The silence over dinner was heavy. However, Aayush broke it with his charm and thoughtful thinking. "How was Taara as a kid? I am sure she must've been real stubborn." Aayush looked up to find the trio staring at him. Perhaps it was the wrong move. 

"Very stubborn, father's genes." Her mother spoke. 

"And very easily offended, mother's traits." Her father added. Aayush chuckled. 

"Just saying, it's my birthday." Taara announced giving each one an annoyed look. The trio ate up their smiles. 

"You were and still are very kind. I am proud of you sweetie." Her mother spoke and smiled. 

"I have to agree to that ..every time you'd see any one needs help you'd make sure you help. Sometimes you do go out of your way to help someone. But nonetheless, we are and will always be proud of you." Her dad passed her a smile. Aayush noticed her mother's gaze switch to her father. It wasn't cold like usual,it was warm. Maybe her mother wasn't best at expressing herself. 

"Finally, it feels like it's my birthday." Taara joked blinking to hold back her tears of happiness.

"Aayush? You don't have anything to say?" Mr.Mittal stared at him. In the very next moment, the ladies were staring at him. He shifted slightly in his chair forcing a smile. His eyes met hers. "She is one of the most dynamic, different and beautiful person I have met, I really don't know what to say beyond that." Taara blushed and her father chuckled. Her mother gave Aayush a thoughtful look. 

* * *

The atmosphere during the dessert time was far more lighter than that at dinner. It started with Mr.Mittal sharing the story from one of his birthday's when he was a young boy. Taara's mother told a story about Taara's seventh birthday when she wouldn't cut the cake cause it had a barbie on it. 

"You don't have a birthday story to share?" Manisha asked turning to Aayush who had only been in the audience so far. 

He smiled, "none that I remember at the moment." Taara gazed at him adoringly.

"Okay then I better get moving. I have a meeting tomorrow morning." Mr.Mittal declared placing the empty dessert bowl on the glass table. He turned to his ex-wife, "that was some really nice brownie", he complimented surprising everyone.

Taara smiled as he turned to her and gave her a hug. "Get that white crap off you soon." He muttered glancing at her plaster and then placed a kiss on her forehead. 

"Aye Aye, Captain!" Taara giggled. 

He walked past Aayush patting his shoulder. "Good night, see you day after." Aayush smiled. 

"Day after?" Her mother looked up confused. "Both of you know each other?" She asked curiously. Aayush and Mahesh exchanged a glance. "Yes, Aayush is the owner of a client company."

"Okay." Manisha nodded glancing at Taara. Taara forced a smile. Things would only get interesting for Aayush. Now her mother might be more cold realizing her Papa knew him from before. Excellent!

"I will help you up the stairs." Aayush suggested looking at Taara. Taara stared at him and then her mother. 

"Sure." She muttered and soon she was walking towards the staircase with his support. "Your father forgot his coat." She heard her mother and turned slightly to see her. "I will give it and be back." Taara simply nodded and watched her mother disappear towards the door. Her look remained thoughtful.

"Is this my cue to carry you up?" His voice broke her out of her thoughts and made a smile tug at her lips. 

"Maybe!" She whispered. He gazed at her as he bent and carried her making sure he did it carefully not to hurt her leg. This time their gazes did not waver. Taara could hear him breathe and feel his heartbeats. She felt her cheeks warm up and her heartbeat grow faster as she noticed his gaze on her. She was so close to him. Her arms around his neck. Her face inches away from his cheek. 

"So? Did you enjoy today?" He asked brekaing their intense eye lock as he walked into the room. 

"Most of it." she answered earnestly as he gently made her sit on her bed. 

"Like me carrying you." He winked. 

She chuckled "well..maybe." she replied flirtatiously.

"Uh huh!" He grinned. "I think I should leave too." He sighed standing up. 

"Don't worry about my mumma, she has always been very protective about me."

He smiled. "Both your parents are. Their ways are different."

"Yeah, too different to be able to survive in a marriage." She scoffed. 

He took a step closer to her and cupped her cheek making her look up at him. "You're one of the strongest women in my life, who inspires me." Saying that he kissed her forehead. "Happy Birthday....Baby!" He winked and again a grin spread over his face as he added the last word.

 She giggled holding his hand and then kissed it. "Thank you, for being....here. It was one of my best birthdays on planet earth." His eyes held some much warmth she could forever bask in them.

