Arnav flicked through the files on his desk, lost in his thoughts. Aman touched his shoulder, tapping it gently. 

"Earth to ASR." He nudged Arnav, causing him to break out of his reverie. 

"What are you doing here?" Arnav looked up at his PA-Manager cum Best Friend.

Aman shrugged, a smile that Arnav had grown to despise over the years, rested on his lips. A smile that told Arnav how much the boy standing in front of him knew the Arnav that he so desperately fought to keep under wraps, how much he understood the man that Arnav vehemently denied to be.

"What?" Arnav asked, eyeing him warily.

"My chocolates?" Aman held his hand out, making Arnav to crack out a small smile at his expense.

Arnav sighed, "I don't believe you Mathur." He shook his head at Aman and despite himself, reached for the drawer and took out a huge bar of chocolate.

"Thank you." Aman smiled, his eyes shining in ecstasy. Arnav smiled too, watching the boy treasure the chocolate as if it were the most expensive gift he had gotten.

***

Arnav held his mother's fingers with his hand, walking inside the huge Chhaya Orphanage. 

"Why have we come here mumma?" Arnav asked, curiosity shining in his molten chocolate orbs. Ratna smiled, her eyes softening at her son's expression.

"This is the orphanage we got you from, and now we're returning you to your home." Anjali responded, before Ratna could get the words out of her mouth, and grinned mischievously.

Arnav's hold tightened on his mother's hand, his expression turning mildly terrified.

"Chotte, your sister is messing with you." Ratna comforted her son, giving her daughter a stern look making her pout.

"We are here to make donations chotte, because it's your 10th birthday." Arvind explained patiently. "Just like we did for Anju Bitiya's birthday a few months back." 

"But that orphanage was different." Arnav frowned, "Right Baba?"

Arvind smiled, scooping his prince in his arms and kissed his forehead. "Yes. It was indeed." 

"There are many orphanages around the country and quite a few in and around Lucknow, and that means just as many kids need playmates." Ratna said softly 

"We're allowed to play with the kids?" Anjali asked excitedly.

"You are." Ratna gave her kids a green signal.

***

Arnav was watching the kids running around, playing in the garden of the orphanage when suddenly, his eyes stopped at a boy sitting under a tree, with his head between his knees. 

Arnav walked up to the boy, and settled next to him under the shade of the tree.

"Hey, What are you doing here all alone?" Arnav asked softly, touching his shoulder. The boy looked up, surprised at being approached by someone. A flick of fear flashed in his eyes, and he staggered to his feet, faster than Arnav had ever seen before.

Arnav got to his own feet and followed the boy.

"Wait, I didn't want to scare you." Arnav called after him, and the boy stopped. 

"No one talks to me." He whispered.

Arnav walked closer and made the boy turn. "There's always a first time." He smiled comfortingly at the boy. 

"What's your name?" Arnav asked 

"Aman. Aman Mathur." The boy replied, fumbling with his fingers.

"I'm Arnav Mallik."  Arnav extended his hand for a shake.

Aman smiled, taking the hand. "Are you doing a friend's shake?" 

"We can call it that." Arnav agreed. 

"I don't have friends." Aman confessed.

Arnav smiled, "I don't have friends either. We can be each-other's first.. friends?" He asked

Aman smiled, approving of the idea.

"What are you doing here?" Aman asked hesitantly. 

"I am here with my parents and sister, to.. uh make donations. It's my birthday today." Arnav explained to his new-found friend.

"How old are you child?" Ratna asked softly, handing Aman a packet, full of treats and toys.

"I'm six years old, mam." Aman replied.

Ratna nodded, patting his head. "You are a good boy." 

"He's my friend mumma." Arnav piped in, "My first friend." 

Ratna looked at him surprised, "Really chotte? That's great."  

Arnav beamed. 

***

"Will you come back to play with me?" Aman asked innocently.

Arnav looked at his mother who smiled and nodded. 

"Of course" Ratna assured the boy as she led Arnav towards the exit.

"Mumma wait," Arnav tugged at his mother's wrist. Ratna looked down at him. "Can I have a chocolate?" 

"Now?" 

Arnav nodded urgently.

Ratna reached for her bag and took out a chocolate. "Here you go." 

Arnav smiled heartily and ran back inside the room towards his friend.

Aman looked up, confused as Arnav forwarded the chocolate to him.

"When my classmates celebrate their birthdays in school. They give extra chocolates to their friends. I never had any friends before today. So.." Arnav bit his lip, nervously. 

Aman took the chocolate from him. "Thank You"

***

"Will you come with me ASR?" Aman asked hesitantly.

"Where to?" Arnav asked, even though he knew what Aman was rooting for.

"Somewhere quiet and less official." Aman answered.

Arnav sighed, "Why do you even try when you know what the outcome of your effort will be?" He asked.

"Because I stubbornly want the outcome to change." Aman confessed truthfully.

"You know it won't." Arnav said solemnly. 

"A man can hope." Aman said with a small smile.

Arnav exhaled deeply. 

"And another year goes by, Aman returns to the pavillion with his hopes, unfulfilled." Aman exclaimed dramatically. 

Arnav chuckled. "Save me from his dramatic ass." 

"Happy Birthday Arnav. May you everything you wish for.. even though.." Aman wished him, and Arnav smiled in acknowledgement. 

It had been eighteen years since Arnav had found a friend in Aman and vice versa, once, on his tenth birthday Arnav had gotten a friend who had made him feel like he belonged somewhere other than just with his family. Aman on the other hand found a family, a brother in Arnav that he never had.

