Happy reading 🌼✨

💋💋

_____________________________________________

The morning after the wedding was surprisingly peaceful. The grand house, which had been overflowing with guests and festivities the night before, now carried an air of exhaustion mixed with calmness. Most of the relatives had already left, except for a few close ones who had decided to stay back for a day to wind things up. The elders were busy seeing off guests, making final arrangements, and indulging in post-wedding discussions.

Ekansh had already left early in the morning for some urgent work, and Avya, too, was packing her bags as she had no holidays left. The younger ones, however, were in their usual chaotic zone.

Aarohi sat lazily on the couch, munching on kurkure while scrolling through her phone. The sound of crunching filled the silence.

"Tum kabse mobile se chipki hui ho thoda mujhse bhi chipak lo" Vidyut's teasing voice broke her concentration. He entered with his usual playful energy, plopping down beside her.

"Chiii chup karo" she retorted, not even sparing him a glance.

They casually chatted for a while until Vidyut suddenly asked, "By the way, tum kal ke test ke liye ready hoo?"

Aarohi nonchalantly nodded, still scrolling. "Haan, hoon toh."

Just then, Samiksha passed by and greeted them with her usual dramatic flair, "Heyy janwaron, aaj dushman desh ke log saath kaise baithe hain?"

They completely ignored her.

Now, it was Vidyut's turn. He smirked and turned to his sister, "Aur tu? Test ki taiyaari ho gayi beta?"

Samiksha frowned, "Konsa test?"

Silence.

Both Aarohi and Vidyut stared at her in utter shock.

"You... don't know?" Vidyut asked, eyes wide.

Samiksha blinked, "Mujhe kya pata hoga? Koi mujhe batata hi nahi hai!"

Aarohi, who had been too absorbed in her kurkure, finally looked up with a smirk. "Kisi aur ke khayalon se dhyaan hatega tab na pta chalega ki kal test bhi hai."

Samiksha narrowed her eyes, "Chup kar, kutti! Mujhe bata nahi sakti thi?"

Aarohi sat up straight. "Wait, tujhe sach me nahi pata tha?"

Samiksha folded her arms. "Kya lagta hai aapko?"

Aarohi gulped. "Nahi pta tha?"

A moment of realization hit them both. They just stared at each other, processing the blunder.

"P-Papa ko mat batana ki kal test hai and I'm not prepared," Samiksha pleaded desperately.

Meanwhile, from a little distance, Abeer had been silently watching the entire exchange. His initial reaction was shock. Samiksha-the Samiksha-completely unaware of a test? This was unexpected.

But what truly caught his attention was the sheer concern on her face.

And Abeer, the guy who followed every school rule, the guy who never lied, who never interfered with academic ethics-today, he was about to break his own principles.

Without a second thought, he took out his phone and opened his contacts.

Abeer: "Good morning, sir!"

Teacher: "Ah, Abeer! How are you? All good?"

Abeer: "Yes, sir. Actually, I wanted to inform you about something. A lot of students are feeling unwell. Many of them won't be able to give the test."

Teacher: "Oh... that's unfortunate. But rescheduling on such short notice-"

Abeer: "Sir, if the test happens, attendance will be very low. I think it would be better if it's postponed."

The teacher hesitated before sighing. "Alright, but this better not be an excuse to delay studying."

Abeer chuckled nervously. "No, sir. Just looking out for the students."

And just like that-the test was canceled.

-

Later that evening, an official message popped up in the school group:

"Tomorrow's test has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. New date will be announced soon."

The moment Samiksha saw the message, her reaction was nothing short of dramatic.

"DEKHA!" she screamed, jumping up. "I KNEW I'M GOD'S FAVORITE CHILD!"

She dramatically folded her hands, looking up at the ceiling. "Haye bhagwaan ji, thank you! Par mujhe itna bhi sar pe mat chadhana, main bohot humble ladki hoon!"

Abeer, standing at a distance, simply smiled. Watching her happiness-worth it.

Aarohi, however, had her doubts. She squinted at Abeer, something clicking in her mind. She slowly walked up to him and leaned in.

"Bhaiya... yeh aapne kiya na?"

Abeer sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Haan."

Aarohi smirked. "Kamaal hai."

Meanwhile, Samiksha-completely unaware of her saviour-was busy dancing in the middle of the room, singing some random Bollywood item song at the top of her lungs.

The elders passing by gave her confused glances. The younger ones just laughed.

"Paagal ladki," Vidyut muttered, shaking his head.

Abeer?

He just watched.

And smiled.

___________

Avya lay sprawled on her couch, the dim glow of the television flickering across her face. She was alone. The house was silent, except for the soft hum of the air conditioner and the distant honking of cars outside.

She mindlessly scrolled through the channels until she landed on a random show-some over-the-top daily soap where the heroine was dramatically crying, accusing her sautan of stealing her husband.

