You are mine ...only mine

Aravind looked at Bindu. How peacefully she was sleeping ... like a baby . She looked so peaceful and angelic with her silky black hair falling across her forehead. She was the picture of relaxation with her lovely hands folded up against her cheek. No it cannot be true . She was not that kind of a person. And they were now married for fifteen years . In fact next month it would be sixteen

years. She would never do that. But what about the flowers and gifts that she had suddenly started receiving ?  There was never a from name or address on them.

"Its from a friend darling " she would reply sweetly. "A girl" she would add that again very sweetly.
 Aravind got up from the bed. There was definitely something wrong. Even her behavior towards him had changed. She no longer asked him to accompany her for shopping. She preferred going alone. In fact the other day when he offered to drop her to office , she refused. Now days she didn't even insist him to eat extra chapati. She actually served his dinner in front of the TV and went inside to read book. She even spent most of her time on weekends browsing.
Was he going to lose her ?

It was true that as he climbed the ladder of success his family time had reduced. It had been almost five years since they went on a real holiday. Whenever they got long weekends they would rush to Kerala to meet his parents. Earlier Bindu would crib about it the whole time . But now a days she hardly mentioned the word holiday. "Was it because that guy was in Bangalore that she didn't want to go anywhere ? "

He glanced at the tiny alarm clock by their bedside. He remembered how happy Bindu was when she opened the wrapper and the alarm clock popped out with a message "keep thinking of me 24 hrs" . There was no name on the gift. "Its one of my friends from college days. We recently met on FB and this is her way  of telling me to keep in touch" Bindu had explained to him. He had believed her then. But now as he held the tiny alarm in his hands , he wondered ...

And then the other day he came back home from office and the door was locked . He had tried calling Bindu , but she didn't pick up her phone. Finally she came after an hour and all she had said was " Sorry darling ... I completely forgot about the time. And by the way I didn't cook anything tonight , shall we go out for dinner ?  You can pick up your call from the restaurant na ?" The ever complaining Bindu didn't say a word even though he was on phone through out the dinner.

And those beautiful flowers that were delivered at midnight on Diwali. "Someone is playing a prank on me " Bindu had replied sheepishly .

Aravind looked at Bindu again. She was smiling in her sleep. He looked again. Yes unmistakably she was smiling.

No he was not going to let some idiot take away his Bindu. Or was it too late now ? Anyway he was not going to let her go without a fight.
He took out his Blackberry and applied for a sick leave.
"Good morning honey ! " Aravind said as he kissed Bindu on her cheeks .
"Here's your masala chai to start the day ! "
"Uh ... you prepared the tea ? " asked a surprised Bindu
"Anything for you darling ...anything for you "

He switched off his mobile for the whole day. It was just him and Bindu. He felt her awkwardness at times. But he was not a man to give up so easily.
"We are going to Thailand to celebrate our sixteenth wedding anniversary" Aravind declared taking Bindu in his arms ...
"Really ? But what will your parents say"
"C'mmon ! Its our day ...Let us celebrate it together! "
The next few days flew by very quickly...Beauty parlor , shopping ...Bindu hardly got time for anything .
Finally bags were packed and they were ready to fly out the next day.
Bindu ticked the items on her list
Inform the maid
Inform the newspaper guy
Inform the milkman
"OOps I completely forgot something ! "
"What is it sweetheart ? "
"Give me a minute , I will be back. Have to inform my friend to look after the dog. "
"Why don't you just call her"
"I will be back in five minutes"

Soon Bindu was in a flower shop. She quickly selected the flower .
"Is it the same address ma'm ? " The shopkeeper asked ?
"Nope" Bindu replied and handed over the slip with address

Take Care,