18 July, 2022

The next day was Ishan's birthday, and after he refreshed, he made his way outside his room to find Veera already in his kitchen, preparing breakfast with a mischievous grin on her face. He slowly made his way to the kitchen before wrapping his arms around her waist from behind startling her.  

"Happy birthday, sleepyhead!" she muttered, before turning to face him as she wrapped her hands around his neck making him smile.

"Thank you, Veera," He answered softly before placing a soft kiss on her lips. She then handed him a plate piled high with pancakes adorned with a single candle flickering atop.

"Wow, pancakes for breakfast? You really went all out," he chuckled, blowing out the candle before digging into the delicious breakfast she had prepared. 

Veera leaned against the kitchen counter, watching him eat with a contented expression. "Well, it's not every day your boyfriend turns another year older," she teased lightly, earning a playful eye roll from Ishan.

After breakfast, Veera led Ishan on a birthday adventure around the city, taking him to all his favorite spots and surprising him with little gifts and treats along the way. They wandered through the bustling streets, hand in hand, sharing stories and laughter as they enjoyed each other's company.

As Veera and Ishan made their way back to his house after their adventurous day in the city, they were both still buzzing with excitement from their first official date. Ishan couldn't stop smiling, feeling grateful for Veera's thoughtfulness and the wonderful day they had shared together.

As they approached Ishan's doorstep, he noticed something unusual through the window. The lights were on, and he could see shadows moving inside. Veera caught his puzzled expression and squeezed his hand reassuringly.

"What's going on?" Ishan asked, curiosity piqued. Veera just grinned mischievously, giving nothing away. "Guess we'll have to find out."

Opening the door, they were greeted with cheers and shouts of "Surprise!" from inside. Ishan's jaw dropped in shock as he took in the sight before him. Shubman, Virat, Hardik, Shreyas, Siraj, and several others from the cricket team were all there, gathered in his living room, decked out with balloons, streamers, and a big banner that read, "Happy Birthday, Ishan!"

Ishan was speechless, overwhelmed by the unexpected gesture. Veera squeezed his hand again, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "Happy Birthday, Ishan!" she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with joy.

The room erupted into laughter and applause as Ishan stepped inside, still trying to process everything. Shubman stepped forward, a wide grin on his face. "We wanted to surprise you, mate! Happy birthday!" he said, clapping Ishan on the back.

Ishan grinned from ear to ear, feeling incredibly touched by the effort his friends had put into organizing the surprise party. "I can't believe you guys did all this," he said, his voice choked with emotion. Virat stepped forward, holding out a wrapped present. "Well, you deserve it, Ishan. You're an important part of this team, and we wanted to make sure you had a birthday to remember," he said warmly.

Ishan accepted the gift, feeling a lump form in his throat. He couldn't believe how lucky he was to have such amazing friends and teammates. Turning to Veera, he pulled her into a tight hug, feeling overwhelmed with gratitude.

"Thank you, Veera," he whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "This is the best birthday surprise ever."Veera smiled up at him, her eyes shining with happiness. "Anything for you, Ishan," she said softly.

As the celebration continued, Ishan found himself surrounded by his friends, laughing and joking as they all eagerly awaited the moment to cut the birthday cake. With a wide grin, Ishan took hold of the knife, his heart swelling with gratitude for the camaraderie and warmth filling the room.

"Alright, everyone gather around!" he called out, his voice filled with excitement.

The group huddled closer, anticipation building as Ishan prepared to slice into the cake. As the knife made its first cut, cheers erupted, filling the room with infectious energy. Ishan carefully distributed slices of cake to each of his friends, making sure everyone got a generous portion.

But just as Ishan was about to take a bite of his own slice, Veera excused herself to get a glass of water from the kitchen. Unbeknownst to her, mischief was brewing in the living room.

As Veera returned, she froze in the doorway, her eyes widening in surprise and amusement. Before her stood Ishan, his face adorned with cake, and his friends surrounding him with mischievous grins. Siraj had a firm grip on Ishan's shoulders, ensuring he couldn't escape the impending cake-smearing.

Veera couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, her heart swelling with affection for the playful antics of Ishan and his friends. She leaned against the doorframe, a smirk playing on her lips as she watched the scene unfold.

