31 Diyas Birthday
The Raizada mansion was buzzing with vibrant energy, transformed into a dazzling haven of fairy lights, floral arrangements, and soft background music. Preparation for Diya's eighteenth birthday bash had reached its peak as the sun set, giving way to a cool, festive evening.
Guests had already begun arriving in steady streams-extended family, high school pals, and college friends alike-filling the grand living space with lively chatter.
Diya stood near the entrance in a stunning pastel dress, graciously accepting warm wishes, flower bouquets, and carefully wrapped gifts, her glowing smile never leaving her face.
Meanwhile, Ansh and Mrs. Raizada were playing the perfect hosts, moving effortlessly through the crowd to ensure everyone was comfortable and that trays of hot appetizers and mocktails were circulating smoothly.
Just as the party reached a comfortable rhythm, the grand entrance doors opened to reveal Niyati arriving with her parents.
Ansh was the first to spot them from across the room.
His gaze locked onto Niyati almost instantly, ignoring the surrounding noise.
She looked utterly breathtaking in a soft, knee-length dress that complemented her perfectly, her hair cascading down her shoulders in loose waves.
Swallowing the sudden lump in his throat, Ansh immediately handed off a tray of drinks to a server and walked over to welcome them.
"Welcome, uncle and aunty," Ansh greeted warmly, bending slightly to touch the elders' feet out of respect.
"God bless you, beta," Mrs. Sharma replied fondly. "Look at how grand everything looks!"
As Niyati's parents stepped further into the living room to greet Mrs. Raizada, Ansh intentionally fell back a step, closing the distance between himself and Niyati while their back was turned to the crowd.
"You look breathtakingly beautiful," Ansh whispered softly, his voice a gravelly murmur meant for her ears alone.
Niyati felt a warm blush creeping up her cheeks, but she kept her eyes fixed ahead, a small, subtle smile touching her lips. "Thank you," she replied quietly. "You look quite handsome yourself."
Ansh leaned in a fraction closer, a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, you chose this shirt, didn't you?"
Niyati bit back a soft laugh. "Yeah, I did."
Before the tension between them could draw any stray eyes, Diya spotted them from the center of the room. "Uncle! Aunty! Niyuu!" she squealed, cutting across the room.
Ansh and Niyati stepped apart with flawless, practiced timing, putting a respectable distance between them just as Diya skidded to a halt in front of the Sharma family.
"Happy Birthday, beta!" Mr. and Mrs. Sharma chorused, enveloping Diya in warm hugs and handing over a beautifully wrapped gift box.
"Thank you so much, Aunty!" Diya beamed, handing the package to a servant before turning her full attention to Niyati.
The two best friends pulled each other into a tight, exuberant hug. "Happy eighteenth, Diya!" Niyati laughed, squeezing her tightly. "I can't believe you're officially an adult now."
"Thanks, Niyuu!" Diya giggled, pulling back and immediately extending her open palms with an expectant grin. "Now... where's my gift?"
Niyati gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her chest. "What? I'm here! I'm the biggest, most precious gift in your life!"
Diya rolled her eyes playfully, placing her hands on her hips. "Oh, please. That line is way too old."
Niyati's jaw dropped. "Are you calling me old?"
Diya feigned a thoughtful expression, tapping her chin with a mischievous grin. "Well... hmmm... how do I put this politely? Straight to your face?"
Niyati's eyes widened in pure shock. "Diyaaaaaaaa!"
Before Diya could burst out laughing, she turned on her heel and bolted across the living room.
Niyati gathered the hem of her knee-length dress and took off right after her, chasing her best friend around the grand sofa and through the clusters of laughing guests, completely abandoning all adult decorum.
Mrs. Raizada strolled over to Mr. and Mrs. Sharma, watching the two girls dart around the room while Ansh stood nearby, shaking his head with a fond, helpless chuckle.
Mrs. Sharma shook her head, letting out a heavy sigh as she watched Niyati attempt to corner Diya near the dessert table. "These two will truly never grow up."
"That is absolutely correct," Mrs. Raizada agreed with a warm laugh, watching the girls light up the entire room. "And honestly? I wouldn't have it any other way."
The soft chiming of a spoon against a crystal glass rang through the hall, drawing everyone's attention toward the center of the room. Mrs. Raizada stood by a grand, three-tiered cake decorated with delicate pastel frosting and edible sugar flowers, her face glowing with maternal pride.
"Alright, everyone!" Mrs. Raizada announced warmly, her voice carrying over the chatter. "It's time for the birthday girl to cut her cake!"
