Finally, the day of Vaidehi’s birthday dawned. There were days when Vaidehi had forgotten it was her birthday, but her siblings and friends were always there to remind her. Fortunately, she hadn’t forgotten today. As she stepped onto the balcony for a breath of fresh air, she noticed an incoming video call from Bhai. “Good morning, meri pyaari gudiya. Happy 23rd!”

(Good morning, my dear. Happy 23rd!)

“Happy 23rd birthday, didi!”

It had been a tradition amongst the siblings to wish each other on their birthdays at the time they had been born and cut a cake. Vaidehi had been born at 5:24 am, so she usually woke up to her siblings wishing her. There obviously wasn’t a cake to cut this time, but they all chatted for a few minutes. “Theek hain baccha, taiyyar ho jao. Hum shaam mein milte hain.”

(Okay, baccha, get ready now. We’ll meet in the evening.)

“Main intezaar kar rahi hoon. Bye!” 

(I’m waiting, bye!)

Vaidehi wasn’t surprised that nobody had wished her even as she was leaving for work, nor was she disappointed. How could she expect her husband or in-laws to know her birthday if she never told them? Her day went about as usual, and her team at work joined together to give her a gift, which she really treasured. As she was heading out for lunch with Radhika and Shraddha, which was their normal treat on her birthday, Vaidehi’s bosses told her to take an extended lunch. She gladly accepted so she could spend some leisurely time with her friends.

She headed back home, pleasantly tired. Another day and another year bit the dust. Here’s to a happy 23rd Vaidehi. Pulling into the driveway, she let out a long breath, hands on the wheel. 23 saal ki hoon. 23 saal! Kaise guzar gaye yeh pichle kuch saal?

(I’m 23 years old. 23! How did these past few years fly by?)

She laughed to herself, shaking her head. I sound so old, when I know I still have my entire life ahead of me. Bhagwan-ji, aapka bohot bohot abhaar. Ki meri saari khwahishein pura kar diya aapne. Ki mujhe har roz jeene ka chah dete rahe. Warna itni khoobsurat zindagi piche chut jaata.

(God, thank you so much. That you fulfilled all my wishes. That you kept giving me the zeal to truly live each day. Otherwise, I would’ve left behind such a beautiful life.)

Biting her lip in thought, Vaidehi left the slightly maudlin attitude in the car. As she stepped inside, she was greeted by a dark house. Suddenly, thousands of fairy lights turned on and her entire family, including friends, jumped out, shouting surprise. Vaidehi’s jaw hung open, and she slowly smiled. “Aap sab ko yaad tha?”

(You all remembered?)

“Bhabhs, seriously! Apne ek lauti aur favorite Bhabhi ka janamdin kaise yaad nahi hoga?”

(Bhabhs, seriously! How could we forget our only and our favorite Bhabhi’s birthday?)

“Thank you all, for remembering and for surprising me.”

Chandrika and Ranvijay came and hugged her. “Chal pagli! Apni beti ka janamdin manane ke liye kaise thank you. Ab jao, ready ho jao.”

(Crazy! Why are you saying thank you for celebrating our daughter’s birthday? Now go, go get ready.)  

“Haan, Bhai bhi aate hi honge, pata nahi kaise late ho gaya. Hum khoob celebrate karenge!”

(Yeah, Bhai should be coming soon, too. We’re going to celebrate a lot!)

Vaidehi got dressed in the maroon lace saree and matching garnet jewelry set laid out for her. ‘I hope you don’t mind that I’ve selected your outfit for tonight. These are just a few gifts from us all. But your happiness matters most today. If you don’t like this saree, wear what your heart wants. You’ll look stunning no matter what.’ This time, she knew the note wasn’t from Maa. As she descended downstairs, she noticed that the rest of the guests had arrived.

Although it was still a small party, they had invited two other close family friends, and this time, Abhiram, Radhika, and Shraddha’s families had also arrived, along with Radhika and Shraddha’s fiancés. Shraddha and Radhika’s parents, whom Vaidehi was pretty close to, had promised to stay the entire time today. They felt bad that they had to miss her sixth monthiversary party to attend a relative’s wedding. Of course, Vaidehi was happy to have them, even though her own parents skipped the party to attend a wedding, just wishing her through a short phone call.

Several hours passed with games, food and drinks (non-alcoholic too, you guys), and music. Vaidehi and Avinash spent the majority of the time teasing Radhika, Shraddha, and their fiancés, who were clearly whipped for their lady loves. Finally, the time to cut the cake had arrived, and some guests had even left. But one person was still missing. Raghuveer. Vaidehi insisted on waiting for him, as it was clear that he was supposed to be there for the party. Perhaps some urgent work or traffic had delayed him.

