When The Stars Align

Ch. 16- A Surprise

Rajveer's POV~

It has been two days since I got to properly talk to Aradhana.

After sending me those flowers, it was as if she was deliberately trying to avoid me.

But the question is...WHY? Have I done something wrong? Did I say something to upset her? Did i forget something?

I had a billion questions going on in my mind, so many, that I had almost even forgotten my birthday and it wasn't until Dhruv texted me, informing me that him and Megha wouldn't be arriving back home for my birthday.

This reminder by Dhruv only added fuel to my train of thoughts.

Aradhana wasn't someone who'd forget such dates easily, she has always liked remembering these things, these small details to make everyone feel special. But here she was, completely ignoring me.

I slumped against the headboard of my bed, with my phone in my hand. I checked the time, "Three more hours till my birthday", I sighed.

Did she really forget my birthday?!

I picked up a random book from my bedside table and began reading it, just for the sake of distracting myself.

And before I even realised, I had dozed off, with the book still in my hands.

Author's POV~

Just a few minutes before midnight, Rajveer's sleep faded, he tried to get back to sleep, but it was gone.

He decided to read the book again, but even that didn't work. Unsure about what to do, and to clear his thoughts, he decided to take a shower.
---
By the time he had stepped out of the shower, and got dressed again, it was already a few minutes past midnight.

He checked his phone, in the hope that there'll be a birthday wish from Aaradhana, a simple message even, but there was none.

He felt a bit disheartened, but tried to shake it off, trying to resonate with the situation.

"Well... happy birthday to me...", he whispered to himself, almost sarcastically, as if mocking himself.

Just then, he heard a soft thud on his balcony, his head immediately snapping towards the direction, alarmed.

With calculated and quiet steps, he ascended towards the balcony door. He paused for a moment, his hand on the doorknob, before he finally turned it.

Whoever the person on the other side of the door was, was leaning against it, as when Rajveer opened the door, the sudden motion of the door opening, disbalanced the person and they stumbled into Rajveer's arms.

"Aaru?!---", Rajveer almost explained.

Aradhana's POV~

Before he could exclaim anything else, I placed my hand on his mouth, muffling his voice.

Once he seemed to relax a bit, I removed my hand from over his mouth, moving it to gently cup his face with one hand.

"Happy Birthday..." I said, my voice barely above a whisper, and instantly, a warm smile crept up on his face, he wrapped his arms around me and rested his forehead on my shoulder.

"Rajvi..." I said, running my fingers through his hair.
"Don't say anything..." he replied, in a quiet protest.

We stayed like that for a bit, in the quiet of his room, and the distant buzz of the city.

He was clinging to me, like he had just gotten back his life, while I continued to stroke his back and ran my fingers through his hair.

He finally took a step back, just enough so he could see my face clearly.