“Okay, he messaged that he's just about to reach.” Abhishek squealed, the excitement palpable in his expressions. “Turn off the lights.” 

Shubman turned off all the lights in the apartment and all of them stood in the darkness, waiting for the birthday boy to come.

After a few minutes, they heard the door opening, along with Mayank's voice. “God, why is it so dark? Abhi, where are you?” 

Mayank frowned, taking a step before immediately stepping back as he felt like he stepped onto something squishy. 

In a second all the lights turned on.

“SURPRISE!!”

Mayank's eyes widened at the sight in front of him. The whole apartment was decorated with balloons and fairy lights, and a big cake was placed in the middle on a coffee table. But what made him feel so overwhelmed -in a good way- was looking at his parents standing in front of him, smiling at him warmly like they always did. 

He immediately rushed to them, engulfing them in a big hug. His parents hugged him back, stroking his hair. Mayank was feeling so happy he was sure he would definitely start crying any second now. 

“I missed you both,” He mumbled, his eyes starting to water. 

“We missed you too, baccha,” His mother said as they pulled back from the hug. 

“Happy birthday, champ,” His father smiled, patting his head.

Mayank felt like his face would split apart from how hard he was smiling even though his eyes were still misty. “How are you both here though?” 

“It was Abhishek's idea to get us here for your birthday.” His mother said, glancing towards Abhishek with a smile. She really liked the kid. 

Mayank's heart skipped so many beats, butterflies swarming in his stomach as he turned to his boyfriend who was already looking at him with his captivating smile. 

Mayank wiped the single tear that slid down his cheek, his heart feeling extremely overwhelmed with the love. He took long steps towards Abhishek, pulling him in a tight hug. “Thank you.” He said, extremely grateful to have such a thoughtful partner. 

“Happy birthday, love.” Abhishek just smiled while whispering in his ear.

“I love you.” Mayank whispered back. 

“I know. I love you too.” With that Abhishek pulled back from the hug. 

“Happy birthday, bro,” Ishan and Shubman said at the same time, chuckling afterwards. 

Mayank smiled, hugging both of his friends as well. 

“Okay, no more melodrama.” Abhishek clapped his hands, his expression joyful. “Let's cut the cake.” 

Mayank smiled happily as Abhishek directed him towards the center. Everyone surrounded him as he got ready to cut the cake. 

“Blow the candles!!”

Mayank smiled, blowing the candles before cutting the cake, cheers of happy birthday surrounding him as soon as he did so.

All of them fed the cake to each other. 

“No cake throwing.” Mayank said, specially directed to that one person who always does that. 

“Aw, no fun.” Ishan sighed dramatically, an exaggerated pout forming on his face. 

“Okay, let's go eat.” Mayank's mother said. “I made all your favourite dishes, Mayu.” 

All of them had their dinner together and Mayank couldn't have asked for a more better birthday. 

“Hii, Meri Jaan.” Mayank smiled as he back-hugged Abhishek, finally getting some alone time as Abhishek had come to the kitchen to get some snacks for all of them. 

Abhishek turned around in his arms, hugging him properly, “Did you like your birthday surprise?”

“I loved it,” Mayank muttered softly, placing a tender kiss on his boyfriend's head. “But where's my gift, Mr. Sharma?” 

Abhishek looked up at him with an amused smile, “Your surprise was your gift, Mr. Markande. Aur kya chahiye aapko?”

“Um,” Mayank pretended to think. “A kiss, perhaps?”

Abhishek let out a soft chuckle, reaching out his hand to softly stroke Mayank's cheek. “I literally kiss you everyday, how is that supposed to be a gift?” 

“Mere liye to hai.” Mayank grinned cutely. “Now, give me my gift.” 

Abhishek giggled, placing multiple kisses all over his boyfriend's face. He smiled softly, stopping before his lips before also kissing them softly, his fingers entangling in Mayank's soft hair. 

Mayank wrapped his arms around him, angling his face to the left and deepening the kiss. Butterflies still danced in their stomach, it felt exactly like their first kiss or maybe even better, the thrill, the warmth, the comfort, the love, everything still as intact. They can definitely never get tired of kissing each other. 

“The best gift ever.” Mayank breathed, a big smile adorning his face. 

“Are you sure about that?” Abhishek smiled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Cause I'm sure I can give you a more better gift tonight, you know. See you in a while, love you.” He winked, leaving the kitchen with the snacks. 

Mayank couldn't stop the blood rushing to his face, his heart skipping a beat in anticipation. “I love you too, Abhi.” He said as if Abhishek could hear him.

-

Ishan opened the door to the guest room, a smile making it's way on his lips as his eyes fell on his boyfriend. Shubman was putting his phone on charge, his back facing Ishan. 

Ishan quietly sneaked up behind him, enveloping him in a hug from behind. Shubman immediately recognised the touch, quite literally melting in his arms. 

“Have I told you that you look like a literal snack today?” Ishan whispered, placing a feathery kiss on Shubman's earlobe. Shubman was wearing simple jeans and a black shirt, with the first three buttons undone, a silver chain hanging from his neck. Even though he had stolen that shirt from Ishan only, he looked so good in it that it almost left Ishan breathless. His neck has been looking very inviting this whole evening. 

