As Sara scrolled through her Instagram feed, she noticed countless posts wishing Shubman a happy birthday. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, it's Shubman's birthday today?" she muttered to herself. Quickly opening her browser, she searched his name and, sure enough, the date confirmed it.

Her heart raced as she realized she hadn't prepared anything special. Determined to surprise him, Sara immediately called Abhishek.

"Hey, Abhi!" she said excitedly, her voice a little rushed.

"Sara? What's up?" Abhishek answered, confused by her sudden enthusiasm.

"It's Shubman's birthday today!" she exclaimed. "Can you keep him distracted and away from his house for a few hours? I want to plan something special for him!"

Abhishek chuckled. "Ah, so that's why he's been quiet today. Sure thing, I'll take him out for a while. You just handle everything on your end."

"Thanks, Abhi!" Sara replied before hanging up.

She immediately dialed Aditi's number. "Adi! I need your help. Meet me at the mall in 20 minutes. We have some serious shopping to do!"

Twenty minutes later, Sara and Aditi were strolling through the mall, scouring shops for the perfect gift. After browsing for a while, Sara's eyes landed on a sleek black wristwatch that screamed elegance yet simplicity—just like Shubman.

"What do you think of this one?" Sara asked, holding it up for Aditi to see.

Aditi nodded approvingly. "It's perfect. He's going to love it!"

They purchased the watch and then headed to another store for some decorations. Sara picked out balloons, streamers, and a cake that was decorated with a miniature cricket field on top—something she knew would make Shubman smile.

By the time they returned to Shubman's house, it was a race against the clock. They set up everything in the living room, transforming the space into a cozy and intimate surprise for Shubman's birthday. The room glowed with soft lights, and the cake sat proudly in the center of the table, waiting to be cut.

Sara stood back, admiring their work. "This looks amazing! Thanks for helping, Aditi."

Aditi grinned. "Anything for love, Sara. Now let's get out of here before Shubman gets back!"

As Aditi left, Sara stayed behind, excited and nervous, waiting for the moment when Shubman would walk through the door.

As soon as Sara heard the sound of Shubman's car pulling up in the driveway, her heart raced with excitement. She quickly turned off the lights, plunging the living room into darkness, and darted behind the couch to hide. The room was completely quiet, with only the faint glow from the candles on the cake flickering in the dim light.

Moments later, the front door creaked open. Shubman stepped inside, his footsteps slow and deliberate.

"Sara? Abhishek?" he called out, sounding confused, clearly expecting to see his friends but finding the house eerily silent instead.

Sara grinned, holding her breath as she listened to him walk further into the room. She peeked over the couch just as he turned on the lights and stopped dead in his tracks. The room was decorated beautifully—balloons, streamers, and the glowing birthday cake in the center of the table. His eyes widened, taking it all in, a surprised smile spreading across his face.

Just then, Sara jumped out from behind the couch. "Surprise!!" she yelled, her voice filled with joy.

Shubman blinked in shock before breaking into a wide grin. "Sara! What is all this?"

Sara walked over to him, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "It's your birthday, silly! I couldn't let the day go by without doing something special for you."

He shook his head in disbelief, still taking in the effort she had put into the surprise. "You didn't have to go through all this trouble..."

Sara placed a hand on his arm, looking into his eyes. "Of course, I did. You deserve it."

Touched by her gesture, Shubman pulled her into a tight hug. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice filled with appreciation.

Sara hugged him back, feeling his warmth as she smiled into his shoulder. After a moment, she pulled away slightly and teased, "But that's not all. There's a gift too."

"Oh?" Shubman raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued.

Sara handed him a small, neatly wrapped box. "Open it."

Shubman unwrapped the gift, revealing the sleek black wristwatch inside. His eyes widened as he admired it. "Wow, Sara...this is amazing."

"I'm glad you like it," Sara said with a shy smile.

Shubman carefully put the watch on, looking at her with a soft smile. "It's perfect. Just like you."

Sara blushed and playfully rolled her eyes. "Come on, Mr. Birthday Boy, let's cut the cake!"

They both made their way to the table, and Sara lit the candles again. "Make a wish," she said, standing beside him.

Shubman closed his eyes for a moment, then blew out the candles. As the smoke curled into the air, he looked at Sara with a grateful smile.

"Best birthday ever," he said softly.

Sara grinned. "And it's not over yet!"

They both laughed as they cut the cake together, sharing a sweet moment in the glow of candlelight.

