82
Dhruv was standing by his dresser, meticulously folding a few shirts and placing them neatly in his bag.
His wallet lay open on the bed as he double-checked for his ID cards, some cash, and his company cards.
His phone buzzed with a reminder for his flight, but he quickly silenced it, his jaw tightening just a little. Another trip. Another weekend gone.
The zipper of his bag rasped softly when Vaani entered the room. She leaned against the doorframe, her arms folded loosely across her chest, watching him with a look that was part fondness, part quiet frustration.
"Your tours are increasing a lot these days," she said softly, her voice carrying that faint trace of hurt she couldn't quite hide.
Dhruv looked up at her, pausing mid-action. He gave her a small smile, but it didn't quite reach his tired eyes. "Yeah... they are. Too many deals, too many deadlines." He gave a half-shrug, like he was trying to make light of it. "Part of the job, Vaani."
She stepped closer, her eyes following his movements as he adjusted the strap of his bag. "Do you have to go?" The question slipped out before she could stop it.
He froze for a second. His hands lingered on the zipper, and he looked up at her slowly. "I do," he said finally, his voice low. "This one's important. I can't send anyone else in my place."
Her lips pressed together. She nodded once, though her chest tightened. "I really wanted you here this weekend," she admitted quietly, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her dupatta-like shrug over her simple kurti.
Dhruv raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips despite the heaviness in the air. "Why?" he asked lightly. "Is it Vedant's birthday now?"
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Vaani's eyes flickered, her throat bobbing. She swallowed hard, then said softly, almost in a whisper, "It's mine."
The smile immediately dropped from Dhruv's face. His heart gave a painful thud, and he muttered under his breath, almost cursing himself. "God..." He looked at her, regret flashing across his eyes. "Vaani, I—" His hand reached toward her but faltered midair. "I'll cancel."
Her eyes widened at his tone, at the genuine urgency in his words. "No, Dhruv, don't."
"But—"
"It's fine," she interrupted quickly, shaking her head and forcing a small smile onto her lips. "Work is work. I get it. It's okay. We'll celebrate when you come back."
Her voice was brave, but there was something fragile beneath it that pierced him. He stared at her, his jaw tightening. The urge to say no, I'll stay, I'll make it right burned in his chest. But the weight of the deal, the responsibility of it, kept him silent.
"Okay... fine," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.
She nodded, her lips curving into a more genuine smile now, though her heart still ached. "Tell me what you want from Delhi," he said suddenly, almost trying to lighten the moment, to replace the guilt he felt.
"Hmmm..." She pretended to think, tilting her head with playful exaggeration. "I'll send you a list."
His lips quirked into the faintest smile, relief easing some of the tension in his chest. "You better," he muttered.
She chuckled softly, the sound like music in the heavy atmosphere. "I will," she promised.
Dhruv zipped up his bag and lifted it onto his shoulder.
She walked with him down the stairs, her steps quiet, her eyes fixed on him like she was memorizing every detail.
The way his shirt stretched slightly at the shoulders.
The faint lines of exhaustion on his face.
The way his hand tightened briefly on the strap of his bag as though anchoring himself.
The cab pulled up outside with a soft honk. Dhruv opened the door but turned back to look at her. "I'll see you soon," he said.
Vaani nodded, her throat tight. "Yeah."
And then, without warning, she stepped forward and hugged him tightly. Her arms wrapped around his torso, holding him close.
Dhruv chuckled low, a dark, soft sound that vibrated against her. "We're past that," he murmured, tilting his head slightly.
Before she could ask what he meant, his lips were on hers—gentle but firm, claiming and giving all at once. It wasn't long, but it was enough to leave her slightly breathless when he pulled back.
She blinked, cheeks flushed, and let out a quiet chuckle. "You're... something else."
"See you soon," he whispered again, brushing a thumb lightly against her cheek before turning toward the cab.
She stood at the doorway, hugging herself lightly as she watched him put the bag into the trunk. He looked back once, gave her a small smile, and then slipped into the car.
The cab drove away slowly, and Vaani stayed there, the evening breeze tugging at her hair. She could still feel the ghost of his lips against hers, still hear his low chuckle, still see the faint smile in his eyes.
She exhaled deeply, closing her eyes for a moment. A smile spread across her lips, unbidden, soft and dreamy. Despite the ache of him leaving, despite the looming emptiness of her birthday weekend, she couldn't help it—her heart was full.
She whispered to herself, almost as if admitting it aloud made it real: "He kissed me before leaving."
And for now, that was enough.
~·~
Vaani wiped her hands on a kitchen towel, the faint scent of lemon cleaner lingering in the air as she leaned back against the counter.
She had been scrubbing the sink for the past twenty minutes, though she couldn't quite explain why.
Maybe it was a way to keep her mind occupied, to stop thinking about the silence of the flat without Dhruv in it.
Just as she placed the towel aside, her phone buzzed on the counter. Her heart skipped before she even saw the name on the screen.
A smile tugged at her lips instantly, and she answered, pressing the phone to her ear. "Hi, Dhruv."
"Hey." His voice was clear despite the hum of chatter around him. He sounded tired but steady. "I reached the airport."
Relief washed over her, though she tried not to show just how much it mattered. "That's good," she said softly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
But as she listened, her brow furrowed. There was noise in the background—a constant stream of voices, beeping sounds, the rolling of trolley bags. She frowned. "Wait... what's all this noise? Where are you exactly?"
"I'm checking in," Dhruv replied matter-of-factly.
"Dhruv!" she exclaimed, her tone half exasperated, half amused. "Finish everything first, then call. Why are you calling in the middle of all that?"
"I can multitask." His calm reply, laced with the tiniest bit of smugness, made her roll her eyes though he couldn't see.
"You're impossible," she muttered, but a chuckle broke through her annoyance. She could almost picture his faint smirk on the other end.
"When will you land?" she asked after a pause, her voice dipping lower.
"Afternoon," he answered. "I'll text you once I'm at the hotel."
She nodded even though he couldn't see her. "Hmm. Okay."
