Writer's POV :-

★A very happy birthday Mr. PFC… I wish your life will always be as colourful as this special occasion★

Aakarsh chuckled lightly, reading the pink sticky note which he found on bed, after returning from the gym.

There's no second guessing the name. He already knew who kept it there as there's, undoubtedly, only one person who will address him with this PFC term. With this thought he went to take shower planning to meet Diksha afterwards.

Almost after 20 minutes he was standing in front of the mirror wiping the dripping water off his hair. Noticing something pink on his hair strands, he wiped again but soon the pinkish texture covered his whole head making it look like a flamingo's tail.

Aakarsh panicked seeing his -- now pink -- hair. He was thinking about it when suddenly something struck his mind. The bottle of the shampoo was new. He immediately went into the washroom and poured some of the contents of the bottle into his hands.

Soon the colour of the liquid changed into pink. He gritted his teeth knowing whose mischief is this. Washing his hands, he wore his clothes and marched towards Diksha's room.

"Diksha…" he knocked the door twice but when there was no response from the other side, he went inside to check himself.

She was nowhere to be found. He even checked the balcony and washroom; she was nowhere. The disappearance of her from her room only increased his frustration.

He went to the main hall and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Dikshaaaa"

Both the parents rushed down hearing his loud voice.

"Krish what happened why ar…." Krishna stopped mid-sentence when her vision caught the sight of Aakarsh. Their eyes widened in surprise and they stared at him from head to toe.

The elderly couples shared a look and burst into laughter. Looking at -- a pink haired all red in anger -- Aakarsh was something unexpected for them. They laughed hard, increasing his irritation.

"Diksha" he again shouted loudly and on the cue, this time she came bouncing on the stairs. She stopped mid-way and peeked from the back of both the ladies standing together.

"What happened? Why are you screeching your throat?" She innocently asked in a sweet voice as if she's the only saint soul on this wide planet.

"What happened!? You have the nerve to ask me that, girl!?" He clenched his jaw while speaking through his gritted teeth.

"Krish...kaise hua ye...aur tu gudiya pe kyu gussa ho raha hai (how did it happen...and why are you getting angry on doll)...?" Mrinal asked, taking Diksha in a side hug.

"Puchiye apni ladli se kya kiya hai isne (ask your dear doll what she did)...!" Aakarsh told him while glaring at Diksha, hard.

If only looks could kill, she would have been six feet under the soil, just by his death-glare.

"Is this your mischief Diksha?" Annapurna asked sternly, turning towards her.

She put up her best innocent looks with fuzzy puppy eyes and looked at him.

"I was just playing a little prank, that's it." She replied slowly, curling her lower lip.

"It's little…!" He exasperated, huffing loudly.

"Diksha it's very what you did... this is not how you play pranks. Causing damage to someone is not considered a prank." Mayank scolded her in a soft yet firm voice.

"Okay...koi nahi...ab jo ho gaya so ho gya...bachhi ko dant ke kya fayda…(no issues...it has happened already...what the point in scolding her now)...?" Krishna said politely, taking Diksha in her embrace, defending her from further scolding; while Mrinal nodded in approval.

Diksha's parents shared a look and just shook their heads knowing there's no way they could scold her for her mischief. But, internally they were extremely happy to see so much love for her only daughter.

"Maa…!" Gasped Aakarsh in complete disbelief seeing his mother protecting the girl who certainly caused a great damage to him, right now.

"Bache, do you know how to undo it?" Krishna asked Diksha, completely ignoring the dramatic gasp of Aakarsh.

"Hmm... it's harmless...I have the solution…" she said innocently, nodding her head.

"See it's harmless...you guys were scolding her for nothing." Said Mrinal in her defence.

Aakarsh left the spot stomping his foot on the floor.

"Jao beta dedo use solution nahi to sara din chidha rahega…(go baby, give him the solution lest he will roam with a foul mood the whole day long)..." Krishna said, patting her cheeks.

❃❃❃

"Here this will remove the pinkish effect." Diksha said, giving a bottle to Aakarsh who was glaring at her.

"Why did you do this?" He asked, snatching the bottle off her hand.

"Revenge Mister, revenge…!" She smirked while replying to him.

"For?"

"For the stunt you pulled yesterday in the office." She replied with a tight lipped smile, crossing her hands over her chest.

Her words reminded him about yesterday's event when he had called her in his office.

He didn't speak anything but smirked, eyeing her lips and went inside the washroom winking at her.

She was initially confused at his gestures but the way he was eyeing her lips reminded her of the exact reason. Her eyes bulged out when she understood the meaning of his smirk.

