Jeevika woke up with an extra special smile on her face today. She felt so happy, so blessed to have the best people in her life. She looked at Manvi sleeping right next to her. All that party-planning and surprise sucked the energy out of her. She for sure was not used to doing any work, but when it came to her di she would do anything. As she looked at the clock in their room she stumbled upon a gift bag placed on the chair near her bathroom. She quickly got up eager to see this new surprise now. She walked over and looked through the gift bag, taking out something big and wide. It was a book, or actually it was a photo album. Jeevike slowly opened the album and saw a huge picture of herself, a solo one on the front page. She was amazed at how beautifully captured this picture was taken. She flipped through the pages and just saw all these beautiful pictures taken yesterday, on her birthday
***flaskback***
m - "Diii how long are you going to take"
j - "Mannu five more minutes"
m - "Dii yaar. Okay take this bag from me please and wear this"
j - "Mannu"
m - "Dii please just take it"
Jeevika opened the door and took the bag from Manvi's hand. After another twenty minutes Jeevika came out wearing the most beautiful orange and pink colored anarkali. Manvi was just looking at how gorgeous her di was looking.
m - "Diii, you look beyond gorgeous! I mean absolutely stunning"
j - "Mannu stop. Where did you get this outfit from?"
m - "Di what kind of a question is that? Okay now quickly let me get ready and we have to go out"
j - "But where mannu?"
m - "Di, its your birthday today. I've planned such a special day for you so please don't spoil it"
j - "Okay okay. You go get ready fast then; I'll go outside"
m - "Okay di" she said walking towards the bathroom.
m - "DIII!"
j - "Now what mannu?"
Manvi ran over to her di and hugged her and kissed her on her cheek - "Happy Birthday Di"
Manvi ran back to the bathroom and then Jeevika smiled. Her phone started ringing and she ran over to the end table hoping it was her love Virenji. It wasn't though. It made her a little disappointed as it was already so late. He always remembered to call her every morning on his way to office, but today he didn't. And today was her birthday. She didn't even know if he knew it was her birthday today, she had never told him. How she wished he would call and wish her and say those sweet charming words that made her totally fall in love with him more and more. Jeevika walked outside in a little disappointment, but her family was there to make it all better. Everyone congratulated her and gave her her gifts. She went into the kitchen and saw her beeji making her granddaughter's favorite foods. She just hugged her from the back. Just then Jeevika realized that this was going to be her last birthday over here with her family making her cry a few drops of tears. She wiped it quickly before anyone would see. Manvi came out and saw everyone sitting at the breakfast table.
m - "hawww you guys all started eating without me?"
dabbu - "It's jeevika di's birthday, not yours manvi di"
m - "shutup Dabbu'. dare you ask me for mithai now. I will take it and throw your face in it"
Everyone started laughing.
m - "Di lets go, come on we're getting late?"
j - "But Mannu eat at least?"
m - "Di you ate na? So my stomach is also full. Chalo let's go please di"
j - "Manvi you're not leaving empty-stomach"
Manvi picked up a banana from the table and quickly ate it. She took the peel and put it on Dabbu's head who didn't even realize it. Jeevika and everyone just laughed.
m - "Now can we go" she said with her mouth full
j - "This girl has no patience. Okay let's go"
They were leaving when Jeevika remembered she forgot her wallet.
j - "Mannu hold on one second"
Jeevika ran back inside her room and picked up her wallet and her phone. She quickly checked her phone to see if there were possibly many missed calls, but there was none. No phone calls at all. She took it back outside and saw Manvi waiting outside.
m - "What happened di?"
j - "Forgot my phone and wallet"
m - "Phone!!! oh really? Why were you waiting for someone's phone call?"
j - "Virenji's" she said looking down at the ground.
m - "He didn't call you today? I mean everyday he calls when he's going to work"
j - "I know, leave it let's go" she said trying to distract herself.
m - "Don't worry we will both get very mad at jiju. How dare he not call you"
j - "He must be busy with work or something Mannu"
m - "Di you're still taking his side. Very bad di I'm taking your side and you leave me for him"
j - "Mannu its not like that. Okay where are we going now?"
m - "You'll see lets go now"
The both of them finally left home and went to the market. Manvi first took her di for some ice cream then they went to the small stores of Hrishikesh where they would spend all their time together. They bought bracelets and earrings and pampered themselves having so much fun.
j - "Mannu I'm tired now, please lets go home"
m - "Di, its only 2:00 pm. Are you crazy. Let's go to the park and sit in the garden"
j - "Mannu please"
m - "Di last place then we will go home, promise you"
j - "Okay let's go then" she said smiling
Both of them went to the park and sat on one of the benches. They looked at the little kids on the slides playing around with their friends. They started remembering their childhood and how the both of them would come there and have so much fun together. Today they were sitting on the benches and reliving their memories.
m - "Di let's go on the swings please. Look no one is there now"
j - "Mannu how old are you?"
m - "Di yaar, lets do something fun sometimes also. Come" she said holding her di's hand and taking her to the swings.