There was a brief silence, filled only with the muffled announcements from his side of the call. Vaani shifted, leaning against the counter, twirling a loose strand of hair.
"Vaani," Dhruv's voice came again, a little softer this time, cutting through the noise.
"Yes?"
"I wanted to ask you something."
Her brows arched. "What is it?"
There was a pause—uncharacteristic for him. She could imagine him looking away, maybe debating if he should say it. Then his voice came, steady but quieter than before. "Why don't you go stay with your parents for a few days?"
Her lips parted in surprise. "Why?"
"Because..." He hesitated, then exhaled audibly. "It'll be nice to be around your family. Especially..." His words trailed slightly, but the meaning landed without needing completion. "...for your birthday."
Vaani froze, her grip on the phone tightening. For a second, she didn't know what to say. He remembered. Not just remembered—he thought about how it would feel for her, being alone. The lump that rose in her throat surprised her.
She closed her eyes, inhaling. "Dhruv..." she started, her tone softer now, almost trembling. Then she steadied herself. "Okay. Fine. I'll go today then."
There was a pause on his end, as if he'd been holding his breath waiting for her reply. And then, quietly but firmly, he said, "Great."
Her lips curved into a smile she couldn't stop, her heart feeling lighter all of a sudden. She imagined him walking through the airport crowd, phone to his ear, his expression unreadable to strangers but holding this quiet, subtle warmth just for her.
"Great," she echoed softly, leaning against the counter again, this time not because she was weary, but because her knees felt strangely weak.
"You'll be happy there," Dhruv continued, his voice steadier now, back to its calm cadence. "With your mom, dad, your brothers. They'll make sure you don't miss me too much."
She chuckled lightly, teasing, "You sound so confident."
He hummed in response, and she could practically hear the smirk in his tone. "I am."
"Hmm." She bit her lip, smiling to herself, her earlier annoyance gone. "Then you should go finish checking in. Don't miss your flight because of me."
"I won't," he assured, his voice as sure as always. But then he added, softer, "Text me once you reach your parents', okay?"
"I will," she promised.
"Good."
The background noise on his side grew louder—someone was probably calling him forward. She knew their call would end soon, and suddenly, she didn't want it to. She wanted to keep listening to him, even if he was just saying practical things about flights and hotels.
But before she could linger in the thought, his voice came once more, firm and familiar. "Take care of yourself, Vaani."
Her heart skipped. "You too."
And then the call disconnected, leaving her with nothing but the quiet hum of her flat and the faint echo of his voice still in her ears.
She set her phone down on the counter, her hand lingering on it for a moment. Slowly, she exhaled and let out a small laugh at herself. The kitchen was spotless now—pointlessly spotless—and yet she felt a burst of energy as though everything had shifted.
Her birthday weekend wouldn't be entirely lonely after all. She'd go home. She'd see her parents, her brothers. She'd let herself soak in the chaos of her family's love.
But even as she thought of it, she knew—quietly, secretly—that a part of her would still miss him.
Still, Dhruv had remembered. He had thought about her. And that was enough to carry her through until he came back.
She straightened up, her smile lingering as she grabbed her phone again. There was so much to pack, so much to prepare. And she had to text her mom.
For the first time that day, Vaani felt light.
After Dhruv's call ended, Vaani stood in the kitchen for a long moment, staring at the phone screen as if the silence would break and he would call again. But the hum of the fridge was the only sound. She sighed, shaking her head at herself, and then pushed away from the counter.
"Okay, Vaani. Move," she muttered.
She went into the bedroom, opened her wardrobe, and pulled out a comfortable kurti and leggings.
It felt good to change out of the clothes she'd been wearing all morning.
As she tied her hair back in a loose braid, she glanced at herself in the mirror.
Her cheeks were still slightly flushed—whether from cleaning or from the call with Dhruv, she wasn't sure.
By the time she zipped up her overnight bag, the heaviness she'd felt earlier had eased. Going home suddenly seemed like exactly what she needed. She locked the flat, booked a cab, and settled in for the short ride to her parents' house.
The Joshi home came into view, and just like always, her heart softened at the familiar sight of the cream-painted walls, the balcony full of her mother's plants, and the faint laughter drifting out even before the cab stopped.
The door opened before she even rang the bell. Her mother, Sunita, stood there with wide eyes and an instant smile.
"Arre, Vaani! Aali ga?" Sunita exclaimed, pulling her daughter into a hug. "Beta, you didn't even tell us you were coming!"
Vaani hugged her tightly, the warmth of her mother's arms making her realize how much she'd missed this comfort. "Surprise," she murmured, smiling.
Ramesh came from the living room, adjusting his glasses. "Arre, Vaani! What a sight. You've brightened the house just walking in."
"Baba," Vaani smiled, going to touch his feet, but he quickly pulled her into a hug instead.
Just then, Vedant's voice echoed from inside. "Vaani tai?!" He came running in, his school bag still slung across one shoulder. "What are you doing here suddenly?"
Before she could reply, Vihaan appeared from the other room, holding his phone. "What's happening? Oh! Tai!" His grin widened as he put the phone aside and came to hug her.
Within minutes, the house was buzzing louder than before. Sunita ushered her to the sofa, already rushing to the kitchen. "At least tell me you're hungry, beta. I'll make chai, and pakoras also. You've lost weight!"
"Aai, I'm fine, and we saw each other just a few days ago!" Vaani laughed, though she didn't resist when her mother pressed a plate of snacks in her hands anyway.
They all settled around her, each with a question. Vedant asked about the flat, Vihaan asked if she'd been working late, Ramesh asked if she needed anything from home. Vaani answered each patiently, a smile tugging her lips even as her chest felt tight with the familiar affection.
Finally, Sunita sat beside her with her own cup of chai. "So, birthday girl," she said lightly, though her eyes twinkled. "What are your plans for this year?"
Vaani blinked, caught off guard. "Plans?"
"Yes!" Vedant chimed in immediately. "Tai, come on. You're turning twenty-five. We need to do something!"
