11:55 PM

The clock read 11.55, as Gaurav rummaged the drawers for the candles.

"Shashank, pichle time tune hi rakha tha na candles, ab kaha gaye? Waapas khareedu mai ab, gadhe?" He muttered, closing the drawers.

"Tu candles chod, candle jiske liye jalana hai, usse dhundh." Shashank gave a tapli at the back of his head, as Shiva walked out with the cake.

"Kya matlab? Raavi kidhar hai?" Shiva asked, setting the cake aside. "Mere saamne toh ghar aayi thi."

"Room mein toh nahi hai, aur maine pichle aadhe ghante se usse dekha nahi." Shashank said, shrugging.

Shiva peeped into his room, and on not finding her there, he knocked at the bathroom door. Where she wasn't either.

"Kaha chali gayi ye?" Shiva wondered, walking around the house, his attention drawn to the pile of clothes on the sofa. Except, that wasn't a pile of clothes.

He looked closely, and walked towards the supposed pile, only to find that it was a bedsheet. Over someone.

Shiva pulled the blanket off a little, and her head peeked out from the blanket, her arms holding the blanket closer to herself, eyes closed, as she snored peacefully.

"Raavi?" Shiva nudged her arm, wondering why she fell asleep here. "Raavi, uth jaana yaha kyu-"

"Please sone de mujhe." She muttered in her sleep, tucking the blanket around herself properly.

Shiva remembered how tired she returned from college, late in the evening, from the rush of projects, fests and functions happening in college. And she was part of the 'Cultural Events' club in college, meaning she had to be present for each and every meeting and event.

So tired, that she crashed right there on the couch and knocked herself out, wrapping herself in a blanket, which Shiva realised, wasn't actually a blanket; it was the colourful rug she had crocheted as a decoration for the sofa.

He looped her arms around his neck, tucked his arms under her and carried her to their room, with Shashank and Gaurav nodding at him, silently asking him what to do now.

"Cake fridge mein rakh do. Kal cut kar denge. Sone dete hai isse. Thak gayi hai." He glanced down at her softly snoring, mumbling something he couldn't figure out.

Gaurav mumbled something about not having to buy candles now, for which he got one more tapli from Shashank, as Shiva laid Raavi down on the bed, pulling the blanket over her, glancing at the clock.

12:02 AM

"Happy birthday, meri chudail." Shiva whispered, kissing her forehead.

And in return, she mumbled something along the lines of 'I like blueberry cheesecake, too', holding his hand and tucking it under her cheek in her sleep.

....

Happy birthday, to you. Happy birthday, to you. Happy birthday, dear Raavi. Happy birthday, to you.

Raavi chuckled at a slightly drunk Richa, who was stumbling around like a child and had to be held up by her boyfriend, Aman.

Behind them, Gaurav and Mahi were talking about something, hand in hand, while Shashank was talking on the phone with his date, that he had just met a week back.

"Look at them." Raavi giggled, entwining her hands with Shiva's, "such bacchas!"

"Sabse choti toh tu hi hai group mein." Shiva teased, and she wriggled her nose at him.

"Raavi, baby," Richa turned around and pulled her into a hug, throwing Raavi off balance a bit, "I love you. Tu best hai. Thank you for the treat. You," She poked Raavi's cheek with her finger, "you are my favourite person ever."

Raavi chuckled and held her up, "What about Aman?"

"Eh, he knows I love you more." Richa waved her hand in the air, and Aman shook his head, chuckling, bidding goodnight and carrying Richa home.

"Shiva," Mahi moved to walk beside them, leaning to whisper in Shiva's ears "Tune Raavi ko gift nahi diya?"

"What gift?" Raavi peeked over from the other side, and Mahi clicked her tongue. "Your birthday gift, dumbo!"

"Woh sab jaane de, I just wanted to have a good time with my friends. And him." She smiled at Shiva, who knocked her forehead with his knuckles.

"Gadhedi. Laaya hu gift, par yaha nahi dunga. Akele mein." He tucked his hands into the pocket of his jacket, and everyone stopped in their tracks.

"Shiva. Tu kya karne waala hai?" Gaurav wiggled his eyebrows, insinuating many things, and Shiva tossed his empty beer can at him.

"Aisa kuch nahi-"

"Oh my god." Shashank put a hand on his forehead, and then on Shiva's, "isliye you asked me if college ke peeche waala hill is safe?!"

Shiva's mouth hung open, as he tried to reason with them. "Abe, I only asked because-"

"Please tell me you both aren't going to go down on each other in a bloody jungle." Mahi squeezed her eyes shut.