After meeting Aman on his tenth birthday, Arnav had made it a point to visit the orphanage more and more often for the next few years. Arnav made sure to give an 'extra' chocolate to his friend on his birthday every year prior to his tenth birthday. Aman and Arnav had grown closer and closer with every meeting and soon were pretty much inseparable. Consequently, A ten year old Aman was present at the even in the marriage function of Anjali Mallik where everything fell apart. Aman saw, with his own eyes the devastation that the death of Ratna Mallik-Nee-Raizada had caused and how it had changed a once cheerful and soft Arnav Mallik into the ASR that the world knew him as. 

***

Arnav landed in India after completing his education from the prestigious Harvard University. His family stood at the gate of the Airport to receive him. His Mama-ji, Mami-ji smiled as soon as he reached near him. He bent to touch their feet but he was pulled into a bone crushing hug by his Mami-ji followed by his mama-ji, his sister and his cousin brother. 

"We missed you Bhai/Chotte" Anjali and Akash exclaimed in unison.

"I missed you too." Arnav confessed truthfully. 

"Happy Birthday" They wished him, their voices hushed and he smiled in acknowledgement of their wishes

"How was your flight Arnav Bitwa?" Mama-ji asked him, while he was trying to spot someone in the crowd. 

"It was good.. O..Okay." Arnav answered distractedly, as he finally spotted a lean yet tall boy standing at a little distance from where the Raizadas were assembled, smiling at him. As soon as he noticed Arnav looking, he averted his gaze.

"You must be tired, let's go home so you can rest." Mami-ji tugged at his arm, causing him to look back at her and smile.

"You go on Mami-ji, I'll follow in a minute." He ushered his family towards the exit of the Airport and followed the boy's trail.

***

"Wait up Mathur." Arnav called after the boy, and as expected he froze.

Arnav walked closer and turned the boy to face himself. "I didn't take you to be the kind of friend who would run away from his friends." 

Aman sighed, lowering his head. "I didn't think you'd need me anymore." 

Arnav frowned. "You're a USA return Harvard University Post Graduate after all." He explained

"Right." Arnav nodded in understanding.

"Goodbye then?" 

"Who'll have these chocolates then?" And asked taking a packet, full of different types of chocolates out of his travel bag.

Aman turned to look at Arnav wide-eyed. 

"You raised the bar quite a bit too much. The Business School at Harvard University couldn't compete." Arnav said with a small, too small to be perceptible, smile on his lips. 

"Still the loner?" Aman asked, teasingly.

"Just like I was five years ago." Arnav agreed. 

Aman hugged him tightly.

"I missed you." Arnav hugged Aman back.

"Missed you too." Aman confessed.

***

Aman was turning to exit his boss and best friend's cabin when the cabin door flew open, and entered Khushi carrying a beautifully decorated chocolate cake on a roller tray. 

"I take that Aman-ji's efforts got wasted?" Khushi enquired wheeling the tray towards the coffee table.

"Totally." Aman confirmed with a sullen face.

"Can you help me with the cake Aman-ji?" Khushi asked politely.

"Of course Khushi-ji." Aman rushed to the coffee table to help his sister-in-law.

Arnav sighed, "I've been making him feel awful for almost a decade and a half, and now you join the same league of stubbornness. Khush.. I don't celebrate my birthday." Arnav said firmly. "I never will."

"Why?" She questioned, looking at him confused 

"Because.. I don't." Arnav answered.

"And then you call me and Aman-ji stubborn." Khushi sighed.

"I don't like to celebrate my birthday, Khushi because it brings back memories. The memories that I have both cherished and dreaded." Arnav told her. 

"Mumma was always the first one to wish me on my birthday, she used to make my favorite foods, pamper me all day. I know not a way to get rid of those memories. I can't help but remember my mother and her death every time this day comes." Arnav confessed. 

"Who says that you'll have to forget everything in order to be happy? This day has given you a lot of memories, a best friend, it was probably the best day of your mother's life, because it was the day when she had you, it was the day when she held you in her embrace for the first time, kissed you for the first time, cooed to you, fed you, played with you and what not. Do you think she would be happy seeing you so distraught and distressed on what was supposed to be the happiest day of her and your life alike?" Khushi asked

Arnav looked at his wife helplessly.

"Mumma wanted you to be happy Arnav-ji. We all want you to be happy. If not for me, or anyone else, then for her please don't push happiness away from yourself. You deserve to be happy Arnav-ji. Always." Khushi said softly and kissed his forehead. Arnav smiled. 

"Besides, it's not only your birthday but also your friendship anniversary with Aman-ji. This day deserves double celebrations doesn't it?" Khushi asked excitedly.

Arnav looked at Aman and then at his wife.

"It does." Arnav agreed. 

You can't hold onto your past forever, If you have to let go someday, then why not do it today?

The three made their way towards the coffee table to cut the cake. 

"See if Di picks up a Skype, she'll be happy to see me cutting a cake after fourteen years." Arnav suggested. 

"Of course." Khushi chirped.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARNAV-JI" 

Finally it's done and I'm only 11 minutes late. Sorryyyyyyy

So.. I know this is not something you see everyday, but this idea was indeed amazing isn't it? Basically my partner in crime My personal ASR aka AryaARshi wanted me to write something based off Aman-ASR. I hope and pray that what she wanted, is what she gets when she reads this shot.

The rest of you, kindly don't forget to Vote and Comment. I've been having an extremely low response since a few days. Please don't disappoint me this time.  Pretty please. 

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