Kaushalya stared at her, Nitya said "ek bhi shabd main nahi sunungi meri behen aur mere hone waale bache ke khilaf... aapko jo kehna hai mujhe kahiye par agar aapne meri mannu ko kuch kaha na toh main bardasht nahi karungi! Hamare bache ko janam dene jaa rahi hai kamse kam iss baat ka hi lihaj rakh lijiye.."

Kaushalya was just left froze at her placing hearing her. "tum aise kaise baat kar sakti ho mujhse?" she asked

"aur jis tarah se aap baatein karti hai uske hisab se mujhe aapko ghar hi nikal dena chahiye jaise baki bahuyie karti hai!" Nitya confronts her. 

Kaushalya had no words left, she walked back to her room.

Manvi apologizes "I am sorry Di.. main kuch soch rahi thi aur wo step miss ho gaya.."

Nitya cupped her face and said "it's okay mannu.. Agli baar please dhyan rakhna"

Manvi promised "I will Di.. auntyji ko mauka bhi nahi dungi aap ko sunane ka"

A smile curved up her lips and she placed a soft kiss on Manvi's forehead. 

Aniket and Aarav were staring at her with an open mouth. Nitya glared at them "kya tum dono muh kholke dekh rahe ho mujhe! jaana nahi hai kya office?" she asked.

Aarav nodded "haa.. haa jaana hai" Aarav pulls Aniket along with him. 

He laughs "bhai aaj toh bhabhi maa ne apna chandi roop dikhaya" he said.

"beta wo toh maine pehle bhi dekha hai..." Aniket replies. 

Aarav teases him "ohho.. isliye darte ho bhabhi maa ne itna haan?" 

"Chup kar.. jaa office" Aniket said annoyed. 

It was another day, today was special and Nitya had made plans for it. She turned off the stove and went out of the kitchen. She went into Aarav's room but only saw Manvi. She asked "mannu Aaru kaha hai?" 

"Di usko kaam tha toh subah subah hi nikal gaya" she informed.

She was shocked "kya?? lekin maine nahi dekha usko jaate hue" she said. 

"Di.. aapka laadla chupke chupke aata jaata hai! pakka uska kahi chakkar chal raha hai" she assumed. 

Niya smiles hearing her "nahi aisa kuch nahi hai! chal main usko phone karti hun" 

She goes out and calls him. He answers her phone "Good morning bhabhi maa" 

"Aaru aaj tum bina nashta kiye gaye.." she said.

"haan bhabhi maa bahut urgent kaam tha.. " he replies. 

"acha.. shyam ko jaldi aa jaana" She instructed. 

"haa.. bhabhi maa aur haan uss chipkali ko kehna waqt pe le le apni dawao" he said and ends the call. 

Nitya sighed "iss surrogacy ke chakkar mein kuch yaad nahi rehta hai isko.. itna bada din bhool gaya" she said

"kya bhool gaya?" Aniket asked stepping down the stairs. 

Nitya glared at him "tumhe bhi yaad nahi hai.." she shouted. 

Aniket bit his tongue out. He recalls "hamari date anniversary nahi hai, na marriage anniversary hai.." 

Nitya hits him "kaise bhai ho tum? apne chote ka birthday bhool gaye" 

Aniket looks at her innocently and smiles "yaad hai mujhe Nitu.. sirf tum hi akele usse pyaar nahi karti ho" 

"acha? toh wish kiya subah usko?" she asked. 

"mere uthne se pehle hi chala gaya wo.." Aniket replies. 

There were some people doing the decorations, Aniket said "Nitu.. ye sab?" 

"uska janamdin hai na toh surprise plan kiya hai maine" she said with excitement. 

Aniket kept his hands on her shoulder "tum janti ho pichle teen saalo se wo apna birthday nahi celebrate karta hai.. Celebrate kya wish bhi nahi karne deta hai"

"janti hun main.. lekin iss baar karega!" She said recalling the incident that took place three years ago. She was aware of why he left early today, he had not forgotten his birthday but just pretended to. 

