Chapter 26: Chapter 20: . The Warmth She Deserves

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Ananya

Today has been such a hassle. There's so much work to do, and even Arjun is caught up with his own tasks. I picked up my Vaseline and applied it to my lips, and it instantly reminded me of him. The memory of that moment with the Vaseline made me blush uncontrollably.

I haven’t seen him since we left home, and I’m really, really missing him. I want to talk to him so badly, but I’m unsure if I should call. What if he’s too busy? Maybe texting would be better.

I picked up my phone to send him a message. I typed Hi, but immediately shook my head and deleted it. Then I wrote What are you doing?, but that didn’t feel right either, so I deleted it again. This back-and-forth continued until I finally settled on:

Don’t forget to eat something.

And with that, I hit send.

A few moments passed, and my phone buzzed with a reply. My heart skipped a beat as I quickly unlocked it, eager to see his response.

Arjun: You’re too sweet. Don’t worry, I won’t forget. Have you eaten, though?

A smile spread across my face, and I couldn’t stop myself from grinning like a fool. He cared. He always did, even when he was swamped with work.

I typed back: Not yet, but I will soon. Don’t overwork yourself, okay?

His reply came almost immediately: Only if you promise to take care of yourself too. Missing you.

My heart melted. Just three words, and yet they held so much meaning. I hugged my phone, feeling giddy. Despite the chaos of the day, Arjun had this way of making everything feel a little less overwhelming and a lot more special.

The day finally came to an end, and I packed up my things, ready to head home. Arjun was likely still in a meeting, so I figured I’d go back on my own. It wasn’t the first time; we both had our busy days.

I stepped out of the building, the evening air cool against my skin. As I walked toward the road, I froze mid-step. There, leaning casually against his car, was Arjun.

For a second, I just stood there, blinking as if I was imagining him. He looked so effortlessly confident, his arms crossed and that teasing smirk on his face.

Before I could find my voice, he walked over, stopping right in front of me. “Where’s my pretty wife going without me?” he asked, his tone light and playful.

I stared at him, still trying to process. “I... I thought you were in a meeting.”

“I was,” he replied, opening the car door for me. “But I wasn’t about to let you go home alone.”

I climbed into the car, my heart doing an odd little flip. He shut the door and got in on the other side, starting the engine.

As we drove, I couldn’t help but smile. “You didn’t have to come all the way for me,” I said softly.

He glanced at me, his eyes warm. “And let someone else steal my wife’s attention? Not a chance.”

I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the warmth creeping up my cheeks. “Stop teasing me, Arjun.”

“Teasing? I’m just stating facts.” He grinned, and I couldn’t help but laugh at his audacity.

The drive continued, and we talked about our day, but something started to feel off. I looked out the window, realizing the roads didn’t look familiar.

“Arjun,” I said, turning to him, “this isn’t the way home.”

He smirked but kept his eyes on the road. “You’re very observant, Mrs. Malhotra.”

I frowned, sitting up straighter. “Where are we going?”

“Patience,” he said, his voice calm but teasing.

“Arjun,” I pressed, narrowing my eyes.

He finally glanced at me, his smile widening. “Relax, Firefly. I just want to take you somewhere.”

“Where?”

“You’ll see,” he replied, his tone mysterious.

I sighed, leaning back in my seat, my curiosity now completely piqued.

After a 30-minute drive, Arjun finally stopped the car. I looked around, but it was pitch dark, and I couldn’t tell where we were. Before I could ask, Arjun stepped out and came to my side. He opened the door and held out his hand, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Come, Firefly. We’re here,” he said, his voice soft yet teasing.

I placed my hand in his and stepped out of the car, still confused. “Where is here?”

“You’ll know soon enough. Just follow me,” he said with a wink, his excitement palpable.

We walked a little further into the darkness, my curiosity growing with every step. I was just about to ask again when suddenly, the entire area lit up. Strings of fairy lights, lanterns, and decorations surrounded us, and a loud, joyful cheer erupted:

“Happy Birthday!”

