Khushi looked here and there surprised as well as shocked. Everyone was cheering and shouting and wishing her.

Her eyes fell on Arhaan again who was standing there in front of her with a smile on his face.

"When? How?" her voice croaked out.

He shrugged not answering her and got near her forwarding his hand for her to hold it.

"I never told anyone about my Birthday. Then how? And when did they come?" Khushi got asking again holding his hand as she got down.

"I know everything about you." Arhaan replied with a smile.

She was about to ask something again but got interrupted as Preety got near them. Giving her a gift box, Preety then hugged her wishing "Happy Birthday, sweetheart".

Khushi hugged her back as she uttered, “Thank you."

Another gift landed on her hand as Sara got near and spoke up, “It’s from me, Api. Happy Birthday.”

Areesha and Muhib also got forward and put some wrapped packets on Khushi’s hand. Putting them aside, she hugged them as they wished her.

They were about to say something but Abeer got between and holding Khushi’s hand, he pulled her towards the table as he uttered, “Okay, now. It’s cake time.”

Abeer made her stand in the middle of the table and in front of Khushi there was a big cake on the table.

Esha was jumping all excitedly, “Cake time. Cake time.”

Arhaan was still on his place, staring at Khushi all smilingly.

Abeer made Khushi hold a knife and uttered, “Now cut the cake.”

Khushi was about to do that but got stopped as Abeer uttered quite loudly, “No wait.”

Mahin looked at him as he uttered, “What happened?”

Abeer just shrugged his question and lightened a candle. Putting it in the middle of the cake, he turned to Khushi and spoke up, “Close your eyes, make a wish and blow the candle.”

Mahin make an irritated face as he uttered, “What? She is not a child, Abeer.”

Abeer glared at him for a moment and then spoke up, “I don’t know anything. It’s mandatory.”

Mahin again asked a question, “When did it become mandatory?”

Abeer got irritated this time and spoke up turning to Mahin, “You just shut up. You know nothing.” and then turned to Khushi and spoke up, “Khushi, you don’t listen to him, sister. You make a wish and then blow the candle.”

Khushi smiled a little at him and his craziness and closed her eyes.

She had nothing but one wish now. She wanted to see Arhaan whenever she opened her eyes. And even if she was going to die then it would have be on his lap only while seeing him for the last time before she would close her eyes forever.

Khushi opened her eyes only to see Arhaan walking towards her smilingly making her feel a beacon of hope was coming towards her. She just kept staring at him.

Their staring moment got interrupted as Esha spoke up, “Aunty, cut the cake.”

Khushi got out of her trance and cut the cake. Everyone started applauding as well as wishing her. Taking a slice, she extended her hand towards Arhaan and made him eat the cake getting everybody said aloud, “Aww.” making Khushi's cheek turned crimson.

Without minding them, Arhaan took a bite and then took the left part in his hand and made Khushi eat it only to get Abeer uttering, “Look here guys.” with a camera in his hand.

Later all of them continued feeding cake each other and Abeer went on clicking photos. Getting done with the cake party, they all started gossiping all happily. After a long time they all were together.

And then Arhaan and Khushi got back to their room. Khushi got uttering then, “When did you actually come home and did all this? You said you would be late.”

Arhaan shrugged off and uttered, “This is for you.” as he forwarded a small velvet box towards her.

Khushi took the box and opening it gasped seeing the white gold chain with gold lined silver round pendant with a small heart shape on it the middle of the pendant inside the box.

"It's beautiful" saying this, she took the pendant out of the box holding it on her hand.

"And it will look even more beautiful when you will wear it" Arhaan said and took the chain from her hand and put it on her neck.

Khushi smiled and turned to face him. "How is it looking?"

Arhaan stared more to her face than the pendant on her neck.

"You look beautiful" he said and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Your eyes are twinkling. You look happy today" he said and Khushi smiled nodding at him "Indeed I am happy. Very happy."

