Chapter: Twenty-One

The morning sunlight filled Hrittik and Abhina's apartment.

Abhina stretched lazily before looking at the calendar hanging on the wall.

She smiled to herself.

"Twenty-one..."

It was her birthday.

She quietly walked out of the bedroom expecting something special.

Instead...

Everything seemed surprisingly normal.

The maid wished her.

"Happy birthday, madam."

"Thank you."

Hrittik was sitting at the dining table reading the newspaper.

Without looking up, he simply said,

"Happy birthday."

Abhina blinked.

"That's it?"

He smiled faintly.

"What more?"

She pouted.

"So boring."

He hid a smile behind the newspaper.

The entire day passed unusually quietly.

No decorations.

No gifts.

No surprises.

Abhina began thinking,

"Maybe everyone forgot..."

---

Evening arrived.

Abhina had just stepped into the living room when suddenly someone covered her eyes from behind.

She gasped.

"H-Hrittik?"

No answer.

Strong but familiar arms gently guided her forward.

"Hey! Where are you taking me?"

"Just trust me."

She laughed nervously.

"This feels like a kidnapping!"

"It is," he teased.

"My legal kidnapping."

She playfully hit his arm.

"You're impossible."

He led her upstairs to the terrace.

Only then did he uncover her eyes.

Abhina froze.

The entire terrace was decorated with fairy lights, candles and pink and white flowers.

A soft breeze carried the fragrance of fresh roses.

She looked around in amazement.

"Hrittik..."

"You... did all this?"

He nodded.

"I wanted your twenty-first birthday to be unforgettable."

She turned towards him with teary eyes.

Before she could say anything, he stepped closer, gently held her hands and placed a tender kiss on her forehead.

"Happy birthday, Mrs. Hrittik."

She smiled through her tears.

"You pretended to forget..."

"So that I could surprise you properly."

She laughed.

"I almost got angry."

"I'm glad you didn't."

---

He then handed her a beautifully wrapped box.

"Open it."

Abhina carefully untied the ribbon.

Inside lay a beautiful soft pink off-shoulder gown.

She looked at it in awe.

"It's... beautiful."

"I chose it myself."

"You'll look wonderful in it."

She looked at him shyly.

"Really?"

"I know you will."

He smiled.

"Now go and get ready."

"We're going somewhere."

"Where?"

"It's a surprise."

---

A little while later...

Abhina stepped out of the bedroom wearing the pink dress.

She had curled her hair lightly and wore simple earrings.

She looked at herself uncertainly.

"Hrittik..."

He turned around.

For a moment he simply stared.

She looked radiant.

"What happened?" she asked shyly.

"You've gone quiet."

He smiled warmly.

"You look beautiful."

Abhina looked down.

"I feel a little... awkward."

"Why?"

She hesitated before speaking softly.

"My body has changed after marriage."

"This dress feels a little different on me now."

She folded her arms nervously.

"I'm worried people will notice."

Hrittik walked up to her calmly.

He gently took her hands away from where she was trying to cover herself.

"There is nothing wrong with you."

He looked into her eyes.

"Our bodies naturally change throughout life."

"That doesn't make you any less beautiful."

"You don't have to feel embarrassed."

She smiled nervously.

"What if everyone keeps staring?"

"Then they'll simply be looking at the birthday girl."

He chuckled.

"And if anyone says anything..."

"They'll have to answer to me first."

She laughed.

"You always know how to calm me down."

He offered his hand.

"Shall we?"

She placed her hand in his.

---

Their car stopped before the gates of Roy Mansion.

Abhina looked confused.

"What are we doing here?"

"Come."

As soon as the doors opened—

"Surprise!"

The hall burst into applause.

Colourful balloons decorated the room.

A huge birthday cake stood in the centre.

Abhinav and Mareena walked towards her smiling.

Abhina covered her mouth in shock.

"Maa..."

"Papa..."

Mareena hugged her tightly.

"Happy birthday, my princess."

Abhinav kissed her forehead.

"Twenty-one already."

"My little girl has grown up."

Tears rolled down Abhina's cheeks.

"I thought..."

"You both wouldn't celebrate with me anymore."

Abhinav smiled.

"Who said that?"

"Hrittik came to us weeks ago and planned everything."

Abhina turned towards her husband.

"You..."

He smiled innocently.

"So... did I succeed?"

She immediately hugged him.

"More than you know."

---

Everyone gathered around the cake.

As Abhina cut it, everyone clapped.

"Happy Birthday!"

She fed the first piece to Mareena.

The second to Abhinav.

The third she offered to Hrittik.

He smiled before feeding her a small piece in return.

Abhina looked around the room.

Every birthday until now had been celebrated by her parents.

This year, Hrittik had quietly made sure that tradition continued.

With moist eyes, she said,

"Every year, my Maa and Papa celebrated my birthday."

"I was afraid things would change after marriage."

She looked lovingly at Hrittik.

"But today..."

"My husband fulfilled the promise my parents always kept."

"Thank you..."

Mareena wiped away a tear.

Abhinav smiled proudly at Hrittik.

---

Meanwhile...

In another room of the mansion...

Zainab sat alone on the edge of the bed.

The sounds of laughter from downstairs echoed faintly through the corridor.

She placed a hand on her stomach.

Her eyes filled with tears.

"How strange..." she thought.

"The daughter of this family is celebrating her birthday..."

"And the son of this family is missing."

She broke down crying.

At first...

She had become pregnant believing it would strengthen her claim to the Roy family's wealth.

But somewhere along the way...

Her feelings had changed.

She had genuinely begun to care for Vedant.

Now he had disappeared without a trace.

Her mother, Ekta, remained in jail.

There was no one left beside her.

"I just wanted someone to stay..."

she whispered through her tears.

The loneliness she had tried to ignore now surrounded her completely as the celebrations continued downstairs.