022

Niyati had to go to the college on the day of her birthday to submit the due assignments. And all thanks to Reecha's loud boisterous "happy birthday Amu..", receiving other people's attention too.

Many of the girls from her semester gave her gift such as pens, earrings, bangles, lipsticks and all the other things. Conjuring the empty plastic bag from the canteen she put everything in their, thanking each and every one after giving them the samosa party.

"What he gave? I bet it will be something extremely valuable." Reecha whispered in her ears eating the piping hot samosa.

So what he gave?

Niyati felt her eye twitching at that, turns out Achintya didn't even wished her the birthday let alone giving her any gift. She left the house in Reecha's scooty because the college's office opened after 9 in the morning.

She even kept her ears opened and eyes fixed on the gate for Gayatri but instead of her coming it was their guard who came to the college to submit her assignment. It made her face tighten more thinking how much she was missing him despite it being her own fault that he didn't know about her day.

Niyati couldn't blame Achintya for forgetting her birthday or not wishing her when she herself never informed him in the first place. It is so wrong of her to expect something from him that the poor man doesn't even know anything about.

"He don't even know. " Niyati replied. Suddenly the plate of the samosa looking as appetizing as the rotten food from the days before. Sliding the plate near Reecha she pinches the girl's arm "close your mouth or otherwise you will catch the fly."

"What do you mean he don't know?"

"It means he don't know. I never get to inform him that and we do not have any other links from which he would know."

"You..you are an idiot." Concluded Reecha at last.

_

Raghuveer offered the special Pooja in the name of the Niyati in the temple. In the afternoon, friends of Radha's came to wish her the birthday despite Niyati not knowing more than half of them.

Many of her friends from Indore skyped her and Niyati spent more than half of her afternoon happily conversing with them.

After the nap, she went to the kitchen chopping vegetables, kneading dough and preparing the 'Kheer'. Radha will be the main chef of the evening with Niyati only preparing the sweet dish because "you should atleast made the kheer, it is the easiest."

Radha even made a reluctant Niyati touch Manorama's feet after cutting the cake. After the hefty dinner, Shivangi, Niyati, Maithili and Ranveer shed the calories dancing their heart out in the tune of the sound system. Radha and Roopa joining them later after Raghuveer took Manorama to the house as it was nearing her bed time.

She danced,laughed,sang aloud with others but it is in the confine of her room after everyone went to the home and in their respective room thus she let the lonely tear fell down by her cheeks. Her heart craved to be in his arms, not ready to understand anything rational her mind was supplying.

Achintya promised her that no rumor or any news will get out about her, and he stand still in his promise. After consoling her on the day of the 'Usha Arghya' he went away once his phone rang, promising her "nothing will happen." And those three words from him worked as the soothing balm on her anxiety.

Three days had been gone, and Niyati has yet to hear anything about it.

It made a sob rise in her throat which she quickly swolled, Maithli might be at Shivangi's house to complete her projects along with Gola leaving the room empty for her alone, but she can't let her emotion take the control over her mind. It is not at all necessary.

A day after tomorrow, Achintya will be standing there at their place and she will see him as the first person in the morning.

After a necessarily long hug, she will tell him to take her to the temple outside of the city skipping the college and their, they will spend every passing minute together.

Yeah..that will be it. She didn't need to cry now when their is still the light at the end of the tunnel. The world will not end if he won't be here today, with that Niyati wiped her face and after washing her face with the cold water -she can't let her eyes to be swollen in the morning- went to the bed.

_

It felt like the deja vu.

Niyati was at the Ghat in the safe embrace of his, and that sound came and it was her mother, glowering at her slapping her hard for bringing the disgrace to their name-

Achintya is walking away from, shaking his head saying "we can't be together anymore." As she sobs, falling on her knees-

A thud sound came,

And Niyati woke with a start.

A nightmare. She was inside a nightmare that felt too much like the reality but it wasn't that.

The thud sound came again startling her. With a start she jumped from the bed leaping for the window..she should not let her hope arise..she really shouldn't..

But the moment she slided the curtain peeking outside, he was their.

Achintya is here.

With a happy squel she ran out of the room, hurriedly locking her mother's door from the outside.

Achintya watches with amusment as the front door open, a squeal and suddenly she was in his arms. Almost jumped on him with her hands tightly wounded around his neck and feet in the air. She really trust him too much for to jump like that knowing he will, not under any circumstances will let her fall.

He didn't with holding her securely to himself, arms around her back, the fucking coconuts engulfing his senses as he buries his face in her neck. "Happy birthday Jaan."

She gently found her feet on the ground again, still sharing the same space as his, the same air they both were breathing "you- you knew?"

"There is hardly anything related to you that I don't know," His lips lingered on her forehead for a second more "and if there is..I'm all willing to learn."

The moon was waxing in the cloud drowning them in its moonlight, the locality was sleeping peacefully while there was a storm brewing inside her with his intense eyes fixed on her.

Niyati only realises that she isn't carrying any thick clothes, still in her night clothes containing an old sleevless kurti and the white patiala belonging to her school days. Shivering she moved closer to him, he was so warm in his thick maroon sweater.

