Taara looked forward to evenings like she did before. Her wounds had gotten better. The doctor said the next day the plaster would be gone. Aayush did visit her every evening after the day they had lunch together. She had started to walk around on her own. At times, she experienced pain but slowly she was becoming better. As she combed her hair she looked at her cheek. The new red dress that she wore did nothing to make her look beautiful thanks to her ruined right cheek. A pale maroon colored scar had formed on her cheek now. It itched a lot. However, Taara had got used to ignoring it. She wore her earrings unable to smile. If only the accident hadn't happened she'd be looking stunning on her twenty sixth birthday. 

"Ready Taara?" She heard her mom and looked at the mirror seeing her enter her room. She sighed and turned around trying to put up a smile. Her mother walked up to her. "You look lovely sweetie!" Her mother spoke kissing her head. Taara bit her lower lip not wanting to cry. She felt her mother cup her cheeks and make her look up. Taara blinked unable to meet her eyes. "Stop being so hard on yourself, Taara. You really look pretty. Your cheek is healing, and in no time it will be chubby as before." Taara hugged her mother as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Taara, Aayush maybe here any minute, do you want him to see you all messed up and crying on your birthday?"

Taara pulled back nodding in a no and smiling. Her mother's demeanor towards Aayush had changed. Although in front of him she always kept a cold air, Taara knew well that she liked him. The past week had seen many changes but for Taara it was all the same. Being enclosed in the same room was tiring her. However, she had binged watched so many shows that she had missed on. She had also had a fair share of binge reading. 

They heard the bell. Taara smiled at her mother who hurried out of her room. She sighed taking a tissue and wiping the tears of her face. Her nervousness grew as minutes passed. He entered the room dressed in a deep blue three piece suit. One elegant paper bag and a bouquet of flowers in his hand. Oh gosh, those flowers were so pretty. They were roses—white, red and orange ones. She smiled as their gazes met. Taara had forgotten that her mom was in the audience. 

Aayush walked up to where she sat and handed her the bouquet wishing her, "Happy Birthday." She smiled thanking him, as she took the flowers her hand brushed his. Their gazes didn't waver but became more intent. "Here's your gift." He grinned extending the cover. She took it curiously. "Books!" She exclaimed.

"You said you'd read all the good ones you had. Thought you'd be happy to have some more." He smiled. She smiled at his thoughtfulness. 

"Thank you." She whispered and Aayush nodded briefly glancing at her mother. 

"Let's cut the cake then?" Her mother looked at Aayush and then at her.

Taara nodded her face expressing discomfort. "Ahh, mumma, can we go down. I am tired of this room." Aayush looked at her then at her mother who exchanged a slightly worried look with him. 

"But how will you manage the stairs. You can barely walk around." Her mother reasoned.

"I will manage. Please." Taara pleaded.

Her mother nodded. "Okay give me a few minutes I will prep up the living hall and then the birthday girl can make her appearance." Her mother smiled. 

"I can help you?" Aayush asked politely. 

"Ahh, no I will be fine. Maybe you can keep her company." Saying that she walked out. Aayush stared at her retreating figure. He then looked at Taara. 

"That's false coldness." Taara whispered and then smiled patting the mattress beside where she sat. Taking the cue Aayush sat beside her. 

"You look gorgeous." He complimented softly. 

"And you just stole my line." Taara gave him a flirtatious smile. He looked drop dead gorgeous in the three piece suit. Just like he looked in the pictures of him that were online.

He grinned. "You can say it again."

"Then you will accuse me of not being creative."

"Maybe!" Aayush grinned looking at her. Jeez, she had become his favorite person.

"And it will give your already flying ego a boost." Taara chuckled. 

He chuckled too. "I know I am good looking." Taara smiled loving his confidence. Slowly her smile faded. Was it easy to be that confident about oneself all the time?

"Are there times when you are.. I mean..have you ever been hard on yourself?" She asked softly.

Aayush took a deep breath meeting her gaze. "Where did that come from?"

"Mom says I have been hard on myself in the past few days." She spoke softly turning away. 

"Maybe you have." He replied feebly holding her hand. 

