Pravanjan Mallick and wife Cini Mohanty with daughter Dhanishta. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 13: Two years ago, this couple spent Valentine’s Day at a police station, quarrelling and vowing never to see each other’s faces again. But this February 14, they are set to raise a toast to love, their three-month-old baby in tow.

Former Ranji skipper Pravanjan Mallick and wife Cini Mohanty are excited about tomorrow and said they have planned a romantic candlelight dinner at a city hotel.

“The breach in our relationship has healed in the past year-and-a-half. This Valentine’s Day will be extra special for us now that we have been blessed with a baby,” said Pravanjan, who retired from first class cricket in October 2010.

The bond between the couple, who tied the knot in 2003 after a two-year courtship, is a far cry from the days when they were at each other’s throats daily.

“The first three years of our marriage were blissful but after that, things went downhill. We did not have personal differences as such but I had problems in adjustment. I have been raised in a nuclear family and Pravanjan has a joint family. After a point, I could not take it anymore and left his house,” said Cini, tightly clasping her husband’s hand.

Pravanjan then filed for divorce in 2010 following which the duo underwent regular counselling sessions for possible reconciliation. But things did not work out the way they wanted. The memory of Valentine’s Day 2011 still rankles.

On Pravanjan’s invitation, Cini had gone to meet him and the two were together in his car when he suddenly flew off the handle and slapped her.

She thought that was the end of their marriage. She went straight to Mahila police station and lodged a complaint.

Pravanjan, who followed her to the police station, was promptly taken into custody. Though she pleaded for his bail, she was firm on wanting a divorce.

“After months of separation, we began craving for each other again and realised each other’s worth. A patch up wasn’t easy considering the amount of damage our relationship had suffered because of media glare. But it was Pravanjan who made the first move and suggested that we start afresh. We went on a second honeymoon to Goa, spent quality time together and things started improving,” smiled Cini.

A year later, the couple moved into a house of their own and last November, they were blessed with a baby girl, whom they have named Dhanishta.

“Things have positively changed after this little angel came into our life. We have become more responsible. Earlier, I knew nothing but cricket. Now, I know the price of potatoes and onions,” grinned Pravanjan.