Happy First Anniversary

“Hey, already living?” Kelly asked me, facing me as he leaned on the office chair, placing his hands behind his head.

“Yup” I replied.

“Anything spl?” He asked with a frowned eyebrow, questioning me with a mischievous look.

‘Ahhhh...He asks too many questions.’ I complained in my mind.

“Umm. Nothing much… today is our first wedding anniversary.” I answered him hesitantly.

‘I’m not comfortable talking about my personal life with anyone, and especially with Kelly.’

“That’s a great man. Enjoy the evening then.” He gave me a wink.

“Haha…nothing to enjoy. She didn’t even wish me today.” I replied anguishedly.

“Then did you wish her?” He asked casually.

‘No.’ I replied in my mind.

I was hurt. She didn’t remember this special day. I was hoping from the morning. But as usual, she got ready and left for the office.

’Usually, women have an excellent memory to remember these things, anniversaries, birthday parties, etc.

So why she didn’t remember this day?

Is she not happy with me?′

Various things were going through my mind. But I kicked them out of my thought process.

“Um, I didn’t wish her, I will give her a surprise” I lied.

I turned my face to the desktop in front of me, avoiding more questions from Kelly. Turned it off, and grabbed my bag, started walking towards the exit.

‘What gift should I buy her?’ I filled my mind with optimistic thoughts.

I wanted to ask Kelly what women like. Even he is single, but he has ample experience in this field. But I am sure his depraved mind would suggest me something quirky.

I think I need to do the thinking part. As we have arranged marriage, it’s hard to know what each other wants or likes.

With all this thinking I am almost in front of my car, in the parking lot. I sat. Buckled up myself and started the engine.

The streetlamp lit, and the air was rustling, making the coconut trees dance on her beats.

Should I get her a makeup kit? But what if she won’t use it, and I don’t even remember what beauty brand she uses?

Maybe a dress? Nah… she has a full closet to treasure her dresses.

Then should I get some tasty food treat?

A movie?

A date?

No...

What about a party?

Many things came into my mind and I halted, as I knew where am I.

I was in front of our building.

I was so immense in my thoughts that unconsciously drove home.

‘Wait I need to go and get her something.’ My mind panicked. I reverse my car and heard a familiar voice.

A woman in her mid-twenties waved at me.

“Ahh…she already saw me. No, I can’t get any gift now.” I blurbed outrage on me as she walked towards the car.

“Hey, you came early.” She said with a delighted smile, leaning her body against the window of the car.

“Yeah, wait, just let me park the car.”

And I started to turn my car towards the parking lot.

“Oh shit, should I ask someone else to get her at least a bunch of flowers? My mind was on panic level 100.

I parked the car, grabbed my bag, and closed the door.

‘At the end, I too didn’t prepare anything for her on this special day of ours. I am such a stupid person.’ I cursed myself for being so foolish.

As I walked in her direction, she grabbed my hand, interlocked with her’s

The elevator stopped in front of us. We went inside, and I pressed the button. A piece of slow background music started to play.

“Hey you know, Chia is going to Wonder’s Park tomorrow. I too want to go but my boss is too strict. He won’t give both of us holiday on the same day.”

But my mind was thinking about the gift.

“Hey wasn’t he being too cringy?”

As I heard her question, I was baffled.

“Nah… yeah, I mean yeah he is” I somehow manage to answer her.

“But who is cringy?”

She interrogated me back, with narrowed eyebrows.

“Of course your boss,” I said with convincing lies. Coz other than me, she talks about her boss all the time.

“No, he is not,” she replied firmly.

“Then who?” I was astonished, doubting my lies.

“You tell me.” she looked at me, waiting for an answer.

Listen, I am sorry I wasn’t listening to your talks. Actually...

“Why? Are you thinking about some hot girl, hmm?” She advanced towards me with those big eyes and crossed hands.

“Frankly… yeah.” I lied to tease her.

“What?” she looked so surprised.

.

.

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“Ok then” after a long pause she replied, returning to her own space.

“What?” this time I was surprised by her reply.

“Yeah, we live in a free country where you can like anyone, from any race, gender, region doesn’t matter, right?”

“But what if that person is married and continuing to like someone else other than his partner?” I wanted to tell her the truth but I wanted to test my value in her mind.

”I know I am not that honest with you, coz I fear that I will hurt you.”

She looked down, starring her own feet.

I didn’t say anything, coz I too wanted to hear from her, her honest feelings about me.

After a pause, she spoke,

“I know, you have lots of expectations from me, and I know I can’t comply with all of them. You like cheerful, beautiful girls.

.

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and I know I am not like that.”

With a tear falling from her cheeks, she continued,

“So whenever I see you, I push myself to act bright in front of you.” As she stated what’s in her mind. I was surprised and disappointed.

We are living with each other for 365 days. Still, we don’t know the real us.

As the elevator stop on the 18th floor. But we didn’t move. I think we need to sort out some issues, misunderstandings between us.

‘I need some fresh air.’ I thought and pressed a button.

After a while, we were on the terrace of our building. The car lights were illuminating the whole road, conquering the darkness. The tall buildings stood so proudly.

we stood next to each other. For more than 15 mins we didn’t talk, just starring view in front of us.

Today, Yami seemed so far from me, even we were standing so close. I felt that this Yami is someone different, unfamiliar to me.

She revealed her feelings towards me but I was too anxious to continue the talk.

I took a long breath and with all my guts I faced her, cupped her cheeks in my hands, and said. “You are the only girl I could think of. And let’s be friends before trying to be an ideal married couple.” The two little eyes stared at me with disbelief.

She just nodded in affirmation.

I slowly lessen the space between us and hug her deliberately.

“Happy first anniversary’ I whispered in her ears.

In instant, her ears turned red.

I chuckled. I felt her warm palms on my back.

“Happy anniversary to you too.” she snuggled.

‘I hope now we can be good friends and can share everything honestly with each other.’ I thought.

I think we are a strange couple, didn’t give any gift to each other, but today we saw some rare sides of each other.

And yeah, we gained a new trusted friend.

With hands interlocked with each other, we off to our home.