eaten? He stole a kiss from his wife.
"No. I was waiting for you. Come."
Burfi - Milk based sweet, like fudge
Laal Maas - a decadent meat curry, speciality of Rajasthan, India
Roti - indian flat bread made of whole wheat flour
Rajma - kidney bean curry, my comfort food
Since it was Karwa Chauth yesterday, I thought I should give you a glimpse of the first time Riva and Raj celebrated the festival.
If you would like to read more about them, head here.
Lovely story, Isha! Thank God I like Indian food and recognized a lot of it.