Morning
Pari was sleeping peacefully. No one dared to disturb this sleepyhead—not even her father. The whole family was waiting to wish her a happy birthday, but they were scared to wake her up.
It was already 8 in the morning.
Meera Malhotra, Pari's mother, said, “When is this girl going to wake up? I told her yesterday to wake up early today. We have a pooja at home, but she never listens to me.”
Madhav Malhotra, Pari's father, replied, “Meera, keep quiet. Let my Daughter sleep a little longer. It’s okay if she wakes up late.”
“There is a problem, Papa! If she wakes up late, it's a problem. If we don't wake her up, again there's a problem,” said 27-year-old Rudra Malhotra, Pari’s second elder brother.
Veer Malhotra, 32, Pari’s first elder brother, added, “And Rudra, you forgot the best part: if we do wake her up, that’s also a problem.”
Siya Veer Malhotra, Veer’s wife, said, “I still remember how Pari revealed that Veer and I were in love—just because Veer woke her up from sleep.” Everyone laughed.
Rudra smirked and added, — “Bhabhi, Pari didn’t just expose your love story. She also told Papa, that the way veer bhaiya talks to siya at night, I doubt she doesn't get much sleep after marriage anyway!’”
Everyone burst into laughter again.
Veer glared, slightly red in the face.
“That’s enough. Don’t talk too much now,” he warned, while Rudra just winked and leaned back, clearly enjoying the moment.
Meera broke the moment with a calm voice.
“Siya, is everything ready for the pooja?” she asked.
“Yes, Ma. Everything is ready. Only Pari needs to come,” Siya replied.
Six-year-old Aksh Veer Malhotra, Veer and Siya’s son, said, “When is my Bua going to wake up? I should be the first to wish her!”
“Only Aksh thinks he should wish me first because he loves me sooo much,” Pari said as she walked down the stairs. Aksh ran to her and said, “Happy Birthday, Bua!” and kissed her on the forehead.
Pari said, “Thank you, Aksh,” and kissed his forehead and cheeks.
Madhav said, “Pari beta, Happy Birthday.”
Instead of thanking her father, Pari said, “Now you wish me? No one wished me at 12 AM. I hate you all!” She threw a nearby vase and added, “You all won’t let me go outside, and now you didn’t even wish me!” She stormed off.
Meera said, “Pari, go freshen up and get ready. We have pooja.”
Pari replied angrily, “Ma, even now you're telling me to get ready instead of wishing me?”
Meera calmly responded, “Pari, the day you were born, I didn’t wish you ‘Happy Birthday.’ I just smiled looking at you and thanked God for giving you to me. Even now, I celebrate this day thanking God, not just by saying happy birthday. You know I always wish you after the pooja—don't you remember?”
"You’re not even letting anyone wish you! Instead, you’re busy shouting, ‘No one wished me!’ How can they wish you when you keep yelling like that?"
Pari snapped, “Ma, you always find fault in me.”
Aksh interrupted, “Leave it now, Pari. Go get ready like an apsara and come down.”
Pari smiled at him and said, “Okay, wait for me.”
After Pari went upstairs, everyone burst out laughing. Aksh knew how to calm her down—not just today, but every time. If there was no point left in an argument, he'd side with his crime partner, Pari. But when Pari had valid points, Aksh would support her too.
Madhav turned to Veer and Rudra and said, “I don’t want any media or outsiders at the evening party. Only the people we've invited should be there. I can’t risk my daughter’s safety.”
Veer replied, “Don’t worry, Papa. We’ll take care of everything.”
“Good,” Madhav said. “It’s better for both of you.”
---
At Rajput Mansion
Everyone in the Rajput family was having breakfast.
Isha Aarav Rajput, a six-year-old girl—daughter of Aarav and Ahana—asked, “Dadu, can I go to a birthday party?”
Rajendra looked at his elder son and daughter-in-law, who were also watching Isha. He asked, “Whose birthday party, princess?”
Isha replied, “My friend’s Bua's birthday today. So can I go, please?”
Both Aarav and Yuvaan said, “No.”
Isha's face fell.
Aarav said, “Princess, how many times have I told you not to talk to boys?”
Isha protested, “Papa, I don’t talk to boys! I only talk to one boy—Aksh.”
Yuvaan said, “Princess, you shouldn’t talk to boys at all.”
Isha said, “Then, Chachu, I won’t talk to you, Papa, Dadu, Vikrant, or Rishi Chachu either—because you're all boys!”
Aarav said, “Princess, what are you saying? I’m your father!”
Isha replied, “But you're a boy, right?”
Yuvaan said, “We’re men.”
But Isha said, “But Chachu, you were all boys before you became men. Even before I was born, you were boys. So Aksh is a boy now, and he’ll become a man when he grows up.”
Everyone was in shock after hearing this.
Suddenly, Aarav and Yuvaan began fake crying. They looked at each other and turned to Isha.
Yuvaan said, “We both thought we’d spend the day with you, Princess… but you’re going to a birthday party?”
Aarav added, “Yes, Princess. We weren’t even going to the company today, you know that. Ask your Mumma.”
Isha looked at Ahana, who nodded and said, “Yes, sweetheart.”
Isha looked at her father and uncle and said, “Okay. I won’t go to the party. Don’t be sad.”
Aarav smiled and asked, “Really?”
Isha said, “Yes, I’m not going to the birthday party.”
Yuvaan said, “Then, Princess, let's plan what games to play today.”
Everyone looked at Yuvaan with a smile. This side of him was only visible when Isha, his princess, was around. Aarav was happy to see his younger brother’s genuine smile.
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