He tapped his foot impatiently. Shilpa gulped, seeing his face. He desperately wanted to go out and open all his gifts, ripping the wrapper.
But he wasn't allowed to do so.
Especially not so soon.

Ambar was busy preparing a giant cake for him by following granny's instructions. Meanwhile, Shilpa was dealing with the notorious kid as they didn't want Aakash to walk out and ruin their surprise.
On the other hand, Nakul was preparing for the party.

All of them had thought to do it early before the kid gets up but it was nothing but their bad luck that Aakash was already out of bed and was almost about to wreck everything.

Thankfully Ambar had trapped him in his own room with Shilpa and gave her the keys.

"I want to go out, Aunt Shilpa." He groaned.

"Aakash. Just wait for sometime."

"Why am I locked in here? Why can't I go out?"

"I'll just see your Great Granna." She immediately scuttled out before locking him, avoiding his interrogation. He frowned before his Ipad buzzed and he instantly answered it.

"Happy birthday..." His face brightened in delight as his grandmother's face appeared on the screen.

"Thank you, Granny." Aakash replied.

"So did you get your gifts?" Manyata asked him.

"No... I didn't.... They're not giving it to me." He pouted and she laughed.

"Wait for sometime and you'll surely get it." She affirmed.

"How much should I wait more? They're not even letting me go out. I'm trapped in here." He complained and she chuckled.

"Aakash! A little patience sweetheart." His great grandmother entered his room on her wheelchair with Shilpa pushing it ahead.

"Great Granna! But how much should I wait more?" Aakash passed her a pleading look.

"Hello Manyata."

"Mrs. Singh, it's pleasant to see you there." Manyata smiled.

"How are you, Manyata?" She asked her.

"I'm just fine as I'm missing my children, terribly." Manyata sighed.

"I can understand you on this completely." Mrs. Singh nodded.

"Yeah... I hope your journey wasn't so tiring, was it?" Manyata asked her.

"No, It wasn't. after all, I had this nagging woman all the time with me." Mrs. Singh grimaced and looked at Shilpa who shook her head.

"And even Nakul. He's a caring child. You've indeed done a great job in raising your kids." She praised and Manyata smiled.

"Thank you..."

"Okay... Aakash, now you can actually get out of here." Mrs. Singh told him.

"Really?"

"Yes." She confirmed.

"Okay! I'll just hang up now. Have a great day Aakash and I've left you a gift too. Bye sweetie. I love you" Manyata told him with a wink.

"Thank you granny. Good bye. Love you too." He grinned before she actually disconnected the video call.

"Aakash!" Nakul and Ambar came in his room. Ambar had a box in her hand.

"Chachu!" He huffed.

"Okay! Small shot, are you ready for the big surprise?" Nakul asked and Aakash couldn't control being ebullient.

"Yes!" He jumped enthusiastically.

"So here it is." Ambar handed him a box which was neatly wrapped.

He tore the wrapping paper and instantly opened the box before passing a quizzical look to all of them.

"Shorts?" He eyed the swimming trunk with amazement.

"Yeah... didn't you like it? It's your birthday suit." Ambar said and everyone else in the room found it hard to control their mirth.

"Where is the shirt?" He asked.

"Actually Kiddo! I didn't had enough of money to buy you a shirt. So, you have to wear this only. Come on." Ambar replied sadly and it became a harder task for all of them to not crack up, chortling hard.

"Okay!" His mouth had set into a thin line.

"Wear it." Shilpa nudged him.

"But I want a shirt." Aakash said before Nakul interjected.

"Small shot... This is the only thing, you can wear beside it's hot today."

"Why?" He contemplated.

"Because we want to see you shirtless..." Ambar quickly replied and the rest of them were just about to break into a fit or convulsions.

"What?".

"It's very hot, come on, wear it." Mrs. Singh muttered and this time, Aakash finally agreed.

"But I want you all to go out, Let me at least change. I need privacy." He said.

"But it's okay, we all have seen you naked, before." Ambar mocked him..

"I'm five now. I'm a big boy." He yelled.

"Okay big boy. We are going out." Nakul said and they started moving out.

"Are you sure that you don't need my help?" Ambar nictated at him and he scowled.

"AMY!"

"Fine! I'm going." She quickly ran out closing the door behind her and they all burst out laughing.

Within few minutes, the boy was out in his swimming trunks with a sullen face.

"Alright! Come on, small shot." Nakul held his hand as the trudged down the stairs.

"Where are we going?" He asked his uncle and Nakul just smiled.

"Look." He pointed out to the avalanche of balloons appearing like a wall at the main door.

