14

Arjun stood in the kitchen, looking out at where Shruti was frantically rushing around the backyard of their home, trying to make sure everything was perfect for Aryan's first birthday party. It was originally going to be at a local restaurant, but the abnormally warm January weather has allowed them to host it at home, which meant the children would be able to run around and play, as they were meant to do at birthday parties.

"She's insane," Arohi spoke up as she joined him from the living room, the birthday boy settled on her hip. "There is no way this won't be the most perfect first birthday party of all time. What more can she possibly be doing?"

"My wife is a perfectionist," Arjun smiled fondly. "She and I have that in common." He took his son. "Aryan, are you ready for your party?"

"Yeah," Aryan nodded. "Ma?"

"She's outside," Arjun pointed. "Your friends will be here soon so she's getting ready for them."

"You know he doesn't understand you, right?" Arohi smirked. "He's one."

Arjun rolled his eyes. "You've not even given birth yet, so excuse me if I ignore any judgment you make on my parenting skills."

"She's going to be an excellent mother," Neil said as he walked into the kitchen, followed by the rest of the Punj clan. "I do not doubt that."

"Time will tell," Shivam joked, earning an elbow to the ribs from Ananya. "I'm only kidding. She puts up with all of us on tour, so I'm sure she can easily handle one baby."

Arjun laughed as Aryan reached for Shanaya. "I like how you so cavalierly say 'one baby' as though it's a walk in the park to raise one."

"You've managed not to kill Jules in his first year," Shivam reasoned. "And without Shruti, you're a mental case."

"But my baby is perfect," Shruti bragged as she made her way inside. "Most babies aren't." She glanced at her best friend. "But yours will be, too, of course."

"Mm-hmm," Arohi replied. "Well, we find out what we're having on Monday, so we'll know soon enough if I'll have a girl to fight with forever or Neil will have a son who feels he can never live up to his father."

"Arohi," Neil sighed. "Must you see everything so pessimistically?"

"I must," she winked at him. "What time does this party start? I'm getting hungry, and those tacos are calling my name."

"Guests should arrive at two," Shruti reported. "It's one-thirty now, so go on out and eat if you all would like. I'm going to change Aryan into his party outfit. Arjun, will you help me?"

"Of course," he agreed, taking Aryan back from his sister to follow his wife up to the nursery on the third floor. "Everything outside looks great, sweetheart. Your best party, by far."

"Well, it's our baby's first," she shrugged as if it were obvious. "He deserves the best of everything."

They had agreed upon a nature theme for the party, so Aryan wore a green, long-sleeve shirt with a big number one on it, paired with khakis and matching shoes. Shruti had insisted the two of them should match the theme, as well, so Arjun was wearing navy pants with an oatmeal-colored henley, while she wore brown corduroy pants, a pale pink top, and a flower crown on her head.

"You look so handsome," Shruti cooed over the toddler as she held him up to inspect his outfit. "Doesn't he, Papa?"

"Oh, yes," Arjun confirmed. "He looks like his dad."

Shruti smiled. "I'm glad he does. You're my two handsome men."

Arjun kissed her cheek. "You're the most beautiful woman I know."

She shook her head playfully, knowing exactly where his brain had gone. Ever since Aryan has started walking the previous month, Arjun had been trying to convince her to start trying for a second child, explaining he wanted their children to be close in age as he was with most of his siblings.

"Not right now," she told him. "Let's let this kid enjoy his party before we start planning to replace him."

Arjun gasped mockingly and stole his son away from her. "Did you hear that, Aryan? Your Mumma wants to replace you."

Aryan, oblivious to it all, laughed and reached for Shruti again.

"Ha!" she cheered. "He might look like you, Sunny, but I'm his favorite."

Arjun just grinned. "It's all right, laddoo. You're my favorite, too. Aryan has good taste."

"Okay, let's go," she laughed. "The birthday boy can't be late for his party, and if you keep looking at me like that, he will be."

The party was a hit. Other children from their neighborhood had been invited to play with bubbles and jump in the bouncy castle, which was not on theme, as Shanaya had pointed out, but after seeing how happy Aryan was in it, Shruti didn't care.

"Have you told her yet?" Neil asked as he stood with Arjun, watching Shivam jump into the castle with Aryan.

"No," Arjun denied, "because there's nothing to tell. I'm not going."

Neil frowned. "Sunny, we cannot keep having this discussion. You owe the label a six-week tour because of the time off you accumulated during the world tour last year."

"I don't owe the label anything," Arjun spat angrily. "I toured for the first six months of my son's life. I am trying to have another baby right now, and I promised Shruti that I wouldn't tour for at least another year or two. I'm working on an album; that's all the label is due at the moment."

