~ I am the happiest watching him smile, and knowing the reason is me~

As soon Manik opened the door,with trembling hands,  a basket ball came rolling and hit his feet. He bent and picked it up and to his surprise, there was a note attached to it.

" happy birthday junior interschool basket ball champion...! :-D "

An instant smile flashed on his face, recalling those days, his love basketball and him, together on the grounds and how his dad used to come to cheer him up. For a moment he was lost in those moments and then it striked him- how come it was lying here?

He entered the mansion and it was pitch black. He could not see anything. And then suddenly the left side brightened up- his guitar, the one gifted by his mom, hanging down and various other instruments decorated over there. He walked towards them and caressed them one by one. As he stroked the guitar, another note gained his attention.

" press the button on the keyring...:-) "

A keyring was hanging from the guitar. He pressed it and a song started playing in the background.

"Tum jiyo hazaro saal...saal k din ho 50,000!!
Happy birthday to you...
Happy birthday to you...
Happy birthday my Manu!"

And all he could do was smile, listening after so long, manu, that was  what his mother used to call him. He was even surprised at the song- it was the one which his mom used to sing in his ears at eaxct 12, every year, with a slight kiss on his forehead.

Tears welled up in his eyes remembering her but before the onset of flood could start, a cute small doll came and directly fell over his head.

" ouch!", he shrieked and picked it up to find that it was Nidhi's favourite doll. A note was hanging from its neck like a garland.

" I don't like my baby brother getting senti all the time, period!"

He let out a chuckle remembering how Nidhi used to cringe her nose whenever he used to get emotional. Suddenly all the lights of the drawing room glowed and it was then he noticed all their toys- his and Nidhi's scattered on the floor in an abstract pattern- HAPPY BIRTHDAY BHAI!

He smiled at the gesture and then he noticed the table decorated in the left corner of the room. It was all the cards, friendship bands and other things like watches, his yearly school book and such other stuff of his school and college. A small cup of his favourite chocolate milk was kept in the center with a straw. And everything else was again arranged in the same pattern- happy birthday!
A note was attached to the mikshake glass-

Happy birthday to the bestest friend we could ever have!

He felt really blessed to see that. He took a sip of the milkshake and his face lit up like a 1000 watt bulb. It was the exact same taste of his college canteen- his favourite one in whole of Mumbai! He drank all of that with so much pleasure with a layer of chocolate spread around his lips- adorable you might call it as!

Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around with a happy smile to find kaka standing. His face dropped a little, for he was expecting someone else, but nevertheless he bent to touch his feet.

"Wish you a very happy birthday beta!", Kaka wished him, embracing him. Manik also hugged him back for always it had been Kaka who had given him his share of fatherly love.

"All these, you did?", Manik asked breaking the hug, hoping against the hope to hear that one name, which made his heart beat faster.

Kaka smiled at him, hiding the mischievous glint.

"Of course!", he said suppressing his smile and Manik's face dropped instantly, "even though it was all Nandini bitiya's idea, but she had to leave, so!", he said making a fake sad expression. Manik did not react and Kaka barely managed to suppress his chuckle.

"But beta, there is still a lot more!", Kaka winked,  and Manik looked up, genuinely surprised.

"Go, run to your parents room!", Kaka said with a smile and Manik literally ran towards his parents room. His excitement was something to view at. At that moment, he remembered nothing- neither that night nor Nandini's absence. All that mattered was his surprise, he was like this little kid who was having a surprise birthday party.

He banged open the door and was awestruck. The whole room was decorated with photographs- his mother smiling, cooking, dancing and many other sweet moments of her. His dad- playing basketball, reading book, teasing his mom, their love could be felt even in the photographs. Nidhii- running around, playing with Manik, fighting- everything. Manik- laughing, adorably as a small kid on all his  previous birthdays with his family, he with his father on the basketball court etc. It was like all his childhood was in front of him- alive through those pictures. It was like all the bàd memories had been washed off and all that was good was left  here in one room. Manik could not describe his joy, his contentment to see the three most important people around him. While he was relishing all those moments, a ballon hanging up bursted and he was drenched in the rain of thermacol balls and a note.

" surprise has just started mister! Be ready for the most exciting surprise hunt! ;-)
P.s- left most corner of the room!"

He read the note and smiled to himself. He went towards the left most corner and found a balloon with a continuing thread. He could see there was something more in that ballon. He bursted it to find a hardboard heart!

" fake or true doesnot matter,
But ur smile is entirely captivating!
Keep smiling! "

He smiled ear to ear reading the message. His heart was throbbing in his chest feeling her around him.
He followed the thread to some distance to again find a balloon attached.