"No. EW!"

"That's hot."

Raavi whipped her head around at Shiva, who stood straighter. "I mean, no. Ew!"

"I AM taking her to that hill, but I have other intentions. CLEAN INTENTIONS." He corrected his statement at Raavi's expressions.

"Koi keede ne kahi kaat liya toh mere paas bilkul mat aana." Gaurav raised his eyes, and Mahi slapped his arm playfully, asking him not to be rude.

"No, he's right," Shashank pointed at Gaurav, "If you come and tell me some random ass insect bit you in places it wasn't supposed to, I WILL disown you."

"Come on guys, don't be mean!" Mahi argued, turning to Raavi. "Obviously, insects are not the only thing that will be biting Shiva in unspeakable places."

Raavi looked at her best friend, appalled, glancing over at Shiva, as their friends burst out laughing at their faces, making fun of them.

"Everyone chup!" Raavi said flustered, and Mahi pulled her cheeks.

"Jaao dono. I'll keep the keys out for you. Be back soon." She chuckled, taking the boys back home.

"Chal." Shiva looked at her softly, holding her hand in his.

"Tu sach mein mujhe jungle mein leke jaa raha hai, Shiva?" Raavi asked innocently, her doe-like eyes looking up at him.

"Haa. Par jaisa tu soch rahi hai, waisa kuch nahi hai." He chuckled, walking the starry night up the hill.

When they reached the top, Raavi stood mesmerized. The city below them looked beautiful, cars travelling along the highways, the lights of the houses twinkling along with the full moon night.

"This is beautiful." Raavi whispered, sitting down on the grass, her legs outstretched and crossed over one another, her hands behind her for support.

"Look up." Shiva sat down beside her, keeping his backpack beside him.

Raavi looked up, admired the starry sky. Thousands and thousands of stars adorned the sky, like twinkling fireflies, around their light; the full moon.

"I love the moon and stars. They're so far away, yet so worth gazing at." She said, looking at Shiva with a softness she held only for him. "If this is your gift, I love it so much. I love watching the stars."

Shiva shook his head and reached for his bag, pulling out a cardboard tube, presumably having something inside it.

"Tujhe sachh mein laga tere liye gift nahi laaya hu?" He asked, and handed her the tube.

Raavi stuck her tongue out at him, and unwrapped the gift, pulling out a blue scroll of paper. More like, a certificate. She gasped as she read the contents of the certificate;

Star Certificate

A celestial body in the sky has been named in the honour of

Raavi Joshi

And is officially located in the constellation

Sagittarius

This star's astronomically verified position is Right Ascension 19:30:12.4, Declination-17° 42', Magnitude 3.17

The Star Foundation has officially recorded this certificate in The Archives at The Star Foundation headquarters

Wherever we are, we will always have this star ~ S.P

15 October, 2022

Raavi looked at the certificate in her hands, and smiled wide, looking up at the sky above before looking at Shiva, who was looking at her curiously, waiting to see her reaction.

She looked at the certificate again; this was the most unique thing she had ever received on her birthday. A star in the universe, named after her. Somewhere, among one of the most famous constellations, was a celestial body, which, when searched upon, will have her name.

Her name. Raavi Joshi.

She looked at Shiva and chuckled, turning her entire body towards him, holding his hand.

"You named a star after me?" She asked excitedly, and he nodded in response. "I love it. Mujhe pehle se taare pasand the, tune toh mujhe hi tara hi bana diya." Raavi giggled, scooting closer to him.

"Thank you." She placed her palm on his cheek, looking up and pointing at the sky. "Do you think that star is the one?"

"Mujhe toh lagta hai woh wala hoga." Shiva shifted her hand to the left, and she frowned. "Par woh toh shine hi nahi kar raha!"

"Accha hai na, it means you're taken." He kissed her cheeks, and she looked at him amused. "Yeh kaisa explanation hai Shiva!" Raavi giggled, rolling up the certificate and putting it back in the tube.

"Arre!" Shiva exclaimed, taking the certificate from her hand. "Tune mujhe pucha hi nahi why I named it after you."

"Toh ab bata de." She pulled her legs upto her chest, and rested her arms on her knees.

Shiva pointed at a sentence at the bottom of the paper. "Yeh read kar."

Wherever we are, we will always have this star ~ S.P

"So," Raavi pursed her lips, "Tu mujhe door karne ki baat kar raha hai?"

"Nahi." Shiva nudged her head with his palm, muttering gadhedi under his breath, entwining their fingers.