I froze, completely stunned. In front of me were Maa, Papa, my sister, Pooja, Karan Bhai, Rohan Bhai, Bhabi, Mom, and Dad. My heart skipped a beat as I turned to Arjun, utterly surprised.

He smiled softly, leaning close to whisper, “Happy Birthday, Firefly.” And then, to my shock, he kissed me on the cheek.

My cheeks burned instantly. He kissed me. In front of everyone!

I looked back at my family, overwhelmed with emotion. I had completely forgotten my own birthday, but here they all were—my parents, my sister, everyone I missed so much.

Maa and Papa came forward first, wrapping me in a warm hug. “Happy Birthday, beta,” Maa said, her voice filled with love. My sister hugged me next, followed by Mom and Dad, and then Bhabi. Rohan Bhai patted my head affectionately.

Pooja practically tackled me in a tight hug. “Happy Birthday, babydoll !”

Karan Bhai smiled as he stepped up. “Happy Birthday, Ananya,” he said warmly.

I looked around at everyone, still processing. “You’re all here?” I asked, my voice shaking slightly with emotion.

Maa smiled and nodded. “Arjun beta ne hum sab ko tumhare liye bulaya hai.”

(Arjun called all of us for you.)

“This was all Jiju’s plan!” Pooja chimed in excitedly. “We’ve been working on it since morning.”

“Right,” Karan Bhai added with a grin. “He wanted everything to be perfect, so he stayed with us to make sure all the preparations were done properly.”

I turned to Arjun, my heart swelling with gratitude. He was standing a little off to the side, but I noticed the faint pink tinge creeping up his neck. He was blushing—something only someone looking closely would notice. And I was definitely looking closely.

“You did all this… for me?” I asked softly, my eyes locking with his.

He cleared his throat, looking both proud and embarrassed. “You’ve been missing your family. I just wanted to make you happy, Firefly.”

Before I could thank Arjun, Pooja grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the cake. “Come on, Anu! Just cut the cake already. I can’t wait anymore!” she exclaimed, her excitement infectious.

Karan Bhai chuckled and added, “Yeah, cut it quickly. She’s been going crazy to eat it since morning!” His comment earned a round of laughter from everyone.

I couldn’t help but laugh too as I stood in front of the beautifully decorated cake. It was a two-tier masterpiece with delicate floral designs and “Happy Birthday Ananya” written in elegant frosting.

With everyone cheering me on, I picked up the knife, and Arjun stepped beside me, his hand lightly brushing mine as he placed his hand over mine to guide the first cut. I looked up at him, surprised, and he smiled softly.

“Ready?” he asked.

I nodded, and together we cut the cake as everyone clapped and cheered. Pooja, of course, was the first to demand a piece. “Give me the biggest slice!” she said dramatically, making everyone laugh again.

As I handed her a piece, she grinned mischievously and smeared a tiny bit of frosting on my nose. “Happy Birthday!”

“Pooja!” I gasped, but before I could retaliate, Karan Bhai joined in, smearing some on my cheek.

Everyone was laughing, and the atmosphere was filled with so much joy and love. Even Arjun was laughing, his usual composed demeanor replaced with a boyish charm I rarely saw.

After I managed to escape the frosting war, I turned to Arjun and offered him a piece of cake. He raised an eyebrow, clearly expecting something, but before he could say anything, I smeared a tiny bit of frosting on his cheek.

“Payback,” I said with a grin.

He froze for a moment, then narrowed his eyes playfully. “Oh, you’re going to regret that, Firefly.”

Before I could move, he reached out, grabbing a small piece of cake and smearing it across my forehead.

“Arjun!” I shrieked, laughing as everyone cheered us on.

After our little cake battle, I made sure everyone got their share before bringing a piece to Arjun.

He glanced at it, then at me, and shook his head. “I don’t eat sweet things, Firefly. You have it. It’s for you.”