The two of them started swinging on the swings laughing like two crazy sisters. They held their hands together and just enjoyed this moment. How life was going to be changing in a few weeks.
m - "dii look'. I'll be back" she said running from the swings.
Manvi saw a cotton candy stall and she ran to get some. Jeevika just lay her head on the side on the swings looking at her Hrishikesh, her home. Just then she felt someone pushing her on the swing. She smiled bright.
j - "Mannu what are you doing" she said looking behind.
It wasn't Manvi. It was someone else. It was her love, her Viren, her everything. She stopped the swing quickly with her feet and turned around engulfing him in a hug so tightly. This was their first hug, and it was so special. She was ecstatic seeing him, and he was on cloud nine seeing Jeevika's reaction. She really was his angel.
v - "Happy Birthday Jeevika" he said still hugging her.
Jeevika broke the hug and was a little emberassed.
j - "Thank you. How are you here?"
v - "Well Manvi called Virat and me and told us how she wanted to plan something for you"
j - "Really, Mannu did this? It's kind of hard to believe"
v - "I know. I mean especially since this would be her last birthday with you and she choose to spend it with us"
j - "But where did she go?"
v - "She left with Virat"
Jeevika was surprised. Viren just laughed looking at her. He put his hand out for Jeevika to hold onto his. She smiled and happily did so. He walked her to his car, his white mercedes opening the passenger seat just like any prince charming would do. Jeevika blushed a little as Viren got into the driver's seat.
Viren started driving the car and took out a small gift-package from the back of the car. It was small and fit perfectly in his hand. Jeevika looked at the gift and then straight into his eyes.
v - "Your gift"
j - "Virenji I don't need any gift. I mean you drove all the way from Chandigardh and thats more than enough for me. This stuff does not matter"
v - "Please don't say no"
Jeevika smiled and took the small gift from his hand. She opened the gift and they were these long beautiful diamond earrings. Jeevika was beyond excited, though she tried to tame herself to make her look respectable. But she was to damn excited, this day was just getting better and better.
v - "I hope you liked them"
j - "I love them. This is beyond beautiful. Thank you so much"
v - "I'm glad. For someone beautiful like you, it's not even that amazing"
Jeevika stared into his eyes with the words "awww" in her mind. How could he be so loving and caring towards hers. He smiled back knowing that his words touched her heart. He looked back at the road while Jeevika stared down at the earrings and then outside her window. Today was a fairytale and her prince charming was right next to her. After another fifteen minutes Viren reached outside this fancy hotel. Jeevika knew how expensive this place was and for Viren it was nothing; nothing compared to her happiness.
v - "Shall we go inside?"
j - "Virenji let's go somewhere else please"
v - "Why you don't like this place?"
j - "No, its just that its'" unable to tell him that she didn't want him wasting more money on her.
v - "Fancy? Well I can treat you for your birthday at least can't I?"
j - "But you don't have to. I don't like these materialistic things as much as the thought. I'd rather spend time with you than go to this restaurant"
Viren was a little shocked at how innocently and sweetly Jeevika blurted her feelings. She blushed after realizing she said she wanted to just be alone with him, and he was even happier than before. This girl had charm, poise, everything. She was so beautiful yet so simple, and that simpleness is what attracted him most to her.
v - "Okay, let's just go in and if you don't like it then we can go somewhere else. Fair enough?"
Jeevika just nodded as she didn't want to be rude. He had done so much and planned all this, why was she being so narrow-minded. She hated that about her sometimes. They both walked in, and for the first time hand in hand. It was a unique feeling. They both had butterflies in their stomach and could feel the awkwardness holding hands, yet there was something magical to it. It felt out of the world, as if their respective partners would catch each other had they fallen. There was trust and love. Viren took Jeevika into this private room, which seemed small from the outside. As they walked inside this room Jeevika could see a bunch of people gathered at this place. Before she could react or say anything they all yelled "SURPRISE"
Jeevika looked at all of them, taking note everyone who was there. From her family to her in-laws. Her co-workers to her friends. Viren, Manvi, and Virat had planned this all for this one special person. She was the one who always did the pampering, and today for the first time in her life she was being pampered. Everyone came and wished her giving her blessings. But she couldn't focus. All she could do was see her soon to be husband, a few feet away. She just blushed looking at him, and how adorable he was. This surprise made her fall in love with him even more. She just wanted to talk to him and thank him for the bestest surprise of her life, but no one was letting her. Then came the cake cutting, and Manvi being Manvi yelled on top of her lungs getting everyones attention. They all gathered near the center of the room and started singing for Jeevika.
m - "Di blow out the candles and MAKE A WISH"
Jeevika cut the cake and was about to feed it first to Manvi, but she couldn't see her next to her. Then she saw Manvi bringing Viren from the far side pushing him towards her.
m - "Di, the first bite should be for the mastermind of this party" she said trying to make both Viren and Jeevika blush.
