The night was quiet, with only the soft ticking of the clock filling the silence. Aarav had been preparing something special for the love of his life. He glanced at the time—11:58 PM—and his heart raced. With only two minutes to go, he rushed to the bedroom, excitement bubbling in his chest. He burst through the door and shouted, "Happy Birthday, Manvi!" He wanted to be the first to wish her as the clock struck midnight.

But there was no response. Manvi, the woman who had been by his side for years, remained still, her breathing steady and undisturbed. Aarav sighed in frustration, muttering under his breath, "Lady Kumbhkaran," referring to her deep sleep. Without a second thought, he approached her bed and gave her a gentle but firm shake.

"Manviiiiiii!" he called out loudly, desperate to see her awake.

She jerked awake, her eyes fluttering open in confusion, "Kyaa huaa?? Kyaa hua?" She looked at him, her sleepy face still trying to grasp the situation.

Aarav couldn't help but laugh as he leaned over and teased her, "Tum paida hui 26 saal pehle."

Manvi’s eyes narrowed as she groggily processed the words, and with a slight frown, she snapped, "Shut up."

He grinned even wider and, with a flourish, brought a small cake toward her. The flickering candlelight danced in the dark room, casting a soft glow over her face. Manvi’s gaze fell on the cake, and she raised an eyebrow, "Yeh??"

Aarav chuckled, "Haan, tum cake toh khati nahi, toh socha besan ke laddu ki bajaye besan ke laddu ka cake banaya jaye.." His playful tone matched his mischievous grin.

Manvi couldn’t help but laugh, her smile radiating warmth. "So sweet, Patidev!" She reached out, pinching his cheek affectionately.

Aarav's heart swelled at her response. He asked her to blow out the candle, and she did, making a wish with a soft breath. She took a piece of the cake, carefully feeding him a bite. The sweetness of the gesture lingered in the air.

"Thank you, Aarav! Hamesha aise hi mere paas rehna," she whispered, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

"Always," he replied, his voice filled with love and certainty.

They embraced, their hearts beating as one. The moment felt timeless—an eternal promise between the two of them. But in the blink of an eye, Manvi was shaken from the trance of her thoughts.

Her eyes moved toward the picture hanging on the wall. It was a photograph of them—Aarav and her, frozen in time, a memory of happier days. The sharp contrast between the photo and her present reality tugged at her heart, and tears slipped down her cheeks.

Her voice cracked as she whispered to herself, “You broke your promise, Aarav. Chale gaye tum mujhe chodke…”

The words hung in the air like a heavy weight, the room suddenly feeling emptier than it ever had before. Manvi’s chest tightened as the image of Aarav’s smile blurred in her mind. He had been her world, and now, with him gone, the world felt cold. She stared at the photo, her heart aching as she wished for just one more moment with him, to hear his voice, to feel his touch.

But the silence was deafening, and she was left with nothing but memories.

It was Manvi's 27th birthday, and the house felt quieter than usual. Despite the warmth of the morning sun creeping in through the windows, a chill hung in the air. Aarav, the one person who had always made her birthdays unforgettable, was not there. Her heart felt heavy, but she tried to push the sadness aside, telling herself she could carry on without him. As she was lost in thought, there came a sudden knock at the door.

Startled, Manvi quickly wiped her tears and opened it. To her surprise, standing on the other side were two familiar faces, smiling brightly.

"Happy Birthday, Mannu!" they chorused in unison.

Manvi's lips curved into a soft smile as she looked at the duo. "Yeh cake??" she asked, eyeing the box they held.

Ruhana, her close friend, grinned at her. "Haan, tumhe kya laga? Aarav nahi hai toh hum apni bahu ke liye yeh nahi banayenge?" Her words were light-hearted, but Manvi could see the genuine care in her eyes.

As they exchanged a few more words, the door creaked open again, and a familiar voice broke the moment.

"Happy Birthday, Vineet Sir!" The trio turned to see a tall figure standing in the doorway, beaming with excitement.

Anuj, Manvi’s best friend, stood there with a broad grin, holding a gift in his hands. His energy was infectious, and despite her earlier sadness, Manvi couldn't help but feel a bit lighter.

