I am back. Sorry for the delay, though.

So those who had high expectations for Ranveer's birthday. I am sorry if I disappoint you guys. :P :P And a few lines were taken from the internet and few were excerpts from the book Just Friends. I have not read it but saw these lines somewhere. The rest of the lines were written by me.

And you guys will once again have the NC nostalgia, (can't help it!) and I am sorry for that, too. Co-incidentally in both the fics, Ranveer's birthday celebrations were in this 26th Chapter. (Credits: LM) So 26 is luck for Ranveer xD xD

Happy Reading! :D :D

Chapter-26

He now saw the entire room decorated with red balloons, serene and quiet, glitter papers strewn over the walls and hanging along the balloons as he now entered the room drugged, gawking at it in reverence. The candles slowly danced to the soft air passing by, an incandescent and dainty light in the room, creating vigour. He saw thick blocks arranged in a neat fashion as he sat on his knees to look at them only to find it empty.

"What are these?" he asked silently, his eyes transfixed looking at the block when Ishani walked over and sat in the same way, exhaling nervously.

"They are blocks and each one has a message for you," she replied gently, folding her arms to her chest.

"For me?" he looked at her baffled now, an unfathomable question arising in his mind as she signalled him to read them before he questioned her.

"But these are empty!"

"There is a message for you in the backside of each block, Ranveer," she whispered slowly, making sure that he wasn't able to figure it out as he took the first block from the set. As a result, the rest of them slid through the gaps smoothly, the messages visible to him. Looking at the neat print, he glanced at the entire set of blocks in awe before Ishani cleared her throat, "Read it fast. I'll give you only ten minutes or even less."

He now pouted childishly, reading the first message for him, almost to himself.

'Forever in my heart

Is where you will be

Nobody else would enter

Because you have the key.'

He smiled to himself, his cheeks flushing, and the blood rush inside spouting faster than usual as he took the next block from the set, reading it louder than the last one.

'I love how we got

That open relationship

Telling each other exactly

How we feel

Telling me always to be real

I love how you can

Make me smile from so many miles away.'

He now looked at the block enigmatically as he now took the third block in the same fashion, albeit his voice was choking now. He coughed twice slowly, getting emotional as Ishani slowly rubbed his back, soothing him down.

'You're the wind to my wings

The steps to my dance

The voice to my song.'

He now looked at Ishani silently, the corner of his tears brimming quietly as he asked in air, "Are you serious?"

"Read the rest," she signalled him as he nodded in a hunger and took the next block to read.

'Never too old

Forever to hold

Even when grey and old

For you are mind to hold.'

He sniffed slowly as Ishani kept on looking at the time. There were still seven minutes to go and he still had to read a few more which made Ishani tense. For her, the only aim is that he should see the ring he had gifted to her right at twelve.

'You can't hide it well when you are trying to tell me something that's not true. I see you!'

He gazed at her when he asked, "Is it?" as she answered him with a nod, ruffling his hair softly.

He now took the next block from the set as he crinkled his brows, looking at the size of the letters. The letters of each were too small that he had to struggle to read them.

'My heart has been divided

Into pieces and lost

But ever since I met you

They have struggling to come back together once again.

Well, the only reason is

The way you hold me.

When you hold me, it's like

I can feel your heart beating at the same pace mine is.'

Smiling at it heartily, he shrugged his shoulders lightly to take the next block as it read-

'You teach me to hope

And help me to cope

When life and hopes put me down,

Your face brings me around.'

He now looked at her who was sitting close to him as he now grabbed her hand and placed it against his, "You feel lost sometimes, is it?"

"Not lost…I feel like there's nothing to hope from life, like everything's over," she replied honestly thinking about how all her hopes were shattered when it came to the latter's health.

Ranveer, without saying anything took her hands over his chest and let her hear his heart beat- rhythmic, strong beats.

"There's nothing more than this, Ishani. Hear these and I am sure, your faiths will be strong again because this beats for you," he looked at her already welled up eyes as he now kissed the bridge of her nose which distracted her. Being caught off guard, he bit her lip as smiled goofily before taking up the next block.

'Thoughts of you surround me

You're the beating of my heart

The love you give defines me

My life no longer dark.'

He felt proud of how both of them think the same about each other and looked out for the last block which he felt that wasn't a block at all, in a first. He looked at confused and took the box, shaking it slowly.

"What's this?"

Ishani looked at the time hastily. There were two more minutes exactly and the time was right. Getting up from the floor quickly, she sat on the bed opposite to him, taking out the cake package from the nightstand.

"Yeah, yeah, open it!" she said thrilled, more than him as he got up slowly, his lips curving to give out the best beam from him.

He slowly opened the box making sure that it wasn't broken as he looked at the phrasings which were written for him.

'When I think of the past

Nothing can compare

With how my life turned out now

Because I'm with you.'

He grinned yet again coyly as Ishani asked him to open it further before asking him to sit down. Sitting cross legged now, he opened the next part of the box to see another tiny box as he looked at her baffled.

"How many boxes have you planned for today?" he chuckled as Ishani looked the time. There were just a few more seconds to go as she started to count reversely.

"Ten."