"If you don't go, you're going to owe them near about 75 lakhs," Neil explained. "Are you prepared to pay that?"

"If I have to," Arjun confirmed. "But as my manager, I know you'll find a way to get me out of it. Won't you, brother?" he asked as he walked off in search of Rishabh.

"The label is pushing for a six-week tour in Northern India," Arohi told Shruti as they sat at the patio table. "Arjun is fighting it, but they've got him pretty locked in right now."

Shruti closed her eyes. "He hasn't mentioned it, but I've known something was up. He and Neil have had a lot of hush-hush conversations lately, and since I've delegated PR to Pramod, I've felt a little out of the professional loop. What happens if he refuses?"

"He'll own the T-Series about 75 lakhs," Arohi recalled.

"Bappa," Shruti swore softly. "He can't do that."

"That's what Neil has been trying to tell him, but I think he can," Arohi shrugged, rubbing her belly. "Neil might just work as Arjun's manager now, but he was a kick-ass lawyer once upon a time, so if there's a loophole in the contract, my husband will find it."

"Aryan and I can manage for six weeks," Shruti muttered reluctantly. "Though it would certainly put a damper on us trying for a second baby anytime soon."

"Don't let Shanaya hear you say that," the brunette warned. "She won't admit it, but I know she's still mad that I'm pregnant and she isn't, so to hear that you might get pregnant with a second before Rishabh consents to a first might send her over the edge."

"I feel bad for her," Shruti admitted. "I don't know what Rishabh's hold-up is. He's so great with Aryan. And I know Shivam and Ananya want to get pregnant as soon as they're married. They're not going to wait to appease Shanaya."

"That won't be until June, at the earliest," Arohi reasoned. "That's when the wedding is."

"Waheguru ji, speaking of weddings, did I tell you that someone from Mysore Palace reached out to Arjun personally about performing at Yaduveer's wedding in May?" Shruti asked excitedly. "I might get to go to the royal wedding!"

Before Arohi could tease her friend for being so excited over something so stupid, Aryan waddled over, followed by his father.

"Someone is ready for cake," Arjun said. "I said we had to ask you."

"Let's do it," Shruti beamed.

Once Aryan was settled into his high chair and covered in a bib, Ananya brought the small cake just for him out from the kitchen. It was in the shape of a tree, and it had a giant 1 candle in it.

"Make a wish, Aryan!" Shanaya cried after they'd finished singing to him.

Aryan ignored her and went face-first into the cake as soon as Arjun had removed the candle, much to everyone's delight.

"Can we talk about this six-week tour?"

Arjun was almost asleep after a long day of celebrating Aryan's first birthday when Shruti's soft voice filled their bedroom.

"How did you know?" he asked. He spoke again before she could. "Arohi."

"She wasn't trying to tattle," she assured him, "but I do wish I'd heard it from you. Why didn't you tell me?"

He sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "I didn't want to worry you. I'm not going."

"Aru said that if you don't, you'll owe the T-Series around 75 lakhs," she repeated. "You can't blow it off for that."

"I can afford it," he replied. "I will not leave you and Aryan again. Not right now."

"Sunny," she sighed, curling up next to him. "Don't worry about us. We survived six months, so we can easily do six weeks."

"No," he declared firmly, having heard the sadness in her voice at the idea of him leaving for six weeks. "I made you a promise, and I intend to keep it."

"We're quite in love, aren't we?" she whispered.

"So, so much," he agreed.

After a long silence, she spoke again. "Go on tour. I won't be mad, I promise. Maybe Aryan and I will join for a bit."

Arjun didn't say anything else. He waited until he felt her breathing even out, meaning she was asleep before he slipped out of bed and went down to his studio to make a phone call.

The Saturday afternoon after Aryan's party, Shruti was just finishing up the dishes when she heard the front door open and close, followed by two pairs of footsteps in the hallway.

"Hello?" Shanaya called out. "Sunny bhaiya? Shruti?"

"In here!" Shruti yelled back.

Seconds later, Shanaya and Rishabh appeared.

"Hey," Shruti greeted them. "Were we expecting you guys? Did I forget plans?"

"Nope," Rishabh shook his head. "Shanaya and I are going to babysit while bhai takes you out on a date."

"Really?" Shruti grinned.

"Really," Arjun confirmed, emerging from the basement with Aryan. "I'll finish up here so you can go get ready, sweety."

As Shruti hurried upstairs and Rishabh chased Aryan into the living room, Shanaya stood with her brother. "Thank you."

"For what?" Arjun wondered.

"I know why you asked us to watch him instead of Neil and Arohi," she smirked. "You think if Rishabh spends some one-on-one time with Aryan, it'll help convince him we should have a baby."

Arjun eyed her. "You'd make an excellent mum, Shanaya. It would be a shame for you to wait much longer."