Abhiram checked the time again, scowling. What the hell was this idiot doing? “I know you said you wanted to go big, go grand. But dude, whatever grand surprise you’re planning can kick it. It doesn’t mean anything if you’re not at your wife’s party.” He’d called Veer’s personal number, but it looked like the gadha hadn’t turned it back on yet. Everyone knew that Veer only had one phone on at a time – work phone for work hours, and a personal number for after hours. Or at least, this was the policy since his marriage. “At least pick up your damn work phone, you chronic workaholic!” “Abhiram bhaiyya, bhai abhi bhi phone nahi utha raha? Humare bhi koi bhi message ka respond nahi kar raha…”

(Abhiram bhaiyya, is bhai still not picking up? He’s not responding to any of our messages either…)

Akshu trailed off with growing worry and frustration. Abhiram swept a hand through his hair, cursing his friend.

Suddenly, he turned to face her with a frown. “What did you just call me?” “What?” Akshu’s blank expression told him she’d already forgotten. “What. Did you just. Call me?” “Umm…Abhiram Bhaiyya? But what does that have to do with bhai’s radio silence?” “Uss gadhe ko bhool jao! Yeh mera naam ke baad bhaiyya kahan se aa gaya?”

(Forget that donkey! Where did the ‘bhaiyya’ after my name come from?)

Akshara looked a bit sheepish, yet at the same time proud of herself. “Bhabhi aapko humesha Abhiram bhaiyya bulati hain. Maine socha ki ab main bachi nahi hoon, sabko izzat dena seekhna chahiye. Aap bhai ka sabse accha dost hain, aur merese itna bada. Sirf naam se toh nahi pukaar sakti.”

(Bhabhi always calls you Abhiram bhaiyya. I thought that since I’m not a child anymore, I should learn to call people with respect. You’re bhai’s best friend, and so much older than me. I can’t just call you by your name.)

Abhiram stared at her, dumbfounded. “Tum se aap…Tum badi ho gayi ho toh ‘bhaiyya’ aur ‘aap’ kehke mera umr badha rahi ho? Suno – main itna bhi bada nahi hoon tumse.”

(From ‘tum’ to ‘aap’…You grew up, so you’re making me older by calling me ‘bhaiyya’ and ‘aap’? Listen – I’m not that much older than you.) **Tum is the informal ‘you’, and ‘aap’ is the formal ‘you.’

Akshu gave him a contemplative once-over. “Aap merese aath saal bade hain.”

(You’re eight years older than me.)

His face now serious, Abhiram took a step towards her. “No. I’m not. I’m a year and a half younger than Veer.” Akshu’s eyes shot up. “Seriously? Wow, I never expected bhai would have friends who were younger than him. Phir bhi…aap bade hain che saal.”

(Still…you’re six years older than me.)

“So what?” Abhiram’s offended look had Akshu tilting her head in curiosity. “Bachpan se ‘tum’ bula rahi ho. Itna bhi mat badlo. Waisi ho…aisi hi acchi ho.”

(You’ve been calling me ‘tum’ since childhood. Don’t change that much. You’re good the way you are.)

“Par bhabhi aapko…”

(But Bhabhi calls you…)

He cut her off, his voice coming out harsher than he wanted. “Bhabhi calls me bhaiyya, and I call her bhabhi. Main tumhe ‘didi’ toh nahi bulata na?”

(…I don’t call you ‘older sister’, right?)

Akshu blinked in confusion, completely lost at where this conversation had gone. “Par main aapse chhoti hoon, aap mujhe didi kyun bulayenge?”

(But I’m younger than you, why would you call me ‘older sister’?)

Letting out a frustrated breath, Abhiram looked pleadingly towards the heavens. Jaisa bhai waisi behen.

(Like brother, like sister)

Their brick wall brains just never understand some things. “Akshara, don’t call me ‘bhaiyya.’” She shook her head, laughing. “Arey, isse kya problem hoga--.”

(Arey, but why would that be a problem--)

“Haan, mujhe problem hain.”

(Yes, I have a problem.)

Abhiram stepped closer, breaking another boundary between them. “Par tum nahi samjhogi.”

(But you won’t understand.)

“Agar samajhti, toh Veer ki behen kaisi hoti,” he mumbled under his breath.

(If you understood, how could you be Veer’s sister?)

Aur meri buddhu si, pyaari si, nadaan si Akshu kaisi hoti.

(And how could you be my silly, adorable, innocent Akshu.)

“Kya?” Akshu leaned in closer, trying to catch his last words.

(What?)

Closing the last step between them, Abhiram spoke into her ear. “Leave off with the ‘bhaiyya.’ It’s just Abhiram to you.” He started striding away when Akshu’s words stopped him. “Jaa rahe hain?”

(You’re leaving?)