She shook her head quickly. "No, no. Nothing this year. Really."
Vihaan frowned. "Why not?"
"Because..." She glanced away, sipping her chai as if it would hide her expression. "There's just... nothing, really. It's fine."
"Nothing?!" Sunita's voice held mock outrage. "My daughter says her birthday means nothing? Impossible."
"Aai, I didn't mean—"
But Ramesh cut in gently, his smile calm but firm. "Beta, even a simple dinner together is something. We don't need parties, but we will mark the day. Otherwise what's the point of family, hmm?"
Vaani's eyes softened, her throat tightening. "Baba..."
Vedant leaned forward eagerly. "We can do something fun at home! I'll handle the music, Vihaan can help with the decorations—"
"Decorations?" Vaani laughed incredulously. "You'll turn it into Vedant's party, not mine!"
"Arre, I'll make sure it's not childish," Vedant defended himself, folding his arms. "I'm almost an adult, okay."
"Almost," Vihaan teased, ruffling his younger brother's hair. "Which means not quite."
Vedant swatted his hand away. "Fine, then I won't help!"
"Good, less chaos," Vaani teased back, though her heart swelled at their bickering.
Sunita smiled knowingly, her eyes darting to her daughter's face. "See, beta? You say nothing, but look how everyone lights up at the thought of celebrating you."
Vaani sighed, setting down her cup. "I just... didn't want to make a big deal of it this year."
Ramesh's voice came steady but soft. "Sometimes the small deals matter most."
Her gaze fell, but she couldn't help the tiny smile pulling at her lips.
Vihaan spoke up then, his tone more serious than usual. "Tai, we'll keep it simple. Just us, at home. We'll make sure you don't feel alone. Okay?"
The sincerity in his words made her chest ache. She looked around at her family—their expectant eyes, their warmth—and finally nodded. "Okay."
The room lit up instantly. Vedant threw his arms up. "Yes! This is going to be great!"
Sunita clapped her hands lightly. "See? Now that's settled, we can start planning the menu. Vaani's favorites first."
Vaani shook her head, laughing helplessly as her family dove into enthusiastic chatter about what to cook, who to invite (just immediate relatives), and whether they had enough fairy lights to string around the living room.
She leaned back into the sofa cushions, watching them argue and tease each other, and for the first time in days, she felt lighter. Maybe Dhruv was right. Being here—surrounded by her family—was exactly what she needed.
~·~
The house had finally quieted down after dinner.
Vaani had sat with her family until late evening, chatting with her parents and brothers until the clock ticked closer to eleven.
Eventually, Vedant had yawned so dramatically that Sunita had scolded him into bed, Vihaan had gone back to his notes for his upcoming exams, and her father had disappeared behind his newspaper before retiring to his room.
Now, tucked into her childhood bed, Vaani lay staring up at the ceiling fan whirring above her.
The faint glow of her phone screen lit the room, the rest of the space bathed in shadows.
She wasn't really tired, not yet. Her thoughts kept drifting to Dhruv—whether he'd reached, if he'd eaten, if he'd managed to find his hotel easily.
He hadn't called since he'd landed, but she knew he'd been busy.
Her phone buzzed suddenly, vibrating against the blanket, and she sat up a little. The screen flashed: Dhruv (video call).
Her lips curved into a smile before she could stop herself. She quickly adjusted her hair, even though it was just Dhruv, and tapped to accept.
"Hi," she said softly, her face lighting up at the sight of him on the other side.
"Hi, Vaani," Dhruv's voice came warm and tired, the room light behind him casting his features in a soft golden hue. He was sitting against the headboard of a neat, impersonal bed, his shirt sleeves rolled up and his hair slightly messy as though he'd run his hand through it too many times.
"You reached?" she asked immediately.
He nodded, lips quirking. "Yes. Landed on time. Checked in just about an hour ago."
"Good," she said, her brows furrowing slightly. "You must be tired. Did you eat?"
His mouth tugged into a small smirk at her concern. "Yes, Mom No. 2, I had dinner."
"Dhruv!" she said, rolling her eyes, though she smiled too. "You know what I mean."
"I know," he said softly, the teasing fading into something more sincere. "I'm fine, Vaani. Don't worry."
For a moment, neither of them spoke, just looked at each other through the screen. It felt oddly comforting, like he was right there instead of miles away.
"What about you?" Dhruv asked finally, breaking the silence. "How's home?"
Her face softened instantly. "Good. Very good. Everyone was happy I came. Aai made pakoras the second she saw me."
"Of course she did," he said with a chuckle. "She'll never believe you when you say you're not hungry."
Vaani giggled quietly. "True. And Baba said the house feels brighter now that I'm here."
"Hmm," Dhruv said, watching her face closely. "They're not wrong."
Something about the way he said it—low, almost absentminded but deeply sincere—made her cheeks warm. She looked down quickly at the blanket on her lap.
"And... what about your brothers?" Dhruv asked, his lips twitching like he already knew the answer.
Vaani laughed, shaking her head. "Vedant almost fainted when I walked in, and Vihaan kept interrogating me about whether I'm overworking."
Dhruv's eyes softened, the corners of his mouth lifting. "Sounds about right."
She nodded, biting her lip before saying, "They... want to do something for my birthday."
For a second, Dhruv's expression flickered with guilt, but he masked it quickly. "Good," he said firmly. "You should let them."
She studied him through the screen. He said it so easily, but she could sense the weight behind his words. She smiled faintly, not trusting herself to reply.
Instead, she changed the topic. "So, how's Delhi this time?"
"Busy," he said with a sigh, leaning his head back. "Tomorrow I have back-to-back meetings. The deal is important."
"I know," she said softly. "You'll handle it. You always do."
He looked at her for a long moment. "Thanks."
There was another silence, not awkward but heavy with things unsaid. Vaani tugged at the blanket and then glanced at the clock. It was past midnight.
"Chalo," she said gently. "You should sleep now. And I should too. Otherwise Aai will yell at me tomorrow for waking up late."
"Hmm," he said, though his eyes lingered on her face like he wasn't ready to end the call. "Alright. Sleep well."
