🌸𝔇𝔬𝔠𝔱𝔬𝔯 𝔏𝔬𝔳𝔢🌸 (Completed )

Chapter- 25 Unexpected Surprises

Adhya pov.

After a long day of shopping, I was sleeping peacefully when a knock at my balcony stirred me awake. Through sleepy eyes, I glimpsed a figure outside and cautiously parted the curtains. To my astonishment, it was Adish. My surprise rendered me speechless; all I could do was gaze at him, wide-eyed. He smiled warmly, stepping onto the balcony with a cake and roses in hand.

"Happy birthday to my love. You're 24 now," he announced softly, placing the cake on my bedside table and handing me the flowers.

"Oh my god, thank you so much. You couldn't have timed this better," I exclaimed, overwhelmed by his thoughtful gesture.

"Thank you for these beautiful flowers and for everything," I said, my voice laced with gratitude as I took his hand in mine, feeling a mix of happiness and surprise at his romantic surprise.

"Can you please put these flowers into vase?"

"Sure," he replied.

I took the cake and placed it on the table and went towards him and took the vase and put the flowers and took a deep breath.

We set the table together, placing the cake in the center and carefully arranging the candles around it. Side by side, we watched the seconds tick by, building up to the moment.

"You ready, Laddu?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Yes, but this name is not my name. Don't call me by that name. You already know it," I replied, playfully scolding him.

"Okay, but are you ready, Boo bear?" he teased, using his affectionate nickname for me.

"Yes," I confirmed with a smile.

As we both began to sing "Happy Birthday," our voices harmonizing in celebration, the anticipation grew. With the final notes of the song, we leaned in to blow out the candles together, marking the beginning of another year.

After cutting the cake and enjoying a slice, I handed him the knife to take his own. With each bite, we savored the sweetness of the moment, lost in each other's company.

Then, in a tender moment, he drew closer, his hand finding its place on my waist, sending shivers down my spine. "Can I?" he whispered, his eyes locking onto mine, seeking permission for a kiss.

I nodded, my heart racing with anticipation, and he leaned in, his lips meeting mine in a soft, lingering kiss. At first gentle, it soon deepened, igniting a fire within me as his embrace pulled me closer.

Suddenly, the tranquility of the moment was shattered by the sound of my room door swinging open. Five figures emerged, wielding torches and lights, their voices erupting in a chorus of "Happy Birthday, Adhya!"

"Surprise!" they exclaimed, their faces illuminated with excitement.

Their surprise quickly turned to shock as they caught sight of Adi and me standing together. I felt a rush of panic as I realized everyone was coming into my room. My mother's eyes flashed with fury, and my father's disappointment was palpable as he regarded us both with a stern gaze.

I was fucked up.

"What is this Adhya?" Amma shouted at me.

"Mom, it's not what you think," I replied, desperately trying to find the right words to defend myself.

"Not what I think?" she shrieked, her voice rising to a high pitch. "What do you mean it's not what I think? We all saw what you were doing," she exclaimed, her face flushed with anger and tears brimming in her eyes.

"Amma, please, let me explain," I pleaded, reaching out to her, hoping to somehow quell her rising anger.

"Explain what? Are you seeing me? Or are you seeing him? Because I don't understand what you are trying to say," she fired back, her frustration evident.

I felt a lump form in my throat, overwhelmed by her questions. I was afraid to answer, knowing that the truth might only escalate the situation further. I wanted to say, 'I'm not dating him,' but the words caught in my throat, unable to find their way out.

The tension in the room was palpable as Adi stood his ground, his tone resolute as he addressed my parents. "Uncle, aunty, I love her," he declared firmly, his gaze unwavering. My parents exchanged a glance, their expressions a mix of surprise and concern.

"Why do you say that?" Appa inquired, directing his question to Adi while stealing a glance at me.

"We've been in a relationship for quite some time now," Adi replied, his voice steady as he met my parents' eyes.

"It's true, Uncle, aunty. We've been together for eight months, and today, on her birthday, I brought a cake to celebrate," Advish interjected, adding his perspective to the conversation.

"But Adi, what were you doing in the room? It didn't seem like just cake cutting," Reema aunty, Adi's mother, interjected, her voice laced with concern and curiosity.

"Maa," Adi began, his voice heavy with emotion as he struggled to find the right words. How could he explain to his parents, in the context of Indian culture, the situation of being caught red-handed while kissing in their own house?

I could sense amma's efforts to hold back her tears, but they soon overcame her, and she began to sob quietly, tears tracing down her cheeks. "This is not right," appa interjected, his voice filled with disappointment. How could he look at Adi now, knowing the mess we had created?

I stood there, feeling utterly lost for words, my gaze fixed on the ground. I was completely flustered and unable to articulate anything coherent.

"We will not discuss this matter further. Are you both serious about your relationship?" Uncle redirected the conversation.

"Yes, paa," Adi and I replied in unison, affirming our commitment.

Upon hearing our response, appa surprised us all by suggesting, "Then we should start planning for the wedding."

The room fell into stunned silence, but appa continued, "If it's the decision of both families and you both want it, we can arrange a wedding."

However, Adi intervened, "I'm thrilled at the prospect of marrying her, but I'm currently dealing with a serious case that requires my attention. I need some time. I promise to stand by my word."

"But you mentioned marriage. It's a significant step, and we need to take responsibility for every aspect of the wedding," Uncle reminded him.

"Yes, I understand. But I can't rush into planning our wedding because of my ongoing commitments, and I don't want our special day to be overshadowed by any complications. I'm sure Adhya understands this too," Adi explained.

I nodded in agreement, adding, "Yes, I understand everything, and I'm willing to wait for our wedding. However, we must consider the importance of time and plan accordingly."

"Alright, then let's continue this discussion tomorrow. It's late now. Everyone can return to their homes or accommodations. We'll discuss everything further tomorrow. Goodnight," Uncle concluded.

As we began to disperse, amma issued a command, "You'll have to quit your job or move out of that apartment."

"I can't just quit my job abruptly," Adi protested.

"But you can vacate the apartment, can't you?" amma pressed, her intentions clear even without words. I remained silent, understanding her underlying message.

"I'll arrange for a good paying guest accommodation, aunty. Don't worry," Adi assured, stepping in to resolve the issue. She nodded.

Despite the tension looming over us, we still managed to celebrate my birthday.

However, a nagging doubt lingered in my mind. In all my 23 years of birthdays, my parents had never wished me at midnight. Why was this year any different? Suddenly, I received a message from Advish.

'Sorry, SIL.' the message read. 'I asked Adi bro about tonight's plans, and he mentioned he had a meeting. I decided to plan a secret birthday surprise with our parents, thinking you might be disappointed about not having a cake cutting ceremony, especially since Adi was busy. I messed everything up.'

All this surprise was from Advish.........

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