She smiles lightly, Aniket wipes tears from her which were about to drop down. He pulls her into his embrace and caressed her head. 

Later in the evening, it has been 7 pm but he hadn't returned yet. Nitya sighed deeply "Ani.. ye nahi aane waala hai jaake le aao use"

"daftar mein hoga kaam karne do usko bahu" kaushalya interuptted. 

"maaji aaj uska janam din hai.." She said as she had planned so much for him. 

"tumhari hi wajah se wo iss din ghar se bahar rehta hai!" she replies. 

"jee.. jaanti hun! Ani leke aao use" she nearly shouted at him. Aniket made a face.. 

"jaa raha hun! ye Aaru bhi na pitega mujhse iske chakkar mein biwi mujhe daant lagati hai" he murmured while moving out of the house. 

Within 20 minutes he reached his office and found him in the meeting. Aniket marched inside and said "Chote..." 

Aarav looked up at him "bhai aap yahan?" he asked surprised. 

"chal ghar bahut waqt ho gaya hai" Aniket said. 

"bhai meeting chal rahi hai" he spoke, Aniket knew all his excuses. He will deliberately place a meeting at such an hour. 

He continued with the meeting, Aniket passed him a look "Aaru.." he said softly but he kind of ignored it. Aniket scolded him "sunayi nahi deta hai maine kya kaha?? ghar chalo" 

Everyone looked at him but remained silent. Aarav shot a glare at him "bhai.." Aniket held his hand and pulled him out of the meeting room. 

He brought him back to the house and Aarav was annoyed "bhai ye kya harkat hai.. aap mujhe aise beech meeting mein se sabke saamne daantke mujhe uthake laaye ho" he complained. 

"teri bhabhi maa ne order diya tha maine follow kiya" Aniket said innocently. 

"ye galat hai bhai.." he said.

Nitya sighed "Aaru.." she said and he eyed her. 

"bhabhi maa ye.." he paused when he was around and the hall was decorated. "Happy Birthday Aarav" was written with his favorite color flower petals. 

A projector played his childhood with Aniket and then with Nitya's. A smile curves out his lips admiring them. 

He saw the picture of Nitya with the baby bump and he was standing behind her with the same swallow stomach he had created by placing a pillow. He turned it off and said "bhabhi maa ye" 

Nitya held his hand and said "teen saal tumne apna janamdin nahi manaya maine kuch nahi kaha lekin iss baar manaoge.. Happy birthday Aaru" 

"bhabhi maa lekin..." he paused when she glanced at him with anger eyes.

He couldn't deny her request or hurt her. He touched her feet taking her blessings. "thank you bhabhi maa" 

He turned towards Aniket and said "Sorry bhai.."

He bends down and touches his feet but Aniket hugged him "paagal.. happy birthday! tune kaha tha na jabtak teri bhabhi maa aur main maa baap nahi bante hai tu apna birthday nahi manayega.. iss baar teri icha puri hone waali hai toh janamdin manana hi padega" 

"lekin bhai.. abhi 15 din hai" Aarav said meaningully. 

"to kya hua? itni mehnat ki hai sabme safal zaroor hogi aur sab tayari ho gayi hai pata hai teri bhabhi maa ne na khud khaya hai aur na mujhe khane diya hai kuch" Aniket complained. 

Manvi smiles "maine toh pet bharke khana khaya tha" 

"haa tumhe zaroorat bhi thi.." Aarav said. 

"Acha ab mujhse ladai mat karo.. cake kato aur khana khao tumhari wajah se Di aur jiju bhooke baithe hai" Manvi replies. 

"haa toh isne bhi kaha subah se kuch khaya hai... tiffin leke nahi gaya tha.." Nitya said slapping his head from behind lightly. He smiles innocently, Kaushalya comes to him and Aarav touches her feet. 

"jug jug jeeyo.. bhagwan tujhe lambi umar de" she said. 