"You too," she said, tucking herself down onto the pillow so he could see her curled up. "Goodnight, Dhruv."
His lips curved faintly. "Goodnight, Vaani."
Her thumb hovered for a second before she pressed the red button, cutting the call. The screen went black, leaving her room in near-darkness again. She stared at the phone for a while longer, her heart beating softly against her ribs, then finally placed it aside.
Pulling the blanket over herself, Vaani closed her eyes. This time, sleep came quickly—because even though he was far away, his voice still lingered, and that was enough.
~·~
The next morning was slow and sun-drenched, the kind of morning that wrapped itself lazily around everything. A faint breeze floated through the kitchen window, carrying the scent of wet leaves and the comforting sound of distant traffic.
Vaani sat cross-legged at the dining table, cradling her steaming cup of chai in both hands.
Her mother had just left to check on something in the garden, and the house was wrapped in a quiet rhythm — the faint ticking of the wall clock, the hum of the ceiling fan, and the soft clink of her spoon against the mug.
Her phone, placed beside her, buzzed suddenly. The screen lit up with a video call notification: Ria calling...
A smile instantly stretched across her lips. She pressed "accept" and the screen flooded with the cheerful chaos that was Ria's face — glowing, sun-tanned, and framed with messy waves of hair.
"Vaani!" Ria squealed.
Vaani laughed. "Ria! You're back!"
Before Ria could reply, two more small windows appeared on the screen — Simran and Naina joining the group call, both greeting her in unison.
"Helloooo almost birthday girllll!" Simran's loud voice echoed through the speaker, making Vaani giggle.
"Heyy hey hey," Naina grinned, sitting somewhere that looked suspiciously like her office. "You're glowing, Ria! Honeymoon magic, huh?"
Ria blushed dramatically. "Excuse me, can a married woman live?"
"You can, but not without giving us details!" Simran said, waving her hand theatrically.
Vaani chuckled, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Yes, yes, come on, Mrs. Mehra—spill everything."
Ria made a face. "Ugh, I'm still getting used to being called that! But fine—okay, so Greece was amazing. The bluest water I've ever seen. I swear I almost cried at how pretty it was."
Simran laughed. "You cry at overpriced mocktails too."
"Listen, it's called emotional depth," Ria argued, pouting. "And anyway, you all would've loved Santorini. The sunsets there are like... straight out of a movie."
Vaani's eyes softened. "That sounds so beautiful."
"It was!" Ria said, grinning. "And—oh my god—the food. We had these stuffed grape leaves—what were they called—dolma!—and lemony potatoes and—"
"—and you're making me hungry," Naina interrupted, dramatically sighing. "I'm stuck at work eating a sad granola bar."
"You should've called in sick," Simran said, sipping from her iced coffee.
"Yeah," Naina said dryly, "and then what? Tell my boss I'm emotionally unavailable because my friend is on her honeymoon?"
They all burst out laughing.
Vaani leaned back, her laughter soft but full. "Oh god, I missed you guys so much."
"Same!" Ria said immediately. "You know it's been weeks since we all sat and talked like this?"
Simran nodded. "It's criminal. Also, Vaani, your birthday is literally tomorrow—what are the plans, woman?"
Vaani froze slightly. "Uh..."
"Uh?" Naina repeated, eyes narrowing playfully. "That's not a good sound."
Vaani sighed, placing her mug down. "There's... nothing this year. Dhruv's away for work. He had this big meeting, so he had to fly to Delhi again."
All three of them groaned in unison.
Ria gasped, dramatically clutching her chest. "How could he! On your birthday?"
Vaani chuckled, shaking her head. "No, no—it's okay. It's important. It's that same deal he's been working on for weeks. You know how things have been at the company lately."
Naina nodded sympathetically. "Honestly, I get it. It's how life gets sometimes. You grow up, and work just... takes over."
Simran, however, wasn't convinced. "Still! He could've postponed or something. It's your birthday! You're supposed to be doing something fun."
"Like what?" Vaani asked with a teasing smile. "Sit and cut cake by myself?"
"Exactly," Simran said, then paused. "Wait, no—that came out wrong."
They all burst out laughing again.
Ria shook her head, still chuckling. "Forget Dhruv for a minute. Let's talk about us. We can't let your birthday pass like that. You always make a fuss about ours, remember?"
Vaani looked unsure. "Guys..."
"Nope," Naina interrupted, "you don't get a say. We're doing something."
"Absolutely," Simran said, already taking charge like always. "Ria, Naina—we can go over to her place, can't we?"
"Yes!" Ria said immediately. "I was literally about to suggest that."
Vaani blinked. "Wait, what?"
"You heard her," Naina said, grinning. "We're crashing your birthday eve, girl. You can't say no."
Vaani looked at their excited faces and couldn't help but laugh. "You all are unbelievable."
"That's what friendship is," Simran said, flipping her hair dramatically. "So, what time do we show up?"
Vaani pretended to think. "Hmm. Let's see. How about... never?"
"VAANI!" Ria yelled, laughing so loudly that someone in the background—probably her husband—asked if she was okay.
Vaani was laughing so hard she almost spilled her chai. "Okay, okay! Come over in the evening then. We'll just hang out, order food, maybe cut a small cake or something."
"Yes!" Simran pumped her fist in the air. "That's more like it."
Naina smirked. "I'll bring wine. And snacks. And Ria will bring her honeymoon glow."
Ria pretended to bow. "You're welcome in advance."
Vaani rolled her eyes, her heart feeling lighter than it had all morning. "Okay, fine, but you three better not make a huge mess. I'll get scolded."
"By whom?" Simran asked.
"Aai," Vaani replied, grinning. "She still treats me like I'm twelve."
Ria laughed. "Then tell Aai that your friends are coming to save your boring birthday."
"I'll tell her that exactly," Vaani said, still smiling.
They talked for another fifteen minutes—about Naina's new job, Simran's gym instructor who was apparently "so cute it should be illegal", and Ria's funny travel stories. The screen flickered between faces and laughter, and Vaani couldn't stop smiling the whole time.
