Aziza's birthday had arrived, but it didn't feel like one. She had spent the entire morning trying to convince herself that today was just another day. There was no need for celebration, no need for the forced smiles and awkward moments.

But of course, her family wouldn't let her get away that easily.

"Happy birthday, beta!" her father said, his voice warm but tinged with concern. "I know it's hard for you, but we should still celebrate. It's your special day."

Aziza forced a smile, but the weight of the world seemed heavier than the birthday wishes. "Thanks, Papa," she mumbled, her voice flat. She quickly turned away, pretending to check her phone as if that would somehow make the moment less awkward.

Rohan, of course, wouldn't let it go. "Arey yaar, kya tum birthday wali mood mein ho ya nahi? Naina aur main plan kar rahe hain... Come on, let's go out. We'll have fun!"

Aziza looked at him with an irritated expression. "No, Rohan. I'm not in the mood."

Kya yar ab kuch toh krna padega apni bhen ke liye kya kya krta hu mai naina ko call milana padh rha hai batao!

"haye! aaj chand kaha se nikla hai jo Prince Rohan ne mujhe call kra" Naina replied picking up the call.

"dekho aaj Aziza ka birthday hai"

"haan mujhe pata hai maine 12 bje hi wish kr diya tha tumhari jaisi nhi hu mai"

" chup kro maine bhi kra tha"

"han par maine sabse pehle kra!!!"

"nhi maine!"

"tumhe bada pata hai maine kra tha!"

They continued fighting like this for good 10 minutes completely forgetting the reason for calling

"Hat dekh cockroach khi ki mujhe distract krdiya , maine esliye call kra tha ki tu yaha aajaye aur hum Aziza ka mood theek kr sake"

"O khud toh pishachini  jaisi baatien krte ho aur mujhe bolre ho aur haan aajaugi mai"

***

"Happy Birthday, Aziza!" Naina's voice was unnecessarily cheerful, which meant only one thing—trouble.

"Main birthday celebrate nahi kar rahi," Aziza said flatly.

"Abe humne kab bola tujhse puchh ke celebrate karenge?"

Before Aziza could respond, another voice cut in. "Haan! Aur waise bhi, kaun apni birthday pe khud sad baitha rehta hai?" It was Rohan.

Aziza frowned. "Tum dono ek saath ho?"

"Haan! Humne emergency meeting bulayi hai. Tera dukhda suljhane ke liye," Naina announced.

"Main theek hoon."

"Nahi, tu theek nahi ho sakti," Rohan declared dramatically. "Birthday pe celebrate na karna matlab ya toh tu alien hai ya tujhe koi badi problem hai."

Aziza groaned. "Mujhe koi problem nahi hai!"

"Toh tu alien hai? vese makes sense Rohan ki bhen haina!" Naina chimed in

"kya matalb hai tumhara?" Rohan replied defensively

"vhi jo tumne samjha"

"guyz laado mat focus kro, mujhe pata tha tum dono se kuch nhi hoga ladai ke aalwa" Ayaan chimed in.

"tum bhi Ayaan?" Aziza said in surprise

"Acha, theek hai, bata... tujhe cake nahi chahiye?" Naina asked, trying a different angle.

"Nahi."

"Chocolate wala bhi nahi?"

"Nahi."

Rohan gasped. "Oh my God! Emergency alert! Emergency alert! Aziza ke andar ki insaniyat khatam ho gayi hai!"

Naina matched his dramatic energy. "Haan! Ek normal insaan chocolate cake refuse nahi karta!"

"Mujhe toh lagta hai, Aziza abhi bhi school wali birthday trauma mein atki hai," Rohan snickered.

"Arre haan! Woh 'Happy Birthday' wala taaj pehna ke sabke saamne chocolates baantna," Naina said with nostalgia

Rohan nodded seriously. "Pakki baat hai, Aziza ne kissi ki badi wali chocolate chura li hogi jo teacher ko dete hai aur guilt mein jee rahi hai."

