Echoes of MaAn: Love beyond Separation

||45|| Aadhya's Birthday and Possessive Anuj (longest update till now)

It was Aadhya's 14th birthday, and the house was buzzing with excitement. The day began with Anuj and Anupama cuddling their daughter as soon as she woke up, her eyes still heavy with sleep but instantly lighting up at the sight of her parents. Anuj, being the affectionate dad he was, held Aadhya close as she snuggled against him.

"Happy Birthday, my darling!" Anupama whispered, brushing Aadhya's hair from her face and planting a kiss on her forehead.

Aadhya smiled sleepily, her heart full as she hugged them back. "Thank you, Mom and Dad," she said, her voice still thick with sleep.

But before they could settle into their cozy bubble, they heard a loud, insistent noise from the other room.

"Aadhymaan!" Anuj chuckled, rolling his eyes as he turned to Anupama. "Looks like our little troublemaker is up early."

As they made their way into the living room, there was Aadhymaan, busy with his usual antics. The six-month-old was giggling away, crawling across the floor, his little hands swiping at toys as he spotted Aadhya. He immediately dropped everything, beaming at her and crawling over to shower her with his signature slobbery kisses.

Aadhya burst into laughter, holding her brother in her arms and saying, "You're so sweet, Aadhymaan!" She kissed him back, and Anuj and Anupama shared a warm laugh at how adorable their little one was.

By the afternoon, the house was full of energy. The decorations were up, the cake was in the fridge, and Aadhya's friends began to arrive. The house filled with giggles and chatter as the girls and boys from her school rushed to greet her.

Anuj, always the protective dad, kept a watchful eye on his daughter. When he saw some of the boys hug Aadhya warmly, a slight frown appeared on his face. He leaned into Anupama, his tone serious but full of humor.

"Anupama, if I see these boys hug her one more time, I swear, they'll regret it," he muttered under his breath, his hands on his hips in that unmistakable desi dad stance.

Anupama chuckled at his antics. "Anuj, they're just friends. Calm down, will you? She's growing up."

But Anuj wasn't quite convinced. As Aadhya exchanged hugs with her friends, he grumbled to himself. "Friends or not, I'm not ready for all this hugging business."

Then, out of the blue, a tall, handsome boy walked in, and Anuj immediately noticed him. Aarav, Aadhya's best friend, and unbeknownst to Anuj, also her boyfriend, entered with a bouquet of flowers and a beautifully wrapped gift.

Aarav was wearing a black shirt, a style that Aadhya particularly loved. The shirt was perfectly fitted, showcasing his muscular physique, and one button was casually undone at the collar. As soon as Aadhya saw him, her eyes lit up with excitement.

"Happy Birthday, Aadhya!" Aarav said, his smile warm and genuine. He stepped forward and handed her the bouquet, leaning in to kiss her on the cheek.

Anuj's jaw clenched, his protective instincts flaring up. What did he just do? His eyes narrowed as he observed the interaction, and his mind raced. He didn't recognize that look between them, but it didn't sit well with him. His little girl was growing up too fast.

He turned to Anupama, who was standing beside him, and whispered, "Did you see that? He kissed her cheek! I wasn't expecting this so soon."

Anupama, trying to suppress her laughter, nudged him gently. "Anuj, don't overreact. It's just a birthday hug. Let it go."

But Anuj was not letting it go. His fatherly protective side was coming out in full force. He couldn't help but feel the pang of jealousy when he saw how close Aarav and Aadhya were. He was so focused on Aarav and Aadhya's exchange that he didn't notice Aadhymaan crawling over to him with Malvika, his grandparents, and everyone else surrounding him, all fawning over the adorable baby.