Finally, they began signing off one by one.
"Okay, birthday girl," Ria said. "We'll see you tonight!"
"Don't stress about food," Simran added. "We'll order everything."
"Just wear something cute," Naina chimed in, "and be ready for chaos."
"Chaos and carbs," Simran added.
"And cake!" Ria yelled before the screen went black.
Vaani laughed as the call ended, the screen going quiet again.
She exhaled softly, setting her phone down and finishing her chai. For the first time since Dhruv left, she didn't feel quite so alone.
Just then, Sunita came back from the garden, wiping her hands on her dupatta. "Who were you talking to, beta?"
"The girls, Aai," Vaani said, her face still bright with amusement. "They're coming over this evening."
Sunita smiled warmly. "Ah, that's good. It'll be nice to have some laughter in the house again."
Vaani nodded, sipping the last of her tea. "Yes, Aai. It will be."
~·~
The clock had barely struck four when the doorbell rang.
Vaani, who had just finished arranging the living room cushions, called out, "Coming!" and hurried to the door. When she opened it, a loud chorus of "SURPRISEEE!" nearly made her drop the tray of snacks she was holding.
"OH MY GOD!" she exclaimed, laughing as she looked at her three best friends—Ria, Simran, and Naina—standing at the door, each carrying bags and grins as wide as the sky.
Ria rushed forward first, wrapping Vaani in a tight hug. "Happy almost birthday, woman!"
Simran followed, squeezing them both. "You're not escaping birthday fun, no matter how hard you try."
Naina stepped in last, holding a gift bag in one hand and her phone in the other. "You look so cute, Vaani. Domestic goddess mode suits you."
"Uff, stop," Vaani said, blushing. "Come in before my neighbors think I'm hosting a wedding."
The girls laughed as they tumbled into the house, their voices instantly filling the space with energy.
Sunita came out from the kitchen just then, smiling warmly. "Arre, look who's here! The famous trio!"
"Aunty!" Ria greeted, beaming. "It's been forever!"
"Yes, beta," Sunita said, laughing as she poured steaming chai into cups. "Every time I see you girls, you're all taller, louder, and prettier."
"Louder for sure," Naina teased, glancing at Ria.
"Excuse me?" Ria raised an eyebrow. "I'm elegance personified."
Sunita chuckled and handed them their cups. "You all sit. I'll get some biscuits."
Vaani smiled fondly as they all sat down on the rug, their mugs in hand. The scent of chai mixed with the faint floral air freshener in the room.
Ria took a sip and sighed dramatically. "Aunty makes the best chai. No café can ever match this."
Sunita smiled. "You all are too sweet. Anyway, I'll let you girls catch up. I have to head out soon to meet a friend."
"Aai, you too?" Vaani asked in mock surprise.
"Arre, I already delayed her so much," Sunita said, picking up her purse. "Your Baba will meet me there."
Simran raised an eyebrow. "Ooo, aunty has plans!"
Sunita laughed. "Haan haan, just coffee plans. Anyway, Vedant and Vihaan will be back later. Both are busy with university and school work."
"Bro, final year for both," Simran nodded knowingly. "I get it. The end-of-sem chaos is real."
Sunita smiled at her. "Exactly. So you girls enjoy, hmm? I'll see you later."
"Bye, Aai!" Vaani said, smiling as her mother left. The house door clicked shut, and within seconds, the atmosphere shifted—it was pure, carefree girl energy now.
"So," Simran said, clapping her hands once. "Birthday girl, what's the plan?"
Vaani shrugged. "I don't know. You tell me."
Ria grinned mischievously. "I say we go party!"
Vaani groaned immediately. "Nooo, it feels weird to party without Dhruv."
"Oh god, here we go," Simran muttered playfully, earning a laugh from Naina.
"I mean it!" Vaani said, defending herself with a pout. "He's away, and celebrating without him just feels... I don't know. Wrong."
Naina leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. "I'm sure he'd want you to enjoy though. You know how he is—he probably wants you smiling and having fun, not sulking at home."
Vaani hesitated, her fingers tracing the rim of her mug. "Yeah, I guess so... but still."
Ria rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, Vaani! You'll have fun with us. We'll go out, have dinner, take pictures, maybe dance a little. Dhruv won't mind."
"Are you sure?" Vaani asked, half-smiling.
"Yes," Ria said, leaning forward dramatically. "You're allowed to have a life even if your husband's not in the city for a day."
That made Vaani laugh, shaking her head. "You guys are ridiculous."
Simran grinned. "We try our best."
"So where should we go?" Naina asked, pulling out her phone. "Suggestions, anyone?"
"Hmm..." Ria said, pretending to think. "Somewhere fancy. We haven't dressed up in ages."
Vaani looked thoughtful. "You know, I've always wanted to go to Cheesecake Factory. I've heard their pasta is really good."
Simran gasped. "YES. I've been craving cheesecake since last month."
Naina nodded approvingly. "Okay, sorted then. Cheesecake Factory it is."
"Wait," Ria said, pointing at Vaani. "But you better dress well, okay? No cute pajamas or comfy tees tonight."
Vaani laughed. "Oh my god, you sound like my mom."
Simran crossed her arms. "It's your birthday eve. You're not allowed to look casual."
"Okay, okay," Vaani said, still chuckling. "I'll get dressed properly. I promise."
Ria smirked. "You better. We're going all out tonight."
"Fine," Vaani said, mock surrendering. "But one rule—no talking about work, no drama, and no interrogating me about married life."
All three groaned dramatically.
Naina said, "That's like half our conversation topics gone."
"Then be creative!" Vaani teased.
Simran laughed. "Challenge accepted."
They spent the next half hour chatting about everything under the sun—Ria's travel stories, Simran's constant struggle to finish her thesis, and Naina's hilarious office gossip about her boss who still couldn't use Google Drive properly.
At one point, Ria was reenacting a story about her husband trying to cook breakfast in their new kitchen. "He wanted to make pancakes but somehow ended up creating what looked like... scrambled dough."
