"From Rivals to Forever: A Journey of Love"

Chapter 45

Aditi's Perspective

The house was buzzing with activity, with sounds of laughter, chatter, and the occasional instruction to the decorators, as they made sure everything was set up for the party. My eyes drifted to the clock for the umpteenth time, counting down the minutes, hoping—yet, in a small corner of my heart—wondering if he'd make it.

Kabir had his entrance exam today, the most important exam of his life, and I knew it had taken every ounce of energy, focus, and dedication he had. I'd called him last night to wish him good luck, and I could tell from his voice that he was ready but exhausted from the endless studying. I knew how much this exam meant to him and his family. That's why, as much as I wished he'd be here for my birthday, a part of me wanted him to just take it easy and relax after such a draining day.

I sighed and shook my head. "Don't be silly, Aditi," I muttered to myself as I adjusted the arrangement of flowers on the table. "He'll come if he can, and if not, it's no big deal."

But of course, it was a big deal. Kabir had always been there for me. On my bad days, he was my rock. When I was happy, he was the first person I wanted to share it with. And today, of all days, I wanted to celebrate with him. But I also didn't want him to push himself too hard. He deserved rest after everything he'd been through today.

I looked around the room, which was already full of life. Raghav, Kabir's best friend, had just finished his own entrance exam and was here too. He was chatting with his two younger twin sisters, who were in the eighth class, but I could tell his mind wasn't fully on the conversation. His eyes kept flickering toward the corner of the room, where Arushi stood.

Raghav and Arushi had once been inseparable. They'd grown up together as the best of friends, spending countless afternoons at each other's houses, playing games, and sharing secrets. But everything had changed when Arushi's father was transferred to Mumbai three years ago. She'd moved away with her family, and Raghav had missed her terribly.

He never said it outright, but it was clear to everyone—especially to me—that Raghav's feelings for Arushi had deepened over the years. What had started as a childhood friendship had blossomed into something more, at least for him.

Now, she was back for my birthday after so long. Arushi had changed too. She was in grade 11 now, two years younger than Raghav, and her time in Mumbai had given her an air of confidence that wasn't there before. She was still the sweet, easy-going girl we all loved, but there was something more refined about her, something that clearly had Raghav captivated.

As I watched, Raghav glanced at her for what seemed like the hundredth time today. Arushi was standing in the corner, talking to a couple of our other cousins, blissfully unaware of Raghav's nervous, frequent glances. It was funny, really—she treated him like the old friend he was, completely oblivious to the fact that he was head over heels for her now. I stifled a smile. Kabir would have found this hilarious, too, if he were here. I couldn't wait to tease him about it later.

Then there was Anaya, who couldn't sit still. She was standing by the window, her eyes darting toward the gate, waiting for Arjun. If Kabir didn't marry me, I wouldn't be surprised if Arjun married Anaya someday—those two were practically glued together whenever they met. Anaya had even made a point of telling me, multiple times, that Arjun was on his way and she couldn't wait to see him.

"I swear, if they don't marry each other, I'll lose all faith in love," I muttered under my breath, smiling at the sight of her bouncing around in excitement.

"Didi!" Anaya called, rushing over to me, her cheeks flushed. "Do you think Arjun will like my dress today? I think he will. Do you think he'll think I look like a fairy?" she asked in a rush, twirling for emphasis.

I laughed. "Anaya, of course, he'll love your dress. But if he doesn't say anything, don't worry. He's just a little boy, and sometimes boys don't notice the things we want them to."

Anaya scrunched her nose. "He better notice," she said, stomping her foot in mock indignation before running back to the window.

I shook my head in amusement, but my mind was still elsewhere—on whether Kabir would come. I wanted him to. I wanted him to walk through that door and smile at me with that look that made everything feel better. But I also knew he must be exhausted.

It was only when the doorbell rang that my heart leapt. I quickly set the tray I was carrying down and glanced at the door, but Anaya beat me to it, rushing toward the entrance as fast as her feet could carry her. She pulled the door open, her face lighting up the moment she saw Arjun standing there, followed by Kabir's mom and his Chachi.

Anaya, who was practically bouncing on the spot, greeted him enthusiastically.

But there was no sign of Kabir. My heart sank a little, even though I kept my expression neutral. I was happy to see Arjun and everyone else, but I couldn't help the small tug of disappointment. Kabir wasn't coming. He was probably resting, which was exactly what he needed, but still, I couldn't help but feel a little sad.

Just as Anaya was about to close the door, it happened—before the door could fully shut, Kabir appeared. He walked in, a little tired but still wearing that familiar, reassuring smile. My heart skipped a beat, a rush of warmth spreading through me. He was here. Despite everything, he had come.

He scanned the room for me, and when our eyes met, the noise around us seemed to fade away. There was something unspoken between us in that moment—a quiet understanding, a shared memory, maybe a sense of relief. He'd come. He was here for me.

Arjun, as usual, interrupted the moment, running up to me and exclaiming, "Happy birthday, Didi! You look like a princess again!"

I smiled, ruffling his hair. "Thank you, Arjun," I said softly.

As the others began to mingle, snapping pictures and catching up, I excused myself to my room for a moment to keep the gifts I had received. Kabir followed me quietly, and as we entered the room, I turned to him with a soft smile.

"Thank you for coming," I said, the relief clear in my voice.

"I'm sorry I almost forgot," Kabir said at the exact same time, and we both laughed. It was the kind of laugh that came easily, the kind that melted any lingering awkwardness. Then, before I could stop myself, I hugged him.

He hesitated for just a second, surprised by the sudden gesture, but then his arms wrapped around me, holding me close. It wasn't just a casual hug—it was something more, a reassurance that we were still connected, that no matter how busy or stressful life got, we had each other.

"I'm sorry," he repeated, his voice soft as we pulled back slightly, still standing close. "I really didn't mean to forget. Everything's just been so hectic with the exams..."

I shook my head. "No, it's alright, Kabir. I mean it. As long as you didn't forget any important formulas during your exam today, that's what matters."

He chuckled, a low sound that sent a warmth through me. "No, I didn't forget any formulas," he said with a grin. "Thanks to your good luck wishes last night, I think I aced it."

I smiled, feeling a lightness in my chest that had been missing all day. Kabir was here, and everything suddenly felt right again.

For a few moments, we just stood there, basking in the simplicity of being in each other's presence, the sound of laughter and celebration carrying in from the living room. I looked up at him, noticing how tired he still looked, but also how content. He'd come, even though he probably should've been resting, and that meant more to me than I could express.

"Come on," I said softly, breaking the comfortable silence. "Let's go back before they all start wondering where we've gone."

He nodded, but before we could leave the room, I turned to him again, a sudden thought crossing my mind. "You really didn't have to come, you know," I said, my voice gentle. "I would've understood if you needed to rest after the exam."

He gave me a look that sent warmth rushing through me again. "I wouldn't have missed it," he said simply. "Not for anything."