Aziza rolled her eyes. "Tum dono jaake mujhe tang karna bandh karo."

"Nahi," Rohan said coolly.

"Nahi," Naina echoed.

"Jab tak tu maan nahi jaati, tab tak nahi," Rohan declared.

"Ek baat batao, agar main mana bhi leti toh tum dono mujhe kya gift dete?" Aziza asked, arms crossed.

Rohan smirked. "Main tujhe ek bohot special cheez dene wala tha—"

Aziza raised a brow. "Kya?"

Rohan proudly declared, "Apni bhaiship ka ek aur saal FREE subscription!"

Naina clapped sarcastically. "Wah, wah, wah! Kya generosity hai, kya dildari hai!"

"Arre, bhaiship free nahi hoti. Iske bhi rules hote hain," Rohan defended.

Naina scoffed. "Haan, bilkul! Jisme sirf tu bakwas karta hai aur hume sunni padti hai."

Rohan grinned. "Exactly."

Aziza sighed. "Tum dono se baat karna bekar hai."

another voice entered the conversation. "Tum dono uspar zor mat daalo."

"Haan," Ayaan's calm voice came through. "Aur tumhe space dena chahiye."

Rohan groaned. "Bhai, tu hamesha aise hi philosophical kyun rehta hai?"

Naina added, "Haan bhai, kabhi toh normal insaan ki tarah 'Aziza, cake khaa le' jaisa dialogue bol!"

Ayaan sighed. "Agar Aziza nahi manana chahti, toh usse majboor mat karo."

Rohan scoffed. "Mujhe toh lagta hai tu secretly humari dushman party ka banda hai!"

"Aur mujhe lagta hai, agar humne Ayaan ko ek din aur suna, toh hum sab meditation shuru kar denge," Naina added.

"Very funny," Ayaan said dryly.

Aziza had successfully dodged every attempt at celebrating her birthday.

Her father had wished her warmly in the morning, but she had only managed a small nod in response. Rohan had practically dragged her to cut a cake, but she had outright refused. Even Naina—who normally had the power to emotionally blackmail her into anything—had backed off, sensing that Aziza wasn't in the mood.

It wasn't just a bad mood. She didn't want to celebrate. Birthdays weren't the same anymore. Not after everything.

She spent most of the day hiding in her room, scrolling through her phone, ignoring messages, until—

📩 Unknown Number: "Can you please come to [Location]? It's a surprise."

Aziza stared at the message, heart pounding.

"Behen. Behen. Behen!" she hissed, turning her phone toward Naina, who was lazily munching on chips beside her. "Dekho kya aya hai!"

Naina squinted at the screen and gasped dramatically. "Oh my god. Behen, mystery caller ne tujhe officially bula liya!"

"Main nahi jaa rahi," Aziza declared instantly, locking her phone. "Mujhe nahi pata kaun hai. Kahi woh koi pagal hai? Koi prank? Kidnapping scheme?"

"Ya phir koi banda jo tujhe secretly pasand karta hai?" Naina wiggled her eyebrows. "Aur tujhe surprise dena chahta hai?"

Aziza groaned. "Main nahi jaa rahi."

"Lekin tu already soch rahi hai jaane ka," Naina pointed out smugly.

Aziza opened her mouth to argue—but yeah. She was thinking about it.

The location mentioned in the message... it was the same place where she had always wanted to celebrate her birthday, before deciding she never wante to.

Coincidence?

Naina was already getting up. "Dekh, tere saath main hoon. Koi problem hui toh mystery caller ki mystery zindagi se udaa denge."

Aziza bit her lip. Curiosity gnawed at her. She could ignore it. But what if...

"...Fine. Chalte hain."

The place was deserted at this hour, bathed in soft yellow lights from the street lamps. Aziza hesitated at the entrance, suddenly feeling nervous.

"Koi nazar nahi aa raha," Naina whispered. "Bhoot toh nahi hai na?"

"Shut up," Aziza muttered.

Then, she saw it.

Right in the middle of the garden—a table set up just for her.

