Solace

|54|sweet delights

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★★★

A while later, they both stood near the table. Nidhi had carefully placed five candles on the cake, a small, symbolic touch that made her smile.

The chef had written the words, "Happy Birthday to you, my dear Vaibhav" in elegant cursive, and now, as she stared at the intimate message, her heart fluttered. The words felt oddly personal, as if she was confessing her thoughts aloud for the first time, sending pleasant tickles through her chest and stomach.

Vaibhav, on the other hand, couldn't stop smiling. He felt an uncontainable warmth spread within him—an overwhelming mix of happiness and gratitude. The words on the cake, though simple, were making him blush slightly.

Not that he would admit it to himself, of course.

Before they could cut the cake, Nidhi's phone started ringing, abruptly. She glanced at the screen, murmuring to herself, "It must be Aadi."

Aadarsh was the only one who knew about her surprise visit. He had even insisted on accompanying her, worrying about her traveling alone. He had planned to drop her off and leave, letting the couple enjoy their private moment. But Nidhi had assured him she was fine. After all, she'd managed most of her life on her own; this wasn't difficult.

She picked up the call, realizing she was late to answer. It was a video call, and to her surprise, the entire family was present on the screen. Her breath caught momentarily when she saw her mother-in-law's face.

Her sharp gaze immediately conveyed that she wasn't pleased with not being informed of Nidhi's plans. The trip had been spontaneous, and every time Nidhi thought of telling her, she'd find her sitting with Revati, the woman who found fault with everything she did.

"Where's the birthday boy?" Aadarsh grinned, his cheerful voice breaking the tension.

Nidhi smiled softly, her cheeks warming under Vaibhav's unwavering gaze. She knew he wasn't just looking at her—he was studying her, as though trying to etch every detail of this moment into his memory. The intensity of his eyes made her blush. It was as if he was silently promising that, once the call ended, she wouldn't escape the kisses he had been holding back.

"There," she murmured, switching to the back camera and pointing it at her husband.

He smiled warmly at the screen, his happiness palpable. She walked closer, standing just in front of him so both of them could be seen on the call.

"Happy Birthday, Beta," his mother said warmly.

Vaibhav smiled and responded with a soft, "Thank you, Maa." He asked for her blessings. Usually, he would touch her feet, but this time, he had to settle for virtual reverence.

"Happy Birthday, Bhaiya!" his siblings and cousins chimed in unison, their collective excitement drawing chuckles from both Vaibhav and Nidhi.

"Bhabhi, did you wish Bhaiya yet?" Shreya teased, her voice mischievous.

Nidhi smiled faintly, but before she could respond, Roshni cut in. "She must have, and with a kiss too!"

Vaibhav's eyes widened in mock shock, his ears turning faintly pink. His "little" sister wasn't so little anymore, it seemed.

"Bhaiya, Bhabhi isn't going to disappear," Aadarsh quipped, his tone light but observant.

"You can stop looking at her like that."