The car halted and the doors flapped open.
A middle aged lady stepped out leaving Ambar baffled when she pulled out a wheelchair with her and placed it on the ground.
Realization got dawned on her and she ran to offer her help.
Ambar smiled widely when her eyes landed on the old lady who was still seated in the back of the car.

"Hello." She greeted her and the old lady smiled affectionately at her.

As she helped the other lady to get the sweet old woman out, she felt another pair of hands of some person who just stood beside her.

Her gaze shifted to the man and she couldn't help but feel her heart pounding hard in her chest.

She could'nt believe he was here.
Tired and sleep deprived but still managing to look breathtakingly handsome as he carried the old lady or Aakash's great grandmother to her wheelchair.

"Oh. Thank you, son." Mrs. Singh thanked him and he smiled at her.

His smile... She missed that so much...
Ambar was clearly zoned out.

"Mrs. Singh, she's Ambar. It was all her plan to get you here." Nakul introduced her before turning to Ambar who was still lost in her own thoughts.

"Ambar.. you might have guessed her, haven't you?" He nudged her.

"Yes..." She recovered herself before bending to touch her feet.

"Ma'am, how are you?" She politely asked.

"To be frank. I'm not at all fine because of this woman who is standing behind me." She murmured referring to her caretaker.

"I didn't expect this from you, Auntie. You should be thankful that I got you here, safe and sound." The other lady replied.

"If it was on you, Shilpa then I wouldn't even have gotten to meet my boy especially when he'll be turning five at midnight." Mrs. Singh retorted and Shilpa just ignored her as she hugged Ambar who stood perplexed on one spot.

"I know, what you must be thinking about us but let me assure you that we both love each other very much and bickering is a just a part of our love." Shilpa whispered in her ears.

"Okay!" Ambar giggled.

"Don't believe her, Ambar. She might fool you about me.." The old lady spoke.

Ambar kneeled in front of her,  holding her hand.

"Actually she did nothing but eulogised about you, ma'am." Ambar said and Mrs. Singh's eyes softened.

"I'd believe you only if you will call me Granny, please. Even you, Nakul." Mrs. Singh requested. She glanced at Nakul who just nodded with a smile.

"Gran-ny.. Granny." She uttered and the  elderly woman had nothing but tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry. Did I say it wrong?" Ambar quickly apologised and she laughed.

"No... It just reminded me about Shikha. I never thought that I'd be fulfilling her wish of coming here only to find her gone." This statement brought tears to her and even Shilpa's eyes couldn't stop watering while Nakul's face had turned rigid and desolated.

"I'm sorry..." She sniffed wiping her cheeks before changing the subject.

"Where is my Aakash? Isn't he excited about his birthday?" Mrs. Singh asked her enthusiastically.

"He was really excited to stay awake till midnight. Eventually he fell asleep before his usual sleep time but he was smart enough to set an alarm for his birthday knowing that his sleep would somehow betray him." Ambar elucidated and they all chuckled.

"Oh my little boy! Just like his mother when she was little." Mrs. Singh smiled.

"Granny... Let's go inside before it gets more chilly out here." Nakul helped Shilpa to lift the chair on the stairs.

"Nakul!" Mrs. Singh turned to him.

"Yes."

"What is the time?" She enquired.

"It's 11:30 pm."  Nakul replied glancing over his wristwatch.

"That means we got a little time. I want to see Mayank." She implored to see her son in law
and he sighed.

"Okay!" He nodded and pushed her wheelchair, taking her to his room.

"Ambar! Would you please help me to carry these bags?" Shilpa asked and she compiled.

"So many bags?" Ambar's eyes widened.

"Yes, great granna's love." Shilpa replied, smiling.

"What is this?" Ambar referred to what Shilpa was holding.

"I prepared some brownies for him." She sounded nervous.

"That's so sweet." Ambar awed.

"Auntie taught us when we were young. Shikha too loved cooking." Shilpa tried to mask her emotions.

"Were you both close?" Ambar asked but regretted the very next minute.

"I've been with Auntie after my husband died. He was an army officer. I've seen Shikha grew up. Bright, charming and kind,  never thought that she would leave us this soon. I never cried since my husband passed away but I did with Auntie when we couldn't be present to see our Shikha for one last time."

"I'm sorry." Ambar didn't knew what else to say.

"It's okay! I don't want you to feel downhearted. Let's arrange everything just like Shikha used to. I'll get this on the plate." She told her and moved to the kitchen.