She said nothing as she kissed his cheek and went to join her husband and nephew.

"Where are we going?" Shruti wondered as Arjun drove through Mumbai.

"To Skryf's," he answered casually.

She lit up. "The place you were first discovered? You've never taken me there before."

"I know," he nodded, "and I know you've wanted to see it, so I figured why not? It's just a small cafe, but if it makes you happy, I'm all for that."

Arjun was right; it was certainly small. But Shruti didn't care. As they were seated at a table near the small stage, she tried to take in everything about the place that had ultimately led to her and Arjun ending up together, because if he hadn't been discovered, she never would have come to work on his first tour.

"I'm going to use the washroom," Arjun said after they'd ordered drinks. "I'll be just a moment."

While he was gone, Shruti sorted emails and responded to one from GQ about a cover story on Arjun for their May issue. Just as she was about to call her to check on Aryan, the owner, Adi himself, stepped onstage.

"Ladies and gents, you're in for a real treat tonight," he said into the microphone. "Here to perform a brand new, yet unheard original song in the place where he was first discovered more than ten years ago, is Arjun Punj!"

Shruti laughed as Arjun walked onstage and sat down on a stool with just an acoustic guitar in his hand.

"Hello, everyone," he said quietly. "I'm here with my wife tonight, and this is her first time here, so I thought I would sing her a little something if you all don't mind?"

The crowd cheered, so he adjusted the guitar and began to strum and sing.

Duavan Mangda

Main Tere Layi Duavan Mangda

Main Jithe Jithe Jaavan Heeriye

Sang Tera Parchavan Mangda

Main Lad Da Rawan

Zamane Naal Lad Da Rawan

Sitaare Mohabbata De

Teri Chunni Utte Jad Da Rawan

Ho Tere Layi Aa Jeeti Baazi

Haar Jaavan Tu Je Raazi

Tere Baajo Mera Bolna

Ho Rabba Mehar Kari Tu Mehar Kari

Mera Ho Jaaye Woh Na Der Kari

Is Janam Mil Jaaye Woh

Usey Agle Janam Mera Pher Kari

Mehar Kari Tu Mehar Kari

Mera Ho Jaaye Woh Na Der Kari

Is Janam Mil Jaaye Woh

Usey Agle Janam Mera Pher Kari

Tu Hi Sahara Mera Kinara Mera

Tu Hi Hai Chann Mera Sitaara Mera

Tu Hi Hai Yaara Mera Guzara Mera

Tu Hi Hai Mera Safar

Tu Sahara Mera Kinara Mera

Tu Hai Chann Mera Sitaara Mera

Tu Hai Yaara Mera Guzara Mera

Tu Hi Hai Mera Safar

Hawaon Ki Awaaz Jaisa Tu

Roohani Kisi Saaz Jaisa Tu

Jo Sunke Khush Ho Jaaye Khuda

Usi Alfaaz Jaisa Tu

Ishq Mujhe Raas Aaya Hai

Jab Se Tu Paas Aaya Hai

Teri Khushboo Se Har Taraf

Naya Ehsaas Aaya Hai

Shayar Toh Hoon Main Waise

Tareef Karun Main Kaise

Alfaaz Mere Kol Na

Ho Rabba Mehar Kari Tu Mehar Kari

Mera Ho Jaaye Woh Na Der Kari

Is Janam Mil Jaaye Woh

Usey Agle Janam Mera Pher Kari

Mehar Kari Tu Mehar Kari

Mera Ho Jaaye Woh Na Der Kari

Is Janam Mil Jaaye Woh

Usey Agle Janam Mera Pher Kari

Ho Rabba Itna Barsa De

Mujhpe Karam

Ho Rabba Mehar Kari

The whole cafe erupted into applause as Arjun finished the song, shook Adi's hand, and made his way back to his and Shruti's table.

"Arjun," she whispered. "When did you write that?"

"Over the last few days," he admitted. "I've been thinking a lot lately about you and us and what if your parents wouldn't have accepted our love and what the future holds, but I've made a decision and I hope it's one you'll be happy with."

She eyed him curiously. "What?"

"I've left Island Records," he announced. "Neil and I are starting our label called lndie Music, and I'm going to be our first artist." He winced. "Thoughts?"

Shruti smiled brilliantly. "I think that's the best idea you've ever had." She paused. "Besides marrying me, of course."

"Of course," he laughed, leaning over to kiss her. "I love you."

"I love you, too," she breathed against his lips. "What do you say we get outta here and convince your sister and Rishabh to stay with Aryan overnight? I think there's a room at the Marriot with our name on it."

"I like the sound of that," he agreed. "Let's go make Aryan a baby sister."

Shruti just laughed as he escorted her back out into the cool evening.