"Nine."

"Eight."

"Seven."

"Six."

"Five."

"Four."

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

As the clock struck twelve finally, he pounced upon him for a hug squeaking out the best way possible, "Happy birthday, Ranveer!" For a second, everything seemed to come to a halt for him as he looked silent, without hugging her. The world came to a standstill as taking in too many things was difficult for him now. Confused, Ishani silently came out from the hug to see his face which had a light that she had never seen.

She shook him hard before shouting once again, "Happy Birthday, Ranveer!" when he finally came out from his reverie, hitting his head nonchalantly.

"Shit, I-I never realized, Ishani," he flushed as she asked him, "Wow! Your 25th birthday has started with the word 'shit!' You'll have a great year ahead!" Ishani chuckled whilst he did the same, hitting his head nonchalantly before decided to ask the next question.

Are you still opening the box?"

"Oh well," he held the box tightly and said, "I'll just do it, I guess it's my gift," he simpered at her, opening it quietly to see the same ring which he had given it to her on the former's birthday, two months back. But then, he never realized that it was the same ring. Vagueness trounced him as he was oblivious of the fact that he had gifted the ring.

"You asked me to think and then finally say the answer. So here it is! As you had told me, I am ready to take it forward." Ishani confessed coyly as he now looked at the two diamonds entwisted along, emblazoning in the dim light as he saw the inscribed letter IR in it. Happy with the gift, he asked as though he never remembered anything, "Wow, when did you buy this? And how am I related to the ring?"

Ishani was shocked with his question. He had forgotten about the ring, too. She felt heart –broken inside though she decided to ask him, "Don't you remember, Ranveer? This was your birthday gift for me!"

"What? I-I don't remember anything!" he accepted truly to which Ishani gulped. He just forgot partial things which had happened just two months ago, she realized. Though she managed, "Oh well, it's okay," she smiled hiding her tears, "You had given me this ring while confessing your love and then asked me to wear this on the day when I decide to take our relationship forward, do you remember?"

Thinking for a few seconds he said, "I-I guess. It's hazy though, what's wrong with me, Ishani? Why am I forgetting things?"

"Hey, it's nothing. Guess you got tensed with the speech. So…"

"Are you sure? I am afraid. I don't know, but I am afraid of everything these days," he whimpered slowly whose eyes were almost ready to flow its tears through the cheeks when Ishani decided to confess it to him.

"Never mind, but trust me, your fear will fly away when you hear this," she now took the ring which she had bought it for him for his birthday and as their engagement ring when he asked, "What's this now?"

"Show me your hand, love," she said fervently as he looked at her mesmerised with the reference. Without wavering, he lent his hand to her as she made the platinum band, the diamond, just a single tiny diamond on the top of it shimmering in the dim light, slid into his ring finger saying, "On your birthday, I need something from you."

"What?" he asked, without flashing his eyes as she answered him gently, "Your surname…"

"Hmm," he lugged before he realized what was asked from her. With an impulsive sensation, his eyes glistening like the fire in the beacon, he spoke, "What did you just ask me?"

"A return gift, Ranveer! Will you marry me?" And there! He stood silent, his eyes speaking volumes as Ishani now opened the cake package to see a heart designed butterscotch cake with red roses flanking the cake, making it look aesthetic and appealing to eat, the smell wakening Ranveer from the shock, rather surprise.

"A cake!" he said quietly, for him finding it hard to digest all the surprises he was getting from her.

"Let's cut it," Ishani gave him a mischievous smile as he cut the cake slowly with Ishani singing the Birthday song for him, as sweet as possible. As he cut it, he offered a piece to her when she denied it by taking the same from him only to feed him back miming a birthday in his ear.

"How did you know about my birthday?" he asked with his mouthful, gazing at her with disbelief. "Your diary," she wanted to say but chose to reply back, "That's a secret," she smirked as he looked at her mystified but remained silent, thinking about the surprises he had been getting the past few minutes.

"And when did you even arrange these?" he asked her in shock, thinking about how Ishani was always with him for the past three days.

"When?" she cocked her eyebrow as soon as he clarified his statement.

"I mean, you were only with me for the past few days! When did you even have the time to arrange these?" he asked honestly as she gave him a nonchalant smile, wondering how cute he was when he was curious in knowing little things.

"Well, back when we had gone to the Eiffel Tower and the carnival…Fe…Fe, whatever you call it as!" she snorted sluggishly as he corrected, "Fete?"

"Yeah, the same one! So I was late by almost an hour, remember? I was arranging all these stuff and asked the housekeepers not to clean the room. I had informed the reception about the cake and the candles so they took care of that," she chirped as he looked at her simply, wondering how lucky was he to have her. There have been many people in his life: his mother, father and his help in the mansion and each one of them have given him life lessons but he would be able to say in front of the whole world that she was the only one who gave him life.

"Hey!" she snapped her fingers at him, "What's wrong?"

"Nah. Was just thinking about how lucky I was to have you in my life." Ranveer confessed as she felt her blood rush in her cheeks fasten and concrete but chose not to comment.