Her breath hitched.

Neatly arranged on the table were all the things she loved—books, journals, fancy pens, a cassette, a handwritten playlist, and a bouquet of Jasmine and sunflowers.

Naina let out a dramatic gasp. "Behen, koi tujhe bohot closely observe kar raha hai. Matlab, full FBI level research."

Aziza stepped closer, eyes wide. She touched the book on top—The Night Circus.

It was the same book she had admired in the library. The one she had stared at for twenty whole minutes.

She picked up the cassette. There was a note on it—"Play me when you're alone."

Her heart pounded as she traced her fingers over everything. Someone had put effort into this. Someone had thought about her.

And then—she saw a small paper lying near the stack of books.

She picked it up.

It was a to-do list.

And her heart stopped, This much care? could someone really love her this much? 

She glanced around quickly, but no one was there.

"Aziza?" Naina asked, confused. "Kya hua?"

Aziza didn't answer.

She quietly folded the paper and shoved it into her pocket.

"Nothing," she murmured.

Then she pick up the card lying on the table, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY AZIZA~ MERI GULABO"

"Gulabo??? so ab nicknames bhi haan?" Naina pinched her

"shutup" Aziza murmured but something wasn't right, something did not add up... this was wrong, really wrong! she quickly  picked up the all the stuff shoving it into her bag and ran away leaving Naina with a flood of questions.

She ran all the way back home, heart hammering in her chest. She shut her bedroom door, pulled out the note again, and stared at it.

She clutched the note tighter.

Her chest felt heavy. Because deep down, she felt something. Something she wasn't ready to accept.

" How... how can I affect someone this much? and why... do they love me so much?" Aziza whispered to herself.

she went out and picked up the old dusty cassette player of her father. the one she thought was no use in the house. she quickly shut the door behind her before Naina or Rohan could even come back home. She blew off the dust and played  the cassette, but before it could hum any tune, she switched it off, her eyes filled with glassy tears. the clouds of doubt and fear enveloped her. 

"Kyun? Kyun koi itna pyaar karega mujhse?" Her voice wavered as she whispered to herself. "Mujhe toh khud se pyaar nahi hai... toh kisi aur ko kyun hoga?"

Her fingers trembled as she clutched her arms, as if trying to hold herself together. "Main usse jaanti bhi nahi... hum kabhi baat tak nahi karte. Woh sirf ek ajnabi hai. Ek random ladka."

Then why... why did it feel like he saw something in her that even she couldn't?

"Maine kabhi kisi ke saath acha nahi kiya. Maa bhi mujhse dheere dheere door hoti gayi. Pehle woh mujhe samajhti thi... phir ek din, usne mujhe dekhna hi bandh kar diya. Jaise main ek dhundhli tasveer ban gayi hoon, jo dheere dheere mit rahi hai."

Her breath hitched.

"Toh phir yeh ladka kyun? Kyun woh mujhe dekh raha hai jaise main koi khas hoon?"

She swallowed the lump in her throat, blinking back the sting of unshed tears.

"Kyun? Kyun koi itna pyaar karega mujhse?" Her voice wavered as she whispered to herself. "Mujhe toh khud se pyaar nahi hai... toh kisi aur ko kyun hoga?"

Her fingers trembled as she clutched her arms, as if trying to hold herself together. "Main usse jaanti bhi nahi... hum kabhi baat tak nahi karte. Woh sirf ek ajnabi hai. Ek random ladka."

Then why... why did it feel like he saw something in her that even she couldn't?

"Maine kabhi kisi ke saath acha nahi kiya. Maa bhi mujhse dheere dheere door hoti gayi. Pehle woh mujhe samajhti thi... phir ek din, unhone mujhe dekhna hi bandh kar diya. Jaise main ek dhundhli tasveer ban gayi hoon, jo dheere dheere mit rahi hai."

Her breath hitched.

"Toh phir yeh ladka kyun? Kyun woh mujhe dekh raha hai jaise main koi khas hoon?"