"Thank you, Anuj," Vineet said, his voice warm as he greeted his young friend.

Manvi chuckled softly, the weight of her emotions momentarily forgotten. "Mera bhi hai!" she teased, pointing at herself.

Anuj's eyes widened dramatically. "Moti! Tu bhi hai... bhool gaya main," he teased, his voice full of mischief as he addressed Manvi with an affectionate nickname from their childhood.

Manvi glared playfully, crossing her arms. "Maa papa dekho, isko aaj bhi sata raha hai," she said, her words carrying the same playful tone, though her eyes sparkled with fondness for the bond they shared.

Ruhana, ever the peacekeeper, interrupted their banter with a smile. "Bas bas, ab chalo, dono cake katenge!" she said, eager to get to the fun part. The tension in the room eased, and they moved toward the hall where a small celebration awaited.

In the centre of the room, two cakes sat on the table. One was a round cake, beautifully decorated but simple, the kind that Vineet loved. The other was Manvi’s special cake—her beloved besan ke laddu cake, a unique creation that Aarav had once made for her and which she had grown to adore. Her hands trembled slightly as she took the knife, cutting into the soft, golden layers of the laddu cake, her eyes momentarily closing as if savoring the memory of every special moment she had shared with Aarav.

Vineet, standing next to her, cut his own cake—a typical chocolate cake, but there was something different in the way he looked at her, as if this moment was both for her and for all the years of relationship they had shared.

As the candles flickered and the cake slices were passed around, the room hummed with the warmth of love, old memories, and new beginnings. Manvi smiled at them, feeling the love in their presence, though her heart still carried the ache of Aarav's absence.

She took a bite of the cake, the sweetness lingering on her tongue, and for the first time that day, she felt a sense of peace. The world kept turning, birthdays kept coming, and despite the changes, she knew she wasn't alone.

Vineet’s mind drifted back to a memory from a few years ago, one that he cherished deeply. It was his birthday, and his son, had been in the kitchen for hours, preparing an elaborate meal and cake with the same love and attention to detail he had always shown. Vineet and Ruhana had just returned home after a dull concert.

"Duggu kidhar hai??" Ruhana called out as she entered the house, looking for their son, affectionately known by that nickname.

Aarav appeared from the kitchen, his hands covered with flour, a grin on his face. "Aap dono itni jaldi aa gaye? Concert khatam?" he teased, clearly happy to see them home early.

"It was too boring, Aaru," Vineet replied, shaking his head as he glanced around, already anticipating the delicious spread his son had prepared.

He made his way toward the kitchen to get a glass of water, but Aarav swiftly blocked his path, a playful glint in his eyes. "Dad kyu jaa rahe ho?" he asked, his voice full of mock concern.

"Abe pani peene hatt mere raste se," Vineet said with a chuckle, trying to push past Aarav. Despite the playful tension between them, Vineet couldn't help but smile at his son's energy.

Aarav sighed dramatically, stepping aside. Vineet walked toward the kitchen and stopped in his tracks when he saw the spread on the counter. The cake, the dishes, the effort—it was all for him.

"Happy Birthday, Dad!! Socha tha shyam ko surprise dunga," Aarav said with a proud smile, his eyes glimmering as he watched Vineet's reaction.

Vineet turned to look at his son, deeply moved by the gesture. "Thank you, Aaru... subah se itni mehnat ki tune sirf mere liye," he said, his voice full of emotion. The love between father and son was palpable in the air.

Aarav grinned and walked over, pulling his father into a tight hug. "Aapke liye toh jaan bhi hazir hai," he joked, squeezing him affectionately.

Vineet’s heart swelled with love as he remembered the warmth and connection of those days. But as his mind returned to the present, he was pulled from his reverie by the gentle clink of a dish being placed in front of him. Anuj, stood smiling at him.

"Aarav jaisa toh nahi bana paaya, par koshish ki," Anuj said with a laugh, clearly trying to replicate Aarav's signature dishes. The effort was appreciated.

Vineet smiled, touched by the gesture. "Thank you, Anuj," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Ruhana, always attentive to Vineet’s moods, fed him a piece of cake with a loving smile. "Happy Birthday, Vineet," she said softly, her voice full of warmth and tenderness.

