Forever Yours

Chapter Five

Siddharth had had a crazy day, 11th December was always crazy. It was the day before his birthday and the whole world wanted to celebrate his birthday with him. There were cakes, there were people screaming happy birthday wishes, there were songs, music, celebrations.  

It was slightly, just slightly too overwhelming but Siddharth would go about his day, smiling at people thanking them for their wishes, partaking in the celebration he was the center of. He would cut cakes, take blessings, pose for photographs and do a thousand other things whilst looking forward to the next day.  

12 December. His birthday.  

The day he spent exclusively with his family. The one day in the whole year that he spent with his mother, sisters, niece and nephews.  

At 10 in the evening, on 11th december, when Siddharth entered his apartment. He looked exhausted. He had a few sprinkles stuck in his hair, his jacket was hanging limply on his arm. His mother smiled softly at him. 

"Aa gaya bacche. Baith ja, paani laati hoon."  

Siddharth nodded, plopping on the couch and closed his eyes. "Kabhi kabhi bahot overwhelming ho jaata hai na ma, itna pyaar milta hai. Itni duaayein.." He said quietly.  

"Itni mehnat karta hai, ussi ka phal hai yeh sab." His mother replied, handing him a glass of water "Kucch khayega?"  

"Jay ke saath kha liya tha. Maahi ne bheja tha ghar se." 

Rita Maa nodded, running her fingers through Siddharth's hair. "Kal ka plan kya hai?"  

"Kuch khaas nahi, bas family dinner. Shehnaaz ko call karne wala tha batane ke liye but uska ad shoot hai shayad, late free hone wali thi aaj so I didn't think it was wise. Kal subah, first thing I'll call her." Siddharth said, a small smile tugged on the end of his lips at the thought of Shehnaaz. 

"Take a shower and sleep, now. Poora dinn idhar se udhar bhag-daud huyi hai aaj. Thak gaya hoga."  

Siddharth stood up from the couch, kissed his mother on her forehead. "Goodnight Maa. I'll see you tomorrow morning. Aap bhi so jao." He said before walking towards his room, sparing a final, fleeting glance towards his mother who nodded her head. "Good Night Siddharth." 

Once Siddharth had shut the door to his room, and (hopefully) slept, Rita Shukla went towards the kitchen where Shehnaaz stood in a cute hello kitty T-shirt and pajamas, whisking something in a huge bowl.  

"Chala gaya?" She asked her Rita-Ma as soon as she heard her enter the kitchen. The woman nodded, "He was exhausted."  

***

Not long after, Seconds before the clock struck midnight. Shehnaaz was bent over a beautiful dark chocolate cake, writing the final syllable of the birthday boy's name on the cake that she had spent the last 4½ hours in perfecting.  

"It's time." Rita Shukla whispered to Shehnaaz. Siddharth's sisters and their husbands stood around the cake that shehnaaz was busy decorating  

Shehnaaz nodded nervously. "Cake theek hai na Ma?"  

"Bahut pyara hai beta. Chal ab ander le jayein isko. 12 almost baj gaye hai." Neetu said, whilst helping Shehnaaz keep the cake on a food trolley.  

Just as the clock in the hall announced midnight, Shehnaaz opened the door of Siddharth's room only to find him sleeping peacefully. His lips formed an adorable pout, as he slept hugging a pillow.  

Shehnaaz smiled at his position. He was handsome, a man a thousand of tripped over themselves for. That much was still true, but here in the enclosure of the four walls of his room, Shehnaaz saw another side of Siddharth, someone who could be an angry young man and an innocent child all at once.
She honestly didn't want to wake him now. He looked so beautiful like this, so cute and innocent that it almost made her heart skip a beat.  

"Wake him up." Rita Shukla whispered 

Shehnaaz bit her lip, "Haan. Ek minute--" She walked up to his bed, extremely conscious of the fact that she was in his room, watching-- no scratch that staring at him while he slept.  

"Siddharth--" Shehnaaz shook him lightly, "Siddharth uthiye please."  

Siddharth scrunched his face up-- He looked adorable; and opened his eyes with a soft groan of displeasure. "Sh'naaz?" He mumbled, sleepy and confused.  

Shehnaaz smiled at him nervously. "Sorry. I woke you up."  

Siddharth shook his head, rubbing his eyes cutely. "Hey.. what are you doing here-- what time is it?" He flipped the light switch on his bedside so the room was flooded in light.  

"Happy Birthday Siddharth." Shehnaaz exclaimed excitedly, her eyes shining. 

Siddharth smiled at the little goofball in front of him. "Thank you my sweet superstar. So it's midnight."  

"Yes." He heard the voice of his mother. "Happy birthday Siddharth."  

Siddharth got out of bed and towards his mother. "Thank you Ma." He pulled her into his arms.  

Rita Shukla smiled and patted his back, before he pulled away.  

"Hey girls, Jeejus.." He hugged everyone, by turn and they wished him for his birthday. Once everyone had wished him, Siddharth saw the cake resting in the middle of the room. "Cake!"  

Shehnaaz tiptoed to where the rest of the family were standing. "Mera plan tha.."  

"Tumhari ad shoot thi na aaj? Tumne kaha tha late ho jayega. Maybe phone karne ka bhi waqt nahi ho." Siddharth frowned at her.  

"Cake." 

Siddharth furrowed his eyebrows, and suddenly realized what she meant. "You've-- You made this?"
 
Shehnaaz nodded. "It's not the best." 

"Its beautiful. What the hell?! What are you talking about Shehnaaz?--" He breathed out a surprised chuckle "You made this, really?"  

Shehnaaz nodded. "Yeah. I did."  

"It's the most beautiful cake I've ever--- Oh my God Shehnaaz Kaur Gill I can't believe you. Thank you so much for doing this superstar!" Siddharth pulled her into a tight hug, kissing her hair repeatedly. 

Shehnaaz smiled into his chest, wrapping her own arms around his huge frame. "You're most welcome Siddharth." Siddharth heard her, but didn't pull away.  

Shehnaaz didn't try either, contrarily she pushed herself closer into the safe warm and protective enclosure of his arms.  

She felt peaceful. She felt safe. It was nice like this. It was like she belonged here all along. Close to him, in his arms.  

Seconds later, she realized that the rest of the family was standing in the same room as them "Cake kaatein Siddharth?" She whispered almost quietly to him.  

Siddharth finally pulled away. "Yeh cake kaatna padega?" He asked halfheartedly. "Kitna sundar hai yaar yeh."  

Rita Shukla laughed. "Picture kheench le beta. Kaatna toh padega hi. Showpiece toh bana ke nahi rakh sakte na. Eventually untouched pada hua bhi kharaab hoga. It's better to put it to use."  

Siddharth pouted. "Dobaara bana dungi aapke liye, jab bhi bologe." Shehnaaz told him, as if understanding his reluctance to cut the cake. "Isse bhi sundar."  

"Promise?"  

Shehnaaz nodded, pinching her throat, in a silent gesture of sealing the promise. 

Eventually, Siddharth cut the cake while the family sang "Happy Birthday" in the background. He fed the cake first to his mother, then shehnaaz, and the rest of his family.

Sidharth's birthday comes a little early for this story.

I hope you liked this chapter!

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