“Really? Not even one bite?” I asked, hoping he’d give in.

But he simply smirked and shook his head again. I sighed in defeat and let it go, deciding not to push him.

The evening continued with laughter, warmth, and countless memories. I had never felt so loved, so complete. Looking around at my family, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude—for them, for this moment, and most of all, for the man who made it all happen.

Eventually, it was time to say goodbye. With hugs and promises to meet again soon, we bid farewell to everyone and headed home.

After freshening up, I sat on the bed, thinking about everything Arjun had done for me. I had been so caught up in the moment that I never got the chance to properly thank him.

Taking a deep breath, I stood up and called out, “Arjun.”

He turned to me, raising an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

I met his gaze and said sincerely, “Thank you so much for doing all this for me.”

He tilted his head slightly, his expression softening. “Come on, Firefly. You don’t have to thank me.”

“No, I want to,” I insisted, stepping closer.

At that, a playful smile tugged at his lips. “Oh? So you really want to thank me, Firefly?”

I nodded, not realizing the mischievous glint in his eyes until it was too late.

Arjun

As I stood there, watching my wife struggle to find the right words to thank me, I couldn't help but smirk. Oh, my Firefly… so innocent, so utterly adorable. She was acting as if I had done something grand when, in reality, I would do a hundred times more just to see that joy in her eyes.

“Oh? So you really want to thank me, Firefly?” I asked, tilting my head slightly, my voice dipping into a teasing lilt.

She nodded, her wide, sincere eyes locking onto mine, completely unaware of the trap she had just walked into.

I let my smirk widen. "Then… kiss me, Firefly."

Her lips parted slightly in surprise, but I saw the faint blush dusting her cheeks. For a moment, she hesitated, and I could see the internal debate in her eyes. But then, as if gathering her courage, she stepped closer, tilting her head up to me.

And I was done waiting.

I cupped her face gently, my thumb stroking her cheek as I leaned in, capturing her lips in a slow, deliberate kiss. Her lips were soft, warm, hesitant at first, but when I deepened the kiss, she melted against me.

I pulled her closer, letting my hands trail down her back, feeling her shiver slightly under my touch. My lips moved from hers, trailing along her jawline, then lower to the delicate skin of her neck.

“Happy Birthday, Firefly,” I murmured against her skin, pressing open-mouthed kisses along her pulse point. She gasped softly, her fingers clutching onto my shirt as I pulled her even closer.

I could feel her heart racing, matching the rhythm of mine. My hands traced slow, teasing patterns down her sides before sliding forward, my palm resting against the curve of her breast.

Her breath hitched, and I smirked against her neck, letting my lips linger just enough to make her shiver.

"You don't have to thank me," I murmured, my voice thick with meaning. "At least… not yet."

She pulled back slightly, her eyes filled with curiosity, silently asking me what I meant.

I chuckled, brushing my fingers down her arm. "I haven't given you my present yet."

She blinked, realization dawning in her eyes. Everyone—Maa, Papa, Mom, Dad, Karan, Pooja, Rohan bhai and bhabi—had given her gifts tonight. But I hadn't.

Before she could ask, I leaned in and whispered against her skin, "But you’ll have to wait until tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" she echoed, tilting her head slightly in confusion.

I pressed another lingering kiss to her neck before pulling away just enough to see her face. "Yes. So now, get ready for bed, Firefly."

She gave me a look—half curious, half pouting—but eventually nodded and headed to freshen up.

As soon as she disappeared into the bathroom, I sat down on the bed, running a hand through my hair. My gaze flickered toward the nightstand, and after a moment’s hesitation, I pulled the drawer open and carefully placed Ananya’s diary back in its spot—exactly as it was.

This morning, when I had come home to pick up something for the birthday party preparations, my eyes had accidentally landed on her diary. I hadn't meant to invade her privacy, truly. But something about it had drawn me in, as if it were silently calling to me.