"Main tumse itna pyaar karti hoon, Raj! Aur tumne mujhe dhokha diya?" the actress sobbed, gripping her dupatta as if her life depended on it.

"Nahi, Anjali! Mera yaqeen karo!" the hero pleaded, his expression torn between guilt and helplessness.

The scene was too ironic. Too familiar. Avya let out a humorless chuckle.

She pushed her glasses up, staring blankly at the screen, but her mind was somewhere else. Somewhere far, back in time.

Tomorrow was her birthday.

And she knew-just like every year-there was no one to celebrate it with her.

She never expected anything from anyone anymore. She had learned the hard way that expectations were meant to be crushed. The scars of her past still lingered, buried under layers of forced indifference.

Her 18th birthday had been a turning point. She had been so excited, so full of anticipation. She remembered the giddy feeling in her chest as she walked to the medical store that evening, sent by her father to buy some medicine.

That's when she saw his car.

Her heart had leaped in excitement. Her boyfriend was here! What a perfect coincidence. Maybe he was planning a surprise for her?

But as she got closer, what she saw through the windshield shattered everything.

He wasn't alone.

He was kissing someone-no, making out-his hands shamelessly roaming over the girl in his lap.

A lump had formed in Avya's throat, her legs frozen on the pavement.

Then the girl moved, shifting slightly-her face coming into view.

Her best friend.

Her only best friend. The one she had trusted more than anyone.

Tears had streamed down her cheeks before she even realized it. Her hands trembled as she gripped her phone, and without a second thought, she had blocked them both. Everywhere.

They had turned her best day into her worst nightmare.

From that day on, birthdays became meaningless to her. She stopped expecting things from people. Stopped hoping. Stopped believing in grand gestures.

She had learned to love herself instead.

But tonight was different. Tonight, for the first time in years, she felt the hollow ache of loneliness creeping in.

For the first time, she wanted someone to be there.

Maybe... Ekansh?

She sighed, shaking off the thought. He had already left. His work mattered. His meetings were important.

She glanced at the time-11:30 PM.

The doorbell rang.

She frowned. Who could it be at this hour?

Cautiously, she moved towards the door, hesitating for a second before unlocking it.

As the door swung open, she saw a man standing there, dressed in a black suit, holding a huge bouquet in one hand and a cake box in the other.

For a moment, his face was hidden behind the flowers.

And then-he shifted slightly.

It was him.

Ekansh.

Before she could react, he stepped forward and pulled her into a hug, his arms wrapping tightly around her waist, as if he had been holding his breath all this time and could finally exhale.

Her hands instinctively went around his neck, her face buried in his shoulder, inhaling the faint scent of his cologne.

When she finally pulled back, confused, she saw him check his watch before looking at her with that deep, intense gaze of his.

"Happy birthdayyyyy madam." he murmured, his voice sending shivers down her spine.

Her heart skipped a beat.

But then reality struck her.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, concern creeping into her voice. "Didn't you have a flight? What about your meeting?"

Ekansh just smiled, his hands still resting on her waist. "Not important than you."

She frowned. "Ekansh, that deal was worth 125 crores. You missed it?"

He shrugged, completely unbothered. "Nothing is more important than you, bachaa."

"Are you insane?"

He let out a small chuckle. "Maybe. But I couldn't leave. I reached the airport, stood at the departure gate, and realized-no, I can't do this. I can't leave without seeing you first. Sorry if I'm being selfish, but I wanted to be the first one to wish you today."

She shook her head, exasperated. "Paagal ho kya?"

"Haan, hoon," he grinned. "Aapke pyaar mein."

She rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

Ekansh, however, was not done. Like an excited child, he nudged her. "Ab cake cut karna hai!"

"Seriously?" she sighed.

"Yes, madam!" He handed her the knife and positioned himself behind her, his one hand holding hers, the other resting on her waist as they both cut the cake together.

As the knife sliced through the soft layers, he began singing Happy Birthday in the cutest, most off-tune voice possible.

Happy Birthday to you.

Happy Birthday to you......

I love you.

She turned around, laughing, and pulled him into a tight hug.

For the first time in years, her birthday didn't feel lonely.

Ekansh gazed into her eyes, his own filled with something unspoken-something warm, something real.

"Can I kiss you, please?" he whispered, making the most adorable puppy eyes.

She giggled, shaking her head. "You're impossible."

But then-she leaned in and kissed him.

It was soft, gentle. More than a kiss, it felt like a promise. A promise that no matter how many times the world failed her, he never would.

When they pulled apart, her face turned serious again.

"Ekansh, that deal was important. You shouldn't have done this. It's wrong. We're at a loss because of you, what the hell?" she scolded, her hands on her hips.

He sighed dramatically. "Sorryyyy," he drawled, before leaning in and pecking her lips again.

