Us Being Us (A Darshan Raval Fanfic)

XXXVI. Shared Birthday after 7 YEARS!!

Darshan's POV:

"Happy Birthday, STUPID!!" Someone yelled, waking me up. I groaned as I sat up. Aisha. "Ishu, I wanted to sleep in today," I whined. "No sleeping in. Please. We're celebrating our birthday together after 7 years," she pouted, making a puppy face. I nodded and went to get changed and Aisha ran downstairs.

Aisha's POV:

"It's on!!" I grinned on a video call with Niu. The gang and all 7 of our parents (Darshan's parents excluded) were at my house to surprise Darshan. "Okay, everyone. Hide," Niu ordered and everyone obeyed. "Ishu!! What do I wear?" Darshan called from upstairs. I smacked my forehead, cut the call and ran upstairs. I went to his closet and picked out an outfit (refer image) for him. I practically swooned when walked out of the closet. My jaw dropped. "Do I look that bad?" He laughed. I slapped his arm, giggling. "By the way, yeh le," he said as he handed me an outfit.

I grinned and kissed his cheek. He pushed me inside the closet and I changed. I walked out and he smiled. I pecked his lips and ran downstairs while he styled his hair. Darshan walked downstairs and Uncle and Auntie wished him. I walked to the couch and sat down, giving them some space. Uncle covered Darshan's eyes with a blindfold. "What is happening? The HELL!!" He yelled and I chuckled. We picked him up and brought him to my house. We opened his blindfold and everyone yelled, "Surprise!!" and Darshan's eyes widened. He looked at me. I shrugged, smiling. He hugged me really hard. "Gabbu," I laughed. "Chalo, cut the cake, romance baadme," Mamma chuckled. "Mamma," I whined and everyone laughed. I handed Darshan the knife and he grabbed my hand. We cut the cake, fed everyone and he smashed some on my face. "Gabbu!!" I yelled as I grabbed some cake and followed him. I chased him and tackled him and applied everything on his face. "Ishu..."

I laid beside him and giggled. We started laughing. CLICK. "Papa... kya yaar? Kyun photo liya?" I whined. "This is just like our 5th birthday, Ishu. Deja vu," Darshan grinned. I smiled at him. We walked outside. "Gifts?" Tara's mom asked and we nodded. I received a studded belt from my parents, a black and silver cat backpack from Niu, an entire set of 52 scrunchies from Tara (I freaked, I love scrunchies), owl jewellery from Alisha, a leather jacket from Jyugal, a tyre ring from Hardil (That was really cool) and three pairs of studded fingerless gloves from Sid. "Sid, these are so cool. These have been on my wishlist for 3 years!! Eeep," I shrieked and hugged him. He hugged me back. "Here," Darshan said, handing me a box as I pulled away from Sid. "Really? You already got me an entire outfit, Gabbu," I asked, taking the box. He shrugged. I kissed his cheek and opened the box. A picture frame. With THE most precious picture that we had together. A picture of Darshan kissing my cheek. He dressed in a suit and me in a dress. We were two. I looked up at him, tears welling up in my eyes. I pulled him by the sleeve to my room, ignoring everyone, leaving the picture on the couch. "Really? I lost that picture a long time ago," I said, my voice cracking, trying to hold back tears. "Well, that one picture, it made me smile these past 7 years. When we weren't talking. I want you to have it," he smiled. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I kissed him, very softly. He kissed back. It was one of those really soft kisses. Deep and passionate, but very soft. I cupped his face in my palms and caressed his cheek. I tugged on his bottom lip before pulling away. "Don't cry, Ishu. I hate seeing you cry," Darshan said as he wiped my tears away. "Whatever happened 7 years ago, I am sorry about it," I whispered, playing with his hair. "Me too, Ishu," he whispered back and hugged me. 

We walked downstairs and sat down. "What's with this picture?" Niu asked, picking up the frame. "I don't know. It's just the most precious picture we ever took," I laughed. "They love it because it was the first time Darshan ever kissed Ash. Ever," Dad laughed. "Holy... wait! Really?" Darshan asked, his eyes widening. Our parents nodded. I started giggling. "Why are you laughing? That is crazy!" He chuckled. "You're chuckling too," I giggled and we burst out laughing. "You're back," Auntie smiled. "What?" Sid asked, amused at this entire conversation. "These two would burst out laughing at everything. Even when we were scolding them. They're back. For good this time," Mamma explained. "And, that made us stop scolding them. Because they were just gonna start laughing at us," Uncle smiled. We started laughing again. 

Around 18:30...

"Boys!! Come on," Niu yelled. The boys were getting changed to go laser tagging in my room. For 45 minutes? Really? "Do minute," Jyugal yelled back. I walked upstairs and banged on the door on the ceiling. Jyugal opened the door. I pushed him in and hauled myself up. "Kya hua? Kya kar rahe ho?" I asked. "Darshan can't decide how to do his hair," Hardil clarified, shaking his head. I sat Darshan down and pulled out my hairdryer and brush. After around 10 minutes, I had finished styling his hair. "Chal, kamine," I said as I head-slapped Darshan and pulled him downstairs. "Kya hua?" Alisha asked. "This idiot couldn't decide how to do his hair," I explained, pointing to Darshan and we got in the cab. 

Laser Tagging Arena...

Hardil, Jyugal, Tara and I were on the blue team. "Jyugal, shoot, behind you!!" Tara yelled as I ducked to save myself. "Aisha, run!! Darshan is chasing you!" Hardil yelled and I turned back, chasing Darshan. I pushed him to the wall and smirked. He raised an eyebrow. I kissed him, bit his lip, pulled away and shot him. "Two down!!! 4 to go!" I yelled. One of the other people who I did not know got shot. "Only 2!! I shot Alisha and Sid!!!" Tara yelled. I nodded and ran way from Niu who was chasing me. I turned around and ducked. She tripped on me and I shot her. "Niu's down!!" I laughed. "We win!!!" Jyugal cheered and hugged me. 

"You distracted me!" Darshan whined for the umpteenth time in the cab. "You could have shot me when I turned around instead of running away," I groaned. He made some stupid noises and stomped like a 3-year-old. I pulled him by the collar and kissed him, softly. Everyone grunted and groaned. I pulled away and laid his head in my lap. I played with his hair and he slowly fell asleep. "We're good," I whispered and everyone sighed contentedly. 

I lifted Darshan to take him home. I rang the bell with my nose and Uncle opened the door. He burst out laughing. I smiled at him and took Darshan to his room and laid him on his bed. I caressed his hair, removed his shoes, watch, jacket and glasses. I kissed his forehead and covered him in the comforter.

"Ishu..." Darshan called as he grabbed my hand. I turned and sat beside him on the floor. "Stay?" He asked, hopefully. "No, I can't. I need to go. Mom and Dad must be waiting," I said as I shook my head. "They aren't," Dad said, hugging me. "Stay, we have to go to the hospital. Emergency," Mom informed and I nodded, trying to stop tears. This was the eighth year in a row that they did not spend my birthday with me. They did 3 hours in the morning. But, we used to have a movie day and bake together and go go-karting. Past 8 years, they spent only 3 hours in the morning. "Here," Darshan said handing me a hoodie, breaking my thoughts. I got changed. The hoodie reached my midthighs. I laid beside him. He kissed my head and I turned away, letting tears escape my eyes. "Ishu, what happened?" Darshan said, planting a kiss on my cheek. I shook my head. He cuddled me and I closed my eyes. 

I had an actual happy birthday after 7 years and I owe it to Darshan...