Ishan caught sight of Veera and flashed her a sheepish grin, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Looks like I'm in for it now," he joked, his voice laced with mock apprehension.Veera shook her head, unable to contain her laughter. "You brought this upon yourself, birthday boy," she teased, stepping forward to join the fun.

With a mischievous glint in her eye, Veera grabbed a handful of cake from the nearby platter, her fingers tingling with anticipation. With expert precision, she smeared the cake across Ishan's cheek, earning a chorus of cheers and laughter from the rest of the group.

As the lively celebration continued in the living room, Virat seized the opportunity to pull his sister, Veera, aside for a private conversation. He motioned towards the kitchen, where they could have a moment away from the festivities.

"Hey, Veera, can I talk to you for a minute?" Virat asked with a concerned yet curious expression.

Veera nodded, following him into the kitchen. "What's up, Virat? Everything okay?"

Virat took a moment before getting straight to the point, "I saw the picture you posted yesterday, and I noticed you disabled the comments. Is everything alright? Is there something you're not telling me?"

Veera sighed, realizing that her protective brother had picked up on the nuances. "It's not a big deal, Virat. I just wanted to avoid unnecessary comments and questions."

Virat raised an eyebrow, "Unnecessary comments? What are you hiding, Veera?"

Veera hesitated for a moment, glancing around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. Finally, she took a deep breath and confessed, "Okay, fine. I disabled the comments because... because Ishan and I went on our first date yesterday."

Virat's eyes widened in surprise, "What? Ishan? Really? Since when?"

Veera blushed, "It's still pretty new, Virat. We've been spending a lot of time together, and it just felt right. But I didn't want the whole world asking a million questions, you know?"

Virat's stern expression softened as he realized the significance of the moment for his sister. "Veera, you know I just want you to be happy, right?"

She nodded, "I know, Virat. And I am happy. Ishan is... he's different. In a good way." Virat smiled, "Well, as long as he treats you right and makes you happy, that's all that matters. Just keep me updated, okay? I don't want any surprises."

Veera chuckled, "You'll be the first to know, Virat, I promise."

Back in the living room, the celebration was in full swing. The music played, laughter echoed, and the atmosphere was filled with the warmth of friendship. As Veera and Virat rejoined the party, it seemed that Virat couldn't resist the opportunity to tease his sister about her newfound romance.

Virat, with a mischievous grin, raised his eyebrows at Veera, "So, Veeru, spill the details! How was the date? Any romantic candlelit dinners?"

Veera rolled her eyes, trying to play it cool, "Oh, you know, just a casual dinner. Nothing too fancy."

But Virat wasn't easily deterred, "Come on, Veera! I need all the juicy details. Did he bring you flowers? Did he say something cheesy?"

Veera felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment as her friends and Ishan joined in the teasing. "Virat, seriously, it wasn't that dramatic," she protested.

Shubman, ever the instigator, chimed in, "I bet it was! I can see the blush on her face already."

The room erupted in laughter, and Veera couldn't help but cover her face with her hands. Virat, reveling in his sister's discomfort, continued the teasing, "Oh, I see! Veera, did he hold your hand? Did he—"

Before Virat could finish, Ishan, who had been quietly observing the banter, decided to join in on the fun. He slipped an arm around Veera's waist, giving her a playful nudge.

"Well, I must say, Virat, your sister is a tough one to impress, but I'm up for the challenge," Ishan teased, earning more laughter from the group. Veera, now caught between her teasing brother and her mischievous boyfriend, felt her face turn even redder. "Can we please talk about something else?" she pleaded, peeking through her fingers.

Virat, not one to let go easily, grinned, "Alright, alright. We'll spare you for now. But just wait until the next family gathering!"

As the night continued, the teasing gradually transformed into more casual conversations and shared laughter. The group moved from playful banter to dancing, and the living room turned into a makeshift dance floor. The music pulsed through the speakers, and everyone let loose, celebrating Ishan's birthday with infectious joy.

Ishan and Veera, despite the initial teasing, found themselves lost in the rhythm of the music, dancing together as if no one else was in the room. The glow on their faces spoke volumes about the happiness they found in each other's company.

Amidst the dance moves and laughter, Shubman approached Ishan with a sly grin. "Bro, you're officially inducted into the 'Teased by Virat' club. It's an honor, really."

Ishan laughed, "I can handle it, especially when it comes with so much love and celebration. Plus, I got the best gift of all – Veera."