By the time, Mrs. Singh and Nakul came out of Mayank's room, it was exactly at midnight when they all barged into the little boy's room.

To their surprise, Aakash was already up and he was seated by his window, constantly looking towards the sky. Indeed, he was missing his parents terribly.

"Happy birthday to you.... Happy birthday to you.... Happy birthday dear Aakash... Happy birthday to you." They all sang for him.

Aakash turned his head towards them... His smile grew bigger when he saw his great grandmother singing for him.

He clumped towards her and hugged her.

"Great Granna!" He forgot the sadness which had subsided in him few minutes ago.

"Aakash..." She kissed his cheeks.

"Aunt Shilpa!" Aakash hugged her the next.
Nakul scooped him in his arms.

"Chachu! You're back too." Aakash was happy.

"I fulfilled my promise, didn't I?" He kissed his forehead.

"Happy birthday! Small shot." He wished him.

"Thank you."

Ambar cleared her throat.
"Someone forgot me." She coughed.

"Amy! That can never happen. You're my best friend." He jumped in her arms and she stumbled a bit.

"Easy kiddo!" She smiled.

"Sorry." He grinned sheepishly.

"Happy birthday kiddo." She kissed him on his cheeks.

"This isn't fair small shot, you don't let me kiss you on your soft cheeks." Nakul complained.

"It's meant for only pretty ladies." Aakash winked while the rest of them broke into fits of laughter.

Nakul tickled him and Aakash couldn't stop laughing.

"Okay! See Aakash, what do I have here?" Shilpa placed the walnut brownie on the table and Aakash grinned from ear to ear.

"Let's lit the candles." She removed five small candles from her bag.

Nakul shivered and clutched Ambar's hands immediately. Ambar knew, how nervous he got even near a spark of fire.

He looked at her face and she blinked at him, indirectly telling him to calm down.

He relaxed a bit before seeing Aakash making a wish before blewing it away.

They all clapped for him.

"Where are my gifts?" Aakash asked.

"Why are you so eager, young man?" Shilpa asked him.

"Please Aunt Shilpa." He grinned.

"Aakash, It's late and it is past your bedtime." Nakul reminded him.

"But my gifts?"

"You'll get your gifts. Have little patience, son." Mrs. Singh said and he groaned.

"Yes Aakash, come I'll read you a story." Shilpa said.

"No. Amy will read." Aakash demanded.

"Okay! Birthday boy, Come let's get you in bed." Nakul picked him and placed him on his bed, covering him with a comforter.

"Good night Granna, Good night, Aunt Shilpa." He wished them.

"Good night dear."

"Sweet dreams." Shilpa said lastly walking out.

"I'll show them their room." Nakul said and Ambar bobbed her head before turning to Aakash.

"Let's start. Once upon a time..."

------------------------------

"Is he asleep?" Nakul enquired once she stepped out quietly.

"Yes. He is." Ambar replied,  closing the door behind her.

"You look tired." He told her witnessing creases on her forehead.

"You look miserable!" She commented and he chuckled.

"So, did you leave to pick them up?" She asked him and he averted his gaze.

"No. I seriously had an important job to do." He mumbled.

"Okay!"

They didn't talk too much but still kept walking till they were actually in the living area.

"Are the decorations done?" He started the conversation again.

"Yes, finally!" She sighed in relief.

"You want to see it?" She raised an eyebrow and he deliberately nodded.

"Come." She pulled him, gripping his hand till they were actually out of the mansion.

"Wow!" He mouthed and she smirked.

"You did a pretty good job." He complimented.

"Thanks." She replied shaking her head.

"I just can't wait for the sun to come up." She was overjoyed and elated.

"Oh, Is this party for you or for small shot?" He ridiculed her.

"Boring men like you would never understand the word excitement." She huffed.

"Yeah right!" He muttered under his breath
"Don't forget, this was my plan of a pool party?" He reminded her.

"It would've been waste if I hadn't worked really hard for this." She glared at him.

"Oh please!" He scoffed and she narrowed her eyes before hitting him.

"Oh! Someone, please save me from this crazy lady." He ran away from her.

"Not this time... Idiot!" She laughed chasing him as they continued to tease each other.

"Aren't they cute?" Shilpa asked her aunt as they saw those two bantering from the balcony window.

"They are splendid together." The old lady smiled looking at them.

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