Chapter 65 :

Advay pulled up to Ananya's house and stepped out of his car. The neighborhood was quiet, the late morning sun casting soft shadows on the driveway.

He rang the doorbell, waiting for a few seconds before the door swung open. Bhavana Panday stood there, smiling knowingly.

"Advay! What a surprise."

He gave a small nod, his usual calm demeanor intact. "Good morning, Aunty."

She tilted her head slightly, crossing her arms. "Ananya's not home, you know that, right?"

Advay smirked slightly. "I know. I actually came to meet Rysa. We're planning something for Ananya's birthday."

Bhavana's eyes lit up with interest. "Oh? That sounds fun. Come in."

Rysa clapped her hands together, already excited. "Alright, first things first—let's have the birthday at our house. We'll decorate it properly, get everything set up while she's out."

Advay nodded, listening intently.

"She has a shoot on her birthday," Rysa continued. "She'll be back by 7 PM. So, here's the plan—no one wishes her that day. Not me, not you, not even Mom and Dad. We make it seem like we completely forgot."

A small smirk appeared on Advay's face. "You want to mess with her?"

Rysa grinned mischievously. "Absolutely. She'll be annoyed at first, maybe even sulk a little. But then—boom! We hit her with the surprise."

Advay leaned forward slightly. "Alright. I like it. A little psychological warfare before the celebration. I'm in."

Rysa laughed. "Perfect! Now, let's talk decorations, food, and guests. This has to be flawless."

After finalizing the decor, food, and guest list, Rysa leaned back on the sofa, stretching her arms.

"Okay, now the most important part—gifts!" she said excitedly. "I already know what I'm getting her."

Advay raised an eyebrow. "And that is?"

Rysa grinned. "A custom-designed bracelet. Something small but meaningful. She loves jewelry that has a personal touch, so I thought of getting one with both our initials on it—A & R."

Advay nodded slightly. "That's a good choice. She'll love it."

Rysa tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly. "What about you? What are you getting her?"

Advay leaned back slightly, his emerald-green eyes thoughtful. "I've already decided."

Rysa sat up eagerly. "Oh? Tell me!"

He smirked slightly. "A necklace with the letter 'A' on it. Simple, but meaningful."

Rysa grinned. "Ooooh, I like that! Subtle, but she'll wear it every day. And the second gift?"

Advay glanced at her, his expression calm. "A big photo frame with a collage of pictures I've taken with her."

Rysa's eyes widened in surprise before breaking into a huge smile. "Okay, wow. That's actually really sweet."

She leaned back, crossing her arms. "So, the Crown Prince of Indian Cricket is also a softie, huh?"

Advay rolled his eyes. "Don't push it, Rysa."

She giggled. "Fine, fine. But honestly, she's going to love this."

Advay simply nodded. That was the plan.

October 30, 2019

The day had finally arrived. Ananya's birthday.

Advay woke up early, already knowing her schedule by heart. By 9 AM, she would've left for her shoot, completely unaware of the surprise waiting for her later.

Wasting no time, he grabbed his keys and headed straight to her house. As expected, Rysa was already buzzing with excitement, preparing for the decorations.

"You're late," Rysa said as soon as she saw him step in.

Advay glanced at the half-filled balloons and streamers scattered around. "Looks like you needed me anyway."

Rysa huffed. "Just shut up and start helping."

For the next few hours, they set up the decorations—hanging up fairy lights, arranging the banner, and prepping the table for the cake. Everything was going exactly as planned.

Then, around 12:30 PM, as Advay was tying up a set of balloons, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

Ananya.

He glanced at the screen for a second before answering, keeping his tone effortlessly normal. "Hey."

"Hey," her voice came through, soft yet curious. "What are you doing?"

Rysa nudged him again, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Put it on speaker!"

Advay shot her a quick glance but complied, tapping the speaker button.

Ananya's voice came through, a little softer than usual. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing much," Advay replied casually, keeping his tone even. "Just handling some things."

There was a brief silence before she spoke again. "Hmm. You didn't text me today."

Rysa pressed her hands over her mouth, trying not to giggle.

Advay leaned back against the table, keeping his expression unreadable. "Should I have?"

Another pause. "Forget it," she muttered. "What are you up to?"

Rysa whispered excitedly, "She's sulking!"

Advay smirked slightly but kept his voice calm. "Just busy with some stuff, Ananya."

"Oh," she responded quietly.

There was another small silence before she finally said, "Alright. I'll talk to you later."

She hung up.

Rysa immediately burst into silent laughter, shaking his arm. "Oh my god, she's so annoyed!"

Advay simply placed his phone back in his pocket, a faint smirk still playing on his lips.

Everything was going exactly as planned.