Viren took the piece of cake from Jeevika and fed her first. As he was feeding her Manvi and Virat both put some frosting on each side of Jeevika's cheek. She didn't even have it coming. Everyone started laughing. Gradually after eating lunch everyone started leaving, and Jeevika was actually happy from their exiting 😆. She still hadn't gotten a chance to talk to Viren. Viren was talking to Dabbu and Madan chachu and as Jeevika was going up to him Manvi and Virat quickly came.
m - "So diii how did you like your surprise?"
v - "Obviously bhabhi liked it, it was my idea"
m - "Chep. It was mine and Viren jiju's"
v - "Shutup Manvi, in public at least be respectful"
j - "You two continue fighting, I'll be back"
Jeevika was walking away when Manvi held her wrist'
m - "Virat, I think the two love birds are very eager to spend some time with each other. Di is running away from us here and poor Jiju is in no mood to talk to anybody. He's just looking over at di"
v - "True Manvi. Let's do something about this"
Jeevika was eyeing Manvi real bad giving her the death glare.
v - "Manvi lets go take everyone from here and give them some alone time please"
m - "Good idea"
Manvi and Virat started gathering all the family together. The Vadhera's were going to go over to the Choudry's and they all started leaving, leaving Viren and Jeevika alone.
They both stood in front of each other and said each others name at the same time. They just started laughing. Their laugh was like melodious music to each other.
j - "You go first"
v - "No you"
j - "Thank you for everything. Coming here, those beautiful earrings, and this party. This has been the most special day of my life and its all because of you. I can never thank you enough"
v - "You don't need to thank me, this was something I wanted to do. I know you would have done the same for me right?"
j - "Probably not as special as this. This was just'" she said trying to control her emotions. Without even realizing there were tears coming down her eyes. She didn't know if it was of sadness or happiness. It was her last birthday here, her last birthday with Manvi, but at the same time she was leaving for someone so caring like Viren. She missed her parents, but she saw a mother in Vanshika. All her emotions got to her and Viren could easily read it through her eyes. He did something strange, yet special. Something that may have been wrong, but felt so right. He took her close to him and kissed her tears. Taking in all her emotions within himself. And before he knew it, he kissed her right on her lips. At that time Jeevika could care less if this was right or wrong, she just gave in with equal desire. It was so simple, yet so divine. It wasn't long till they broke apart. Instead of feeling bad, they felt good, and happy. They both smiled and Viren took her into his arms hugging her so tight that nothing could come in between them now'
***flashbackover***
Right as Jeevika finished seeing the last picture her phone started ringing. She knew it was Viren as she had set a different ringtone for when he would call. She quickly picked up the phone before Manvi would wake up. She walked away towards the chair where she was looking at the album. Today it was a more special day for Virika. It was like that kiss had broken the ice. They were talking to each other like two madly in love people.
v - "Goodmorning my love"
j - "Goodmorning" she said blushing. Just the way she said it made Viren go fida over here. He knew she was blushing and talking on the phone with him.
v - "Sleep well?"
j - "Yeah, I'm sorry you probably are so tired. Driving back home to Chandigardh and then getting ready for work now"
v - "Don't be sorry, because I'm not"
j - "What do you mean?"
v - "Jeevika what wish did you make when you blew out the candles yesterday?"
Jeevika blushed more and Viren knew it was about him thats why she was quiet.
v - "Tell me"
j - "I wished that you could stay one more day with me. I don't know I was being greedy because yesterday was the most perfect day, but I wanted to be near you, close to you"
v - "Why didn't you tell me before?"
j - "Because you had already done enough"
v - "Well me staying wasn't just for your happiness. It would have made me happy too, the most happy actually. I don't think I enjoy spending time with anyone as much as I do with you"
Jeevika smiled large and bright looking into the mirror. Suddenly she realized she could see Viren. Was that Viren or was that her imagination? He was standing on the phone next to the window being reflected in the mirror. Jeevika turned around dropped her phone coming into reality. It was Viren. She ran to the window where she saw him standing outside. She opened the window and touched his face.
v - "I love you" he said giving her one red rose.
She took it from him and kissed his cheek making him blush now.
j - "I love you more"