At midnight

Shivaay was soundly sleeping. He turned in sleep but frowned as he didn't find Anika. He opened his eyes.

"Where did she go?"

SHIVAAY!!!!!!!!

He jerked on bed as he heard her scream. He immediately ran out of the room. He searched her every where but didn't find her. She again screamed which didn't nothing but stressed him more. He went out of the Mansion in the garden and his eyes popped out seeing the thing in front of his eyes.

There was fairly lights, a table was set where many deserts and snacks were kept. He scanned around and saw many balloon lying randomly on the grass.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHIVAAY / BHAIYAA / BHAI / BILLU!!!!!

Everyone screamed and he turned with a smile. OmRuYanka Khanna ran and hugged their elder brother.

Shivaay: thank you guys.

Rudra: aap dar gaye the na? (You got scared right?)

Shivaay: of course.

Daadu: Happy birthday Billu

Shivaay: thanks daadu.

"Happy birthday Shivaay" he turned and saw Aarav. The one who never show up on his birthday as he miss his daughter.

"Uncle" he whispered and ran to hug him. He is no less than father to him. Every year he wait for him to atleast say a small happy birthday to him but he never get to see his face that day.

"I am sorry beta" Shivaay pulled off the hug.

"I am sorry I never wish you on your birthday. I am really sorry"

"Yes I want to know. Why you don't wish me? Why uncle, why?"

"I can't tell you now. Please understand. I'll surely tell you one day but not now. I am sorry again" he raised his hands to join but Shivaay held it but that happens.

"Please don't do this. It's okay if you don't tell the reason. I am happy you came" They smile and hugged him again. Everyone smiled seeing them.

Priyanka: come on Bhaiyaa cut the cake.

Shivaay: haan lekin Anika kahan hai? (Okay but where's Anika?)

"Yahan!! (There!!)" They turned and saw Anika standing with the cake. She placed the cake on the table.

"Happy birthday Shivaay"

"Thank you"

Om: Bhai sachi batana aap bhool gaye the na that it's your birthday? (Bhai tell me you forgot that it's your birthday?)

Shivaay: yeah yaad nahi raha.

Daadi: anyways cut the cake. Anika made it for you.

Shivaay: I know she made but you're not gonna get anything.

"That's not fair. It's my grandson's birthday I will eat everything today" she said with a cute pout.

Daadu: I am sorry Rani Saheba but I totally agree with him. You're not going to have anything.

Anika: don't worry Daadi you can eat everything. I've spared some portion sugar free so don't worry.

Shivaay: then it's okay.

Khanna: come on Bhai cut the cake.

"Yaa" he sliced a piece and fed everyone.

"Happy birthday Shivaay" came a female voice. He turned back and saw Mallika standing there.

"Hey Mallika when did you came?" They shared a small hug.

"Today evening"

Anika hugged her too. Everyone greeted her.

Mallika: Annie ha...

"Uh.. you didn't had the cake. Have it" she shoved the cake in her mouth before she wish her.

"Don't tell anyone that it's my birthday too" she whispered in her ears.

"Kyun? (Why?)" She asked with a frown. "I'll tell you later"

"But Annie...."

"Please" she pleaded.

"Okay. Nice cake by the way" she said taking another bite.

Anika sighed a relief as she went to take another piece of cake. Daksh came to Anika and patted her shoulder. She turned and smiled.

"Happy birthday Nikki"

"Thanks Bhai" they hugged each other and he kissed her forehead. He took out a small box from his pocket.

"I bought this from my first salary. For my sisters. Gauri and Soumya already had that it's for you"

She opened she box excitedly. "It's so beautiful."

"You like it?"

"I love it. Thank you Bhai"

She hugged him again. Everyone settled down enjoying.

Khanna: aaj koi nahi so'ega. (No one's gonna sleep tonight)

Gauri: exactly. Puri raat baatein karenge. Waise bhi kal Sunday hai. (Exactly. We will talk whole night as tomorrow's sunday)

Shivaay: good idea.

"Bhai you remember how we used to celebrate your birthday in India." Khanna spoke.

Shivaay: of course I do.

Soumya: tell us too.

"I'll tell"

Khanna: so me and Bhai were in the same school. He was so stubborn that he wants to take admission in the same school as mine. It wasn't any high standard or sophisticated one as dad can't afford it. So Bhai went on a hunger strike to convince Daadu and Daadi.

"What?" The youngsters exclaimed.

Om: really Bhai?