By 6 PM, the preparations were finally complete. The house looked spectacular—fairy lights twinkled across the ceiling, the walls were lined with elegant decorations, and the long dining table was set up with an array of dishes, drinks, and of course, the birthday cake hidden away for the perfect moment. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, just the way Ananya would love it.

Advay stood near the entrance, surveying the setup with a critical eye. Everything had gone according to plan so far. Now, all that was left was to wait for the guests—and, of course, for Ananya.

One by one, the guests started arriving.

First came Ananya's close friends, including Suhana Khan, Shanaya Kapoor, and Navya Naveli Nanda. They greeted Rysa and Bhavana warmly, chatting excitedly about how surprised Ananya would be.

A few minutes later, some of Ananya's celebrity friends walked in—Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, and Siddhant Chaturvedi. Tiger walked up to Advay, offering a nod. "So, you planned all this?"

Advay, his hands casually in his pockets, smirked. "More like executed it. Rysa was the mastermind."

Rysa, standing beside him, beamed. "Damn right I was!"

The house soon filled with quiet excitement, as more of Ananya's relatives arrived—her uncles, aunts, and cousins. Everyone took their places, whispering among themselves about how she was going to react.

Rysa leaned in closer to Advay, grinning mischievously. "She's going to be SO pissed before the surprise. I can't wait to see her face."

Advay exhaled, shaking his head with amusement. "Let's just hope she doesn't kill us first."

The energy in the room was electric. The moment was almost here.

The clock struck 7.

The house, once filled with hushed excitement, was now completely dark. Everyone had taken their positions—behind furniture, behind the walls, some near the staircase. The atmosphere was tense, the anticipation almost unbearable.

Then, the front door clicked open.

Ananya stepped in, her heels softly tapping against the marble floor. She frowned, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion. The house was silent. Too silent.

She instinctively reached for the switch and turned the lights on.

Nothing.

Still dark. Still quiet.

"Rysa? Mom?" she called out, taking a step forward, her voice laced with suspicion.

Just as she closed the door behind her and walked in a little further—

The entire house lit up in an instant!

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANANYA!"

A chorus of cheers and laughter filled the air as everyone jumped out from their hiding spots, clapping and grinning.

Right in front of her, standing in the center, was Advay—holding a beautifully decorated cake, candles flickering softly. The numbers on them formed "21," marking her age.

Ananya froze. Her wide eyes darted around the room, taking in the scene—the balloons, the decorations, the faces of her family, her friends, her loved ones…

And then, finally, her gaze landed on him.

Advay, standing there, watching her with his usual calm smirk, holding out the cake.

She blinked. Once. Twice. Then, in classic Ananya Panday fashion, she finally found her words.

"YOU LITTLE—!"

Advay smoothly stepped forward and placed a finger on her lips.

"Wooow, slow down, Ananya," he said, his smirk growing. "Breathe first, then react."

Her eyes narrowed dangerously.

Then, without warning—she started hitting him.

"YOU FORGOT, HUH?!" Smack.

"YOU DIDN'T TEXT ME, HUH?!" Smack.

"'Oh, I didn't check the date'—ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" Smack, smack, smack.

Advay stood there, taking the light punches, effortlessly balancing the cake in his hands.

"Are you done?" he asked after a few seconds, amused but completely unfazed.

Ananya, huffing, hands on her hips, glared at him. "No. But I'll let you off because there's a cake in your hands."

Rysa, from the side, burst into laughter. "I TOLD YOU she'd react like this!"

Everyone laughed, the atmosphere instantly turning lighter.

Advay finally extended the cake toward her, his emerald-green eyes watching her intently. "Now, are you gonna keep hitting me, or are you gonna make a wish?"

Ananya sighed dramatically, but a small, amused smile tugged at her lips as she leaned forward and blew out the candles.

Everyone cheered and clapped, while Rysa whistled loudly.

Ananya, still pretending to be annoyed, folded her arms and smirked at Advay. "I hope you get a duck in your next match."

Advay's eyes widened slightly as he took a step back, clutching his chest dramatically.

"Ananya… how could you?" he said, his tone filled with mock betrayal. "You might as well wish for rain in the desert."

Rysa burst out laughing. "Damn, that's actually evil."

Ananya grinned mischievously, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "That's what you get for making me think you forgot my birthday."

Advay shook his head, smirking. "Unbelievable. First, you hit me. Now, you're cursing my batting. Should I be worried about our future?"

She tilted her head, pretending to think. "Maybe."

Everyone laughed, the energy in the room light, warm, and filled with joy. The night had only just begun, and Ananya's birthday was already unforgettable.

As soon as Ananya blew out the candles, the room erupted into cheers. The warm glow of the candles faded, replaced by the bright, beaming smiles of everyone around her.

Advay was still clutching his chest dramatically. "A duck, huh? I pour my heart into this plan, and this is what I get?"

Ananya crossed her arms, smirking. "That's what you get for making me sulk the whole day."