"Thanks, Ruu... tum ho par bas ek ki kami hai," Vineet replied, looking at the photo of Aarav that hung on the wall. The image captured a moment of his son’s carefree laughter, and for a brief second, Vineet’s heart ached as he missed him terribly.

Ruhana, sensing the depth of his feelings, gently placed her hand on his shoulder. "Kisne kaha yahi toh hai... hamare dil mein aur hamari yaadon mein," she said, her voice full of understanding. She gave him a side hug, comforting him as they both shared the silent weight of their loss.

Vineet closed his eyes, savoring the love that surrounded him in the room. Though Aarav wasn’t physically there, his presence lingered in every corner of their home, in every dish prepared, in every heartfelt memory. And as he stood there with Ruhana by his side, he realized that no matter where Aarav was, he would always be a part of their hearts, forever.

The soft chime of the doorbell rang through the house, pulling Manvi out of her quiet thoughts. She wiped away the stray tear from her cheek, still haunted by memories of the past. As she opened the door, her heart skipped a beat. Standing there, with an aura of quiet strength, was a woman she hadn’t seen in years. The person who had once been a fixture in her life, someone who had walked away when Manvi had chosen her path with Aarav—her sister, Ahana.

"Dida," Manvi whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Ahana’s face softened as she smiled warmly at her. "Aana chahti thi mahino pehle par socha tujhe janamdin ka tohfa dun... Happy birthday my baby," she said, her voice thick with emotion. She had aged, but the warmth in her eyes remained the same.

Before Manvi could process the whirlwind of emotions coursing through her, Ahana stepped forward and pulled her into a tight embrace. The dam inside Manvi finally broke. She clung to Ahana, her tears flowing freely as she whispered, "Dida!!! I missed you so much, kyuu aapne akela kiya mujhe?" Her words came out in a mixture of grief and longing, as if she had been waiting for this moment for far too long.

Ahana stroked her hair gently, her own tears threatening to fall. "I am sorry my baby... door thi tujhse par mera pyaar kabhi kum nahi hua tere liye. Dida ab kahi nahi jayegi," she said, her voice thick with regret, as if trying to make up for all the lost time. She pulled Manvi closer, reassuring her that no matter what had happened in the past, her love for her had never wavered.

Manvi pulled away slightly, looking into Ahana’s eyes. The pain was still there, but it was beginning to heal. She smiled softly, her voice full of quiet hope, "Aaj I am happy aap wapas aa gaye... kaash Aarav bhi aa jaata." The mention of Aarav sent a pang through her heart, the absence of his presence on this special day still a void that couldn’t be filled.

Just as the words lingered in the air, Ruhana, ever the caring presence, stepped up behind Manvi, placing a hand on her shoulder. Her touch was comforting, grounding. "Chalo, aaj ka din celebrate karte hai. Hmm, no more sadness." The warmth in her voice made Manvi look up at her, a tearful but grateful smile forming on her lips.

Manvi nodded, the weight of the past few years slowly lifting off her shoulders as Ahana’s return brought a sense of completeness she had longed for. "Thank you, Maa. Thank you, Dida," she whispered, the simple words carrying all the emotions she had been holding back.

With the three of them together, they moved toward the living room, where a table was already set up for the celebration. Manvi, surrounded by the love of the people who mattered most to her, felt an overwhelming sense of peace. Today, it was about family, about healing, and about moving forward.

As the evening unfolded, they laughed, reminisced, and shared stories, the joy of togetherness mingling with the quiet sadness of absence. They celebrated the birthdays of two remarkable women—Manvi and Ahana—both marked by pain, yet both shaped by the strength of love. They honored the memory of Aarav in their own way, knowing that though he was no longer physically there, he would always be a part of their hearts.

And for the first time in a long while, Manvi felt the warmth of home again, surrounded by the love of those who had never truly left her side.

❤️❤️ Happy birthday to me. I hope next year brings peace and happiness for myself, and my family had enough of lessons, losses of loved ones and tough times.

RuVineet happy birthday to him ❤️