A round of enthusiastic applause rippled through the gathered crowd. Diya, still slightly out of breath from her playful chase with Niyati, was dragged toward the table by her mother.
Niyati smoothed down her knee-length dress and walked over, taking her place right beside Diya, while Ansh stepped up on the other side of the table, looking impossibly sharp in the tailored shirt Niyati had helped pick out.
For a split second, Ansh's dark eyes met Niyati's across the frosted centerpiece. He flashed her a quick, subtle wink, making her heart skip a beat before she quickly looked away, forcing her attention back to her best friend.
"Make a wish, Diya!" Mrs. Sharma called out from the front row of guests.
Diya closed her eyes, held her hands together for a brief moment, and blew out the glowing eighteen-shaped candles. The room burst into a loud chorus of the classic "Happy Birthday" song, accompanied by cheerful cheering and the flash of smartphone cameras.
Smiling radiantly, Diya took the silver knife and sliced through the soft cake.
She cut the first small piece and turned straight toward her mother, feeding her a bite.
Mrs. Raizada kissed her forehead tenderly.
Next, Diya turned toward Ansh, who leaned in with a warm, affectionate smile, taking a bite before ruffling her styled hair playfully.
"Hey! Don't ruin the hair, big brother!" Diya complained, though her smile was wide and infectious.
Then, Diya picked up another piece and turned to Niyati. "And this one is for my partner-in-crime."
Niyati laughed, leaning forward to take the bite. "Happy birthday again, crazy girl."
Before Niyati could step back, Diya swiftly wiped a tiny smear of white frosting onto Niyati's cheek, bursting into a victorious laugh.
"Diya!" Niyati gasped, her hands flying to her face in utter shock.
"Consider it payback for chasing me earlier!" Diya giggled, darting out of reach.
Across the table, Ansh let out a low, velvety chuckle. Niyati shot him a quick glare, but when her eyes met his, his gaze softened into something incredibly tender.
He reached into his pocket, subtly pulling out a crisp white handkerchief and offering her a silent, questioning look-wishing more than anything that he could walk over and gently wipe the sweetness from her cheek himself.
Niyati caught the intense look in his eyes, feeling a rush of heat beneath her skin. She quickly wiped the frosting off with a napkin, her heart pounding violently against her ribs as she remembered the promise they had made just hours ago.
The night was still young, but the countdown to their secret coming out had officially begun.
As the evening wore on, the older guests gradually retreated to the quiet elegance of the outdoor patio to engage in conversations over tea, leaving the grand hall entirely to the younger crowd.
The energy in the room surged as the DJ turned up the volume, and soon everyone was out on the dance floor, lost in the heavy bass and colorful flashing lights.
Niyati, feeling a bit flushed from all the excitement, leaned in toward Diya's ear. "Hey, I'm going to run upstairs to use the bathroom and touch up my makeup."
"Go ahead, Niyuu! Hurry back!" Diya shouted over the music, already getting pulled into another dance routine by her college friends.
Niyati quietly slipped out of the chaotic hall and made her way up the grand staircase. Down below, Ansh's sharp eyes caught her subtle departure. Ensuring no one was paying attention to him, he casually backed away from a conversation near the drinks bar and stealthily followed her upstairs.
Niyati entered Diya's spacious bedroom and went straight into the attached bathroom.
She washed her hands, checked her reflection, and reapplied a light coat of lipstick, a faint, contented smile gracing her lips as she thought about how wonderful the night had been so far.
She opened the bathroom door and stepped out into the bedroom-only to freeze in her tracks.
Ansh was standing there, leaning casually against the closed bedroom door with his hands tucked into his trousers.
Niyati gasped softly, placing a hand over her heart. "Ansh! What are you doing here?"
"I came looking for you," he said, his voice dropping into a low, velvet rasp as he pushed off the door and took slow, deliberate steps toward her.
"Looking for me? Why?" Niyati asked, her heart beginning its familiar, rapid drumbeat. "Did Diya call for me?"
Instead of answering, Ansh closed the remaining distance and grabbed her by the waist without a word, pulling her flush against his chest and smashing his lips onto hers.
Niyati let out a soft gasp of surprise against his mouth, but any thought of resistance melted away instantly.
Surrendering to the sudden rush of heat, she wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.
It was hot, intense, and intoxicating-a fiery collision of weeks of longing and the thrill of their shared secret.
Ansh groaned softly, his hands sliding down to frame her hips. With an effortless lift, he hoisted her up.