Mag-log inArjun shook his head with amusement. Then she started walking away from there too. Today she was like a free bird going from one place to another without stopping. She started looking for Maa and baba and reached the courtyard. Then Raghu's parents came into view. Inaayat didn't hesitate. She went straight to them too. "Maa! Baba! Aaj hamara happy birthday hai!" She happily announced it. (Translation: Mom! Dad! Today is my birthday!) The older couple exchanged a glance. Their smiles appeared immediately. But their eyes betrayed something else. Emotion and guilt. Something about the announcement seemed to hurt them in a place Inaayat couldn't see. They knew something. Something they didn't want her to know. At least not today. The older woman pulled Inaayat into her arms. "Happy birthday, beta." Her voice trembled slightly. Inaayat didn't notice. "Thank you." She simply smiled happily. "Bhagwan tumhe hamesha khush rakhe." Raghu's father placed a hand gently over her head. Inaay
As though she still couldn't believe that, for once, something beautiful had been prepared solely because she mattered. Ryker looked at the tears slipping down her cheeks. His brows drew together slightly. "Bacche..." She looked at him through watery eyes. (Translation: Kiddo...) "Aap ro kyun rahi hain." He said instead of asking. (Translation: Why are you crying.) And that was all it took. Whatever little strength she had been using to hold herself together simply disappeared. Her lips trembled. Her eyes squeezed shut. And the next second, she stepped forward and hugged him. Unexpectedly. So suddenly that Ryker actually froze. For a moment, his arms remained suspended at his sides. He hadn't expected it. Not after watching her quietly admire every gift. Not after her soft thank-yous. Not after those tears. But then he felt her fingers clutch the fabric of his shirt. Her face disappeared against his chest. And she started crying. Not quietly. Not delicately. She cried li
She picked up the next gift. Again, she carefully opened it. This time, she uncovered a beautiful lavender-colored case. Her fingers immediately moved over its surface. She opened it. Inside was a beautifully finished phone set, complete with matching accessories and its certificate of authenticity. But Inaayat barely glanced at the certificate. Her attention was completely fixed on the phone. She picked it up carefully. Then she looked at Ryker. "Ye hamare liye hai kya ji?" She asked. (Translation: Is it for me?) "Haan bacche." He nodded simply. (Translation: Yes kiddo.) "Ye hamara phone hai?" Her eyes widened. (Translation: Is it my phone?) "Haan, aap ka phone hai." He confirmed. A huge smile appeared on her face. (Translation: Yes, it's your phone.) "Ab hum aapko apne phone se call kiya karenge!" She paused. Then immediately added, almost warning him. (Translation: Now, I will call you from my phone!) "Lekin aap zyada din ke liye mat jaana." She said narrowed eyes. (Tr
Inaayat lowered her eyes shyly. Then opened her mouth just enough to take the bite. Her cheeks immediately puffed slightly as she began chewing. Ryker watched her for a moment before turning back toward the cake. He cut another neat piece and placed it carefully on a small plate for her. While he did that, Inaayat wandered a few steps away. She looked at everything. Not hurriedly. Not casually. She gave every little detail the attention it deserved. She looked at the balloons hanging from the ceiling. Then the tiny heart-shaped balloons. Then the ribbons. The flowers. The gifts. The birthday lettering. The huge number twenty. She even noticed the little decorative details on the table that someone else might have overlooked completely. She looked back at Ryker. "Ye sab aapne lagaya?" She again asked. (Translation: You set all this up?) "Haan." He looked up at her and said. (Translation: Yes.) "Ye bhi?" She walked toward another corner. (Translation: This too?) "Haan." He nodd
Inaayat took another step, watching the balloons move around her feet. She smiled at one of the glittery ones before looking up toward the ceiling again. Then she turned back. Slowly, she walked toward Ryker. The excitement in her eyes was impossible to miss. She stopped directly in front of him. For a moment, she simply stood there. Looking up at him. Her face glowing in the soft pink light of the room. And Ryker looked down at her. Neither of them said anything. Inaayat just stood there in front of him, surrounded by balloons, flowers, presents and the birthday surprise he had secretly prepared while she slept. Ryker watched her for a moment as she stood in front of him, that bright, almost disbelieving smile still spread across her face. Then, without saying anything, he reached toward the bedside table. Inaayat's eyes followed his hand curiously. He picked up something hidden just beside the lamp. And when he brought it forward, Inaayat's eyes immediately widened. It was a huge
The haveli had long since surrendered to silence. It was that peculiar kind of midnight silence that only came after an exhausting day, when every corridor was dark, every door shut, and even the restless sounds of the old house seemed to have finally gone to sleep. The wall clock in Ryker and Inaayat's room showed at 11:59 PM. Only one minute remained in striking twelve. The curtains shifted faintly with the night breeze coming through the slightly open window. Moonlight spilled across the floor in thin silver lines, while the small bedside lamp remained switched off, leaving the room mostly cloaked in darkness. Inaayat was fast asleep. She had slipped into the deepest part of her sleep sometime ago, curled slightly beneath the blanket, her hair scattered messily across the pillow. Her breathing was slow and peaceful, her face completely relaxed. Ryker sat beside her for a moment, watching her. There was something unusually soft in his expression. He glanced once toward the wall c
He settled her down on the counter top and opened the tap making water of normal temperature to flow out of it. He took some of it in his palm and splashed gently on her face. Inaayat gasped feeling the sudden coolness of water on her face. Bhanu Pratap smiled widely at her cute looking face and he
Bhanu pratap singh was like the king of the city. Everyone used to work upon his orders and desires but he used to work upon that little three year old toddler who doesn't even know how to give orders but he always understands what she wants and he gets it for her without any second thoughts. When
He was very broken after that and no matter he tried he couldn't move on from her daughter and after many years when he saw Inaayat he couldn't stop himself from remembering her late daughter. So when Inaayat came into the haveli he took her responsibility and used to take care of her like a father
"Inu tumhe jana hai uske paas?" He questioned her directly making her feel nervous and she immediately moved her gaze down at her lap. (Translation: Inu do you want to go to him?) "Dekho Inu tumhe mujhse kuch bhi chhupane ki zaroorat nahi hai. Tum chahti ho usse baat karna?" He asked her about







