Heart Of the Underworld

Chapter 10.

Author's P.O.V

The grand hall was adorned with colorful balloons and twinkling fairy lights, casting a warm glow over the eager guests. Khushi, bubbling with excitement, couldn't help but vibrate with sheer joy as she watched her family gather for her birthday celebration. Her parents, uncles, aunts, and cousins filled the room, creating an atmosphere of love and laughter.

"Hey, Lovish, Victor!" Khushi called, interrupting a conversation between Lovish and Victor. "Is everything ok guys?" She said with big smile on her face, as she saw both of them talking.

"Good evening, everyone! I hope you're all having an amazing time tonight! Now, it's time for the moment we've all been waiting for. Let's make some noise as we invite the star of the evening, the birthday girl herself, to come up on stage! Khushi, come on up and let’s give her a round of applause!" Clara announced.

As the family congregated, Khushi's heart swelled. She wished her two closest cousins, Aadi and Ali, could be there in person instead of being wrapped up in their work. Aryan was also missing, busy with professional obligations. The three of them-Khushi, Lovish, and Karan-shared a complex bond formed over years filled with slight mischief and loads of love.

"Where's the cake?" someone called out.

Khushi turned to see one of the servent bringing in a three-tier cake, decorated with delicate blue flowers, and topped with a sparkling "Happy Birthday" banner. She felt her heart soar as she spotted Lovish's reassuring presence among her cousins. But just when the ceremony was about to start, Karan pointed towards the big screen.

"Look there!" Karan exclaimed.

Khushi turned, her breath hitching in her throat. There were Aadi, Ali, Aryan, and Aara, all gathered in front of a screen, beaming at her from a video call.

"Aadi! Ali!" she squealed, her heart swelling. "You really made it!"

"Happy birthday, behen! Tu hmare Bina cake kaise kaat rhi thi?" (How are you cutting the cake without us?) Ali laughed, her usual teasing tone making Khushi grin.

"Haan, hum itni aasani se tera peecha nhi chodne vaale!"(Yeah, we won't let you off that easily!) Aadi chimed in, her playful smirk evident even through the screen.

Her family members roared with laughter, and Khushi rolled her eyes humorously. "haan jaise tumare bina cake kaatne me bohot mazaa aa rha tha na?" (Yes, as if cutting the cake without you was a lot of fun, wasn't it?) She pretended to huff, feeling a mix of joy and nostalgia.

"Nice dress, Khushi!" Aadi said over the call. "Kahan se churai?" (Where'd you steal it from?)

"Stole it from my closet for sure!" she joked, laughter bubbling around her as her relatives joined in the playful banter.

The sweet smell of cake wafted through the air, and media representatives clicked away, capturing every moment. Then khushi blew the candles and made a wish then she cut cake. Then came the unexpected moment of truth looming ahead: the family tradition everyone seemed to overlook.

"Anku Chacha, it's time for your turn," Aadi declared from the screen with a mischievous wink.

"Wait, what turn?" Khushi looked puzzled.

"You'll see," Aadi replied, a grin plastered on her face, as the three of them, Karan, Lovish, Khushi and and their uncle, found themselves standing on stage, ready for whatever traditional chaos awaited.

"Please, not in front of the media!" Khushi protested, her eyes wide with anxiety.

"But it's our ritual! It's tradition!" Lovish exclaimed, his tone weighing heavily with family loyalty that only added to her dread.

"Are we really going to follow that parampara in front of everyone?" she asked Karan, her voice trembling slightly.

"Of course!" Karan replied with a straight face, making her mouth drop in astonishment. "Kutta" (dog) Khushi whispered.

"Tum sab kitne bure ho!" (You guys are so bad!)she exclaimed, exasperated as she recognized what was coming.

Suddenly, in synchronized mischief, Karan and Lovish seized the top tier of the cake, all too eager to engage in the playful tradition. Khushi rolled her eyes, pleading silently for help from Victor, who simply watched with amusement.

The hall erupted in laughter as Karan and Lovish took the first layer of cake and, like a squadron of playful foes, applied it directly onto Khushi's face.

Her shock drew gasps and bursts of laughter from the crowd. "What the heck is this?!" she sputtered, cream frosting dripping off her nose and chin.

The camera flashes intensified, capturing the chaos that had erupted. All her family members laughed heartily, knowing exactly what would follow.

In the midst of laughter and chaos, Victor, her bodyguard, recognized her distress. In a sudden burst of intuitive care, he shed his jacket and rushed to the stage, wrapping the coat around Khushi's shoulders to shield her from further mayhem.

"Let's get you away from here," he murmured, leading her gently off the stage with the media still clicking away. Thanks to Victor's presence and quick thinking, eyes turned away from the frosting chaos, allowing Khushi a moment to regain her composure behind closed doors.

Alone in her room, Khushi took a deep breath, the sound of laughter and celebration echoing outside. She loved her family intensely, and even while wrestling with mixed feelings about the cake incident, her heart bubbled with gratitude.

Despite the distance that sometimes separated them, moments like these made it all worthwhile. Every joke, every laughter, and even the memories of falling cream now felt deeply rooted in affection. A light knock on the door startled her out of her thoughts.

"Khushi, can we come in?" Lovish asked. She nodded, wiping away the remnants of cake from her face, laughter bubbly in her heart despite the earlier chaos.

As they entered together, the duo, snstantly enveloped her in warmth, the scent of laughter and love fillinge room.

"Next year, we'll find a way to celebrate together," Karan spoke, his voice gentle and committed.

Khushi couldn't help but smile. "Promise?"

"Absolutely," Lovish chuckled, a glint of mischief still alive in his eyes.

The love among them felt tangible as they shared stories, banter, and memories that would only grow richer over time.

Outside, her family and friends continued to celebrate, their joyous laughter raising like a sweet melody in the air. And with her heart full, Khushi felt blessed and truly celebrated-cake or no cake.

After some time they left the room and told her to come fast after wash up, Then their was only victor and her in the room. Victor asked confused "What was that?" Khushi chuckled, after looking at his face and said, while laughing "we can say it was our ritual!"

"What?" He asked confused, she replied "Whenever any of us cousins have a birthday, we follow this tradition." He ask "why?" She replied "We have been following this tradition since childhood, so why will these people leave me this time?"

"Your family is really something " he said, "ofcourse You know, Adi had given her duty to Anku Mamu because she was not here, would you believe it?"

"Really" he said while laughing, "yes, this is my family" she sigh.

And then she started telling him many other things about her childhood, how they used to do mischief and how much fun they used to have. But now all of them are busy with their works. But she believes that all of them are going to be together someday.

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