22.

After Rudra left I quickly called Devansh. Within a ring, Devansh picked up my call.

On call:

Ketki: Hello bhaiya?

Devansh: hello? Bhabhi? What happened? Is everything all right?

Ketki: Yes yes everything is all right but today is Rudra's birthday... right

Devansh: how do you know Bhabhi?

Ketki: Maria told me, I wanna do something for him.

Devansh: Yes bhabhi what is it? Apka hukum sar ankhon par.

(Your wish is my command)

Ketki: I heard he never celebrated his birthday and doesn't even like someone wishing him...

Devansh: Bhabhi if you wanna do something for him then do it, I'm sure he'll understand your genuineness and maybe it'll make him happy too. Though he doesn't say it, he craves warmth and love.

Ketki: Thank You bhaiya you helped me a lot. Just come home in the evening. I'll call zayn bhaiya too.

Zayn: NO NEED BHABHI IM WITH DEVANSH I HEARD EVERYTHING WE'LL COME HOME TO HELP YOU PREPARE.

Zayn yelled, I let out a laugh, He wouldn't be Zayn if he didn't yell for no reason.

Ketki: Okay okay I'll call you when I reach home.

I hung up and looked at Arya,

"Let's go we have a lot to do"

Arya nods, turning off the laptop and grabbing her keys.

"Is that the reason you called him to the bakery and baked his fab cheesecake"

I nodded, when Arya told me about today being Rudra's birthday I was excited.

But then it died down when she told me Rudra never celebrates his birthday, and he doesn't like it if anyone even wishes him.

I don't know the reason I didn't ask Maria cause of course it should come from rudra.

So I decided to bake his fav cheesecake on his special day. Still, I didn't want him to waste his special day like this.

It's his birthday, after all, so I thought may be I should surprise him but I was doubtful and scared of his reaction.

So I called Devansh and took advice from him. Now that my mind is clear let's get back to work.

Arya shut down the bakery and went to get the car. Till then I informed Maria about the surprise celebration. He genuinely sounded Happy and started the preparations.

Arya and I went shopping, we bought snacks and some decoration items.

Once we were done we went to the mansion. Zayn and Devansh were already present there.

"Hi bhabhi"

they greeted me, I smiled keeping all material on the floor.

"So bhabhi what should we do?"

Zayn asked folding his sleeves.

"Bhai just take care of the decoration department, we'll handle the kitchen department"

Devansh and Zayn saluted like a soldier.

"Ay ay captain"

I couldn't help but laugh, so I went into the kitchen with Arya.

Maria had prepared all the things I needed to cook.

Today i was gonna prepare his fav Rajasthani cuisine, Dal Baati Churma, Pyaaz kachori, and ghewar. Well, I don't know how to but Maria would help me.

And I didn't know how the day went by. Devansh and Zayn finished up the decoration. There was nothing much to do, just little balloons and stuff.

They came into the kitchen to help us. Thanks to their help we finished our work quickly.

After we were done arya and I went to my room to get changed while zayn and Devansh went to the guest room.

I called Dada too, he said he'll come after his meeting is done.

In the evening when everyone was ready, I received a call from Rudra. He said he would pick me up but I asked him to come home.

I informed everyone that Rudra was leaving. They all took their position and switched off the lights.

Exactly after half an hour, Rudra walked in. He was calling us out, maybe because it was dark.

And I signaled everyone to go out and Zayn Bhai to switch on the light. We all jumped out.

"SURPRISE HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUDRA"

His eyes widened, I'm sure he was surprised. He looked at each one of us.

His expression changed from surprised to something different, no he was not angry it was something else.

I saw him clenching his hands into a tight fist. Was it a bad idea? He did not like it right.

I looked at Zayn and Devansh they looked at him with hopeful eyes. Rudra didn't speak anything, my heartbeat raised. It scared him. Rudra's behavior scared me.

And

Without saying anything he ran upstairs. I realized he didn't like celebrating his birthdays, it was a bad idea from the start I should have stuck to the dinner plan.

