Here After!

42. Anniversary Escape

Anu

Giri had been unusually secretive for the past few weeks, dropping vague hints about our anniversary plans but never revealing the full picture. I had tried my best to get something out of him, but all he did was smirk and say, "Just wait and see, my love."

So, when he finally told me to pack for a two-day trip, my heart raced with excitement. "Where are we going?" I asked, but he only winked. "You'll know soon enough."

The next morning, we hit the road before sunrise. The journey was filled with laughter, teasing, and our usual bickering over music choices. After a few hours, we arrived at a breathtaking private beachside resort. The view of the endless blue ocean, the soothing sound of waves, and the secluded villa with a private pool—it was everything I could have wished for.

I turned to him, my eyes wide. "Giri... this is—"

"Perfect?" he completed with a knowing smile. "Only the best for us."

We spent the day unwinding—strolling along the shore, dipping our feet in the waves, and just soaking in each other's presence. By evening, he had something even more special planned.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Giri led me to a beautifully set-up candlelit dinner right on the beach. A table adorned with flowers, flickering lanterns, and soft music playing in the background.

"Happy Anniversary, my love," he said, pulling out my chair.

I couldn't stop smiling. "You really outdid yourself, Mr. Husband."

We toasted to one year of love, reminiscing about our journey, our silly fights, our late-night talks, and the way we had built our life together.

After dinner, he took my hand and pulled me towards the shoreline. The cool water lapped at our feet as he wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder. "Anu... do you remember the day we first met?"

I laughed softly. "How can I forget? You were annoyingly confident, and I was completely unimpressed."

"And now?" he whispered, his breath warm against my skin.

I turned to face him, my heart swelling with love. "Now, I can't imagine my life without you."

His fingers traced my cheek before he leaned in, capturing my lips in a slow, tender kiss—one filled with love, promise, and the unspoken words that neither of us needed to say aloud.

That night, under the starry sky and the rhythmic melody of the waves, we celebrated not just a year of marriage but a lifetime of togetherness yet to come.

Giri

Time had its own way of slipping past us, subtly weaving changes into our lives without us realizing how much we had grown together. Five years—it sounded like a long time, but when I looked back, it felt like just yesterday that we had started this journey as husband and wife.

So much had changed, yet some things remained the same.

Anish and Meera were now parents to a baby girl, a tiny bundle of energy who had taken over Anu's parents' world. With both of them managing their careers, her parents had fully immersed themselves in grandparent duties, happily running behind their little princess.

Anitta had welcomed another baby into the family—a little boy, Reyaan, Vihaan's partner-in-crime. The two brothers were inseparable, filling their home with chaos and laughter. Even though Anitta and Pradeep had settled abroad, Anu made sure to visit as often as she could, cherishing every moment with our "Vihu baby" and now our "Reyu baby."