CHAPTER 50
ARYAN
I like birthdays.
I’ve never been one of those people who pretends they don’t matter, or shrugs them off like they’re just another date on the calendar. There’s something about a day that gathers your people in one place, strips life down to laughter and food and familiar voices, that I’ve always held onto.
Maybe it’s because I grew up in a house where birthdays meant noise.
Ma in the kitchen even when we told her not to.
Radhika stealing frosting before the cake is even cut, no matter what her age is.
Vedant pretending he doesn’t care but always being the first one to hand over a gift.
Voices overlapping. People talking over each other.
Someone always laughing louder than necessary.
Even now, nothing about that has really changed.
And tonight—Tonight feels…fuller. Because she’s here.
I notice her before anyone else does.
Of course I do.
I’ve been checking the door every few minutes like an idiot pretending he isn’t waiting.
And then—There she is. Standing at the entrance, one hand curled around the strap of her bag, scanning the room like she’s preparing for impact.
Nervous.
Ishika Vyas is nervous.
That alone makes something in my chest tighten in a way I don’t like.
She spots me. Our eyes meet. And there’s that small, almost hesitant smile that she only gives when she’s unsure of her footing.
God.
I move before I think about it. Cross the room in a few quick steps until I’m right in front of her.
“You came,” I say, softer than I intended.
She raises a brow, but there’s no bite to it.
"It's your birthday Golden boy, I had to.
" She feigns an eye roll but I can see the smile tugging at her lips, "even if you annoy me too much," She smirks and leans in, I find my body leaning in too involuntarily, "I hope you do grow up this year though. "
I laugh out loud, my head falling back and shake my head when I see a huge smile on her face. "I will try, no promises. Besides if I grow up who'll make you smile like that, Sunshine." I shrug and it's her turn to shake her head in disbelief.
“Come,” I say, tugging her gently inside before she can retreat into that quiet, observing distance she slips into when things feel too overwhelming.
The noise hits her immediately.
It always does.
My world is loud. Unapologetically so. Voices overlapping, Siddhant already mid-story as with dramatic hand gestures, Rudra interrupting him like he’s personally offended by every sentence, Vedant leaning against the wall pretending he’s not involved while absolutely listening to everything.
Radhika is the first one to notice. She rushes towards us. Her eyes light up in a way that makes me instantly suspicious.
“Oh, finally,” she says, dragging the word out like she’s been waiting for this exact moment.
Ishika stiffens just a little beside me. "You're here." She smiles at Ishika but her steps falter as she notices our intertwined hands, an eyebrow raising in question.
I don't wait because I don't want to, I want everyone to know who she is to me, I may shout from a mountain top if that's needed, "We're together." I say simply. I glance at Ishika who's already looking at me a bit shocked but doesn't say anything.
"Oh my god." Radhika squeals. "Yes, finally!" She beams at us, "I don't understand how you bagged a baddie but good for you, Aryan!"
She looks at Ishika in disbelief, "How...I never thought anyone would like him...you may need to reconsider your taste," She exclaims, "you deserve better." She clutches her chest as if it physically hurts her.
Ishika snickers and I roll my eyes, "Have you seen me?" I scoff, "I am extremely hot and very very handsome, you need to think about your choice," I give her a tight lipped smile, "the only correct thing you have said this night is..." I look at Ishika, "She does deserve better."
Radhika gasps like I’ve just insulted her personally.
“Excuse me?” she says, placing a hand dramatically over her heart. “You don’t get to agree with me. I was joking. You’re not allowed to.”
“I’m not joking,” I reply, glancing at Ishika again, softer this time. “She does deserve better.”
There’s a beat. A small one. But it stretches just enough for something unspoken to pass between us.
Ishika’s smile doesn’t disappear—but it changes. Less amused. Like she heard the part I didn’t say out loud.
That I’m trying.
That I know.
That I don’t take this lightly.
She nudges my arm lightly with her elbow. “Too late now,” she says under her breath. “You’re stuck with me.”
Something in my chest shifts in a way I don’t examine too closely.
“Gladly,” I murmur.
Radhika makes a noise that sounds suspiciously like she might cry.
“Oh my god, this is disgusting,” she says, wiping at imaginary tears. “I hate this. I love this.”
“Pick a side,” Vedant mutters from across the room.
“I’m on drama,” she snaps back.