She took a deep breath. "It's just..hard." 

"I know. But we all have other people in life who love us, who are there for us. Maybe they are here to remind us how beautiful we are and how much they adore us. At times when you can't find it in yourself to be there for yourself...let them be there for you." 

Taara silently sank in every word he said. "Thank you." 

He smiled letting go of her hand. "I still am a little scared of your mother." He whispered explaining his action. Taara smiled looking at him adorably.

"You really look gorgeous." He said after a minute of silence passed. 

Taara grinned, "You finally get to see me in a dress."

"And you get to see me in a three piece suit." He replied quickly. 

Taara grinned flashing him a wide smile and then broke into giggles. He reflected the joy.

"The table is all set." Her mother announced entering the room. "Let's get you down." Her mother spoke getting to her side. Taara got up and placed her arm around her mother's shoulders for support. 

"Can I help?" Aayush asked getting to his feet. He looked at her leg concerned.

"I think she will be fine." Her mother spoke as Taara walked towards the door. Ayush nodded following them. Once at the head of the staircase her mother looked worried. "Aayush, why don't you help her." She requested, knowing someone stronger would have to support her.

He immediately replaced her mother and Taara's arm was now around Aayush. "Let's do it on counts. Tell me if it hurts." Saying that he placed his arm securely around her waist. Taara couldn't help but feel jitters all over. He was so close. Their bodies made contact on the sides. His manly perfume didn't help, it only sent her in a daze. She nodded focusing on her feet. Just as she took one step down, the doorbell chimed. Taara looked at her mother clueless. 

"I will see it." Saying that her mother went down the stairs. Taara took a step forward and winced. 

"Put your weight on the other feet." He ordered noticing her pain. 

"I did." Taara snapped. 

He sighed, "How about I carry you down?"

Taara snapped open her eyes trubing to meet his gaze. "No." She shook her head as she felt shy. 

"Taara, it's a better option. We have just got through two there are some fifteen more. Let me please?"

"It's unnecessary." Taara tried putting her left feet on the next step. 

"Your mom isn't watching. You don't have to be embarrassed about it." She looked up at him, biting her lower lip thoughtfully as she weighed the option. He didn't wait. He bent a bit and lifted her up in her arms bridal style.

"Aayush!" She gasped. Never had she been carried by a man other than her father and that was years ago when she was a kid. He paid no heed to her and carefully carried her down the stairs focusing in the steps. Taara couldn't help but like being in his arms. Once down he gently put her on her feet, his gaze meeting hers.

"See, saved you from so much pain and also saved time." He spoke up to lighten the air around them. Taara smiled gratefully easing her dress. Glad that the dress went a little below her knees.

"Happy Birthday To you.." she heard a voice sing and looked up astounded. Her father stood before her. With open arms, a smile on his face and a princess tiara in his hand. 

"Papa!" She exclaimed overjoyed as he got to her and hugged her. Happy tears blurred her vision as she hugged him. In her blurred vision she saw her mother smiling at her. She mouthed a thank you. Her mother nodded and mouthed a love you. 

"How is my little girl doing?" He asked kissing her forehead.

"A little broken but good." Taara spoke between her giggles as her father placed the tiara on her head. "Papa, I am turning twenty six today." She muttered. 

"So what? You'll always be my little princess sweetie." He smiled and Taara hugged him again whispering a thank you. 

"Okay, the cake is waiting" her mother announced. Taara walked with the help of her father this time. She glanced at Aayush and he smiled nodding. This was one of the best birthdays ever. Generally she'd spend a few hours of her birthday with her father, a few with her mother and a very few with her other friends. But this time owing to her accident she couldn't.

 She was glad her mother invited her father over. She knew her mother didn't like having him around. But she was grateful her mother made her day special. Her friends had simply texted, few had bothered to call, others perhaps didn't even remember it was her birthday. She didn't care. The people who mattered to her most were under one roof singing her birthday song. She didn't want anything more. 