Before he could respond, Rysa practically tackled her in a hug.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DI!" she shouted excitedly. "You really thought I'd forget?!"

Ananya laughed, hugging her back tightly. "I was seriously starting to think you did!"

One by one, everyone gathered around her, wishing her with smiles and warm embraces.

"Happy birthday, beta," Bhavana Panday said, placing a kiss on her forehead. "You're officially 21. Feels unreal."

"Thanks, Mom," Ananya said, squeezing her hand.

Chunky Panday stepped forward next, ruffling her hair. "Happy birthday, my little drama queen. You were ready to throw a tantrum, weren't you?"

Ananya rolled her eyes. "Of course not!"

Suhana Khan, grinning, pulled her into a hug. "You should've seen your face when you walked in!"

Shanaya Kapoor nodded in agreement. "I was waiting for you to throw something. You actually held back."

Tiger Shroff, standing nearby, chuckled. "Happy birthday, Ananya. You really thought they forgot?"

Ananya pouted slightly. "Don't remind me! It was the worst feeling ever!"

Tara Sutaria smirked. "Well, you survived. Now let's celebrate properly."

As she continued receiving wishes, Advay leaned back slightly, watching the scene unfold.

She was laughing, smiling, hugging her friends and family—completely in her element.

And then, finally, she turned back to him.

For a moment, there was just silence between them.

Ananya's expression softened as she took a step closer. "So, Advay…"

He tilted his head slightly, waiting.

"Aren't you going to wish me?" she asked, a small smile playing on her lips.

Ananya looked down at the small box in her hands, curiosity flickering in her eyes. Slowly, she opened it, and the moment she saw what was inside, her breath hitched slightly.

Nestled inside was a delicate, elegant necklace with the letter 'A' as the pendant.

For a few seconds, she just stared at it, completely silent. The room was still filled with chatter, but in that moment, it felt like it was just the two of them.

"Advay…" she murmured, her fingers lightly tracing the pendant. "You got me this?"

He shrugged slightly, hands still in his pockets. "I figured you'd like it."

She lifted her gaze to him, her usual sass replaced by something softer, something deeper. "I love it."

A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Good."

Rysa, standing nearby, leaned over to peek into the box and gasped dramatically. "Oh my god, this is so CUTE!"

Ananya laughed, shaking her head. "It is, isn't it?"

Before Advay could respond, she suddenly reached forward and hugged him—quick, but tight.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Advay, caught slightly off guard, just nodded, his smirk still present.

"You're welcome."

Advay nodded once, his voice steady. "Yes."

Ananya kept staring at the frame, her fingers lightly brushing over the photos. Each picture held a memory, a moment she didn't even realize he had captured.

And then, her eyes welled up.

She tried to blink it away, but the emotions hit her all at once. Her lips parted slightly as she let out a small, shaky breath.

Rysa's eyes widened. "Oh my god, she's crying."

Ananya wiped at her cheeks quickly, but the tears kept coming.

Advay tilted his head slightly, watching her reaction. "You're seriously crying over this?"

Ananya sniffled, glaring at him through her tears. "Shut up, Advay."

He smirked faintly, but his eyes softened.

She looked back down at the collage, shaking her head in disbelief. "I can't believe you kept all these moments."

Advay shrugged lightly. "They were important to me."

Ananya let out a small laugh between her tears, shaking her head again before stepping forward and throwing her arms around him.

Ananya buried her face in his chest for a few seconds, holding onto him tightly. But then, reality hit her.

Her eyes snapped open.

There were at least twenty people in the room.

She quickly pulled away, wiping her tears in a hurry, only to realize that everyone was staring at them—grinning, smirking, and some even outright giggling.

Rysa, of course, was the first to start. "Awww, look at them! So cute!"

Shanaya gasped dramatically. "Wait, did we just witness a full rom-com moment in real life?"

Suhana crossed her arms, smirking. "I think we did."

Tara Sutaria laughed, nudging Tiger. "Man, I wish I had recorded that."

Chunky Panday cleared his throat loudly, making Ananya freeze in horror. "Beta, I'm right here, you know?"

Ananya turned red instantly. "Oh my god."

Advay, meanwhile, was completely unfazed. He just stood there, hands still in his pockets, smirking as if nothing happened.

"You guys are embarrassing," Ananya muttered, covering her face with her hands.

"Oh, WE are embarrassing?" Rysa teased. "Who just had a full-on emotional moment in front of us?"

Ananya glared at her sister. "I swear, I will strangle you."

Advay finally chuckled, shaking his head. "Should I take my gift back, then?"

Ananya snapped her head toward him, eyes still teary but now narrowed. "Don't you dare."

The room burst into laughter. The teasing didn't stop, but at the end of the day, Ananya didn't mind.

Because this? This was the best birthday she ever had.