18
Chapter 18
The Birthday Party
For the next few days, Aarav's security remained around the apartment.
At first, Anaya hated it.
Then she got used to it.
Eventually, she stopped noticing it altogether.
What she couldn't ignore was Aarav's growing presence in their lives.
He called more often.
Visited more frequently.
And somehow always seemed to know when something was wrong.
It was becoming difficult to remember how things had been before.
Which was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Because temporary things had a habit of hurting the most.
---
Saturday morning arrived with unexpected excitement.
Kabir's birthday was only a few days away, and his kindergarten class had decided to celebrate early.
The result?
A very excited five-year-old.
"Mumma!"
Anaya looked up from her coffee.
"What happened?"
"I invited people."
Her instincts immediately activated.
"What people?"
Kabir proudly handed over a crumpled list.
Anaya read it.
Friends.
Teachers.
Classmates.
Normal.
Then she reached the bottom.
And nearly choked.
Uncle Aarav
Of course.
Of course he was on the list.
"Sweetheart."
"Yes?"
"You can't invite random people."
Kabir looked offended.
"He's not random."
Unfortunately, that was becoming true.
---
That afternoon, Anaya arrived at Rathore Industries with the invitation card folded inside her bag.
She hadn't decided whether to mention it.
Hopefully, Kabir would forget.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
The moment she entered Aarav's office, he noticed the colorful paper.
"What's that?"
"Nothing."
His eyes narrowed.
Definitely too quickly.
"Show me."
"No."
"Anaya."
"No."
The argument lasted approximately thirty seconds before he stole the card from her hand.
Absolutely stole it.
Like a criminal.
"Aarav!"
He ignored her and opened it.
Then he smiled.
A genuine smile.
The kind she rarely saw anymore.
"Apparently I've been invited to a birthday party."
Anaya buried her face in her hands.
"I was hoping he'd forget."
"He clearly didn't."
No.
He clearly didn't.
---
Three days later, the birthday party arrived.
The apartment complex community hall was filled with colorful decorations.
Children ran everywhere.
Parents chatted in groups.
The entire place was noisy.
Exactly as expected.
Kabir loved every second of it.
He spent most of the afternoon racing around with his friends.
Until the main entrance opened.
And silence spread through half the room.
Anaya didn't even need to turn around.
She already knew.
Aarav had arrived.
Unfortunately, he'd arrived looking like Aarav Rathore.
Expensive suit.
Luxury watch.
Confident posture.
The man looked less like a birthday guest and more like he was attending a business summit.
Several parents immediately began whispering.
Anaya wanted to disappear.
Kabir, meanwhile, looked delighted.
"Uncle!"
The little boy practically launched himself across the room.
Aarav caught him effortlessly.
"Happy birthday."
"Did you bring a gift?"
Anaya closed her eyes.
No shame.
Absolutely none.
Aarav looked amused.
"Maybe."
Kabir gasped.
"You're my favorite guest."
The betrayal was becoming routine at this point.
---
The party continued smoothly.
For the most part.
At one point, a magician arrived to entertain the children.
At another, a group game nearly ended in chaos.
Normal birthday party activities.
Then came the cake.
Everyone gathered around.
Parents pulled out phones.
Children crowded closer.
Kabir stood in the center wearing a paper crown.
Looking happier than Anaya had seen him in months.
As everyone began singing, Anaya looked around.
And noticed something strange.
Aarav was watching Kabir.
Not casually.
Not absentmindedly.
Intently.
As if trying to memorize every detail.
Every smile.
Every laugh.
Every expression.
The sight made her chest tighten.
Because it looked exactly the way a father might look at his son.
---
Later that evening, most guests had left.
The hall was much quieter now.
Kabir sat on the floor opening gifts.
Anaya was helping clean up when she overheard a conversation.
Two mothers.
Standing nearby.
Talking quietly.
"He's adorable."
"He looks just like that businessman."
Anaya froze.
The second woman nodded.
"I noticed that too."
Her blood ran cold.
The conversation wasn't malicious.
Just casual.
An observation.
But it terrified her anyway.
Because if strangers were starting to notice...
How long before everyone did?
---
Across the room, Aarav was helping Kabir assemble a toy race car.
The child concentrated intensely.
Tongue sticking out slightly.
Brow furrowed.
A habit Aarav himself had possessed since childhood.
The realization hit unexpectedly.
Strong enough to leave him unsettled.
Then Kabir looked up.
Smiling.
And for a brief second, Aarav saw himself.
Not physically.
Not completely.
But enough.
Enough to make his pulse quicken.
Enough to make the question return.
The same question that had haunted him for weeks.
Could it really be possible?
---
As the evening came to an end, Aarav prepared to leave.
He crouched beside Kabir.
"Thank you for inviting me."
Kabir grinned.
"Will you come next year too?"
The innocent question caught him off guard.
For some reason, answering felt strangely important.
"Yes."
The word left his mouth before he could think.
Kabir looked pleased.
"Promise?"
Aarav glanced toward Anaya.
Then back at the child.
Something warm and painful settled in his chest.
"Promise."
For a moment, neither realized how much that promise would matter.
---
That night, long after the party ended, Aarav sat alone in his penthouse.
On his desk sat a photograph taken earlier that day.
One of the parents had shared it online.
It showed him and Kabir standing together beside the birthday cake.
A simple picture.
Nothing unusual.
Yet he couldn't stop looking at it.
His phone buzzed.
A message from Vikram.
Only four words.
DNA test is possible.
Aarav stared at the screen.
Then at the photograph.
Then back at the message.
The thought had crossed his mind before.
More than once.
But seeing the words written out made it real.
Dangerously real.
Because once that line was crossed...
There would be no going back.
To be continued...