She took the slice of the cake and turned around, her father backed off. She noticed as her parents exchanged a look. Her mother stepped forward eating a small bite. Taara remembered one of her old birthdays, when her parents were together. Her dad had told her that the first piece of cake should always go to her mother. After all, she was the one who had nurtured her first. Her father then stepped forward and Taara fed him the remnant of the slice. She took another small slice of the chocolate cake and turned to Aayush. He took a small bite and then took the piece in his hand. Their gazes remained stuck a few heartbeats longer. He hesitated in feeding her. 

"Oh, Taaru, you will love this cake." Her dad exclaimed quickly taking a slice and feeding her.

 "Umm.." Taara nodded in agreement. 

Her mother smiled. "Aayush brought it!" Her mother pipped in taking a piece in her hand. 

"Thank you!" Taara smiled turning into him. He returned a warm smile. Their gazes remained livked for a beat longer.

"No wonder,  I like it!" Her dad commented grinning. She narrowed her eyes at him while her mother scoffed and said, "I will set up the table for dinner."

"I can help you with that." Aayush offered, looking at her with uncertainty. She nodded in affirmation. He quietly followed her.

"Papa." Taara admonished taking a piece of the cake and savoring it.

"What? I was just stating facts. If your mom orderedthe cake it would be be..."

"Cut it and be good. Please, for a day!"

He sighed holding her arm. "What do you think she's made for dinner?"

"I don't know." Taara spoke as she walked with his support.

"So ...seems like you and Aayush have been getting along well." Her father spoke whilst looking at her carefully as he started the conversation once they were seated at the dinning table. Her mother walked up placing the hotpot. The two stared at her as she walked back.

"She hasn't warmed up to him, has she?" Her father asked dragging the hotpot towards him. 

"Outside she's cold, inside she really likes him." Taara stated. 

"Hmm typical Manisha.." her dad spoke opening the lid. "I knew it. She's the one you must tell to be good. Mushrooms. She knows I hate them." He mumbled shutting the lid and pushing it away. 

Aayush looked amused as he entered with two hotspots. "Try your luck with these." He spoke as he placed them on the table before Mr.Mittal and walked back in. Taara smiled looking at him disappear into the kitchen. Hell of a charming man.

"Well, paneer. That's your favorite. " he spoke. 

Taara shook her head, looking at her father, "Yours too Papa." Her father-in-law could be a kid at times.

"I am sure.." he stopped abruptly as he saw his ex wife enter and place the cutlery containing rice and rotis. She looked at him with narrowed eyes. "I am sure you'll be running around in the next week." He changed his words and smiled at Taara. 

Taara stifled her laughter and saw Aayush walk in with the plate of salad in hand. He sat beside her while her mother sat on the chair beside the one her father sat on. 

"Oh wait!" Mr.Mittal muttered and got up from his chair walking briskly to the living hall. He returned with a bottle of tainted glass in his hand. "Celebratiosn are incomplete without a champagne!"

"No one drinks here." Her mother stated staring at him. Aayush and Taara simply sat quietly looking between the two.

"Oh, come on...this day calls for celebration. She is twenty six!"

"Taara doesn't drink." Manisha stated with confidence.

"Stop taking decisions for her. Let her drink if she wants to. You've done your job of raising a beautiful lady. Now let her take her calls and trust her." Her father spoke, after which a silence fell. The two of them glared at each other and then looked at her for support. Taara swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. These two couldn't keep from getting involved in a squabble.

"Let's just finish dinner." She said softly focusing on her plate. Her father sat down in silence and everyone quietly began eating. She felt Aayush looking at her she met his gaze. He smiled and she returned it. It gave her strength.

We all have that one person whose smile warms us up when we are cold. Whose hand holds ours through the darkest hours. Whose mere presence is enough for us to breathe, through hard times. That one person who means the world to us. The person who gives us strength when we can't find any in ourself. The person who sees the beauty in us when we fail to recognize it. 

━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━

This one is dedicated to Kritika! Happy Birthday, may you be blessed with many many more! 

Also, as this part carries the message- Don't be hard in yourself, there will be hours of darkness but the light cannot be hidden for long. So stay strong!

Quick Fact:

This was the longest part of this book. Took 3 hours to write.