I looked down, tears threatening to come. I felt a hand on my shoulder it was Dada.

"Don't blame yourself for sunshine... go talk to him"

Right, I should talk to him. I gave him a small smile and ran upstairs towards our room.

I knocked too scared to open the door and go in.

"Rudra?"

I knocked again,

"Rudra im coming in"

I slowly opened the door, the room was dark. I knew I would stumble so I turned on my mobile flash light.

There he was sitting in the corner hugging his knees. I never saw him like this. And seeing him this sad broke my heart.

I quickly rushed to him, I kept my hand on his shoulder. He looked up, sure he was about to cry.

He held my hand and I sat down beside him.

"I am sorry rudra... I shouldn't have-"

Before I could complete my sentence he rested his head on my shoulder.

None of us spoke anything, it was all quiet. Like Rudra was shedding some silent tears which he didn't want me to see.

After what it felt like an eternity he finally spoke.

"My parents... they were killed while we were celebrating my birthday"

My heart stopped, he was opening up. I didn't dare to speak a single word, I just let him.

"I used to study in Oxford so it was hard for me to come back to India on birthdays."

He clenched his jaw,

"I returned home one month after my birthday so my parents decided to throw a birthday party for me. Everything was going well but suddenly there were gunshots and every guest retreated. No one stayed to help us. Dad didn't know someone would attack us like this though security was present and none were prepared for this attack. My mom understanding the situation took me to a secret passage and asked me to hide there. I begged her not to go I pleaded with her to come with me stay with me... but she didn't she locked me in that secret passage... I cried I yelled but none of them listened all I could hear was the sound of gunshots. When the passage door was opened all I could see were bodies... bodies of my mother my father and my sister lifeless I couldn't... I couldn't protect them... they died right in front of me and I was unable to do anything"

He buried his face in his palm crying. He was crying now. My cheeks were stained with tears.

I simply pulled him in my embrace, he buried his face in my chest and cried. I didn't know for how long but he let his tears flow, the tears he had been holding back he let them flow.

I rubbed his shoulder, it hurt me to see him like this. I couldn't bear it either.

Rudra made sure I was never sad but today I felt like burning down everything, finding that person who killed his parents, and throwing him into hell.

He calmed down after some time,

"I never celebrated my birthday after that... I hated it I hated my birthday I hated my self if not for that party my parents wouldn't have lost their lives."

He looked at me, his eyes were red. I gave me a small smile and wiped his tears.

"It was not your fault rudra, if that attack was meant to happen it would have happened any day, your parents won't be at peace seeing you like this. They didn't want this for you. Their heart must hurt too they couldn't bear to see you like this. I told you right after a person passes away they become a star... they are watching you and they are sad when they see you like this."

He looked at me, it was the first time I had seen him this innocent. He looked like the same innocent kid who hid in the passage watching his parents murder.

I kissed his forehead,

"If they see you celebrating your birthday, getting along with your friends, touching highs in your career, and just your smile. They'll be happy and at peace"

He leaned on my shoulder again.

"Will it? Will they be at peace seeing me happy? They won't blame me"

I shook my head, running my fingers in his hair.

"They won't blame you, they want you happy... they'll be happy if you are happy"

He let out a long sigh, I held his hands intertwining our fingers.

"Everyone hopes you to be happy Zayn, Devansh Maria-"

"And you?"

He cut me off.

"I'll be super happy to see you smile, to see you happy"

He smiled finally he smiled. He kissed my knuckle.

"Let's go, everyone has prepared this surprise for you..."

He nodded and slowly got up helping me too.

I wiped his eyes and kissed his cheeks.

We both left the room hand in hand. Everyone was waiting for us. They all stood up as soon as they saw us.

I cleared my throat,

"Let's cut the cake"

I spoke, lightening the mood. Maria brought the cake and I stood beside Rudra as he cut the cake.

He fed me the cake, took another piece, and fed him.

Then he fed Zayn and Devansh, they hugged him like they got their friend back.

Though they didn't show it their eyes were glistered.

He seemed happy, and we all had our dinner.