"Scrambled dough!" Naina repeated, laughing so hard she almost spilled her chai.
The laughter filled the room, bright and echoing. It felt like old times—before the moves, before the long-distance trips, before adulthood had made everyone so busy.
As the clock moved closer to six, Ria got up. "Okay, we need to start getting ready. Reservation for seven, right?"
"Yep," Naina confirmed, glancing at her phone. "I'll book the Uber for 6:45."
Vaani smiled as she stood, stretching. "You three are like a full event management team."
"Because you're a terrible planner," Simran teased.
"Excuse me!" Vaani protested, putting her hands on her hips.
"It's true," Ria said, grabbing her makeup pouch. "You'd rather sit with a book and chai than plan anything."
"Well," Vaani said with mock pride, "books and chai don't cause hangovers."
The girls laughed again.
As they headed to her room to get ready, Vaani glanced briefly at her phone on the table.
A small smile tugged at her lips. She wished Dhruv could've been there to see all this—the noise, the laughter, the warm light of the evening.
But somehow, she could almost imagine him smiling if he knew she was having fun.
Vaani stood in front of the mirror, staring at the small chaos spread across her bed — three dresses laid out like choices in a life-defining movie scene.
The first was a sleek black dress — timeless, flattering, the kind that made anyone look effortlessly confident.
The second was a soft red, bold and statement-making.
The third, though, was a white one — simple, strapped shoulder, just above knee-length, with delicate lace detailing along the neckline and hem.
It wasn't loud, but it glowed, the way moonlight quietly steals attention without trying.
Ria, perched cross-legged on the bed, was scrolling through her phone while Simran and Naina debated like stylists on a TV show.
"I vote red," Simran declared confidently, pointing at it like it was a winning answer. "It's your birthday eve — go bold, make heads turn!"
Ria wrinkled her nose. "Nah. Black. Always black. You can never go wrong with it."
Vaani sighed, half amused, half exasperated. "I'm going to need more convincing than that."
Naina, who had been quietly assessing the situation, finally spoke up. "Hmm... black is elegant, red is confident, but white..." She smiled, walking over to lift the dress gently. "White is you."
The other two turned toward her, curious.
"What do you mean?" Ria asked, sipping her iced coffee.
"I mean look at her," Naina said, turning to Vaani. "She's not the bold-red type, nor the all-black mysterious kind. She's the soft-spoken, calm, steady kind — but when you look closely, she shines. This dress will make her glow without her even trying."
Vaani blinked, a little touched. "Naina... that's really sweet."
Simran whistled. "Okay, poetess alert. But you know what? She's right. That white one screams Vaani."
"Yeah," Ria agreed reluctantly, then grinned. "Fine. White it is. But you better accessorize, okay? No plain Jane stuff."
"Yes ma'am," Vaani said with mock salute.
"Good. Now, go get ready before I change my mind," Ria teased, tossing her a pair of dangling silver earrings.
Vaani took them, smiling. "Thank you, you fashion dictators."
They laughed as she went to the dressing table and began getting ready.
The soft rustle of fabric filled the room as she slipped into the white dress. It fit perfectly — hugging just enough to define her figure but loose enough to stay comfortable. The lace shimmered faintly when the light hit it.
She brushed her hair, letting it fall naturally over her shoulders, curling the ends ever so slightly. A bit of nude lipstick, light blush, eyeliner that wasn't too sharp — just enough to enhance her features.
Ria stood behind her with a wide grin. "Oh my god. You look ethereal."
Vaani laughed softly but glanced at her own phone lying on the dresser. A thought crossed her mind — should I send him a picture?
She looked back at her reflection, tilting her head slightly. The white dress, the delicate earrings, the small smile tugging at her lips — she looked happy. She looked her.
Simran noticed her hesitation. "What's that look?"
Vaani sighed softly, still looking at her reflection. "I was just thinking... should I send a picture to Dhruv?"
"Duh," Ria said instantly. "Why's that even a question?"
Naina shrugged. "Because she's shy and overthinks everything."
"Exactly!" Vaani said, pointing at her. "I don't want him to think I'm fishing for compliments or anything."
"Oh please," Simran said, rolling her eyes. "You're his wife, not a stranger on Instagram. He should see how amazing you look."
Ria nodded, adding, "Besides, he'll appreciate it. You know he will."
Vaani bit her lip, considering that. "Hmm..."
She looked down at her phone again.
"Fine," she muttered after a moment, her tone playful but her heart fluttering. "I'll do it."
"Yesss!" Ria cheered. "That's my girl."
Vaani smiled, turning toward the mirror. She adjusted her hair, straightened her posture, and lifted her phone. The reflection caught the soft light perfectly — her white dress, her faint smile, the little sparkle in her eyes.
She snapped the picture, looked at it once, then hesitated before typing.
Vaani: Birthday eve dinner ??
She looked at the message again, then deleted the emoji. "Too much?" she murmured.
"Send it," Simran said, peeking over her shoulder. "You're overthinking again."
With a small breath, Vaani hit send.
The message went through. Blue tick. No reply.
Ria looked at her. "You're staring at the screen like it owes you money."
"I'm not!" Vaani said quickly, though she definitely was.
The minutes ticked by — one, two, five... ten. And then her phone buzzed.
Dhruv: You look beautiful.
Just three words. No emoji, no exclamation mark. Nothing fancy. But her lips curved into the widest, softest smile.
That was Dhruv — never loud, never overly expressive, but always sincere.
And those three words meant more to her than any long compliment could have.
She stared at the message for a few seconds, warmth blooming in her chest. She didn't even need to reply. He'd said exactly what she needed to hear.
"Was that him?" Ria asked, leaning over eagerly.
Vaani smiled, still looking at her screen. "Yeah."
"And?"
"He said I look beautiful."
Ria made a face. "Ugh, simple but lethal. The man knows what he's doing."
Simran laughed. "Short and impactful. Classic Dhruv."
Vaani tucked her phone away, still smiling to herself.
"Okay enough of romance hour," Naina said, standing up. "We're late!"
