The Sun & the Stars Aligned

18: Getting wasted tonight

TARA

"Where are we?" I asked, my voice bubbling with excitement as we arrived at our destination.

This place was like a hidden gem, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, radiating a sense of tranquillity that enveloped my soul.

I tried to pry it out of him, asking where we were headed, but he remained tight-lipped, teasing me with a mysterious smile and a simple "you'll find out soon." 

"Jaan, let's go inside," he suggested, gesturing towards the door with a tilt of his head.

I eagerly opened the door, only to be greeted with a chorus of "Surprise!" My heart skipped a beat as I took in the sight of everyone gathered here – Ishani, Jatin, Parth, Kritika, Rohan, Ananya, even Rudra and Anirudh.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I felt overwhelmed by their presence. So, this was their plan all along. Mr. Chauhan did a remarkable job keeping it a secret. Seeing them all here for me made me feel incredibly special, and I couldn't hold back the tears of joy.

"Awww, honey, come here, give me a hug," Ishani enveloped me in her embrace, with Kritika and Ananya joining in.

"Forget about everything else, Tara. We still have a whole day and night ahead of us. Let's make the most of it," Kritika reassured me, her gentle touch soothing my nerves.

"I've planned a girls' night for us. It's going to be epic," Ananya chimed in, excitement dancing in her eyes as she gave Ishani a high-five.

"Ah, what about us guys then?" Rohan interjected, earning a playful smack on the head from Ananya, followed by a warning glare from Mr. Chauhan that silenced him with a mock pout.

"Apna apna khud dekh lo." she teased him showing her thumb.

***

"What happened between you and bhai yesterday? You've got to tell us," Ananya nudged me teasingly as we sat together on the bed, gossiping away after changing into comfortable clothes.

"Ananya," I exclaimed in shock, blushing furiously as she flashed me her signature sheepish grin. "Nothing happened like what you're thinking!"

"Damn, you guys missed such a golden opportunity," Kritika joked, earning a playful swat from me.

Ishani pulled me closer and whispered, "Come on, I don't believe you. I can't say about you, but I'm sure Aditya did something." A blush crept onto my cheeks as I nudged her playfully.

"Beautiful ladies, hurry up and come outside! Anirudh Jiju has set up a barbecue, and the aroma is driving me crazy," Jatin announced excitedly before dashing off.

"My dear husband is grilling. I'm off to claim my share. You guys sort yourselves out," Ishani declared, chasing after him with a mischievous grin.

We made our way to the garden area, where the men were lounging on chairs, and Anirudh and Rudra were manning the barbecue. And would you believe it? Rudra was shirtless, flaunting those perfectly chiseled abs. Ananya and I approached them, but Rudra's gaze seemed to be glued to her, while she couldn't even look him in the eye without turning into a blushing mess.

I coughed lightly, trying to divert his attention away from Ananya. Poor thing couldn't even meet his gaze.

"Now that you've finished ogling, are you going to feed us or just stare?" I teased him, playfully nudging Ananya's shoulder.

"The ones who'll feed you are sitting right there," he shot back, pointing towards Mr. Chauhan with a smirk.

"Ananya, come over here, I need to talk to you about something," I replied, shooting Rudra a playful smirk of my own as I grabbed her hand and led her away.