The goosebumps evoking on her skin has nothing to do with the cold and everything related with him, when he let the back of his fingers roam over her bare arms. "You are cold."

"Good observation, Byomkesh Bakshi ji. " Ofcourse she's cold. The temperature usually fall lower in the night with people not even wanting to get out of their house, she was standing in the middle of the road where the chill air was flowing.

"Finally you understand the power of my intelligence."

"Shut up..before you realises the power of my punch." She grumble as Achintya laughed aloud. Pecking her above her head making her smile.

"But really..no shit, you are cold. We should move-"

"Move? Where exactly?" The eyes turned as big as the saucer plates hearing his words. He just have came here, he surely isn't talking about going this early, right?

"To your room, Jaan." Achintya teases again waiting for her to huff again and shove him away before coming back in his embrace again. He love these small antiques of her personality.

Niyati on the other hand thought it was a quite right suggestion. Maithili isn't here, and her mother never wake up in the middle of the night and Achintya will only be their for a short time, the extra bowl of the kheer she hid from everyone's eyes is waiting for its owner in the fridge anyway.

"Hm..park your bike to the side and come.." and it was indeed humorous seeing him turning speechless, mouth left ajar at her words. He didn't move an inch and only after she tug at his hand does he came out of the trance "come..don't waste the time."

"Who are you?" She heard his question as he pushes her -gently..ever so gently- away "and what you have done to my Niyati?"

Giggling at his reaction she pats his cheeks sweetly "there are more elements of my personality that you have yet to see, Achintya. Now hurry up."

_

Niyati's room was small, cozy and tidy. The books were lined up neatly on the corner of the study table, no scattered clothes around, her college bag and Maithili's school bag sitting on top of an old iron box covered from the cloth.

It wasn't even the half of his room and yet Achintya was extremely comfortable here. The coconut was everywhere, mixed with the every essence of the room.

His feet brought him to the side wall where many frames were hanging, under the flashlight of his phone he saw the pictures of her with her family, friends from school, with her siblings from Shivangi's engagement, with Niyati and Maithili with their kaka and kaki and mother.

His hand reaches to the corner of a photo frame of the two sisters hugging one another, as he bring it closer, sliding the frame open.

The door opened and closed behind him. He turned towards her with his flashlight blinding her, and his eyes catches the clock behind her showing 10:23.

"Put it out. " She said before passing him, turning the switch on and the fairy lights flowed the cozy room in the dim orange glow from behind the bed. "Ta-da. Welcome to my world."

She skipped towards him, back in his embrace putting his hand around her waist, "did you like it? I and Mitthu put it together after sneaking the fairy light under our mother's nose."

"Why? "

"Oh.. because she is the number 1 faintheart of our family. She fears that these tiny lights could cause arson-"

"It is a valid concern Jaan."

Sending a glare towards him she continues "you are allowed to take only my side, understood." Putting her hands on either side of her waist she waited for him to object but fortunately he didn't.

Getting out of his embrace she pushes him on the study chair to sit as she take out the cake he bought for her. "Light it up.." Niyati said excitedly and a chuckling Achintya followed her command.

With the cake in her hand, he put the single candle on the cake lighting it up, the warm glow of it reflecting on both of their face "make a wish." He murmurs as Niyati closes her eyes "let him be by my side for now, tomorrow and forever" she prayed in her mind and blowed the wick.

He took the take from her hand handing the knife as she cut a small piece and put it in his mouth first. "Thankyou."

Achintya cut down another piece bringing it to her mouth "once again..happy birthday Jaan."

Since the room was small their was no space for both of them to sit around together and talk freely. Achintya took the cake from her hand and put it on the study table, rotating her he made her sit on the bed and bringing the wooden chair near sat down on it.

"How you spent your day?" He ask and the whole awkward air between them evaporate as she open her mouth giving him the detailed description of her boring day. He was listening attentively when she suddenly exclaimed "what happened?"

As Niyati went toward the iron box and came back to him, this time with a bowl in her hand making him raise his eyebrow. "Planning to poison me?"

The slap he get on his arm was needed "yeah. Now try it-" a sudden shyness taking over her features as she mumbles "I made it myself."

And really..how is Achintya supposed to keep his thoughts in a one lane when she looks like the fucking seductress doing nothing but just sitting there.

Niyati waited..and waited..for him to dig up but he remain as still as the stone and rolling her eyes she bought the spoon to feed him "seriously, grow up."

He cleaned the bowl in just three or four bites, drank the water from the bottle as Niyati put both of the items by the side of the bed. She sit up expectedly waiting for him to-

"Not planning to. " He replied.

"How was the kheer?"

Exactly like his mother's. Achintya had always complained to badi Amma that why can't the kheer prepared in their house won't taste similiar to his mother's. No matter who made it, whether it be badi Amma herself or choti Amma or Nupur bhabhi there was always something less. Something missing.

With time, he adjusted himself accepting the truth that the taste he was searching for has been gone along side with his mother. His complaints now forgotten and erased.

Only to realise, that it was never the ingredients that enhance the taste of his mother's dishes but the love and care she put in them when feeding her children from her own hands.