Ria clapped her hands. "Let's go let's go! Cheesecake Factory awaits!"
Simran grabbed her bag. "Vaani, final mirror check!"
Vaani looked at herself one last time — white dress, light curls, silver earrings, soft makeup, and that little glint of happiness in her eyes.
"I'm ready," she said softly.
Ria looped her arm through hers as they walked toward the door. "You look stunning, babe."
"Like, jaw-dropping stunning," Simran added.
"Dhruv's a lucky man," Naina chimed in with a wink.
"Okay okay," Vaani said, laughing, though her cheeks were pink again. "You're all too much."
As they stepped outside, the sky had begun to turn golden, the sun setting lazily behind the buildings. The evening breeze carried the scent of flowers and a faint buzz of traffic.
They slid into the car waiting outside, their chatter already filling the air again — about food, music, and which dessert they'd try first.
Vaani, sitting by the window, glanced out as the car started moving. She rested her chin lightly on her palm, watching the streets rush by. Her phone buzzed again — a new message.
Dhruv: Enjoy your dinner, birthday girl.
And for some reason, it made her heart skip.
She smiled quietly, typing back,
Vaani: Thank you, Dhruv. Miss you a little.
He replied almost immediately.
Dhruv: Just a little?
She chuckled, biting her lip, and wrote back:
Vaani: Fine. A lot.
She held the phone to her chest for a moment, hiding her grin as Ria glanced at her suspiciously.
"What's that smile?" Ria teased.
"Nothing," Vaani said, still smiling out the window.
The car turned toward the main road, the golden lights flickering across her face, laughter echoing inside.
And in that moment — surrounded by her friends, dressed in white, heart light and warm — she realized something quietly beautiful:
She was happy.
Fully, softly, beautifully happy.
~·~
The Cheesecake Factory's soft golden light made everything feel warm, like the kind of evening you wanted to bottle up and keep forever. The music hummed low, just enough to fill the spaces between their laughter, the sound of clinking forks, and the buzz of conversations around them.
Vaani sat across from Ria, her white dress catching the soft light of the hanging lamps, her hair tumbling over one shoulder. Ria was animatedly talking about her honeymoon, the others listening with wide smiles and the occasional dramatic gasp.
"And then," Ria said, eyes wide and grinning, "we got lost on the wrong side of the island. Wrong side! Like, literally the part where no one goes. And my husband—this genius—thought it would be romantic to 'find our way back by the stars.'"
Simran nearly choked on her drink. "You're joking."
"I wish I was," Ria said, rolling her eyes. "We walked for forty minutes, and he's still like, 'Trust me, babe, I've got this.' Spoiler alert—he did not have it."
They burst out laughing, even Naina, who was usually the quieter one, giggled into her napkin.
Vaani leaned forward, her chin in her hand, smiling so hard her cheeks hurt. "Honestly, Ria, I'm starting to think you married a comedy show."
"Oh, tell me about it," Ria groaned, dramatically flipping her hair. "But you know what? I'll give him credit—once we finally found our resort again, he booked us a private dinner on the beach as an apology."
Simran clapped. "That's actually adorable."
"It was," Ria admitted, her grin softening. "I can't even pretend to be mad. He's a disaster, but he's my disaster."
Vaani laughed and reached for her phone. "Okay, that line deserves to go on my Instagram story."
She quickly took a boomerang of their table—four glasses, half-eaten cheesecake slices, the messy table full of laughter—and posted it with the caption:
"Birthday Eve with my girls ??"
The story went up, the white of her dress glowing in the dim light. A second later, Ria leaned over. "Tag us, obviously."
"Of course," Vaani said, grinning as she tagged them all.
Simran, watching the screen, teased, "Bet Dhruv's gonna reply with one of his one-line texts again."
Vaani chuckled softly, "Probably. But hey, at least he looks at my stories now."
"Progress," Naina said, raising her glass with a smirk.
They clinked glasses. "To progress!"
The waiter came by with another round of mocktails and a plate of fries they hadn't ordered but decided to devour anyway.
The conversation spiraled easily—from Ria's chaotic honeymoon stories to Simran ranting about her new boss ("He uses the word synergy like it's 2008") to Naina talking about how she might take a solo trip soon.
"Oh, that's amazing!" Vaani said, eyes lighting up. "Where to?"
"Maybe Vietnam," Naina said thoughtfully. "Or Italy. I just feel like... I've been in one place too long, you know?"
Ria raised an eyebrow. "You're not secretly eloping, right?"
"Ha ha," Naina deadpanned. "If I meet someone cute there, I'll send you pictures."
Vaani giggled. "Yes please, we need something to tease you about for the next decade.
" Then she leaned back, smiling mischievously.
"Speaking of which... I think it's time we talk about the two of you," she said, pointing between Naina and Simran.
"When are you both planning to find your honeymoons? "
Ria snorted. "Yes! Thank you! My marriage can't be the only one we discuss for the next five years."
Naina groaned. "Oh god, here we go."
Vaani clasped her hands together dramatically. "Come on, it's my birthday eve! Humor me. Manifest some romance!"
Simran chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Okay, fine. But if I find someone boring, I'm blaming you."
"I'll take that risk," Vaani said proudly.
Ria sipped her mocktail. "We should totally go speed dating one day."
"Do people even do that anymore?" Naina asked, genuinely curious.
Simran shrugged. "I mean, we can make it modern—like, speed 'talking' with cocktails."
Vaani giggled. "You guys would turn it into a competition."
"Of course," Ria said. "Winner gets a free dessert."
They all cracked up again. It felt easy, warm—the kind of laughter that came from years of knowing each other too well.
Their cheesecake slices dwindled, their laughter echoed. At some point, a waiter brought a surprise dessert—a single slice of cake with a tiny candle on top.
"For the birthday girl," he said, smiling.
Vaani blinked, then looked at her friends. "You guys..."
Ria smirked. "We may have told them."
"Make a wish!" Simran said.