He now took another piece, huger than the last one and kept the cake aside as he came nearer and offered the cake once again. Ishani, without vacillating, ate the cake silently only to realize that the cream concealed her lips and some parts of her cheek, too. Looking at the now comical face of her, he decided to whip the cream off as he came closer to her, their frames striking each other as she looked at him with an exhilaration and passion, unable to fathom what he was upto. He took his finger slowly and placed it on her cheeks, wiping off the cream that had appeared on her face whilst she closed her eyes, feeling awkward with the advancement.

"You are still a child, look at you," he chuckled, "-there is cream all over your face," he shrugged his shoulders and lowered his head, stroking his lips against hers as she bit his lip softly, pulling him closer for the kiss. Letting her hand freely roam around his back, she tightly grasped his linen shirt as he now took her hand from his back which made her confused though she continued tasting his lip. Taking his hand from her waist, he slowly let the ring which he had gifted inside her ring finger, smiling against her lips. Stunned, she broke from the kiss abruptly looking at the glimmering diamonds which were now hers.

"Did you just…Ranveer!" she stuttered, wondering what to say as he muttered into her ears, "Set a date for the marriage, I can't wait already," and winked which made Ishani feel on cloud nine.

"Are you serious?" she still asked him in disbelief as he spoke confident, "That's why I let the engagement ring slip into your hand, sweetie."

"Gosh, you are just…" she stopped tersely and pulled him for the tightest of embraces squeaking at him, "I really, really, love you!" Breaking from the hug, he looked at her hazel nut eyes which had a twinkle and confessed, "I love you too…I've loved you from the first day I laid eyes on you and I will do until my dying day. I will, always, always, always love you and cherish every moment with you," and hugged her back thinking how life has changed in the past three days.

"That's sweet, but please! Don't talk about death," she rested her head over his neckline without breaking from the hug as she asked, "So when's the wedding?"

"Very soon," he said in yearning, as she whispered, "I'll call over everyone for the marriage, okay? Nysa will be coming, Abel and his parents, the staff, Ben and Nora, and of course…" she stopped.

"Of course?"

"Your mother," she said quickly, wondering about his reaction and it was as expected. Shocked. Quickly breaking from the hug, he stuttered, "Mo-Mother? But Ishani…your mom is coming here, so why call mine too?"

"Huh? Don't I have the right to see my mother-in-law, too? Tell me where is she? She has to mark her presence in the wedding, Ranveer! It's ours, after all!"

"We-We'll think about it, Ishani," he said restless as she caught hold of his arm asking, "What's wrong? Did I ask anything wide of the mark?"

"No-Nothing," he smiled awkwardly and confessed, "I-I don't have a contact with her anymore."

"Oh, c'mon, it's okay! We'll find her!" she cheered him up but he interrupted, "But how?"

"That can wait. But do you know something? Nysa wants to meet you very badly! When should I call her over?" she asked when he gave her a spontaneous answer, "Anytime!"

"Are you serious?" she squeaked back again, smiling ear to ear as he nodded, chuckling at her kiddish behaviour.

"Oh! I'll call her over very soon then, she really wanted to meet you, you know?" she admitted as he exhaled, listening to the entire story before pulling her forcedly towards him whispering softly, "Leave that alone, decide on the wedding now," his breathe attacked hers as she looked at him mesmerized.

"What about it?" she asked childishly, blinking her eyes in the same fashion.

"What type of a wedding do you want? Indian, Western?" he stroked his nose against hers as she looked into his eyes and said, "A simple, yet memorable one."

"Elaborate," he whispered huskily as she pushed him to the bed, her frame above his as he felt her hair obstructing both of their faces, but he never minded about that. For him, it sounded interesting.

"Hmm, well…a silent atmosphere, there should be no hassles and it should happen as a private affair, just our close kinfolk. No one more than that. It should be decorated throughout and happen peacefully," she replied dreamily as he kissed the bridge of her nose hushing, "You'll have more than your expectations, trust me."

"I have you beside me and it will happen, I know," she hugged him from his neck, both of the rings twinkling in the light as he now asked in a husky tone, "What are you going to gift your first child?"

"Haw! First child? I haven't planned at all!"

"We'll plan it today," he replied passionately as his fingers trailed over her waist, his grip growing only stronger.

"It's time and I have to sleep, we have our flight back to the valley tomorrow," she pushed him and lay beside him, stroking his hair.

"But tell me about the gift for the child…" he asked in yearning for the answer as she hit him on his chest softly whilst he pouted his lips in dejection.

"I'll dedicate the book," she replied honestly as his eyes once again looked at hers, the idea sounding really different. Stirring, he came closer to her as his fingers met her cheeks, rubbing them lovingly.

"You'll turn out to be the best mother in the world, Ishani." Hearing them, she stirred back even closer and cuddled him muttering, "I need your help but for now, a Happy Birthday," she kissed him once again before drifting off to sleep, embracing him tightly whilst he stroked her hair and thought about how was he going to manage Ishani without making her meet his mother. He could easily bet on anyone saying that this year's birthday was the most memorable for him but the shocking one, too. Contacting his mother was going to be a task now, without doubt.

Done! Constructive Criticism will be more than welcome and sorry for typos :D :D