After they finished cutting the cake, Sara took a piece and playfully held it up to Shubman's lips. "Here you go, birthday boy," she teased, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

Shubman leaned in, taking a small bite while never breaking eye contact. He chewed slowly, his lips curling into a soft smile as he finished. "Delicious, just like the person who made it."

Sara blushed, giggling as she wiped some frosting off the corner of his mouth with her thumb. "Always so smooth, aren't you?"

Shubman chuckled, and before she could react, he took another piece of cake and smeared a tiny bit of frosting on her nose. "Gotcha."

Sara gasped in mock outrage, her eyes wide. "Shubman! You're going to regret that."

Before he could react, she grabbed a handful of cake and playfully smeared it on his cheek. Shubman's surprised laugh filled the room, and soon they were both laughing, caught up in their little cake fight.

Sara tried to wipe the frosting from his cheek with her hand, but Shubman grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer. "You started it," he said, his voice low, but there was a playful glint in his eyes.

"I'm just trying to clean up my mess," she whispered back, her breath hitching as the space between them narrowed. She could feel his warmth as his hand gently rested on her waist.

"And now you've got to deal with me," Shubman teased, his voice softer now, filled with affection.

Sara's heart raced as their eyes locked, the playful energy fading into something tender and intimate. She rested her forehead against his, their breaths mingling as the room seemed to fade away.

"You really made this day special, Sara," Shubman murmured, his voice filled with emotion. "I don't think anyone's ever done something like this for me."

Sara's fingers grazed his cheek, wiping off the last bit of frosting. "You're worth it, Shubman. I just wanted to see you happy."

"I am happy," he whispered, tilting his head slightly, his lips just inches from hers.

For a moment, everything stilled, and then, in one gentle movement, Shubman closed the gap, pressing his lips softly against hers. The kiss was sweet, tender, and filled with the unspoken connection between them.

When they finally pulled apart, Sara's face was flushed, and she was smiling. Shubman chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Now, that's the best birthday gift."

Sara laughed, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I think I have to agree."

They stood there for a few moments, wrapped in each other's warmth, feeling like the rest of the world didn't matter. It was just them, the cake, and the feeling of being perfectly, blissfully happy.

As Shubman and Sara stood close, basking in the quiet moment, they suddenly heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Before either of them could react, the door burst open, and Abhishek and Jugnu stormed in, grinning from ear to ear.

"Happy birthday, bro!" Abhishek shouted, rushing over to Shubman and engulfing him in a bear hug. Jugnu wasn't far behind, joining in the group hug, both of them completely caught up in the excitement.

Shubman laughed, trying to keep his balance as his two best friends squeezed him. "Alright, alright, you're gonna knock me over!"

Sara, still standing off to the side, watched the scene unfold with a smile—until she realized that in their excitement, Abhishek and Jugnu hadn't even acknowledged her. Feigning a pout, she crossed her arms over her chest and dramatically sighed.

"Oh, don't worry about me," Sara said in an exaggerated tone, her voice dripping with mock hurt. "I only spent the whole day planning this party and making the cake. But clearly, no one cares about poor Sara."

Abhishek and Jugnu finally broke away from Shubman, blinking in confusion for a second before they turned to see Sara's playful pout.

"Oh no!" Abhishek gasped, immediately catching on to her act. "Sara, I'm so sorry, we were just—" He rushed over and gave her an exaggerated hug, lifting her off the ground. "Thank you, thank you for everything!"

Jugnu followed suit, shaking his head. "How could we ever forget the queen of the evening?" He dramatically bowed before pulling her into a hug as well.

Sara giggled, playfully slapping Abhishek's arm. "Okay, okay, you're forgiven! Just don't forget me again next time, alright?"

Shubman watched the scene unfold with a wide grin, his arms crossed as he leaned back. "Yeah, you better not. Sara's the reason any of this even happened."

Abhishek raised his hands in surrender. "Lesson learned! We owe everything to Sara."

Jugnu nodded solemnly. "Forever in your debt."

Sara rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help the laugh that escaped. "You guys are so dramatic."

They all shared a laugh, and Abhishek clapped Shubman on the back. "So, what's the plan for tonight, birthday boy?"

Shubman exchanged a glance with Sara, a secret smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Well, whatever we do, it's going to be a night to remember."

Sara beamed at him, feeling completely in sync with Shubman, while Abhishek and Jugnu started planning their own fun ideas for the night. The warmth of friendship filled the room, but beneath it all, there was something special in the air between Sara and Shubman, a bond that was quietly growing stronger with each moment.