Daadu: haan iss Khanne ka baap aur tera Bhai dono mein se koi maan ne ko tyar hi nahi tha. Jab bhi usse kehta ke Vivek ko bhi Shivaay ki school mein admit kar do toh kehne lagta ke mein afford nahi kar paunga. Yeh school bhi achhi hai vagera vagera. Aur yeh Billu bhi kuch kam nahi tha. Kehta main bhi ussi school mein jaunga jahan Khanna hai. Aur do din tak khana nahi khaya tha. (Yes. Khanna's father and your brother both were not ready to understand. Whenever I told him to admit Vivek in the same school in which Shivaay is, he used to say he won't be able to afford that. That school is also good etc, etc, And him... he was no less. He says he will study is the same same in which Khanna is studying. And didn't had food for 2 days.)

"Aisa aap ko lagta hai." Khanna said.

Daadu: matlab?

Shivaay: aye Khanna no...

Khanna: daadu he didn't had any hunger strike. He had plenty of food being locked inside his room.

"What??" Daadi's eyes widen

He scratched his head. "Yes Daadi"

Daadi: and we thought..... aaj tak pata bhi nahi chala.

She smacked his arm lightly.

Priyanka: guys I think we are going off track. Khanna Bhaiyaa you were telling about Bhaiyaa's birthday celebrations.

Khanna: ya right so as we were with middle classmate we had blast then. So many friends. Our group was the most famous amongst the school.

Daadi: yeah the head of that group was Adi...

Khanna: no Daadi it was Bhai.

Shivaay: arey yaar saari pol nahi khol ni hai.

Daadu: naah ji naah aaj toh sab jaan ke rahunga. Tu bol puttar. Hume bhi toh pata chale humare pith piche kya kya gul khilaye hai iss ne (No I wanna know everything today. You speak we should also know what all things he have done behind our back.)

Khanna: of course. We were a big group and the head of our group was our beloved Bhai (Shivaay hid his face in his palm) Aditya, Vikram, Sohail, Salim, Dev, Siddharth, Athrav, me, Bhai.....

"No girls?" Asked Rudra and Om curiously.

Khanna: do you think Bhai would allow girls?

Priyanka: nope. He would never.

Khanna: that's what you think. We had girls in our group. They were Aisha, Aditi, Priyanka......

"Me?"

Khanna: not you our classmates Priyanka then Sonakshi, Neha, Riya, Priya, Palak, aur kon tha bhai?

"Mansi, Shruti, Janki, Shreya and Amrit" he listed all the girls.

"Achha?" Shivaay smiled nervously as Anika faked a glare.

Rudra: there are more girls than boys.

Khanna: yaa that's true. We all used to party, play games and have alots of fun on his birthday for whole day. From morning they used to come and leave late.

Shivaay: yaa so many games we played like Pitho, Stappo, Ice spice, Lock and Key, London London Staute then.... yaa Knock Knock and many more.

Gauri: maine toh naam bhi nahi sune (I have never heard the names of these games)

Aarav: kaise sune hoge? Hum yahan jo the. India mein hote toh tum log bhi yeh sab khel ke bade hue hote. (How would you know? You all were grown here. If we lived in India then you would have played all these games too)

Soumya: that's true.

Khanna: indoor games too like Snack and Ladder, Ludo and Card games.

Daadi: whole day there was hue and cry of these brats and they pull me and him (Daadu) too. But all used to enjoy a lot. Billu's birthday used to be like a festival.

Shivaay: not only mine even Khanna's and everyone's in the group. Sab ka birthday apne ghar mein hi manate the. (We used to celebrate everyone's birthday in our house)

Om: how cool!!!

Priyanka: let's play all these game na

Daksh: great idea. Let's do it.

Mallika: I never knew The Shivaay Singh Oberoi would be like a ordinary child in his childhood.

Shivaay smiled. Everyone got up.

Daadu: you all play.

Daadi: haan aaj phir se bache ban jao.

Khanna: Bhai we'll start from you

Shivaay: aye why me?

Mallika: cause it's your birthday.

Anika: uncle why are you sitting? You're also going to play

Aarav: arey but.....

Shivaay: uncle please it's my birthday.

"Okay" everyone hollowed and they all played many games and enjoyed.

After sometime.

Daksh: now Anika we'll blindfold you.

"Okay" Daksh tied the cloth around her eyes and she started chasing everyone.

Suddenly she stopped in the middle as she felt something. Aarav also stopped as he felt something.

Shivaay: what happened Anika?

She didn't reply and removed the cloth from her eyes and looked towards the entrance. Everyone frowned and followed her sight.

They were confused to see an middle aged lady standing there with a smile. But 3 souls were shocked. Anika Daksh and Aarav. Anika and Daksh smiled huge seeing her while Aarav was numb to react.

The lady came near them. Aarav came out of the lost zone and tears found their way out of his eyes. He ran to her and hugged her.

