As expected, everyone screamed 'surprise' as soon as Shiva came into the house. He pretended to be surprised but he was sure it was bad acting on his part. His chipkali rolled her eyes at him. He'd have to get back to her for that. Dhara didn't notice and hugged him tightly. Gaumbi, Suman and Dev followed suit. Shiva wasn't the kind of person who liked birthday parties, but his bhabhi always gave him one. His chipkali was the only person who didn't wish him. But damn, she looked hot in her back dress. It ended right above her knees.

Raavi adjusted her dress as she found him staring. Shiva averted his gaze to not make her uncomfortable. His wife had permanently bought a place in his mind. Even when he was surrounded by his family, he could only think about his wife. He loved his family, but for once he wouldn't mind being alone with his wife.

"Raavi, cake leke aa." Dhara said.

Raavi quickly went to the kitchen and brought her cake for Shiva. It was his favourite mango cake. His chipkali remembered. Dhara went in and brought all the food she had prepared and served them on the table.

"Chal Shiva cake kaat le." Dhara said.

"Bhabhi aap hi kaat lo cake. Main koi bachha hu jo iss umar mein cake katunga." Shiva said this looking straight at Raavi who just looked mad.

"Kya Shiva, tune itni jaldi apne aap ko buddha bana liya?" Krish asked.

"Yeh kya baat hui Shiva, cake kaat. Tera birthday hai." Dhara said.

"Bhabhi mujhe nahi pasand yeh cake wake katna."

"Shiva chup chap cake kaat le." Raavi said.

Shiva smiled as soon as he heard that. It was such a wife way of commanding him. He would have listened to her, but he wanted his birthday kiss first. He refused yet again. The whole family began to try and convince him. Shiva suddenly heard his phone vibrating.

"Cake kaat le phir tujhe kiss karungi."

Shiva smiled. Finally. "Mujhe gadhera samajh rakha hai? Cake kaat lunga phir tu kiss nahi karegi."

"Karungi. Promise! Dhara di ki kasam." Her message came.

"Thik hai!" Shiva told everyone. "Chalo cake kaat lete hai."

Shiva cut his cake and fed it to everyone in sequence. At last he went to his chipkali. She rolled her eyes and pretended not to be interested in the cake. He held the cake before her lips yet Raavi didn't take a bite. So he smeared some cake on her lips. Raavi opened her mouth to complain, that's when he fed her the cake. Raavi looked at him angrily but he saw a little bit still smeared on her lips. He wiped it with his finger and sucked his finger. Raavi's blush returned when she saw him do that. 

They were called for dinner. Shiva purposely sat beside his wife and held her hand under the table. Raavi tried to free it, but his grip was strong. Dhara served all of Shiva's favourite dish. Shiva finally left her hand when it was time to eat. He didn't want his chipkali to starve.

"Waise Raavi, aaj tu bohot khubsurat lag rahi hai." Dhara complimented her.

"Thank you Dhara di!" Raavi smiled.

His wife was always too full of herself. One compliment and she would go gaga. "Chipkaliyon ki beauty queen!"

Raavi looked at Shiva sharply. He laughed and continued eating. His chipkali was going to stay the night at their house. He was looking forward to it. 

***

"Dhara bhabhi ke sote hi store room mein aa jana."

Raavi's heart was beating a hundred miles per hour. Dhara had fallen asleep ten minutes back but she still stayed put to make sure Dhara was really asleep. She finally got up and tip toed her way out of the room. Gaumbi, Dev and Krish were sleeping on the cot. And she was sneaking out to meet Shiva. This she had only seen in movies. It both, scared her and excited her. Who knew what Shiva would want?

She quietly slipped into the storeroom where Shiva was waiting for her. Raavi quickly shut the door and held his collar. He didn't expect that but Raavi wouldn't let him have the satisfaction of winning so easily. She pretended to be angry.

"Shiva yeh kya drama lagaya hai tune?" Raavi asked.

"Birthday kiss Raavi. Husband ko birthday kiss toh milna chahiye na!"

"Tu mera husband nahi hai." Raavi stomped her foot in irritation.

"Tujhe nahi manna hai toh mat maan. Main maanta hu." Shiva said. "Aur waise bhi tune Dhara di ki kasam di hai."

"Pata hai. Kiss toh karungi apne tarike se."

Raavi knew she wouldn't let him win. She would give him a taste of his own medicine. She held a sheet of paper in front of his face and saw the confusion on his face. Raavi placed it on his lips and kissed them through the sheet. Then she pulled away and saw the expression on his face.

"Ae gadheri, yeh kya tha?" Shiva asked.

"Tu 80s ki film bohot zyada dekhta hai na, toh yeh raha tera 80s ka kiss. Aisi shaadi mein aisa hi kiss milega."

Raavi saw his confusion change into anger. He pulled her to his chest and she looked at him defiantly. His eyes were fixed on her and Raavi felt her heart racing once more.

"Soch le... 80s ke husband ki tarah behave karna start kar dunga." Shiva said.

"Woh toh tu waise bhi karta hai."

"Dekh chipkali ...."

"Nahi. Aaj tera birthday hai isiliye main fight nahi karungi." Raavi said. She freed herself from his grip and took his hand, sliding his watch on his hand. "Yeh raha tera gift."

Shiva looked at his watch and said, "Yeh toh thik hai par mere real gift ka kya?"

"Bakwaas mat kar. Tu mera devar hai. Uss rishte ko kharab nahi karna chahti main. Ab mazak khatam kar. Main sirf aur sirf Dev ki hu."

Raavi saw Shiva's expression change once more. She expected to see him her mad, but he looked heartbroken. But why was he heartbroken? It didn't make any sense. Raavi felt her heart breaking too looking at his face, but she really had to establish boundaries between them.

"Tujhe Dev chahiye na, toh ja uske paas. Main ab kuch nahi bolunga." Shiva said and walked out of the storeroom.

Her tears started falling down, but she didn't know why. Raavi wiped away her tears and went to bed. Why was she feeling so low? She was Dev's. Shiva had made a mess of their relationship and she didn't know how to make it go back to normal.