"Agar mujhe kabhi tujhse bohot door jaana pada , toh tu inn taaron ko dekh ke yaad kar paaye, ki mere life mein tu kya maayne rakhti hai, aur mujhe zyaada miss na kare. Aur-"

Raavi's eyes welled up immediately, and she sniffled, retracting her hand from his hold. "Shiva, tu aisi baatein kyu kar raha hai?"

Shiva looked at her, utterly confused at why she was crying. "Tu ro kyu rahi hai, maine kuch-"

"Tu mujhse kuch chupa raha hai?" She cried, her tears trailing down her cheeks, "Tujhe kuch hua toh nahi hai na, Shiva? Tu theek hai na?"

"Arre meri phoolkumari," Shiva brushed her tears off with his thumb tenderly, "Tu ro kyu rahi hai, maine aise kya keh diya?"

"Tu mujhse bohot door jaane ki baat kar raha hai. Taaron ki tarah. Mat jaa na." Raavi wrapped her arms around his torso, and Shiva placed his hand at the back of her head.

"Akkal ki dushman," Shiva said, holding her by her shoulders, "Mujhe kuch nahi hua hai. I'm absolutely fit and fine. Kuch bhi sochti hai!"

"Par tune abhi-"

"Meri baat khatam nahi hui thi." Shiva chuckled, kissing her lips tenderly.

"Mai ye bhi keh raha tha ki mai upar aasman ki taraf dekh ke, khud ko yakeen dila saku ki tu mere saath hai. Humesha. Jaha bhi rahunga. Agar humein long distance," he stressed on his words, as she rubbed her eyes, "ke wajah se door rehna pada, toh."

Raavi stared at him for quite a while, before landing a hard punch on his arm. "You should lead with that! Sharam nahi aati, birthday pe rulake. Besharam kahinka"

"Excuse me," He tugged on her hair, causing her to yelp, "Tu hi kuch bhi assume karti hai, meri baat khatam hi nahi hone di!"

"Don't pull my hair it hurts." She hit his arm again, and he pulled her hair again, playfully. "Toh mujhe maarna band kar!"

And in that moment, they could have been transported back to their 9 and 11 year old selves, and you wouldn't be able to find a single difference.

"Accha, woh sab chod." Shiva glared at her, and reached for his bad, pulling out two more cardboard boxes. "Here."

"You named 2 more stars after me?" Raavi chuckled, looking amused as she opened the box, "Shiva, it doesn't make sense, tu kyu-"

Raavi stared at the papers in front of her, caressing the names printed on them, the certificates by the same organisation which had her name, now printed with 2 names she longed to see, to know, for a very long time, 2 names she craved for her whole life;

Prakriti Joshi and Ujwal Joshi

She stared at the papers for a long time, holding it closer to her chest, her fingers grazing the printed names again and again, before she looked at Shiva, her voice barely above a whisper, "Kyu?"

Shiva placed his palm over hers, his fingers caressing hers, "Tu kehti thi na bachpan mein, ki tujhe kabhi apne maa aur papa ke saath koi time hi nahi mila, lekin kisi alternate universe mein tu unke saath hoti, khushi khushi, doing things that normal families do?"

Raavi nodded tearfully, as he leaned over and tucked a stand of her hair behind her ears. "Toh maine 2 taare unke naam bhi likhaaye. At least yaha dharti pe nahi, par kahi toh tum teeno ek saath rahoge. Now, the coordinates on the certificate may seem very far, par maine apne ek dost se pucha, woh astronomy padhta hai. Jab tu aise upar dekhegi na-" He pointed at the sky above, "-toh teeno stars saath mein aayenge, ekdum paas, chotu se triangle ke shape mein-"

Shiva stumbled back, her arms coming to wrap around him, burying her head in the crook of his neck. He pulled her closer to himself, and encircled his arms around her waist.

"Chipkali." He called out tenderly, and she wrapped her arms around him tighter.

"Just hold me." Raavi sniffled, and he did exactly that, pulling her over him such that she straddled him, running his fingers down her back and up, kissing her hair over and over again, until she broke the hug and looked at him with a teary smile.

Shiva pushed away the curtain of hair that fell across her face, as she wiped her tears away, murmuring "Sharam nahi aayi, birthday pe rulake."

He chuckled and kissed the corner of her lips, "Sharam? Tere saamne? Woh kya cheez hai?"

Raavi chuckled, kissing him repeatedly, each kiss followed by a whispered thank you, overwhelmed with emotions.

"You don't know how much this means to me." She whispered, pressing her forehead against his, while he rubbed his hand up and down her spine to comfort her.