Daadu and Daadi stood up with a little shocked face as they recognised who she was while the rest were still confused. Aarav broke the hug and cupped her face.

"Where were you? Haan? Tell me where were? Do you even know how much I have waited for you? I was searching for you everyone like a mad. But..... tell me where were you Tina?" His voiced choked and he was behaving like a maniac.

Celestina was little shocked too. She came there to surprise her daughter but eventually got surprised herself. She looked at Anika who smiled huge and nodded her head.

"Tell me!!"

"I am sorry Aarav. I am sorry" she finally broke down and hugged him again.

"I am really sorry. My family was in danger. So I need to leave. Only I could save them but..... but I lost my parents. So.... so the responsibilities were on my shoulders. I was coming back but I could not. I am sorry"

Aarav tightened his hold. "I always waited for you. I knew you would come and see.... you came. I am so happy Tina. I so happy"

Both stayed there feeling each other's presence after 25 years, the whole damn 25 years.

"Dad!!!" They broke the hug and were back to reality when Gauri called out Aarav. They turned.

Gauri: dad who is she?

Both looked at each other. Celestina had a questioning look too asking about Gauri.

Soumya: yes dad who is she?

They didn't answer. Gauri and Soumya waited but there was no response.

Gauri: tell us dad.

"She is my mom Pumpkin" Daksh said.

Soumya/Gauri: what??

Gauri: what are you saying Bhai?

"He is right. She is his mom and my wife"

Soumya: what are you guys saying I can't understand. If she is our mom then who was the one whom we address as our mom.

Aarav: she is not your mom. She is Daksh's mom. My first wife.

"First wife?" Gauri whispered. Something broke in hers and Soumya's heart.

"Can you explain what's happening?" Spoke Gauri.

Aarav: I am sorry my Doll. But I hid something from you. She is Celestina my love my wife and Daksh's mom. We were in love..... are in love and we got married......

"Then why did you marry my mom when you were already married?" Soumya asked with some sort of anger.

"Cause I left, I had some issues in my family. They were in danger and only I could save them. Before I left I wrote a note in which I mentioned that I would be back but.... I cannot. I could not come back I had my reasons."

Aarav: I was not able to handle Daksh as he was very young and your Bua also can't come that's the only reason I had to marry Aarya. But before marriage I had told everything about me. I never forced her to marry me nor let anyone force her. It was her choice to marry me.

Celestina came near Gauri and tried to hold her cheeks but she stepped back.

Daksh: Pumpkin as I accepted Mom as my mother can't you give my mom one chance?

Gauri looked at Daksh who joined his hands. She immediately pulled his hand down.

Gauri: okay. I am ready to give her one chance. But she is not allowed to take my mom's position.

Celestina: I don't want it either. Your mom is your mom. No one can take her position.

She patted her head and turned to Daksh.

Celestina: how are you my ducky duck?

He hugged her tightly. "I missed you mom" "I missed you too My Baby. I am sorry."

"No it's okay mom. I understand"

Daadi: Tina won't you meet us?

She turned and smiled.

Celestina: of course I will.

She hugged them.

Daksh: mom this is Om, Rudra, Khanna, Priyanka, Mallika and....

"Shivaay I know him."

Anika's eyes widen as she realizes she had talk with him. She looked at Shivaay who was staring at her already.

Rudra: hello Aunty.

Om: hii aunty

Khanna: hello

Priyanka: hii.

Mallika was silent too. She looked at Anika.

Celestina: hello everyone.

"Tina where's my baby?" Aarav asked.

"Huh?"

"Where is Anika?"

"She... she is...." She looked at her and turned to him again

"I am here"

"Not you I am talking about....."

".......Dad" she completed.

"What?" He whispered. "You.... you are.... you are my... my princess. You are my Anika?" He shuttered. He got his world back that day. He would be the happiest person that day.

She nodded and ran to hug him. Aarav embrace his Princess. When she left she was just 6 months old and now she is all grown up.

"I knew it. I knew it. I so knew it. That you'll be my Princess. Or else how can you be so similar to her."

He planted numerous kisses on her head. Celestina and Daksh smiled, finally she got her father's love.

Aarav: you always knew that you are my daughter? (She nodded) then why didn't you tell me before?

Anika: I wanted an confirmation. I just wanted to know that if you still love mom or not?

Aarav: I am so happy today. I got my life back. 25 year.... I have waited for whole 25 years for this day.

He kissed her forehead again and she smiled. Anika went near Gauri and Soumya.

Anika: we'll you give me a chance as your sister?

Gauri: you were always my sister.

Anika smiled and hugged them.

"Waah birthday mera hai aur gift Uncle ko mil gai. (Wow it's my birthday and Aarav uncle got the gift)" Shivaay spoke to lighten the mood.

