"Rishi, please no. I can't do it" Saanvi spoke horrified trying to free her wrist from his clutches.

"Saanvi, you will enjoy it" Rishi kept dragging her with him being all excited bird.

After playing straight for 3 hours and being tired Suchi slept in Saanvi's arms. Saanvi decided to go back to the room and read a book but Rishi had other plans. He took Suchi from her and went to the resort they were staying in asking Saanvi to wait for him.

He came and started dragging her, Surprised by his act Saanvi asked where they were going to which he quickly chirped
"Paragliding".
She was terrified, she has not done it before. " But Suchi... " Saanvi tried to excuse out when Rishi interrupted, "Don't worry about our princess, she is safe. Her father will never let anything harm her" Saanvi's face instantly twinkled up with his words.
Just these words. Just these genuine words from him assure her about their safety. She doesn't even know why but she trusts his words. He fulfills his promises.
She was smiling being in her zone when she felt a pull on her wrist, she looked up to find Rishi walking straight holding her hand.

"Rishi, let's do it some other time" She made a babyface, pleading with her eyes.

"No you are trying this today" Rishi looked away from her face, no doubt it was innocently convincing.

"But Rishi... "

"Don't worry. This is something I am doing every month, I won't let anything happen to you. " Rishi said assuring her.

Within minutes, Saanvi was tied to Rishi. As he clutched the handles and ran for the take-off, she ran along squeezing her eyes tightly until they were off the ground.

They were high up in the sky. Saanvi was chanting some religious mantra for her and his life all the while clinging onto his body, squeezing the handles in her hands and her eyes too.
"Saanvi open your eyes" Rishi screamed thrilled at her.

"No" She shook her head, holding the handles more tightly.

"Saanvi please" She opened her one eye and then second, slowly looking around everywhere, she was nervous, she was thrilled, a small nervous smile graced her lips.

"This...this... Is...

" Thrilling right? " Rishi grinned at her.

"No scary" She focused on the beautiful scenery turning her head away from Rishi making him chuckle at her little red nose.

They landed on the ground. "This " Rishi pointed towards an earring stuck on his shirt, Saanvi looked at him and then at the piece of jewelry. She moved forward to take it but Rishi stepped back.
Saanvi looked at him confused. "If you want it then catch me" He grinned at her before running past her. "Rishi? " She looked at him and he waved the earring before her.

She tried to catch him but he ran making her follow him.
Soon it turned out to be a tom and jerry race.

After making her run for about a quarter-hour long he finally stopped.
Tired, he laid down on the grass breathing heavily.
"Caught you" Saanvi said panting hard. He held her hand and pulled her down beside him, "Rishi" She shrieked. He kept the earring on her palm., "take your earring I don't want it ", Saanvi just closed her eyes relaxing her tired muscles.

It felt good. It was after so many years that she felt so carefree. It was fun. She tried paragliding for the first time, it was scary in the beginning but was such a thrilling sport. She felt alive. She looked at him, "Thank you" whispered to him to which he gave a knowing grin.

Closing their eyes, soothing their muscles they had a relaxed smile on their face.

The soft splash of wind calmed their rushing hearts, engulfing them in the warmth of solace. Holding each other's hand they zoned out in their chain of thoughts. He was satisfied that his plan to make her smile was being executed well while she had hope that maybe she can be happy but still the constant fear of what if she was expecting too much? What if everything turned out to be a dream scared her.
She shook her head clearing her mind of all the negative thoughts.

This is my present and this is beautiful. I want to be happy. For me, for Suchi. Maybe I will never be able to completely forget my past but I don't want to think about it anymore. It makes me feel pathetic. I feel helpless. I don't like that feeling. I just want to be happy.

"Now where? " Taking a deep breath, she turned towards him. His face instantly lighted up. Yes, he wanted her to try and she was trying.

"Shopping? " He didn't plan the evening although but if he is getting to see her carefree smile anything, anyplace is fine.

She nodded at him and her eyes traveled to the farthest cloud in the sky.

Without any responsibility, without any judgment, without any fear, she was at peace that day. She was just Saanvi that day. A girl with a child-like heart, numerous dreams, and neverending excitement.
She wrapped her arms around herself. He said the right thing. Until and unless she will not shed the dry leaves for her past, she will not be able to live. Just the thought of never thinking about the past was soothing her.

"Saanvi, let's go" Rishi said looking at his phone.

"Why? " She whined before him for the first time.

As much as he was tempted to give on looking at her whiny face, the responsible father in him pulled his ears.
"Because Suchi is awake now and she is looking for us " He offered his hand to her.

"Oh no! Suchi" Saanvi quickly held his hand and he pulled her up.

"Calm down. She just woke up let's go" He held her hand and they started walking towards their resort.

"How did you know? " As they kept walking hand in hand, she asked amused.

"It's my friend's resort and one of the staff was there with Suchi, I asked her to call me once Suchi wakes up" He said grinning, lifting his T-shirt collar.

****
While Saanvi was selecting dresses for Suchi, Rishi sneaked out in search of perfumes. For a fact, he knew his wife was crazy about perfumes.
She doesn't apply much makeup but she never forgets perfumes. Even if she has to go to the kitchen from their room, she would apply a mix of fragrances. She was obsessed with them.

He was done with his work and went back to Saanvi who was searching for him. He tapped her shoulder gaining her attention. She sighed in relief as she turned around, "where... " Before she could complete Rishi quickly interrupted her, "Where were you Saanvi? I was searching for you. God! Saanvi you scared me. Come now" He picked up suchi who playing with her dress buttons in his arms and went ahead asking Saanvi to follow along.

"I scared him? " Saanvi's jaw hit the floor, she glared at him angrily but he went ahead. She went behind him burying holes in his skull, finding a good opportunity, she pinched his arm.

He snapped his head towards her suppressing the urge to scream, she turned her face looking another side.

"What was that? "

"I was giving you the assurance that I am here only as you know I have the habit to just wander around. So you don't get scared again " She gave him an innocent smile. Very innocent.

Zipping his mouth, Rishi sped up giving her horrifying looks.

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I am extremely sorry for the late update. The previous week got busier than I expected.

I completed writing the chapter but just editing was left and if you are wondering why don't I post without editing then I am sure you don't want to read "rishu aaw saaanvi ciming alomg with suchi" instead of "Rishi saw Saanvi coming along with Suchi". Yup! That is how I write and now you know why editing is so important, especially to my writing.

Please ignore grammatical mistakes.

Thanks for reading❤.