She looked down at the flickering candle, her smile softening. In her heart, she wished something simple — for more moments like this, for laughter that didn't end, for Dhruv to come home soon.
Then she blew out the candle, and everyone clapped softly.
"Okay," Ria said, pulling out her phone, "we need a photo now."
They took a dozen — goofy, smiling, blurry ones, laughing ones. The kind of photos that later become your favorites because they capture the joy, not the perfection.
After dinner, as they stepped out into the cool night, Naina checked her phone. "So... what now?"
Ria yawned. "I'd say dessert round two, but we literally just had cake."
Simran stretched. "Movie?"
Before anyone could agree, Naina grinned in that mischievous way that always spelled trouble. "I have an unhinged idea."
Vaani gave her a skeptical look. "Oh no. What is it?"
"Let's go to your place, Vaani."
Vaani blinked. "What?"
Naina's grin widened. "Come on! Dhruv's not there, right? Why don't we start your birthday with a karaoke night and a movie marathon? Just like old times!"
Ria gasped, immediately on board. "Yesss! Karaoke and popcorn and bad dancing!"
Simran nodded enthusiastically. "I'm so in. We can even bake at 2 a.m. like maniacs."
Vaani hesitated for a second, thinking. It had been ages since they'd done something like that. And truthfully, the thought of being surrounded by laughter tonight—when Dhruv wasn't around—sounded... comforting.
She looked at them and smiled. "Okay. I'm in. Let's do it."
They squealed like teenagers again, and the plan was sealed.
Naina opened her phone to book a ride. "Okay, let's see if we can get an Uber at this hour."
It was 11:35 p.m.
Ria groaned, watching the app. "How are we still struggling to get a ride at almost midnight? The city that never sleeps, my foot."
Vaani laughed, her soft giggle cutting through the frustration. "Guys, come on. It's not that big of a deal."
Ria threw her hands up dramatically. "Not a big deal? I refuse to start your birthday in an Uber!"
Naina laughed. "Well, unless we magically teleport, it's the only option."
Simran checked her phone again. "Oh wait—Naina, it says one's available!"
Naina tapped quickly. "Got it! Uber coming in five minutes."
They collectively sighed in relief.
Ria picked up her purse and muttered, "Finally. Let's get out before I lose my mind."
Vaani smiled, holding her phone close for a second.
As the Uber pulled up, the city lights shimmered on the glass doors of the restaurant. Ria climbed in first, followed by Simran and Naina, who were still arguing about the playlist.
Vaani took one last look at the glowing sign of the Cheesecake Factory, smiling softly to herself before slipping into the car.
Birthday Eve had officially turned into Birthday Night — and somehow, it already felt like the perfect start.
~·~
The elevator doors slid open with a soft ding, spilling the four girls into the quiet hallway.
The building was dimly lit at this hour, the hum of the city muted behind thick glass windows.
Ria was half-singing, half-humming some random pop tune, Naina was giggling about something on her phone, and Simran was complaining about her heels.
Vaani, leading the little pack, fished through her bag for her keys. "One second, one second—where are they?" she muttered, fingers brushing past her lipstick, her phone, a spare hair tie—finally closing around the familiar jingling ring of keys.
"There we go," she said triumphantly, smiling as she reached her door.
"Okay," Ria said, bouncing a little on her heels, "when we get in, I call dibs on the couch for karaoke. Also, someone please tell me we have popcorn?"
Vaani chuckled as she slid the key into the lock. "Yes, yes, we have popcorn. But dinner options are tragic at this hour, so unless you all want to cook—" she paused, pushing the door open—"it's probably just McD's."
"Perfect!" Simran said, stepping closer. "Midnight fries and nuggets, let's go—"
But before she could finish, the lights inside the apartment flashed on all at once.
"SURPRISEEEEEEE!"
The shout was so loud, so sudden, that Ria jumped and almost dropped her purse. Vaani froze on the threshold, her eyes widening, her breath catching in her throat.
The living room was glowing. Fairy lights hung across the walls, looping around picture frames and bookshelves. Balloons floated near the ceiling—white and gold and soft pink. A banner stretched across the center wall:
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY VAANI!"
And beneath it, standing and grinning like school kids caught planning mischief, were her parents, her brothers, and—her heart stuttered—Jaya and Mahesh.
Her mother, Sunita, was holding a small cake box, her eyes already teary with excitement.
Her father, Ramesh, had his phone raised, filming her stunned expression.
Vedant and Vihaan were waving party poppers.
Mahesh was clapping, and Jaya had her warm, kind smile—the one that always made everything feel like home.
For a heartbeat, Vaani couldn't even move.
"Oh my god," she finally whispered, stepping in. "Oh my god—you guys!"
Her mom laughed. "Surprise, beta!"
Vedant grinned. "You should've seen your face!"
Vihaan added proudly, "Told you she'd think we forgot!"
Sunita looked mock-offended. "Forgot? Never!"
Vaani covered her mouth, half-laughing, half-teary. "This is so cute, I— I don't even know what to say!"
"Say thank you," Ramesh said, chuckling as he finally put his phone down.
She laughed again, turning in a slow circle, taking in the lights, the smell of vanilla and flowers, the way everything felt warm and alive.
Naina and Simran exchanged wide-eyed looks. "Oh my God, Vedant and Vihaan managed decorations properly, I was borderline worried," Naina whispered.
Ria clutched her heart and quickly relied whispering to Naina. "I swear, the boys really pulled through!"
Sunita waved at them. "Come in, come in!"
Ria, never shy, smiled brightly. "This is perfect!"
"Thank you, beta," Sunita said warmly, "couldn't have done it without you three dragging Vaani away!"
Before Vaani could even process that, she felt something—a light touch on her back.
A hand. Familiar. Steady.
She turned.
And froze.
Standing just behind her, in a crisp shirt and that quiet, composed way he always carried himself, was
Dhruv.
"Surprise," he smirked, almost a whisper this time.
She exhaled, just once, the words almost a whisper.
"You... you're here."
Dhruv smiled again, a faint, knowing curve of his lips.
"Of course I am," he said quietly.
??