" first meet- thanku, sorry, please!
An informal boss and a shy employee! But somewhere the strings in the heart tuned! Didn't they? "

He smiled recalling their first meet. Her anxiety, his behaviour with her, the sorry, everything and a sheepish smile lingered on his lips. Moving further, there was one more balloon.

For you have been there for everyone else, I want to be there for you- hamesha!

The assurance was deep even in those words. He could not help but an upward curve was constantly playing in his face. Further one more balloon was waiting for him.

The sky and the pool,
Our favorite spots.. ;-)
As vast the sky and as deep the water,
So would be our bond as well!

Manik was overwhelmed with everything. Now his anxiety was increasing with each passing second.

Because demons were yours and evils were mine,
But still we fought for each other and won!

It was true. It was Nandini who had taken steps to bring him out of his depths of despair. It was her who had faith in him that he will win over everything. And for her,it was him who supported her and helped her to overcome her fears.

U and me had been 'US' a long time back....
Today is just the day it will shine all over our lives!!!

And the thread ended. It was tied in a knot over the handle of a door. It was then he realised it was his room. He opened the door slowly expecting to see her but she was nowhere to be seen but the ambience was just breathtaking.

The lights were off but the whole room was flowing with scented candles arranged in rows. Each candle was placed in bed of rose petals. Above the bed there was a huge portrait of Manik and Nandini, a natural click of both of them.

He did remebere the moment, but he didn't remeber the picture being clicked. His sane mind told him it was Kabir, because it was from during their little vaccation for his birthday celebration! A rope was hanging from the center of the room. He went towards it and pulled the rope in anticipation. Within an instant, a huge banner came rushing down. On it, with glowing LED bulbs was written the best ever meaasge of his life.

I LOVE YOU MANIK!

The happiness on his face could not be described. His heart swell with an unknown pride for his lady love. Suddenly someone closed his eyes with her petite fingers and he smiled widely recognizing the touch. She bent towards his ears and very slowly whispered.
" I love you MANIK Malhotra, in all your glory, with all your flaws, today and till my last breath!"

And that was it for him. He held her hands in his and in a swift turn she was standing in front of him. One look at a her and he was clearly bowled out. Drapped in a simple white chiffon saree and only the required minimum jewelery, she was looking ethereal. He just could not take his eyes off her. And sensing his such deep and intense gaze on herself, the till-now bold girl vanished and the original shy girl reappeared. Suddenly the floor was the most interesting thing to look at. Sensing her shyness, Manik came forward and uplifted her face holding her chin.

"Once more, please?", he asked huskily.

" I....love....you....", she replied slowly still not matching his gaze.

In a flash of light, Manik pulled her more into him and she collided with his broad torso. Their bodies were so close that even air could not pass. Manik bent towards her and drapped a feather kiss on her forehead. She closed her eyes in ecstacy. Their breaths mingling, the heat rushing up her cheeks. Both their foreheads were touching and she opened her eyes to find his eyes closed. Suddenly a naughty idea popped in her mind.

" this would be the best birthday gift ever.... ", she said to herself biting her lower lip and then standing on her toes, she in an instant fused her lips with his.

For a moment Manik was taken aback but then feeling her soft lips against his, he also responded with equal favour. He was nibbing her upper lip while she was relishing the taste of his lower lip. Biting, chewing and fighting for dominance, it was hell of a passionate kiss. Manik had never seen this bold Nandini, but here she was, surprising him, fighting for equal dominance and loving him like nobody ever before.After a long passionate intimate moment, both broke off due to lack of oxygen. She rested her head on his heart and mumbled kissing his heart.

"Happy birthday Manik!", and hugged him tightly. He smiled at her and hugged her tighter, if that was humanly possible.

"I cant tell you how happy I am, Nandini!", He kissed the top of her head, and Nandini broke the hug, looking in his eyes.

"Does that mean you liked it all?", she asked back, excited like a child about to be appreciated for his homework.

"Liked it? Nandini you practically brought me back my entire life, my parents, Nidhi di, my friends! I loved it",  he was so emotional that he kept on blabbering and Nandini put her finger on his mouth to hussh him.

"I love you", she again said it, abruptly, smiling sheepishly but it made him stop the blabber, and smile shyly.

" I love you too, Nandini Murthy!", he replied in the same tone and she blushed the deepest shade of red possible. Then he again kissed her forehead and took her in his embrace. A constant smile lingering on their faces. A happy pride filling their hearts. Hearts that were now beating in synchrony- with their proper beats. The strings of their hearts now playing music...!!!!