Shubman chuckled, turning around to face him. “Well, this snack is for you only.” He winked, along with blowing him a kiss. 

“Oh, really?” Ishan raised an eyebrow, amused. He pushed Shubman back onto the couch suddenly causing him to let out a small gasp.

“God, Ish, what?!” 

Ishan smiled, settling himself onto Shubman's lap. “Well, I would like to have my snack now. I'm pretty hungry, you know.” He whispered, leaning closer to Shubman's face and kissing the side of his mouth. 

Shubman's lips curled up in a gleeful smile as he shook his head. “How are you so horny all the damn time?” Like you aren't when it comes to Ish. Okay, Shubman agrees, there's no way he can't agree but this is not the time to acknowledge that, okay?

“How can I not be when my boyfriend's so fucking hot?” Ishan shrugged helplessly, tracing Shubman's lower lip with his thumb. 

“Okay, got it.” Shubman chuckled, wrapping his arms around Ishan's waist. 

“Are you just going to keep staring now?” Shubman rolled his eyes, getting impatient.

“Eager?” Ishan raised an eyebrow, leaning more closer to Shubman's face and tracing the outlines of his jaw with his index finger but not doing anything else. 

“Yes, very eager.” Shubman mumbled. “Are you going to do anything about it?” He added, sneaking his hands inside Ishan's shirt, cold hands coming in contact with his warm skin. 

Ishan's heart skipped a beat at the action, a shiver running down his spine and heat traveling through his body at the same time. “Woah, woah, calm down, tiger.”

Shubman stopped roaming his hands all over his back. “Do you actually want me to?”

“No, not really. Go on.” Ishan smiled, finally bringing their mouths together in a ferocious, hungry kiss. His hand gripped at Shubman's hair, teeths tugging at his lower lip. Their tongues collided together, tangling around each other eagerly, messily, impatiently, roaming inside one another's warm mouth cavity, from the teeths to almost to the back of their mouth, bodies flushed together. 

Ishan pulled back from the kiss with a small gasp, and even before Shubman had the time to regain his breath, he attached his mouth to the man's neck, again rendering him breathless. It was something he had been wanting to do since the moment he saw Shubman this evening, looking like a full course meal waiting to be devoured. The only thing Ishan wanted to do then was grab him and mark his pretty bronze skin red with his love bites.

“God, Ish! Ah!” Shubman breathed, fisting his hands on the couch, arching his neck even more into Ishan's mouth as the latter continued placing open mouthed kisses on his flesh, sharly swiping his tongue across the skin occasionally.

“Did I tell you that you smell so fucking good today?” Ishan breathed on his neck, slipping into a dream-like stance.

“I'm wearing the same perfume I do everyda- Ah,” Shubman cut himself off, moaning instead as Ishan lightly bit his neck, igniting a sense of desire in his heart, a raw, hungry desire that was unmatchable to anything he had ever felt before. 

“I know, but you still smell more nice today.” Ishan smiled, stopping his mouth for a second and looking up at Shubman's eyes. 

“And why is that?” Shubman breathed, trying to get his heart to beat at a normal pace. 

Ishan paused for a second, his smile turning softer as he caressed Shubman's face. “Probably because you smell like love to me.” He whispered, pecking his forehead. “You smell like joy, happiness, contentment, comfort, warmth and all things good. You smell like mine, Meri Jaan.” 

“Wow,” Shubman chuckled softly, heat crawling up his face. “You're being very romantic, Mr. Kishan.” 

“I can be anything for you, Meri Jaan.” Ishan said, kissing his lips softly. 

“I love you.” Shubman mumbled, the same warmth seeping through his words that he was feeling in his heart. 

“I love you too, sweetheart.” Ishan replied, a soft smile playing on his lips. Loving Shubman was effortless, as easy as breathing. It was something that was inevitable and came naturally to him. “So damn much, I love you so damn much.” 

“I know you do.” Shubman smiled softly, stroking his left cheek. “Now are we going outside or you wanna continue what you were doing? Well, I would prefer the latter.” 

“Uh-huh.” Ishan mumbled teasingly, chuckling. 

Shubman rolled his eyes playfully. “Might consider looking down at what you've caused.” 

Ishan glanced down, giddy laughter escaping him at the sight. “Already?” 

“Don't laugh, it's your fault.” Shubman glared at him playfully. 

“Okay, okay.” Ishan controlled his laugh somehow. “So what do you want me to do about it?” He asked as he caressed the side of  Shubman's neck. 

Shubman held his hand, bringing it to his lips and pecking it. “What can you do about it?” 

“I can do…..a lot.” Ishan mumbled, his hand inching closer to the waistband of Shubman's pants. “Can I?” He asked through a whisper. 

“Are you sure?” Shubman asked instead, his eyes seemingly drunk. 

“No, are you sure?” Ishan repeated his words, his hand settling on the button of the jeans. “Cause I had always been sure.” 