Aarav: oye kya uncle? Papa bol (hey what uncle? Call me dad)

Shivaay: correct.

Celestina: I met everyone but not my Love. Anika....

"Sorry mom" she ran and jumped on her circling her legs around her waist.

"Happy birthday my baby" she whispered.

"Thanks mom"

"Hey I am the birthday boy. Please give me some attention" he winched like a baby.

"Not only yours it's Anika's birthday too" said Mallika.

"What?" The Oberois along with Gauri and Soumya exclaimed.

Om: why didn't you tell us bhabhi?

Celestina: Bhabhi?

Rudra: of course. Shivaay Bhaiyaa is our brother and she is his wife so technically she our Bhabhi.

Celestina looked at Anika who showed her ring to her.

"You got married?"

"Yeah"

"Anika you......"

"Why didn't you tell us Bhabhi?" Priyanka asked interrupting their whispering.

Anika looked at them and Celestina said, "We never celebrate her birthday"

Aarav: why?

"Woh... um... woh..."

Khanna: not a big deal we will celebrate now. Come on Bhabhi cut the cake.

Mallika pulled her and all asked her to cut the cake. She cut it and fed everyone.

Everyone smiled and sat to chat. Gauri's eyes turned towards the sky. She examined for a while and exclaimed.

"Guys look upside"

"Kya hai?" Om asked.

"See the stars"

All looked up and saw a picture made by the stars.

(Thanks Arafisabu for this edit)

"Kiska chehra hai yeh? (Whose face is it?)"

Anika looked at Celestina with a worried face.

Priyanka: isn't it beautiful?

Shivaay: it is

"Umm... Rudra you bought a gift for Shivaay right?" Anika spoke to divert their attention.

"Ohh ya. I have something for you"

"Even I have" said Om.

Everyone gifted some or the other things to him. (I don't know what is given to a boy on his birthday so please guess by yourself)

Aarav and Mallika also gave something to Anika and others promise to give it next day.

Shivaay: Anika everyone gave me gift. What about you?

"What do you want?"

He held her hand between both of his.

"I just want a promise."

"Kaise promise? (What promise?)"

"That you will never leave me"

She jerked her hand back. Shivaay's face changed.

"Anika...."

"Please don't ask for something I can't give"

"What do you mean?"

"I can't give you this promise"

She turned to go but Shivaay held her hand.

"Where are you going?"

"Jahan se main aai thi (from where I came)"

Shivaay: what?

Anika: Shivaay please leave my hand.

Shivaay: no

Anika: please.

Shivaay: I said no.

Anika jerked her hand and again started walking but Aarav stopped her.

Aarav: where are you going?

Anika: I was here to re unite you and mom. My work is over now I am leaving.

"Anika....." Celestina tired to say something but Anika showed her hand.

Anika: good bye guys. I am so thankful to you all. You treated me as your own family. Thank you. I cannot stay here now. Shivaay please marry someone else and be happy as I am not gonna come back.

Shivaay: ek min can you stop you stupid joke. Cause it's definitely not funny.

Anika smiled faintly and said, "And I am not joking. I am leaving"

She started walking again. Shivaay ran and held her hand.

Shivaay: please stop this nonsense of yours okay. You are not going anywhere.

Anika: Shivaay let me go.

She freed her hand. Everyone tired to stop her but she didn't listen. Shivaay looked at Celestina who was just standing still. He ran to her.

"Please ask her to stop this stupid joke. Please please" he joined his hand. She held his hand and nodded.

"Anika.... stop there"

She stopped but didn't turn.

"Don't go. If you will I will come there too"

She turned back. Everyone smiled.

"Please don't force me to do what don't want to"

"Then don't go"

"Mom please....."

"Anika if you wanna go then take me with you too"

"Okay you are being stubborn now. I order you to stay with dad forever. You are not allowed to come back" she commanded. Celestina's eyes widen.

"Anika...."

"It's not Anika for you Miss..... Celestina" her voice was authoritative.

Celestina: you can't do this

Anika: I can.

Celestina sighed and gave a pitiful look to Shivaay. She was helpless now. Whatever it may be she have to follow her orders. Others were confused, what are they talking about. Celestina knelt down bowing her head.

"As you say"

Anika looked away. She can't see her mother helpless. She turned again.

"Anika...." they again asked her to stop but she didn't listen.

***********

Hey people. How are you all I hope you all are doing good.

Here's the next chapter.

How was it?

I am not satisfied with the reunion but my mind was not processing. I am sorry it it was bakwas

I know you all don't want separation but....

Any ways. Stay safe take care of yourself and your loved ones.

Love Love ❤❤

M. S.