She swallowed the lump in her throat, blinking back the sting of unshed tears.

"Ek aur rishta, jo shayad kal toot jayega. Ek aur insaan, jo agar kareeb aaya, toh mujhe bhi chhod ke chala jayega."

She exhaled shakily, pressing her nails into her palms, trying to feel something real.

"Nahi...I don't deserve this. This needs to stop before I ruin another life."

She forced herself to believe the words.

But then, why did her heart feel like it was shattering with every breath?

Naina had been pacing outside Aziza's door for the past five minutes, occasionally knocking and muttering curses under her breath.

"Kaminii, darwaza khol! Itni bhi kya dukhiyari banna hai?" she huffed.

Rohan, meanwhile, was more dramatic about the situation. "Aziza, suno yaar! Koi itna bhi emo nahi hota! Matlab, mujhe dekh lo, har Monday school jaane ka dukh hota hai, par maine kabhi room lock nahi kiya!"

Ayaan, who had been standing silently, finally spoke, "Maybe we should just give her some space—"

"NAHIIII!" Naina and Rohan yelled together.

Ayaan sighed. He should've known better than to expect logic from these two.

Naina turned to Rohan, eyes gleaming. "Bhai, ek hi tareeka bacha hai."

Rohan nodded, completely understanding. "Operation Darwaza Tod shuru kiya jaye?"

"Bilkul."

Before Ayaan could protest, they both counted—

"Ek... Do..."

Before they could reach Teen, Aziza finally opened the door with a murderous glare. "Agar tum dono ek aur bakwas ki toh main tum dono ke sir tod dungi!"

"Okay, fair," Rohan muttered, stepping back.

Naina raised an eyebrow, scanning Aziza's face. Her eyes were slightly red, her expression guarded.

"Aziza..." Naina's voice softened. "Kya hua?"

Aziza shook her head. "Kuch nahi."

Rohan scoffed. "Acha? Aur main baigan hoon?"

Naina ignored him and stepped inside, pulling Aziza to sit on the bed. "Tell me. Jo bhi ho."

Aziza hesitated. Her fingers brushed against the crumpled note in her pocket. She wanted to tell them—but she also didn't.

"Bas... kuch ajeeb sa feel ho raha hai," she admitted finally.

Rohan sighed dramatically. "Arre, tujhe toh humesha ajeeb feel hota hai! Par ab batayegi ki exactly kya hua?"

Aziza stayed silent.

Ayaan, who had been watching quietly, sat down on the floor near the bed. "Aziza, tumhe kuch bhi share karne ki zaroorat nahi hai agar tum nahi chahti. But just know... jo bhi ho, hum yahan hain."

For a second, Aziza's throat tightened.

Ayaan took a hesitant step forward. "Aziza...?"

Aziza swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper. "Kyun? Kyun koi mujhse itna pyaar karega?"

For the first time, Rohan's goofy expression softened. "Azi..."

She looked at them—her three best friends. The people who had seen her at her worst, who had never left. But love? Love was different. Love never stayed.

Her voice cracked. "Mujhse toh khud se pyaar nahi hota... koi aur kaise karega?"

Ayaan flinched slightly. Rohan and Naina shared a worried glance.

Naina immediately wrapped her arms around Aziza, holding her tight.

"Tu pagal hai, kya?" she said, her voice thick with emotion. "Tujhse pyaar na karein? Yeh toh impossible hai, behen! Hum log sirf tere torture ki wajah se tere saath nahi hain, samjhi?"

Aziza sniffled. "Matlab?"

Rohan dramatically wiped a fake tear. "Matlab tu emotional ho rahi hai, warna normal din pe toh tu humein sirf insult karti hai."

Aziza couldn't help but let out a small, teary chuckle.

Ayaan finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Aziza, tujhe yeh samajhna hoga... tujhse pyaar karna koi burden nahi hai. Koi majboori nahi hai. Yeh uski choice hai. Aur agar koi tujhe is tarah pyaar karta hai, toh iska matlab tu uss pyaar ke layak hai."