As the laughter died down, Abhishek and Jugnu moved to the kitchen, inspecting the cake and other treats Sara had prepared, chatting about how they should kick off the celebrations. Meanwhile, Shubman stayed behind, still watching Sara with a soft smile. He could feel the warmth in the room, a sense of contentment that wrapped around him like a blanket.

Sara noticed his lingering gaze and gave him a playful nudge. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

Shubman smirked, stepping closer. "Just thinking about how you always manage to surprise me, in the best ways."

Sara's cheeks flushed slightly, and she tried to brush off the compliment. "Well, someone had to make sure your birthday wasn't just another cricket game or hangout with the guys."

Shubman's smile grew as he took her hand in his, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "You've made it more special than I could've imagined."

Sara's heart skipped a beat at his words. She leaned in slightly, her voice softer now. "You deserve it, Shubman. After everything, I just wanted you to feel... happy."

Shubman squeezed her hand gently, his eyes searching hers. "I am happy. Especially when I'm with you."

Before Sara could respond, Abhishek's voice interrupted from across the room. "Alright, lovebirds, you're not fooling anyone! We see you having your moment over there."

Jugnu joined in with a grin. "Yeah, save the romance for later. It's party time!"

Sara rolled her eyes but laughed, pulling away from Shubman with a small, teasing smile. "They're right. You're the birthday boy. Time to have some fun."

Shubman chuckled and let go of her hand reluctantly. "Alright, alright. Let's get this party started."

They joined Abhishek and Jugnu, who had already set up some music and were pouring drinks. The room buzzed with energy as they all shared stories, laughed over old memories, and teased Shubman about his age. Sara stayed close to Shubman, enjoying the easy banter between him and his friends.

Later in the night, when the noise had calmed down a little and Abhishek and Jugnu were debating over which movie to watch, Shubman leaned over to Sara, whispering in her ear. "Thank you, again. This has been the best birthday."

Sara smiled, her heart swelling with affection. "I'm glad. You deserve it."

As the evening went on, they all settled into the comfort of each other's company, and the night became a memory that Sara and Shubman would both treasure—a perfect mix of fun, love, and the feeling of being exactly where they were meant to be.

As the night wore on, Abhishek and Jugnu finally called it a day, their energy winding down after hours of fun and laughter. Sara helped tidy up the remains of the party, stacking plates and clearing glasses, while Shubman accompanied his friends to the door.

"Thanks for tonight, guys," Shubman said as they stood by the door. "It was great having you here."

Abhishek smirked, nudging Shubman lightly. "You should be thanking Sara. We just ate the cake!"

Jugnu laughed, adding, "Yeah, Sara's the real mastermind behind all this."

Shubman chuckled and gave them a playful shove. "Alright, alright. Get home safe, you two."

They left with a final wave, and Shubman closed the door, the house suddenly quieter. He turned around to see Sara sitting on the couch, looking slightly exhausted but smiling.

"All done?" she asked, tilting her head to look at him.

"Yeah, they're off. Thanks again for tonight, Sara." Shubman walked over and sat beside her, his tone softer now that they were alone.

"It was fun," she replied, her eyes warm as they met his. "I'm glad you had a good time."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment before Sara glanced at the clock. It was late, almost midnight, and the tiredness of the day had finally caught up with her.

"You don't have to drive home tonight," Shubman said, noticing her glance. "You can stay here. It's late anyway."

Sara hesitated for a second, but then nodded. "Alright. If you're sure."

Shubman smiled. "Of course. You can take the guest room—" He paused, seeing the way she raised her brow in playful protest. "—Or... you can stay in my room."

Sara gave him a soft smile, grateful for the invitation. "I'll stay with you."

The tension eased, and the two of them made their way to Shubman's bedroom. It was a simple, cozy space—minimalistic, with a neat bed, a few cricket memorabilia, and some personal touches that reflected his lifestyle.

Sara slipped out of her dress and changed into one of Shubman's oversized t-shirts he handed her. The soft cotton fabric hung loosely over her frame, and she felt instantly comfortable. Shubman quickly changed into his pajamas, and they both settled into the bed.

Lying side by side, the room was filled with a peaceful quiet. Shubman turned to face her, his expression relaxed, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You know, it feels nice having you here."

Sara smiled at him, her voice soft. "I like being here."

They shared a few more quiet words before the exhaustion of the day began to pull them both into sleep. Sara turned to snuggle closer, resting her head on Shubman's chest, his arm wrapping around her protectively.

"Good night, Shubman," she whispered, her voice sleepy.

"Good night, Sara," Shubman murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

And with that, they both drifted into a peaceful sleep, wrapped up in each other's warmth, their hearts feeling more connected than ever.