“I never celebrated my birthday" Khushi whispered.

Though Khushi knew that Arhaan might be already knowing this still she thought of sharing it.

Arhaan also didn’t stop her as he felt sometimes it’s good to speak up better than keeping everything inside.

"I felt lonely on my birthdays. I used to question my fate. I used to think that my birth was a curse for me to live like this world without anyone to care for me or to whom I could call a family. Sometimes, I felt like running away to some isolated and deserted place." Khushi said remembering those days when she was with her family.

Not being able to hear anymore, Arhaan got uttering, "No, Khushi. It is not a curse. In fact you are a blessing for me." he said wrapping his arms tightly around her. Khushi smiled and kept her head in his chest.

"I thought I would be living lonely all of my life until one day when you walked into my life like a ray of light to my already darkened life. I love you, Arhaan." Khushi added as she felt him resting his chin on top of her head.

Holding the chain in hand, she got uttering again looking at it, "It's the best birthday gift I have ever had" Khushi told him and heard him humming at her.

"I turned twenty-two today!" Khushi said as she left him and took few steps back.

“How old are you?” asking this, Khushi turned to Arhaan normally only to find his attention was on her lips which got her somewhat taken aback and nervous all of a sudden as in no moment she found herself in Arhaan's arms as he carried her to the bed...

☘☘☘

The next day taking Esha, Arhaan, Khushi and all of their friends roam around the town all day. When they reached home, it was past evening.

Taking their dinner at home, they got on the sofa in the living room and kept gossiping till late. Areesha got back to the room with Esha. After some time Muhib left from there uttering, “You guys continue. I have an early morning meeting. I will get some sleep now."

In between their gossiping, Abeer spoke up, “Let’s play spin the bottle. What’s say, guys?”

Arhaan got uttering, “What? I am not going to be playing this.”

Abeer spoke up then, “Okay. You go and sleep. Khushi will play with us. Right, sister?”

Khushi was getting somewhat sleepy but got confused what to say then. Understanding this, Arhaan got uttering, “Okay. Okay. I am also playing.”

Abeer got uttering smilingly, “That’s like my boy.” only to get a glare from Arhaan.

Others didn't get any chance to say anything as Abeer stood up and got a bottle. Everyone sat around a table.

Holding the bottle on the table, Abeer spoke up, “Listen guys, as you already know the rules, the two person pointing whoever the bottle will stop, one will ask another a question or give him a task to do and that person has to do it. No cheating. Okay? Let’s start.”

He spinned the bottle and it got stopped between Mahin and Preety. It was Mahin’s turn to ask Preety about something or give a task.

Everyone was looking at them and  Preety was getting somewhat worried.

Mahin spoke up at some point, “Okay, Preety. Tell us one thing. Whom do you consider your best friend here?”

Abeer was so sure that she would utter his name but No.

“Khushi” as soon as she said that, Abeer got uttering, “What? I thought you would say my name.” getting everyone laughing out.

Mahin spoke up smilingly, “That’s great.” Abeer glared at him but not caring that, Mahin spoke up, “Okay. Now let’s continue the game.” and spinned the bottle.

This time the bottle got stopped between Arhaan and Abeer and it was on Abeer to ask the question.

Smilingly Abeer spoke up, “Okay. As my love has already betrayed me, you tell me at least.”

Arhaan gave him a questioning look as if asking him what. Abeer continued, “How much you love me? No, wait. Do one thing, propose me.”

Glaring at him, Arhaan uttered, “What! Have you gone crazy!”

Everyone laughed out and Abeer spoke up giving a disappointed look, “What! You can't even do that for me?”

Arhaan got uttering, “No. I don’t love you that much.”

Abeer pouted like a kid getting Mahin uttering, “Drama queen.” and others smiling.

Abeer spoke up again, “Okay fine. Then propose Khushi right here in front of us.”

Getting Khushi shocked this time and turning crimson..