Page 275 of The Redemption
The children reluctantly agree… for about five seconds. For the first time, Ayaan and I cut our birthday cake together. Another round of applause follows as we each pick up a piece of cake and turn to Baba first.
Always him.We feed him before anyone else. After that, everything becomes a blur of laughter, cake, and celebration. The children are next. Then our wives. Then the rest of the family. Everybody wants a piece of cake. Everybody wants photographs. Everybody wants memories. It’s one of the happiest moments our family has had in years.
Ayaan and I look at each other.
“Happy Birthday, brother,” he says, feeding me a piece of cake.
I pick up another piece and feed him too before pulling him into a tight hug. “Happy Birthday.”
And just like that, we return to our families, our wives, our children, and to the life we have built together.
*****************
A few hours later
It is well past midnight, and the celebrations have finally come to an end. The guests have retired to their rooms, and the laughter that filled RK Estate all day has softened into a peaceful silence. Now, it’s just the four of us.
Ayaan, Meher, Siya, and me.
We’re sitting in the open garden outside my villa, a bonfire burning brightly between us. Siya and Meher are settled on the mat beside us, talking about the day’s celebrations.
Siya is leaning against me, her shoulder pressed into mine as she idly swirls the wine in her glass. None of us is in any hurry to call it a night. We’re all enjoying the rare luxury of peace.
Rudra, Riya, Myra, Arnav, Sanvi, Veer, Rihan, and Prisha are all tucked into bed, and everyone else has retired for the night.
Meher is still talking about how much she loved the cakes.
“The cakes were yum. They looked beautiful, and tasted even better,” she says, smiling. “Everything about today was just perfect.”
“It really was,” Siya agrees. “I’m booking the same bakers for our wedding anniversary cake.”
Ayaan and I exchange a small smile as we watch our wives relive the day, dissecting every little detail that made it special. I glance at Siya, still talking animatedly with Meher. As she talks about our wedding anniversary, my gaze shifts to Ayaan.
There’s something I’ve never said to him. Something he deserves to hear.
I turn towards him and say, “Thank you.”
Ayaan looks at me, confused. “For what?”
I stare into the bonfire for a moment before answering. “For planning to send Siya off to Queenstown five years ago.”
My gaze drifts to Siya, who looks up at me in surprise. I turn back to Ayaan.
“If you hadn’t changed that drop location, if you hadn’t decided to send Siya somewhere other than where I wanted... I don’t think I would have realised what she truly meant to me.”
A faint smile appears on Siya’s lips.
“Of course, the decision to marry her was mine alone. But the reason I went there... that was because ofyou, Ayaan. So, thank you. If you hadn’t done that, we wouldn’t be here today.”
“I agree,” Siya says, entwining her fingers with mine as she rests her head on my shoulder.
Meher immediately snuggles closer to Ayaan. “I agree too.”
Ayaan gives a smug smile. “Great. So, you’re giving me all the credit for your love story?”
“Pretty much,” Meher giggles.
He grins. “Fine. If you’re serious about thanking me, then I want something in return.”