She blushed.

He smirked.

"Cute," he murmured.

And for the first time in years, Avya's birthday felt like hers again.

The sharp trill of her phone broke through her thoughts. She blinked, glancing at the screen-Samiksha calling.

She hesitated before answering, forcing a small smile onto her face. The moment the call connected, a loud chorus of voices boomed through the speakers-

"HAPPYYYY BIRTHDAYYYYY, AVYAAAA!"

Avya flinched at the unexpected burst of energy. The screen was filled with the familiar, grinning faces of her family, all gathered in what seemed to be a noisy, chaotic setting. Some were holding snacks, others laughing and talking over each other, but their collective excitement was contagious.

She smiled. "Guys, it's not my birthday yet."

"So?" Samiksha scoffed. "We don't need a clock to tell us when to celebrate!"

Avya chuckled, indulging in their antics, answering their usual questions-'How's your night going?' 'Missing us yet?'-with casual responses. It was easy, effortless, the way she slipped into conversation with them, but something still felt distant. Like an invisible barrier she couldn't push past.

Then, just as she thought the conversation was winding down, Samiksha's eyes flickered to something in Avya's background.

A bouquet.

A huge, extravagant bouquet sitting on the table behind her.

Samiksha's brows shot up. "Uh... Avya?" She leaned closer to her screen, her voice dropping to a suspicious tone. "Who sent that?"

Avya's heart skipped a beat.

She had been so caught up in talking that she forgot to move the damn flowers out of sight.

Thinking quickly, she forced an exaggerated laugh. "Oh... that? Koi joker ne bheja hoga! Hehe." She waved dismissively. "Tu bata, khana ho gaya?"

Samiksha narrowed her eyes. "Haan, haan, baat mat ghumaa. Tell me the truth-who sent it?"

Before Avya could respond, she noticed movement from the corner of her eye.

Ekansh.

Standing in the kitchen doorway, arms crossed, watching her with an unreadable expression.

But his eyes-oh, those wickedly amused eyes-held something dangerous.

A slow smirk crept onto his lips.

Avya's stomach did a nervous flip.

He had heard her.

Shit.

Her fingers hovered over the screen as she quickly wrapped up the call, making some excuse about being sleepy. The moment the screen went black, she exhaled in relief.

Avya felt her breath hitch as Ekansh took slow, deliberate steps towards her, his tall frame closing the distance between them. Her back instinctively met the cool surface of the wall behind her as she tried to gauge his expression, but the dim lighting cast shadows over his sharp features, making it impossible to decipher the emotions lurking in his dark eyes.

A smug smirk played on his lips as he finally stopped in front of her, one hand resting against the wall beside her head, effectively trapping her in place. The warmth radiating from his body sent an involuntary shiver down her spine, making her acutely aware of how close he was.

His voice dropped into a husky whisper as he leaned in slightly, his breath fanning against the sensitive skin of her ear. "Joker lagta hoon main?"

Avya's heart pounded against her ribcage as his words settled between them, thickening the air with an unspoken challenge. She wanted to respond, to say something witty or sarcastic, but her tongue felt heavy, refusing to cooperate under his intense gaze.

Before she could gather her thoughts, he pulled back just enough to look at her properly, his eyes glinting with something mischievous. His smirk widened ever so slightly as he leaned in again, this time dangerously close to her lips. His voice was deep, teasing, laced with amusement as he murmured, "Aao bed par circus karke dikhata hoon."

Avya's eyes widened in pure disbelief as his words registered in her mind. Heat crept up her neck and spread across her cheeks, making her face burn with embarrassment. She knew he was just messing with her, enjoying her flustered state, but that didn't stop the wave of nervous energy from making her entire body feel like it was on fire.

She struggled to form a coherent response, but all she managed to do was open and close her mouth like a fish out of water. The sight must have been amusing to him because the next thing she heard was his deep, velvety laughter filling the room. The sound was rich, warm, and annoyingly beautiful, making her stomach do an involuntary flip.

He shook his head in amusement before reaching out and gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers brushed against her skin ever so lightly, yet the small touch sent an unexpected jolt of warmth through her. His expression softened, the teasing glint in his eyes replaced by something more tender as he whispered, "Cute."

Avya swallowed hard, her mind screaming at her to say something, to push him away, to break whatever strange, electrifying tension had settled between them. But instead, she found herself staring up at him, completely captivated, unable to look away.

At that moment, she realized something terrifying-something she had spent years trying to avoid.

She could look at him like this for the rest of her life. And that thought alone scared her more than anything else.

___________________________________________

Actually yesterday I watched 'YJHD' for 364787488th time and it's one of my favourite. So after watching the ending when I started writing the chapter and because of that in "Ekansh and Avya's" part you will see a little bit glint of bunny and naina hehehe.

🌼✨💋

Love you 📖🌷