His hand went to his Jean's pocket fishing out the old pouch from it. Niyati watches the small jewellery pouch in his hand and then at him when he opened it and slide something in his palm.

Coasting closer to him she sit on the edge of the bed when his left cold palm reaches around her neck gathering her open tresses to the other side and with other she felt something cold and smooth fastened around her neck. Her hand reaches above finding a thin gold chain.

"It belongs to my mother." She gazed in his eyes, calm but stormy, intense but impassive, a soft gasp elicited from between her lips when a palm closes around the front of her neck bringing her face closer to his "and now it belongs to you. It is precious to me so take good care of it."

And what was she supposed to do but to let the tear glide down her cheeks nodding her affirmation. Capturing his beautiful face in between her palms she put her lips against his gently, slowly, savouring the sweet moment.

Their lips moved smoothly around one another, slow and soft. When his left hand wounded around her waist, hoisting her up as his lips hungrily swolled the gasp from her, reclining back on the chair and bringing her to his lap with her knees folded on either side of his, her hands on his shoulders.

The close proximity made the ravenous beast awaken insides of him, as the kiss deepen with Achintya thrusting his tongue in between her lips tasting the inner cavern of her sweet mouth making her breathless as she pushes him away to fill her lungs from the much needed oxygen "Achintya.." the shriek leaves her lips, as his teeth bit the side of her neck -

Niyati's world turned around again, this time with her back colliding with the soft mattress as his face -the uncontrollable hunger clearly visible against the warm glow of the fairy light- hovered above her, her chest moving up and down at a rapid pace, the heart ready to escape if not for the ribcage.

The side of her neck throbbed, "this will cease when you say so. This doesn't even begins untill you say so." Achintya true to his words let the decision on her, unwilling to reveal his caveman side to her. He will have plenty of the opportunities in his hand, to demonstrate what actually he is capable off..in the safe confines of their own room.

Niyati let out a sharp breathe blinking her eyes at his remarks, does she trust him? Trust him enough to give him the consent?

The reality she discovered, was not that hard. Deep in her heart, Niyati always knew that when it comes to Achintya, her only choice will always be to - trust him.

Softly she bought his lips back to her and the little restraint he was practising till now snapped-

Trapping her petite body between his own sturdy one, tenderly kissing her forehead, and hungrily reaching to her lips, stealing her breathe as her hand wounded in his sweater.

The palm slipping to her neck resting there as the ministration of his lips continues, his hand yearns to travel freely, to touch, to brand the unmarked dusky flesh his own. But he also knew that Niyati wasn't ready for that.

And he was correct, since he soon found her hand gently shoving him away as he lay down alongside her on his back, with her snuggling to his side and resting her head over his shoulder, embracing him closely, while Achintya gently stroked her head and kissed her hair.

They both remain silent for a long time until she mutters, "Thank you for this. From now on, this will be as precious to me as it was to you."

He looked down; her face was concealed in his shoulder, too shy and red to look at him directly. He turned to his right, forcing her chin above "uh..no. Aren't you skilled at taking cues-" Niyati did her hardest, but she couldn't match his strength.

"Really Jaan?" Achintya deadpanned as Niyati kept her eyes closed.

"Stop it," she exclaimed, annoyed by his choice of words. "Don't laugh.." because he was. Loud and uninhibited, he clutched her tightly.

"When are you gonna get used to it?"

"Never. I have a really good name given by my parents; use that."

"And what about mine?" Achintya was really good at manipulating people because the next moment Niyati opened her eyes glaring at him, punching him wherever she could before her hands got captured in his. "Mine is good too. And so I refuse to call you Niyati-"

"I won't answer unless you call me by my full name-"

"Oh really? Then what if I call 'jaan' and some other girl answered-ouch...you bite me-" And indeed, there was a open bite mark on the side of his fair wrist, small teeth marks visible looking vibrant red against his pale skin.

"You deserves that." She said nonchalantly. He really loves to tease her..how dare he bought other girl between their conversation after spending..such an intimate moment between them.

And yet the guilt came and taking his hand she bought it to her eyes and gasped aloud "oh no.."

How could she done that? The mark looked as if a carnivorous bit him, the teeth marks visible and the wound turning purple as the time passes. "I'm sorry..oh no.." Niyati sat up hurriedly his hand in her lap with him observing her frantic expression quietly. "Wait here..let me bring the antiseptic -"

When Achintya pulled her back to where she was previously, hugging her closer burying his face in her sweet scent. "It isn't deep. "

"Achintya.."bshe pushes but he didn't budges an inch "Achintya..if we won't clean it up..it will leave the mark -"

"Now you understand my plan."

"Plan- what you? Oh." The realisation drawned on her later, the red bursting on cheeks and neck "you are really unhinged."

"Glad you realises that." As her hand found their place between his thick shorter hair, stroking him.

Her heart was filled with so much love that she felt if she didn't said it aloud she will burst. So, kissing him sweetly on top of his head she murmurs to herself "I love you."

The previous nightmare long forgotten now that he is here.

___

The much awaited birthday chapter is here. Hope you find it as romantic and cough *hot* cough as I did.

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