Aziza looked at him. He had always been like this—silent, observant, and when he spoke... it mattered.

Naina smiled. "Aur jo bhi mystery banda hai, usne tujhe khush dekhna chaha. That's it. No expectations, no pressure, bas ek chhoti si khushi."

Aziza wiped her tears. "Par main—"

Rohan cut her off. "Bas bas, emotional scene ka time khatam! Ab ye bata, mystery ladke ki handwriting acchi thi ki nahi?"

Aziza groaned. "Rohan!!"

Naina laughed. "Okay, okay, drama kam. Aaj ke liye bas chill maar. Main yahin rukti hoon tere saath."

Aziza sighed but nodded. "Thik hai."

12:55 AM

After a long emotional rollercoaster, every stayed at Aziza and Rohan's place. Naina stayed with Aziza, and Rohan, being the overly comfortable freeloader, had dragged Ayaan to sleep in the guest room.

Ayaan had one mission before sleeping—call Aziza from his mystery number.

But there was one problem.

Rohan.

Rohan, who had passed out beside him, was SLEEPING LIKE A DEAD BODY.

Ayaan, clutching his phone, tried to shift slightly to get up. Rohan instantly clung to him like a teddy bear.

Ayaan: 🙂

"Rohan..." Ayaan whispered, trying to push him off.

Rohan snored and wrapped his arms around Ayaan tighter.

Ayaan: 🙂🙂🙂

"Kya problem hai teri??" Ayaan muttered under his breath.

He tried again, but this time—Rohan threw his leg over Ayaan's stomach.

Ayaan: 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

He froze. Ab kya karoon??

Ayaan attempted to snake his hand out to grab his phone, but Rohan suddenly mumbled in his sleep:

"Mujhe aloo paratha chahiye..."

Ayaan: 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

He had been trying to call Aziza for the past fifteen minutes—but there was a problem.

"Zzz... mujhe chicken biryani chahiye..." Rohan muttered, turning in his sleep.

Ayaan froze. If Rohan woke up, he would never hear the end of this.

He slowly dialed Aziza's number, but right when he pressed call—

Rohan turned and flopped onto Ayaan, wrapping an arm around him.

"Arey—" Ayaan almost choked.

"Meri biryani..." Rohan mumbled, tightening his grip.

Ayaan's face was one of pure horror. "HAT NA, BHAI!" he whisper-yelled.

But Rohan just hugged him tighter.

"Oh my God." Ayaan took a deep breath and tried again. He pressed call—

Rohan stirred.

Ayaan quickly shoved his phone under his pillow.

Silence.

Rohan let out a loud snore and rolled away.

Ayaan exhaled in relief.

Finally, he pulled out his phone and called Aziza.

He didn't say a word. Just played the song.

And as he heard nothing but her silence on the other end, something inside him felt... complete.\

Meanwhile in Aziza's room:

The room was silent, except for the occasional rustling of the curtains. Naina was dead asleep, hugging a pillow like it was her long-lost soulmate, her mouth slightly open. Soft snores filled the room. While Aziza laid wide awake.

And then—TRRRRING!

Aziza almost dropped her phone. The mystery caller was calling again.

Her eyes widened. She shot up from the bed, her heartbeat thudding in her ears.

She needed backup.

She turned to Naina and whispered, "Naina... uth."

No response.

Naina swatted the air. "Abhi nahi, mummy... aur 5 minute..." she mumbled, turning over.

Aziza rolled her eyes. This girl could sleep through an earthquake.

She grabbed her phone, turned the flashlight on, and flashed it in Naina's face.

"AAAH!" Naina sat up with a jolt, looking around wildly. "Bhukamp! Chudail! School test! Kya ho raha hai?!"

Naina grunted and swatted the air like she was fighting mosquitoes. "Aziza, abhi nahi yaar... abhi subah bhi nahi hui..."

Aziza's patience snapped. She grabbed Naina's blanket and yanked it off. "UTH NA, BUDDHU!"