“I had always been sure about you as well, Ishan.” Shubman smiled. “Probably from the moment I first saw you.”

Ishan smiled, attaching his lips with Shubman in a tender kiss as his hand worked on unbuttoning his jeans. His shirt came off next. 

Ishan broke the kiss, trailing his kisses down his neck instead. Shubman bit his lip, holding his breath for a few seconds, before releasing it and then again repeating the same process as Ishan grazed his skin with his teeths, his pretty mouth quite literally knocking the air out of Shubman's lungs. 

Ishan stopped as he reached the waistband of Shubman's boxer, looking up at his eyes that stared back at him drunkenly, teeths mercilessly chewing his bottom lip red. 

“Can I?” Ishan asked softly. 

“Yes, please. Fast.” Shubman let out in a shaky, hoarse voice. 

Ishan curled his fingers around the waistband, pulling it down swiftly. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the excitement bubbling in his chest. It didn't work. He could feel his mouth watering at the sight. 

In one swift motion, Ishan took him whole, igniting a quiet whimper from Shubman, his hands grabbing at Ishan's hair, eyes squeezing shut. Ishan felt himself filling till the throat as he worked his mouth. 

The only thing that left Shubman's lips during the time was breathless moans and whimpers of his Ishan's name, feeling the pure bliss seeping through every single nerve of his body. He can say for sure that Ishan's mouth literally transported him to heaven.

Ishan pulled out after the work had been completed, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. A grin appeared on his face at the sight of his breathless, blissed out boyfriend, lips swollen red, messy hair, sweat beads on his whole body as he took deep breaths. 

Ishan went up the length of his body, slumping against him and hugging him tightly. He kissed Shubman's lips softly, tenderly stroking his cheek at the same time. 

“Good?” Pulling back from the kiss, Ishan asked. 

“Amazing.” Shubman grinned lazily. “I'll return the favour soon.” He winked. 

Ishan chuckled, his expression joyful. “Oh, I'm already waiting.”

“I love you.” Shubman mumbled with a smile. 

“I know. I love you too.” Ishan hugged him again, placing a sloppy kiss on his neck. 

They were a bit startled as they heard a knock on the door after a while. 

“Ishan, Shubman, are you guys inside?” It was Abhishek.

“Yeah,” Ishan replied. “We'll be out in a minute.” 

“See, I didn't forget to lock the door this time.” Ishan smiled at Shubman. 

“Such a smart move, Meri Jaan.” Shubman chuckled, patting his shoulder. “So proud of you.” 

Ishan laughed, pecking his lips once more and getting up. “Now, get up and get dressed, sweetheart.” He said, evening the creases on his shirt. 

“I don't want to. I'm tired.” Shubman whined. 

“We'll leave in a while. Get up now.” Ishan said, fixing his messy hair. 

Shubman pouted, but got up nonetheless, wearing his clothes and fixing his hair as well. 

“Let's go.” Ishan smiled, grabbing his hand as they walked out of the room. 

“Hey, guys.” Abhishek beamed. “Come on, we're having ice-cream.” 

“It's November.” Ishan chuckled. Him and Shubman took their seat on the couch, right beside each other. 

“I know. Ice-cream ka asli maza to sardiyon mein hi hai.” 

Ishan and Shubman definitely agreed. They grabbed their ice-creams as well as everyone talked. 

“Shubman beta, what happened to your neck?” Mayank's mother asked suddenly.

Shubman glanced down at his neck, his eyes widening at the sight of the dark red hickey. He gulped, struggling to come with an excuse as he looked back at the woman. 

He glanced at Ishan for help who was actually enjoying the whole thing, struggling to control his laugh.

“It must be a mosquito.” Ishan said, a chuckle escaping his mouth at last. 

“Mosquito? How can that be a mosquito?” Mrs. Markande furrowed her brows, confused. 

“Might be a big mosquito.” Abhishek said. 

“Not really, just 5'6.” Mayank said quietly but both Shubman and Ishan heard it since they were sitting pretty close to him.

Ishan just rolled his eyes at him while Shubman got even more embarrassed. 

“It's an allergy, auntie. I probably scratched it, that's why it looks like this.” Shubman said, forcing a smile, his face flushed red. 

“Okay.” Mrs. Markande looked a bit unconvinced but nodded and dropped the topic nonetheless. 

“Wow, baby. You literally made me an allergy.” Ishan whispered in his ear when no one was paying attention, pouting for the extra effect. 

“Shut up.” Shubman grumbled, shooting him a glare. “Tu to ghar chal beta, tereko to main ghar par dekhta hoon.” 

“In what way?” Ishan giggled. “I'm getting a bit excited, you know.” 

“God, Ishan, you're ridiculous.” Shubman shook his head, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. 

“I love you too.” Ishan chuckled, quickly pecking his cheek. 

Heat travelled on Shubman's face as he bit his lip, looking down, his heart skipping a beat, a thing that happens a lot whenever he's with Ishan. 

-

Lowkey cringing at what I wrote, I hope you guys don't cringe.