Rudra finally notices us properly, his expression lighting up immediately as he walks over, Siddhant trailing behind him mid-argument.
“Wait—this is official?” Siddhant asks, looking between us.
“Yes,” I say simply.
Rudra squints at me. “That explains the personality shift.”
“I’ve always had personality.”
“You’ve always had issues.”
Ishika lets out a quiet laugh beside me. And I swear every single one of them notices.
Shivani walks up next, smiling warmly at Ishika like she’s already accepted her into the chaos without question.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she says gently.
Ishika nods, a little more at ease now. “I’m…glad too.”
Ma appears a second later, like she has some internal radar for important moments.
The second she sees us—Sees our hands—Her face lights up in a way that makes me brace myself. “I knew it,” she says immediately, pointing at me like I’ve been hiding state secrets. “You thought you could keep this from me?”
“I wasn’t hiding—”
She ignores me completely. Her attention shifts entirely to Ishika.
“My child,” she says, already pulling her into a hug before Ishika can react.
Ishika stiffens again. Just for a second. Then slowly, carefully, her arms come up. Not fully wrapping. But not pulling away either.
Progress.
I lean against the wall slightly, watching it happen, something quiet and steady settling in my chest.
“I’ve been waiting for this,” Ma continues, pulling back to look at her properly. “Now it makes sense. His face these days—completely gone.”
“Ma—”
“You don’t talk,” she cuts me off, waving her hand dismissively.
“Come, sit,” she insists, already pulling her toward the couch.
Ishika glances at me over her shoulder. There’s a question there. A silent—
Is this normal?
I grin. My heart hurts that she's not had this but I am also happy she finally does.
Absolutely. I mouth to her shrugging. She sighs like she’s accepted her fate and lets herself be dragged into the center of it all.
I am glad no one asks her questions that may want her to bolt, including Ma, because I fully believed once I introduced her as my girlfriend, my mother may ask when are we getting married but thankfully that didn't happen.
“Cake!” Radhika suddenly announces again, because apparently she has one track mind.
Ishika glances up at me briefly. There’s amusement in her eyes now. Less hesitation. More… comfort.
“You have to make a wish,” she says quietly as everyone starts gathering.
I tilt my head. “You believe in that?”
“No,” she replies simply. “But you still have to do it.”
There’s something in her tone that makes me not argue. When I close my eyes—It’s not a wish I think about.
It’s a moment. This exact one. Her in this room. My people around us. The way her presence has somehow settled into everything like it belongs.
I blow out the candles. I cut a slice and feed it to my mother, her eyes watering and I know it has nothing to do with any of us present in this room and everything to do with the absence of my father. I miss him too, especially on days like this, because he was the life of the party.
Later, when things calm down into smaller conversations, I find her again.
Standing near the edge of the room. “You okay?” I ask, stepping beside her.
She nods. Her fingers fiddle with her purse and I narrow my eyes, "What's up, Sunshine?"
"Um...I have a gift for you." She says, her words almost jumble together.
My breath hitches at the thought of Ishika thinking about what to give to me.
She unzips her purse and takes out a thick envelope.
I take it in my hand, she never meets my eyes but watches me carefully as I open the envelope only to find more tiny ones inside.
“Thirty-four,” she says, arms crossing like she’s already defensive about it. “Don’t make a big deal.”
"You wrote thirty-four letters to me?" I ask, my heart beating fast against my ribs.
She nods. “I didn’t know you had this in you, Sunshine.”
Her cheeks go red instantly.
“Do you want it or not, Golden Boy?”
I grin. “Yes,” I say quietly. “Please.”
I reach for one.
She stops me immediately.
“Don’t,” she says quickly.
I pause.
“Why?”
“Not in front of me,” she says, softer now. “I’ve never…done something like this for anyone, Aryan.”
“Does that mean I’m special, Sunshine?”
My voice comes out softer than I expect.
She looks up at me.
And this time—There’s no hesitation. She steps closer, on her tiptoes and presses a soft kiss to my cheek.
“Yes,” she whispers and leans in, her lips brushing my ear, “That’s because you’re the only person in my life, Golden Boy.”
She pulls back with a small chuckle. Like she didn’t just undo something in my chest. I laugh softly, shaking my head. “You and your need to bully me.”
She shrugs. “What can I say? It’s like oxygen to me.”
I smile and lean closer again. “Then please,” I whisper, my voice softer now, “continue to do so for the rest of my life.”