He didn't say anything, just held her closer to himself, pressing kisses to hand, cheeks, lips occasionally until she had stopped crying.

"Shiva," Raavi pushed her hair back, and looked at Shiva, "maine kuch socha hai."

He nodded, and she picked on her fingernails, "Woh maine.... I've decided to teach dance. Bas ek hobby ke liye, that would be my extra pocket money, aise. I have some extended liberties since I'm now the president of the club."

"That's great!" Shiva exclaimed, feeling proud of her. "Aaj start kiya?"

"Haa. Acche din pe acchi shuruwat karni thi. Mujhe maasi pe se thoda burden kam karna tha."

Shiva placed a palm on her cheek, appreciating her and everything she was. She was....something else entirely, and he thanked his lucky stars he was hers. Which reminded him of something else that was also hers.

"I have something else for you." Shiva announced, reaching for his bag, and she giggled.

"Ye kya Doraemon ka pocket hai, jo tu ek ek karke gadget nikaalega?"

Shiva shook his head, and handed her a small photo frame, and Raavi gasped at the contents of the picture.

Before her, was a picture of her, with her mother and father, as a grown up; which was practically not possible, since she didn't have a proper picture of hers even as a baby.

She stood between her parents, hair down, in a saree she once wore in during her farewell, her mother and father dressed in a similar traditional attire respectively, as if the three of them were attending a wedding.

Raavi knew, that it was an edited picture, because she had seen that picture of her parents separately in a photo album before, in which they stood next to each other. And here, she had been standing between them, like one small, happy family, all smiles before the camera. Not a digital animation, not a cartoon; an actual picture of their actual selves.

"How did you do this?" Raavi whispered, caressing the picture with her fingers, staring at the picture longingly.

"Mahi digital artist hai, toh maine usse photos bhej diye, mami se tere maa papa ke photos maange, aur tere toh mere paas the hi." Shiva replied, looking at the picture and back at Raavi.

Raavi chuckled, kissing the picture tenderly every time she whispered I miss you, hugging it closer to herself, and keeping it near her papers.

"But Shiva," Raavi asked, wiping her face of remnant tears, "tune ye sab ke liye pay kaise kiya? It must have been so expensive."

"Tu woh sab mat soch." Shiva waved his hand and dismissed her question, but she placed her palm on his cheek and turned him to look at her.

"Tu koi galat kaam toh nahi kar raha hai na, Shiva? Sacch sacch bata?" She asked, worriedly, and Shiva placed a hand over hers on his cheek.

"Tujhe agar janna hi hai toh," He looked at her excitedly, which completely threw off her stance, "Woh teri bua ki something ke padosi ki beti? UK mein rehte hai, in that posh area jiska naam mujhe yaad nahi?"

Raavi nodded, confused, because that girl was only in 8th grade, when Shiva continued, "Usko tutor karta hu. Virtual classes, abhi kuch 3 mahino se kar raha hoon, 3 times a week."

Raavi smiled in surprise, chuckling in joy, as she patted him on the shoulders, "Ye toh kitni acchi baat hai! Mujhe bataya kyu nahi?"

"Mai thode tedhe dimaag waala hu," He rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed, "I have this thing, ki agar koi cheez chalu karu, toh 3 mahine tak kisi ko nahi batata, nazar lagti hai. Don't ask why."

Raavi nodded and giggled at him, until something struck her, "Tune toh humare baare mein sabko 3 mahine baad nahi bataya?"

"Tu?" Shiva pointed at her, shifting her off him and onto his side, throwing his arm around her, "Tu toh zindagi bhar mujhse chipki hui thi aur humesha rahegi, tereko leke superstition mein believe karu? Tch. Tu toh puri ki puri aafat hai jo mujhse lipat gayi hai."

Raavi narrowed her eyes at him, which made his eyes gleam in joy, because annoying her was his favourite past time, had been since.... forever!

"Does that mean mai tere ek mahine ka salary khaa gayi?" Raavi asked seriously, and Shiva tapped her nose.

"They pay me in pounds, chipkali. Pounds. I assure you, even if you think all this," He pointed at her gifts next to him, "is expensive, mere ek mahine ke earnings ka half bhi nahi hai. So you need to relax so that I can spoil you as much as I want. Samjhi?"

Raavi rolled her eyes at him, pinching his thigh, which had no effect on him whatsoever, as he rolled them over, with Raavi under him giggling and laughing, taking in this view he didn't mind waking up to for the rest of his life, as dipped his head into the crook of her neck, kissing her as the stars shone their love upon them.

....