Aniket blew the candle, cut the cake, looked at Aditya for a second… then shamelessly took a bite himself with a mischievous grin and said,

  “Whoever wants to eat, cut your own piece. No prince or princess treatment here!”

  Hearing that, Aditya made a dramatic face and started walking toward him, but Saaniya raised her voice like a protective soldier, “Everyone listen carefully — no one will put cake on his face!”

  Aditya looked at her with confused eyes and asked, “Why?! What happened?”

  Before Saaniya could answer, Rudra interrupted and said, “Looks like the birthday boy is getting the prince treatment!”

  Saaniya, clearly annoyed, snapped back, “Mr. Malhotra!!! Can’t you keep your mouth shut for once? I mean, if you really can’t, just tell me... I’m pretty good with stitches!”

  Rudra, a little alarmed, said quickly, “Whoa..! Why so serious!! I’m sorry, yaar! Anyway, anger doesn’t suit your eyes.”

  Saaniya turned her eyes away and said coldly, “Anamika made this cake herself… and I don’t want anyone’s foolishness to ruin her hard work by smearing it on someone’s face! So the cake doesn’t belong on anyone’s face… but it should go inside the mouth!”

  For a few seconds, everyone went completely blank.

  How could Saaniya be this furious one second and so adorably thoughtful the next?

  After a moment of stunned silence, Anamika spoke up, “I’ll go get the plates!”

  And she walked off toward the kitchen.

  Meanwhile, Aniket asked, “So what now?! Any more plans, or is the party over?”

  To this, Rudra replied, “Of course not!! The gift game is still pending!!”

  Aniket squinted suspiciously, “Gift game?! Bro… if I have to play a game just to get a gift, forget it. I don’t want it! Do I look like a kid?!”

  Saaniya shot back, “By the way, who wanted chocolate cake?!”

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  Aniket turned toward her, but she was staring into her phone like he didn’t exist. He crossed his arms and said, “Anyone who has something to say, look me in the eye and say it. Not to your screen!”

  Saaniya slowly looked up at him with that classic deadly glare. Silent. Sharp. Lethal.

  And then... looked back at her phone.

  Message received. Loud and clear.

  Aditya stepped in before it became a warzone. “Let it go, Aniket. Anyway, I’ve got a gift for you in my car. I’ll go get it.”

  Ruhi stopped Aditya and said, “Sir… I’ll go get it.”

  Aditya handed her the car keys, and Ruhi went out to the parking area.

  As she was returning with the gift, she crossed paths with Rudra. She narrowed her eyes and deliberately ignored him — and she actually did walk past him.

  Rudra smiled when he saw her, but when Ruhi turned her face away and didn’t acknowledge him, he was left a little puzzled.

  Talking to himself, he muttered, “Am I invisible or what!! God knows… who can understand girls anyway?! Okay Rudra… just focus on your own task!”

  Thinking that, he went to his car, grabbed a box from the trunk, and walked back inside.

  Anamika had sliced the cake for everyone and was now serving it on plates.

  Rudra placed the box near the sofa and picked up his plate from the table.

  Seeing the box, Aniket’s eyes lit up like a child’s. He grinned and said, “Whoa… such a big box??! What’s in it? A car? An action figure? Or a remote-control car… with a racing track?!”

  Saaniya scrunched her face and said, “You still play with toys?!”

  Aniket replied instantly, “What’s wrong with that… ever driven a remote-control car?! It’s an amazing feeling!! But what would you know… you’re always too busy frowning and throwing taunts!”

  Saaniya was about to snap back, but Anamika subtly signaled her to stop.

  She took a deep breath, swallowed her anger, and looked away.

  Watching this, Aniket smirked like he just won an award, thinking, “Watching her shut up is a gift in itself. If this happens every year, I’m celebrating my birthday monthly!”

  Just then, something struck Aniket’s mind and he turned to Ruhi, “Hey… give me Adi’s gift now! Let me see what my brother brought me!”

  Aditya, sounding a bit glum, said, “It’s not a car, okay!”

  Aniket laughed and said, “You idiot..! Even if you gave me trash from your house, I’d still be excited! Now come on, show me what you got!”

  Ruhi handed the gift box to Aniket and said, “You’ll definitely love this… Aditya sir designed it himself with so much care!”

  As soon as Aniket opened the box, a beautiful smile lit up his face.

  He grinned and said, “This is that design, right?! Bro… you still remembered it!!”

  Aditya smiled gently and said, “Of course, I did. I promised you, didn’t I… that I’d make this watch for you myself one day!”

  Rudra picked up the watch and asked curiously, “What do you mean by that?!”

  Aniket gently took the watch back and explained, “This is Aditya’s most favorite design! When uncle was teaching him watch designing, he used to throw tantrums at first… but later, in the hostel, he kept designing watches, remembering him! And out of all his designs, this one was his absolute favorite. He told me… after 12th, when he goes back home, he’ll learn to make watches from uncle and create this one himself!”

  Hearing that, Rudra excitedly asked, “So… did you make this one yourself?”

  Aditya’s face fell.

  With a faint, forced smile, he replied, “No. Never really got the chance to learn watchmaking from Dad. After 12th, there just wasn’t enough time to spend with him…”

  That silenced Rudra.

  He realized he had unintentionally asked a very hurtful question… now he wasn’t sure whether he should apologize and make it awkward, or just stay quiet and let the moment pass.

  Saaniya sighed deeply and mumbled to herself, “Don’t know if they’re celebrating a birthday or performing a full-blown emotional drama!”

  Saying that, she stood up and declared, “Alright then! If everyone’s done stuffing their faces, let’s move on!”

  She walked over to the sofa, picked up the box Rudra had brought, and placed it on the table.

  Anamika cleared some space while Saaniya set the box in front of everyone.

  Seeing the box, lines of curiosity appeared on Aniket’s face — and even Aditya and Ruhi looked equally confused.