"Errgghhh" she stomped her feet and went off.

❃❃❃

It was evening and the lawn area of Nakshatra was decorated with various sparkling lights.

A big board of happy birthday was hung in the side with silver and golden sparkles.

All the preparations were done for Aakarsh's birthday, who was still whining as to what was the need for all these extra preparations.

He just wanted a simple get together of family and close friends. But, the elders decided to invite a few more relatives, much to Aakarsh's dismay.

Nevertheless, the celebration started and Aakarsh was talking to Neev when suddenly a sight caught his attention.

Dressed in a royal blue evening gown with silvery belt in the middle and hair styled in a French braid, leaving some smooth traces freely on the bright face, Diksha was coming with Sejal who was dressed in a maroon velvet skirt with silver sequin top and hair half pleated in side.

Sejal was invited personally by Krishna as they got along quite well last time. Also, she knew Diksha would be so happy to have the company of her best friend as Annapurna stated.

Beaming like the energised kids, the two girls were looking like the fresh breath of air the boys needed to live.

Both the boys had their mouths hung wide open at the sight of the girls looking elegant as ever.

"Pretty girls, right?" Someone said in their ears from behind.

"Damn pretty!" They exclaimed together, but soon realising that it was someone's voice, they hurriedly turned back only to see Krishna and Annapurna standing there with a teasing smile and hands crossed over their chest.

"Umm hmm damn pretty…" They teased as both the boys scratched their necks in utter embarrassment.

"We'll talk about this later… let's cut the cake, everyone's waiting." Krishna said and went to get the cake.

"Now, we won't see the end of their teasing." Said Aakarsh while Neev hummed with a baby pout who was denied his favourite candy exactly at the moment when it was about to relish in his salivating mouth.

Aakarsh was no different with his feelings going haywire after just a look at his divine beauty.

❃❃❃

"Maa...aunty…" Aakarsh was holding a knife standing in front of a purple and silver themed decorated table with a three tier chocolate cake placed in the centre.

He was about to cut the cake so he called the two most important ladies of his life to stand by his side while looking intently at the new addition to his important people's list -- Diksha -- who was standing a few steps away from him sharing the same eye lock.

The lawn echoed with numerous clapping sounds as he slid the knife smoothly into the velvet texture of cake.

He took out a medium slice and gently held it in front of Krishna's mouth, who made him eat it first then had the rest. He repeated his actions with Annapurna, who did the same act of making him eat first before having it.

"Happy birthday to you... Happy birthday to you… Happy birthday to you dear baby boo… Happy birthday to you." Aakarsh was taking out another slice of cake to feed Mrinal and Mayank when his hands stopped abruptly and jaws clenched recognising the monotonous voice.

Everybody turned to see the source of voice. A few of the common relatives immediately recognised the person while others were realising the scene, yet. The atmosphere suddenly turned heavy with the constant vague murmuring spreading in the thick warm air; just like the speedy fire in the jungle.

"Neel..?" Krishna was the first one to exclaim as soon as the person reached near walking through the decorated narrow path of lawn.

"Ahh... it's so good to see you people... hello everyone." Neel said with a wide grin plastered on his face.

"What ar…" Aakarsh was speaking when he felt a tug on his wrist as an indication to stay quiet.

Mrinal who had tugged at his wrist faced the guests requesting them to move to the food counters; to avoid the unnecessary drama that was just going to begin.

Leaving the Vermas and Shrivastaws along with Neev everyone helped themselves to the other side of the lawn.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Aakarsh roared as soon as the crowd disappeared.

"Oh don't be so cold hearted baby boo... it's your birthday and I'm here to wish you obviously...and oops how can I forget the lovely gift I got you!?."
Neel said with a devilish smirk.

"Come inside." He called someone.

The Vermas immediately recognised him as their family advocate - Advocate Niranjan.

"Aap yaha…(you here)?" Mrinal asked surprisingly, unable to reason his sudden visit. But what came out as an answer was strong and capable enough to snatch the land under their feet.

"Mr. Verma... Mr. Aakarsh Verma has been strictly summoned by the court tomorrow morning."

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Here's the update. Read & enjoy!!

Do vote and comment and share as much as you can...!!

What do you think about the story going so far?

Why Aakarsh has been summoned suddenly?? Any guesses??

The next chapter is almost ready it's on editing... It'll be up in 2-3 days. But, before that I've a tiny-winy request to -- please guys give your response and feedbacks so that it can help and motivate me to write further. Especially silent readers.

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