Shubman clapped him on the back, "Smooth, Ishan. Very smooth."

The night wore on, and eventually, the group migrated to the balcony to enjoy the cool night breeze. Ishan, leaning against the balcony railing, looked at Veera with a content smile. "This has been an amazing day. Thank you for making it so special, Veera."Veera leaned in, her hand finding his, "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

As they gazed at the stars, Virat, with a grin, approached the couple, "Alright, no more teasing. You two make a good pair, and I'm happy for both of you."

Ishan grinned, "Thanks, Virat. Your sister is pretty amazing." Virat rolled his eyes playfully, "Yeah, yeah. Don't make me regret being supportive."
The night wore on, and as the group continued to enjoy the festivities, Siraj, with a playful smirk, decided to add his own touch to the teasing. He approached Veera, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Hey Veera, I heard you and Ishan had a romantic date. Spill the details, we want to know everything!" Siraj exclaimed, earning a chorus of laughter from the others.

Veera, already blushing from earlier teasing, tried to play it off with a lighthearted tone, "Oh, come on, Siraj. It was just a simple date, nothing extravagant."

Siraj, undeterred, winked at her, "Just a simple date, huh? I bet there were candles, flowers, the whole nine yards."

Hardik, joining in on the fun, added, "And did he try any cheesy pickup lines? You know, the classic romantic stuff."

The others chimed in with their own playful comments, and Veera found herself surrounded by the teasing banter once again. Ishan, sensing her discomfort, wrapped his arm around her, offering both comfort and protection.

Siraj, seizing the opportunity, continued, "Come on, Veera, you can tell us. Did Ishan do the whole 'staring into your eyes' thing? I bet he did."

Veera, now hiding her face in Ishan's chest, mumbled, "This is too much, guys. Can we please talk about something else?"

But the group, fueled by the joyous atmosphere of the night, was relentless. Shreyas, with a grin, suggested, "Ishan, did you get her flowers? Or maybe wrote a love letter?"

Ishan chuckled, playing along, "Well, you know, a gentleman never reveals all his secrets."

Virat, with a teasing tone, joined the chorus, "Oh, I see! Keeping it mysterious, huh, Ishan?"

The laughter and banter continued, and Veera, feeling overwhelmed, sought refuge in Ishan's embrace. Ishan, ever the supportive partner, simply held her close, offering a protective shield against the good-natured teasing.

Finally, the group relented, realizing they might have pushed their friend a bit too far. Shubman, with a smile, said, "Okay, okay, we'll give you guys a break. But just remember, we're all in this together."
As the night began to wind down, and the clock neared the time for everyone to head home, the group started saying their goodbyes. Laughter echoed through the apartment, and the atmosphere remained light-hearted.

Ishan, however, couldn't resist stealing a private moment with Veera before the night concluded. As they stood near the doorway, surrounded by their friends, Ishan gently took Veera's hand and pulled her slightly to the side.

With a sly smile, he whispered, "I think we need a proper goodnight, don't you?"Before she could respond, Ishan leaned in, capturing Veera's lips in a sweet and lingering kiss. 

The others, witnessing this spontaneous display of affection, erupted into cheers, whistles, and playful teasing. Shubman, with an exaggerated gasp, exclaimed, "Well, well, look at these lovebirds! Isn't that adorable?"

Virat added with a chuckle, "Ishan, you smooth operator. Veera, you're in for a ride with this guy."

The teasing only fueled Veera's playful side. Instead of being embarrassed, she raised her middle finger towards her friends while still locked in the kiss with Ishan. The room fell silent for a moment, followed by a collective gasp from the group.

"Did she just—?" Shreyas started, his eyes widening in disbelief. Hardik chimed in, "I think she did!"

Veera, breaking the kiss but still holding Ishan close, shot a defiant look at her friends, "What? You asked for a goodnight kiss, and I gave you one."

The group burst into laughter, astonished by Veera's unexpected response. However, Veera wasn't done surprising them. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she pushed Ishan playfully and whispered, "I think we need some privacy. Excuse us for a moment."

The others, still processing the whirlwind of events, watched as Veera led Ishan inside the room and locked the door behind them. The room was filled with a chorus of gasps, followed by an eruption of laughter.

Shubman, recovering from the shock, exclaimed, "Well, I guess we should give them some space, huh?"

Virat chuckled, "Looks like our little Veeru isn't so innocent after all."