"So many balloons. How will I go out if these are blocking the entrance?"

"Then go and burst it." He whispered in his ears and handed him a pin.

Aakash readily obliged and ran towards the door.

H giggled as the balloons got exploded one by one.

"SURPRISE!" He couldn't believe his eyes as he stepped out.

"Happy birthday Aakash... Happy birthday to you." Everybody started singing for him.

Aakash was happy to see too many kids around him. He loved company.

It was Ambar's another surprise, she had not only invited his friends from playschool but also some kids from the nearby orphanage.

She knew how isolated Aakash had been this vacations without any of his friends to play with. So, she had specially requested Nakul for calling some children from the orphanage who were not so privileged to enjoy these kind of festivities.
As there was no greater pleasure than sharing your joy.

When Aakash strolled out, he saw all of his friends including the other kids, dressed in their swim wear.

Meanwhile, Ambar was dressed in a floral top and a white capris and Nakul was still wearing his formal attire.

Ambar ambled towards him and passed him another packet.

"Why are you giving me this? It's not my birthday." Nakul mused.

"Sherlock! Go and wear this." She ordered him.

"What is this?" He enquired.

"Clothes. Now go fast." She pushed him inside and sauntered towards Aakash who was surrounded by some of the children who were still wishing and presenting gifts to him.

Ambar gulped when she saw Nakul as he came out.
He looked so different in his casuals.
Despite of wearing a jersey, she could clearly see his chest muscles, his bulging biceps. Surely, he worked out on a regular basis.

"Close your mouth, a fly might intrude." He murmured and she felt her cheeks getting heated up.

"Okay! Aakash. Now we'll blindfold you." Ambar quickly shifted her focus on the boy who looked much more curious than anybody else.

Shilpa tied a black cloth to his eyes, blocking the view.

"Why are you covering my eyes?" He asked in anxiety.

"You'll know, son." Mrs. Singh uttered before Ambar started guiding everyone to follow them.

They walked on the wet grass till they had reached the pool side.

"Your blindfold will be removed on the count of three." Nakul said.

"Are you all ready?" He asked and everyone responded with a loud yes.

"Alright... One.... Two.... Three." And the cloth was removed from his eyes.

"Oh My God!" Aakash shrieked in delight.
"Chachu!" He had the biggest smile on his face.

"Yes, small shot." Nakul pecked his cheeks.

He couldn't be more surprised. He loved everything.
The mini park, those water slides, a three tier cake near the swing but his eyes got caught to the big portrait on the table adjacent to the one having gifts on it.

The photograph was a candid picture of Mayank and Shikha holding their baby Aakash and gazing him with adoration. It was taken after his birth.

This was one of the moments of jollity which Nakul had always treasured.

Everyone had smiles on their faces when Aakash with his great grandmother were together holding the knife to cut the cake.

The old lady kissed his forehead when the boy fed her a slice. He couldn't be more elated, he remembered Ambar's words as he truly felt his mother's presence beside him that very moment.

Nothing could be more exuberant for them to see the boy enjoying to his fullest with his friends.

"You both did a great job." Mrs. Singh told her eyeing the boy in the pool.

"Thank you..."

"I'm gleeful because he's beatific." She added.

"I can see that, dear." Mrs. Singh nodded.

"Even Nakul is radiant today." She said further.

"Yes, he is." Ambar agreed glancing at his glorified face.

"He's lucky to have you." Mrs. Singh smiled leaving Ambar stunned.

"I..." Ambar stammered, turning speechless.

"My eyes are not that weak. I can clearly see that spark between you two. I have a lot of experience, my child and Aakash would be really lucky to have you as his aunt very soon." She teased her.

"It's... nothing... like that, Granny." Ambar denied, hiding her flushed face.

"Don't worry dear. There's nothing wrong for you to fall in love." She lastly said before Nakul joined them and they turned silent.

"See... I'm drenched and you're sitting here, all dry." He clutched her arm, pulling her with him.
Ambar peered at the elderly woman who raised an eyebrow at her, smiling widely.

"Amy!" Aakash splashed a bucket of water on her, wetting her too.

They laughed.

"Are you okay?". Nakul asked her as she wiped her face.
She nodded as their eyes locked.
Her mind wandered to the words spoken by granny, earlier.

Was she?

"What?"

"I..." She was about to say something but was interrupted by a loud voice from behind.

"Mr. Suri! We need to take him to the hospital immediately."

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Oh No!

Now what will happen?

Find out in the upcoming chapters.

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I hope you liked the chapter.

Sorry for the mistakes.

Thank you.

Have a nice time.

♥♡♥.