Aarav smiles and he cuts the cake which was prepared by Nitya. He makes a wish and blows the candle. Manvi asked "kya manga tumne?" 

"yahi ki main kuch mahino mein chachu ban jau" he said and Nitya smeared his head. 

They had dinner and enjoyed themselves to the fullest. Manvi was really surprised to know he had taken an oath not to celebrate his birthday till Nitya and Aniket becomes parents. 

Aniket gifted him his favorite branded watch, Aarav said "bhai aapko yaad tha.." 

"haa.. tujhe kya lagta hai sirf tujhe hi hamari khwaishon ki chinta rehti hai?" Aniket asked. 

Aarav denies and said "bhai.. papa ke jaane ke baad aap mere liye baap ho, dost ho.. " 

Aniket taps his cheek lightly "Chal ab emotional mat kar.." 

They all again wished him a happy birthday. Manvi played the music, Kaushalya was tired so she went to her room to sleep. 

Nitya and Aniket danced to the romantic song and Aarav whistled seeing them together. Manvi eyed him and smiles lightly as he finds all his happiness in his brother and sister-in-law. 

Aarav sees the gift on the table, he moves and opens it. A tear escaped down his eyes, he run to Nitya and hugged her tightly. She caressed his hair "Aaru..." 

He parts the hug and smiles. She takes the gold chain and ties it around his neck, Aniket glanced at the locket and it was "bhabhi maa". 

"dekha bhai.. bhabhi maa ka gift aapse better hai!" he said with a smile. 

Aniket lightly ruffles his hair as he remembers a few years ago he had demanded the locket from Aniket with the same initial but then the incident happened and he never got the chance to get it for him. 

Aniket asked "Tumhe kaise pata Nitu?"

"mujhe sab pata hai mere pyaare patidev.. tum apne phone mei reminder set karte ho phir bhi bhool jaate ho" She replied. 

Aarav showed his tongue "bhulakkad hai mere bhaiya.." 

"tu zyda mat bol" Aniket glared at him. 

Aarav made a face, Nitya glanced at Aniket "aaj uska birthday hai pyaar se pyaar karo Ani.." she scolded him. 

Aniket gets silent as there is no option and Manvi laughs seeing it. She walks a bit and trips a bit as the piece of cake was fallen on the floor. Aarav grabbed her and she lands straight in his arms. She placed her hand around his neck to stop herself from falling and he stared at her. 

Aarav said "bhabhi maa ki maasi ki beti... nahi sudhar sakti ho na tum!" 

Manvi stood up straight and argued.. "birthday tumhara cake tumne khaya toh galti tumhari hai" 

"meri galti?? dekhke tum nahi chal rahi thi" Aarav rebuked. 

Nitya and Aniket hit their hand on their foreheads as nothing can be done with these two. Aniket looks at her and said "mujhe na ab ticket rakhna chahiye apne ghar mein inn dono ke jhagde ko dikhne ke liye.." 

Nitya hits his arm lightly and she stops them from arguing.. "Bas Aaru.. chal tera favoutire dessert banaya hai maine.." 

"Gulab jamun" he shouted and run to the kitchen to grab them. Nitya smiles and takes a deep breath as after three years she had seen him so much cheerful on his birthday. 

"thank you mannu" Aniket said. 

"kya jiju? maine kya kiya?" She asked innocently. 

"bahut kuch" He said. She smiles understanding what he meant. 

"agar kisiko chahiye toh aa jao warna main sab kha jaunga" Aarav shouted from the kitchen. They went to the kitchen and had the dessert there. 

Soon, they went to sleep in their respective rooms as the birthday ended on a very special note. 

To be continued..

❤️❤️❤️❤️ Happy happy birthday to the love of my life. The man whom I admire the most. A most humble person, the man who is a megastar but down to earth. Always giving positive vibes and most importantly entertaining us, educating us for years.. ❤️ bhagwan aise hi taraki deta rahe.. muaaahhhhhhhhhh Ak akaaa meraaa Aarav 😍😍🙈