I had only meant to peek, just for a second. But one second turned into a few more, and before I knew it, I was reading words that shattered me.

It wasn’t a happy diary.

It wasn’t filled with lighthearted thoughts or silly musings.

It was filled with pain.

With loneliness.

With silent cries that no one had ever heard.

Every unspoken word, every hidden sorrow, every heartbreak she never voiced—it was all there, inked onto those pages. And it broke something inside me.

I couldn’t stop thinking about how much she had been carrying alone. How many nights she had felt lost, unheard, unseen.

Then, her words came back to me—the ones I had read in her diary. Words that no one should ever have to write. Words that tore through me like a blade.

"Why do I always have to understand everyone? I want someone to understand me too. But that’s just a dream for now.

I never thought I’d think about dying this much in my life. But for the past month, it’s all I’ve been thinking about. I’ve even searched for an easy way to go, but I couldn’t find one. So instead, I pray… I pray not to wake up tomorrow, or the day after. I pray that I can just disappear quietly.

But nobody knows.

My family thinks I don’t understand anything. But it’s not that—I just don’t want to admit it in front of others. Yet they still blame me. They always blame me.

Do you know what hurts the most?

It’s when the people you love criticize you, blame you… and they don’t even realize that their words are slowly killing you."

My grip on the drawer tightened, my knuckles turning white as a sharp wave of anger and pain surged through me.

I couldn’t believe how much she had endured, how deeply she had suffered—all while keeping that pain hidden behind her soft smiles and quiet strength.

Flipping through the pages, I noticed each entry was marked with a date. Each one a reminder of the nights she had spent alone, drowning in thoughts she never shared with anyone. And the worst part?

All of this had happened before she met me.

I hadn’t been there for her.

I hadn’t been there to take care of her, to hold her, to tell her she wasn’t alone.

I hadn’t been there to shield her from the weight of her own thoughts.

And even though I knew she didn’t need anyone to heal her—because damn, she was stronger than anyone I’d ever known—I wanted to be the one she could lean on. The one she didn’t have to be strong around.

Because no matter how strong she was, she deserved to be held too.

She deserved to be loved the way she had always longed to be.

I swore to myself, right then and there—

She would never feel that way again.

Not as long as I was here.

Not as long as I was breathing.

I would make sure she knew she wasn’t alone anymore. That she mattered. That she deserved every ounce of happiness this world had to offer.

And I swore to everything holy—

I would do everything to keep her happy.

To help her open up to me.

To be the one she could finally lean on.

Ananya stepped out of the shower, bringing me out of my thoughts. She looked at me with that radiant smile of hers, the one that could light up the darkest corners of my soul.

“You should freshen up too,” she said softly.

I returned her smile, nodding before heading to the bathroom. But even as I let the water wash over me, my mind was still stuck on the words I had read in her diary. The pain she had buried. The loneliness she had endured.

By the time I returned to the bedroom, I found her already lying on the bed, her long day finally catching up with her. My Firefly must be exhausted.

I climbed onto the bed beside her and, without a second thought, wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her closer until her back was pressed flush against my chest.

She stirred slightly but didn’t protest.

Slipping my hand beneath her top, I let my fingers trace slow, lazy circles on her bare waist before sliding them up, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my touch.

“Arjun…” she whispered, her voice breathy and unsure.

“Please, Firefly,” I murmured against her hair. “Let me hold you like this. I need to feel you… to feel your warmth against my hands.”

She let out a soft, shaky breath but didn’t pull away. Instead, she gave me a small nod, granting me permission to keep holding her the way I wanted—no, needed—to.

Pressing a lingering kiss against the shell of her ear, I whispered, “Good night, Firefly.”

“Good night,” she murmured back, her voice drowsy.

And just like that, our night fell into peaceful silence, her steady breathing the only sound I needed to lull me to sleep.

Tomorrow, I would give her my surprise.

Tomorrow, I would make sure she knew just how much she meant to me.

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