11:58 P.M ,same night...

"Umm..who is it..?She ignored and tossed to other side of the bed.

The phone kept vibrating.

"Gosh.."she groaned and stretched her hand to grab her continuously vibrating phone.

"Hello...who is there this late ..."she blabbered in sleepy voice.

"Someone is a heavy sleeper.."she heard a male voice chuckled .

She frowned who must be him because she had only one boy- friend who could never call her in the mid hours as he too sleep like a bear.

"Are you still awake..?"she heard him saying again.She pressed her memory to remember when reality dawned upon her.

"Randhir?"she gasped.

"Finally sleeping beauty recognize this poor soul.."he said playfully.

"I am not.. heavy sleeper it just I was tired .."she defended herself.

"Sanyukta..."he called her name softly.

"Hmmm.."

"Happy birthday.."

Her eyes widened .She snapped her head to see the time.The clock stuck twelve and a smile floated on her lips.

"Thanks.."she chipped.

"My pleasure.."he replied.

"You're remembered.."she asked curiously after a brief silence.

"C'mon it's not even 24 hours passed ..only a dumb head can forget things so vastly.."he laughed smoothly.

His laughter sound jingled into her ears.She imagined his handsome face when he was laughing so innocently.

"You're the first person who wish me.."she told him as she wanted him to know it.

"I am the lucky one I see.."he was amused.

She plausibly laughed.

Before she could reply there was a knock on the door.

"Go and spend the early birthday moments with your family.."he said .

His maturity touched her.

"Good night..."she wished him.

"Sweet dreams.."he said and cut the call.She stared at the screen until Ankit 's yelling brought her back from the moments she lived a while ago.

She opened the door and her parents and siblings crushed her in tight hug.

"Happy birthday.. meri bachchi.."Anju kissed her forehead."Bhagwan tujhe lambi umar de(May God bless you with a long life.).

"Happy birthday Sanyu."Kishore kissed her hairs as she wrapped herself in her father's chest.She was her Daddy's Princess.

"And happy birthday Diiii.."Ankit and Sanaya jumped on her kissing her both cheeks.

"Aww I love you both..so much.."she patted their cheeks lovingly.

"See Maa again didn't let us wish her first..She always do it.."Ankit complained.

"Haa..kyunki ye mera haq hai ki mai sabse pehle apni Sanyu ko wish karu..tum dono ko bhi karti hu na.."Anju said.

Sanyukta stiffened a bit but hid her expressions before a pair of suspicious eyes caught her hiding her little secret.

"Dii..I want to hug you once more..Its your last birthday with us.."Sanaya said with a fallen face.

Sanyukta too became sad thinking that they wouldn't wish her personally in the midnight from her next birthday.The thought brought tears in her eyes.

"Hey..bete.. Don't cry..Its your birthday..and they will love you as much as we do.."Kishore wiped her tears hiding his own by a smile.

"I am going to miss you all so much.."she said in chocked voice.

"We too.."All of them again shared a family hug.

"Acha abb tu so ja subah hume mandir bhi jana hai or sham ko hum bahar chalenge tera birthday celebrate karne..."Anju said patting her cheek .

"Good night beta.."Kishore wished and left followed by Anju and Ankit who kissed his sister one more but Sanaya stood there.

"Sanaya..you are sleeping in my room?"Sanyukta asked her.

"Huh..no..I can't catch sleep on your hard rock like bed.."Sanaya made a face.

"Haha good joke...now leave I want to sleep.."she pointed at the door.

Sanaya rolled her eyes and moved towards the door but turned."Randhir is the first person to wish you ,Am I right?"

Sanyukta looked everywhere except her sister's face.

"I am happy for you two..he is a nice person.."Sanaya smiled.

Sanyukta shot her eyes to her sister.

"Good night Di..sleep well may be tomorrow has a lots of surprises for you.."saying this Sanaya shut the door behind her back.

Sanyukta dragged her body to her bed.She rested her head on the pillow.Sanaya's words kept ringing in her words until sleep welcomed her exhausted body.

Next day they went to temple to take the blessings of God.Anju arranged a special pooja for her better future after marriage and a long healthy life.It took them about afternoon when they finally came out of temple after pooja.

"Bachcho..shall we have our lunch in restaurant it's too late to prepare a meal and all of us are tired.."Kishore asked his family when they were about to sit in the car.

"Haa aap theek keh rahe hai.."Anju agreed with him.

"I am in.."Ankit raised his hand.

Anju turned to her daughters.

Sanyukta opened her mouth to answer when her phone buzzed in her hand.She looked at the caller's id and her breath hitched .

"Beta phone to utha le.."Kishore said as she wasn't picking up the call.

"Huh..ha.."she came out of her zone and put the phone near her ear distancing herself so nobody could guess who was the caller.

"Hello.."she almost whispered.

"Are you busy..I mean it took you long to answer my call..I am sorry if I disturbed you."he said apologetically.

"No.. actually we were at temple..bas nikal hi rahe the.."she answered.

"Great..it means you're kinda free now..?"he said with tinge of excitement.

"Umm.."she wanted to say she wasn't but nothing came out of her mouth as his melodious voice made her senses numb by its effect.

"Sanyukta I want to ask you ..."he hesitated.

"Say Randhir.."she insisted sensing his nervousness.

"I am in Delhi.. actually I stayed here so I can celebrate your birthday..your first birthday after our engagement..so if there isn't any problem can you come to XYZ hotel..I am staying here.."he told her in a go and waited for her reply.

She froze hearing him.Her mind was unable to register his words.A part of her heart was happy as he didn't return back to Mumbai just to celebrate her birthday while her logical half thought about her parents who were still unaware of their conversations over phone.

It didn't mean they would not like it but she was too shy to tell them.

"Sanyukta it's absolutely fine if there is any problem..I can understand it's not easy to ask your parents....."

"I will be there in forty minutes.."she cut him in between .

"I am waiting..."she felt him smiling.

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Cliff hanger?

I like cliff hangers.

Wait til next update .I can't promise when because I am editing "Darkest Shade of Love" with major story changes.

So if someone wants to read a refreshed story then go for it.

Stay safe,stay tuned.

~~Trishla Singh😊😊😊