"I didn't know you visit other planets on your birthdays." He looked at her amused.

"You didn't? Now you do." She grinned. "Venus is hot and Mars is a cold. So.." 

"Do you wear bikini to Venus?" He cut her off giving her a teasing grin.

"No, I wear a gown made of ice." She grinned. He smiled and took a step away. He was tempted to touch her cheeks. Maybe even, kiss her lips. He didn't want to ruin the night by confusing her with whatever was between them. He himself had to figure out what he wanted or expected out of their ...relationship as they call it.

"Take care."

"You too."

"See you tomorrow then." He smiled, taking his blazer from the chair placed aside, next to her study table, that he had kept it on, when he had come. 

"See ya." She gazed at him. How she wished the night never came o an end! She sighed when he disappeared from sight. Minutes later her mother came up. 

"Thank you!" Taara said aloud while her mother placed the bag that her father had brought on her desk.  Her mother turned and leaned against the table looking at her. "Anything for you."

"It's been a while hasn't it? You, me and Papa." Taara smiled. 

"He's a real pain." Her mother sighed. Taara's smile faded. Of course her parents couldn't stand each other. "So, what about Aayush?" Her mother swiftly changed the topic. 

A smile crawled back to Taara's face. "He's sweet."

"Sweet men are the ones who turn out to have a bitter taste in the end." Taara frowned at her mother. 

"Just talking from experience." Her mother muttered quickly.

 "Please. He's a nice guy." Taara said softly, her smile fading.

"So..." her mother quizzed and Taara met her curious deep brown eyes. "How far have you to got?"

Taara's eyes grew a wee bit wide. "Mumma?"

"What? Didn't you say we were like friends and could share stuff like this?"

Taara giggled. "You still haven't told me about that most embarrassing situation you got in with your crush." Taara noted her mother's cheeks going pink. She looked cute, Taara thought. Suddenly it struck her that maybe that's similar to how she looks. That's why Aayush said she looked cute when she blushed! 

"That's not fair." Her mother muttered. 

"Okay then!" Taara sighed dramatically. 

"You're like your father at this!" Her mother mumbled folding her hands. Taara smiled proudly. "Fine...I..um, you remember I told you that one of my teacher's name was Manisha." 

Taara nodded. 

"Well, we were in the library and I was with Greeshma my friend and then I saw him with his other two friends. They were talking and well I sort of wanted to overhear. So, um, we, hid behind a rack and were listening. He was saying something..that went like— I like Manisha.." I heard nothing beyond that and gasped and shrieked. Also dropped a few books. The guys came around to see what the commotion was. And yeah..I was stupid. I didn't even hear the Ma'am in the end. Greeshma dragged me away and told me later. Was so mortified that I couldn't even meet his eyes ever again." 

Taara burst out laughing. "Seriously? You're such a hypocrite. Telling me to stay away from guys in college and all." Taara began laughing again.

"Joke is over. Stop laughing." Her mother stifled her laughter. "Now come one...your turn."

Taara fell silent as her mother approached her and sat on the bed beside her. "I like him." 

Her mother rolled her eyes, "thank you, it wasn't really evident from the way you behave around him" sarcasm dripped off the sentence. 

"Mumma, he carried me up and down the stairs today." She blushed lowering her gaze. 

"I knew that sweetie." Her mother smiled.

"Is that why you excused yourself to give Papa's coat?" Taara asked looking up at her mother with wide eyes.

"Maybe." Her mother sighed. Taara put her arms around her mother. "It's overwhelming, you know. I can't even explain how I feel." 

Her mother sighed rubbing her arms. "It's like that at first. But..be careful, Taara. I don't want you to be hurt. Relationships can be very attractive at first, we are overwhelmed and blind to see where we are going. Just take your time.. and make your choices well. Okay? Now, let's help you change."

Taara remained silent. She didn't know what to say. She knew that both her parents had been hurt in the relationship. She didn't blame either of them. She had always kept herself out of it. It did bother her at many times. But it was better off that they were separated and lived happily in their respective life. She didn't really believe that relationships were as hard as her parents made them look. She had seen happier couples. Maybe, she wanted a happy relationship. She didn't know whether it was to prove her parents wrong or to do something right in the zone where her parents had failed. But at times an unknown fear gripped her. Like now. Was she doing the right thing? 

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Birthday Shout out to Priya (thatlostjournal). Wishing you loads of happiness, love and success!💝