Naina groaned. "Agar tu mujhe subah ke paanch baje jogging le ja rahi hai na, toh main tujhse dosti tod dungi."

Aziza shoved the phone in her face. "IDIOT! CALL AAYA HAI!"

Naina, still half-asleep, groaned. "Koi bhi call kare, usse bol ki subah aaye. Main so rahi hoon." She flopped back down.

Aziza yanked her blanket away. "Buddhu! Mystery caller ka call aaya hai!

Naina blinked, still groggy. "Kaunsa call?"

Aziza hissed, "Wahi mystery caller!"

Naina's eyes snapped open. "KYA?!" She shot up like a rocket, crashing into Aziza in her excitement. "UTHAYA KYUN NAHI?? ABHI UTHA!"

Aziza glared at her. "Mujhe laga tu pehle uth jaaye phir saath me attend karenge!"

The phone kept ringing.

Naina smacked Aziza's arm. "AB BAAT KAR NA, BEWAKOOF!"

Aziza gulped and hesitantly swiped to answer.

"...Hello?"

No response.

Naina leaned closer, her ear practically glued to the phone. "Bhai kuch bol raha hai ki chup chaap detective waale vibes de raha hai?"

Silence.

And then—a song started playing.

🎶 Phir le aaya dil… 🎶
🎶 Majboor kya kije… 🎶

A slow, aching melody filled the silence. The soft, haunting voice of Arijit Singh seeped through the phone, making Aziza's breath hitch.

Raas na aaya…
Rehna door kya kije…

Aziza gripped the phone tighter. Her heartbeat matched the rhythm of the song, each note pulling her into something deeper, something unspoken.

Naina, however, had other priorities.

She squinted at the screen dramatically and whispered, "Arey wah, mystery caller ko bhi Arijit ke sad gaane sunane ka shauk hai? Matlab, bas ab Mohabbat Barsa Dena bacha hai."

Aziza shot her a glare and pressed the speaker button.

Dil keh raha…
Use maqammal kar bhi aao…

The song played on, washing over her like a wave of memories she hadn’t even lived.

Wo jo adhuri…
Si baat baaki hai…

Aziza's throat tightened. The song felt too personal. Too raw.

But before she could drown in the moment, Naina whispered, "Behen… yeh banda seriously tujhe PYAAR karta hai ya ‘Sad Song Dedication Service’ chala raha hai?"

Aziza smacked her arm. "Shut up!"

The song ended.

The call disconnected.

Aziza stared at the screen, almost willing it to light up again. But it didn’t.

There were no words. No message. Just a song.

Just… him.

Naina yawned, stretching lazily. "Bhai, ye banda poore Bollywood ka heartbreak playlist leke baitha hai. Kal agar ‘Agar Tum Saath Ho’ baj gaya, toh main officially keh dungi ki tujhe kisi filmy aashiq ne target kar liya hai."

Aziza didn’t laugh. She clutched the phone tightly, staring at the black screen.

Somewhere, in a different room, Ayaan placed his phone down, exhaling softly.

He lay back, staring at the ceiling, hoping Aziza felt at least something.

Aziza, still sitting on her bed, stared at the phone.

"Naina…" she whispered.

"Hmm?"

Aziza clutched the blanket around her shoulders. "Mujhe vaha jaana hi nahi chahiye tha…"

Naina yawned, patting her head. "Bakwaas mat kar, behen. Koi itna pyaar se tere liye surprise plan karta hai, tere liye gaana bajata hai, aur tu keh rahi hai tujhe nahi jaana chahiye tha? Matlab tu ab officially stupid category mein aa chuki hai."

Aziza buried her face in her knees. "But I don’t understand why he cares so much…"

Naina rolled her eyes. "Behen, kabhi kabhi na samajhna hi best option hota hai. Bas maan le, tu kisi ke liye special hai."

Aziza sighed, her fingers tightening around the phone.

She didn’t know what to do.

But she knew one thing.

Somewhere out there, someone saw her in a way no one else did.

And for the first time… she was scared of being seen.