“Tumhare gadha bhai ko ghar laane.”

(To bring your idiot brother home.)

Akshu was left staring blankly after him. Did he call me Akshara? Instead of Akshu? He’s never done that before…Well, you’ve never called him ‘bhaiyya’ before. A snap in front of her face brought her attention back to the present. Vaidehi raised her brows questioningly. “Theek toh ho?”

(Are you alright?)

Akshu pointed to herself, then in Abhiram’s direction, then back at herself. Blinking rapidly, she opened her mouth twice before she could formulate cohesive words. “Woh nahi chahte ki main unhe ‘bhaiyya’ bulaoon?” She stared at Vaidehi as if she would know the answer to her weird question-statement.

(He doesn’t want me to call him ‘bhaiyya’?)

Vaidehi’s cryptic smile only had her more intrigued. “Bhabhi…aap kuch jaante hain?”

(Bhabhi…do you know something?)

Vaidehi smiled innocently. “Main toh bohot kuch jaanti hoon…aur kuch bhi nahi jaanti hoon.”

(I know a lot…and I also know nothing.)

Her shrug only confused Akshu more. Shaking her head in confusion, she walked off to get a cooling drink from the refreshment table.

Yuv was scrolling on his phone while waiting, and he came across a post that made him yell, “What the hell?” Because of the music, nobody paid attention, but Vaidehi, who was just passing the duo from behind, paused. Yug slapped his twin on the head. “Chup kar kutte! Bhabhs ne sun liya toh?”

(Shut up, idiot! What if Bhabhs heard you?)

Leaning closer, she could see that the post was of a high-scale business event. There were several group pictures of people she recognized as corporate leaders…and a picture of her husband getting into his car with a woman clinging on to his arm, waving at the paparazzi.

She didn’t like seeing him with another woman clinging onto his arm. Which was fine, she didn’t have to like it. And men and woman took pictures together all the time – that didn’t necessarily mean anything. But in the grand scheme of things, that wasn’t really what mattered, or bothered her. It didn’t even bother her that her husband hadn’t showed up to her birthday party. There were infinite reasons for his absence. Besides, how could she expect something from him that she couldn’t expect from her own family. If her husband, her in-laws, her friends remembered her occasions, then she would be pleasantly surprised. If not, no big deal.

That was the mantra she followed her whole life, and she had no intention of changing it now. Because changing it, would only lead to getting hurt. The thing that really annoyed her was that if he had to attend the party, he could have at least informed his family. They had been getting quite worried about his absence. Or maybe, they knew where he was but were disappointed that he hadn’t yet arrived. Who knew? The past several dream-like weeks flew out her mind. He might be interested in you, but what does that really mean?  Stop it Vaidehi, don’t go down that rabbit hole. You never asked for him to be interested in you, you’ll be fine. You always are.  

Finally, at 11:58pm, Chandrika asked Vaidehi to cut the cake. “You should cut the cake before the day ends, beta. And don’t worry about your nalaayak husband who didn’t bother to show up. We’re all here to celebrate with you.” (Nalaayak- useless) Smiling, Vaidehi cut the cake. At exactly 12:00, Raghuveer strode in, cursing while looking at the watch on his wrist. “Damn it, I’m late! You’ve already cut the cake.” Ranvijay and Chandrika stepped in front of Vaidehi protectively.

“Oh, Mr. Raghuveer Malhotra! Finally, apni biwi ke birthday party mein aane ka fursat toh mila.”

(Oh, Mr. Raghuveer Malhotra! Finally, you got the time to attend your wife’s birthday party.)

While Chandrika was being sarcastic, Ranvijay was radiating pure anger. “How dare you treat my daughter like this? You’re the one who planned the party, and you only didn’t show up? Are these the values and priorities we raised you with?” “Maa, Papa, please.” Vaidehi tried to intervene, but everyone else quieted her. “Yeah Bhai! You skipped Bhabhs’s birthday party just to go to a business event with that tramp, of all people? How could you?” Yuv burst out, unable to control himself after seeing that post. That shocked everyone else out of their stony silence.

“What?” “Business party?” “Are you kidding me?” “No way, that bitch Myra?” “Excuse me, young man? What sort of language are you using?” Vaidehi walked up to Raghuveer, grabbed his hand, and dragged him over to the sofa, making him sit. “Don’t worry, you’re not too late. We just cut the cake and haven't even served it yet. But you should have informed one of us that you were going to be late, everyone was worried. Khair, just relax for a few minutes, have a drink of water and something to eat, and I’ll be right back. Maa, can you have someone cut the slices and serve them. I’m just going to change out of this saree and come. And if anyone else wants to change, feel free. Cake tastes better when eaten in comfort.” (Khair- whatever/let it be)