HER SAFE PLACE

Birthday

Shivangi's POV

The night air was cool as we cruised down the road, the soft hum of the car blending with the laughter of my friends in the backseat. Dinner had been amazing, and now, for some reason, they all had decided to take a spontaneous late-night drive. I wasn’t complaining, though. It felt nice to just drive around with everyone, away from all the chaos.

The car was filled with the soft melodies of the song floating through the air like a gentle breeze. I glanced at Rocky, who was focused on the road ahead, his hand resting on the steering wheel. He looked calm, as usual, but there was a hint of something in his eyes, something I couldn’t quite place.

In the backseat, our friends; Jennifer , Adi, Ravi bhai, Vani di, Shanaya and Mihir were chatting away, the sound of their voices adding a liveliness to the otherwise quiet drive. Vani was making fun of Adi for his latest failed attempt at flirting, which was something that always made the group laugh. Adi, on the other hand, was pretending to be offended, dramatically clutching his chest and saying, "I swear, one day, the right girl will come along, and she’ll appreciate my charm!"

Vani di laughed from behind. "Maybe in another lifetime, bro."

"I’m not that bad!" Adi protested, but it was clear everyone was just having fun at his expense.

Mihir chimed in, teasing Vani about her latest obsession with some reality TV show. "You do know they’re all scripted, right?" he said with a smirk, making everyone laugh even harder.

Rocky turned the music up just slightly, clearly trying to drown out the chaos in the backseat. I smiled, feeling at ease in this moment. The gentle rhythm of the music mixed with the sounds of my friends' laughter, and for once, everything felt right. No tension. No drama. Just a perfect night.

The car eventually slowed down, and I could see a dimly lit area ahead. "Where are we going?" I asked, glancing out the window, my curiosity piqued.

"Surprise," Rocky said, shooting me a playful grin.

I furrowed my brow but didn’t press further. I had learned that surprises, especially when Rocky was involved, were never what they seemed. The car eventually came to a stop, and everyone piled out. I was the last to leave the car, Rocky waiting patiently by my side.

As I stepped onto the ground, I could barely make out the surroundings. It was too dark to see anything clearly. The sounds of the waves crashing against the shore were distant and soothing, but all I could focus on was the feeling of the cool sand beneath my feet.

"Where are we?" I asked, still trying to make sense of what was going on.

Rocky smiled, his hand gently resting on my back as he guided me forward. "Just trust me."

We walked a little further, my heart beating faster, not knowing what to expect. Suddenly, I heard the sound of switches flicking, and just like that, the place came alive with light. My breath caught in my throat as I looked around.

The beach, which had seemed like a normal stretch of sand in the dark, was now glowing with soft lights. The area was decorated beautifully—balloons, candles, fairy lights, and everything in between. My heart swelled as I looked around. The most surprising part? Large, candid photos of me, pictures of moments I had shared with my friends, decorated the space. Some were from random fun days, others from moments of laughter and love. It was all so... thoughtful.

I stood there, in shock, as the lights around me twinkled like stars, and the sweet scent of candles filled the air. It felt surreal.

And then, in an instant, I heard my friends shout, "Happy Birthday!" The sky suddenly lit up with firecrackers, bursting into vibrant colors. It was like the whole world had come together to celebrate this one moment, and I was overwhelmed.