"Happy Birthday Akshita Beta!" The priest said with a smile, making Ekansh look at him in shock.

Akshita smiles and takes his blessings.

"Arey beta, who is he?" The priest asks, Akshita becomes nervous realizing Ekansh's presence.

"My...Husband...Ekansh Raghuvanshi" she said awkwardly while Ekansh was only looking at her in shock.

"Ohh that's great! Every year she used to come alone but now she has a loving husband, I'm happy for you beta" He told the first sentence to Ekansh and the last one to Akshita.

Ekansh just looks at her with unknown emotions.

'Loving Husband' Akshita's self consciousness mocked her.

"Now I'm here pandit ji, She is not alone ANYMORE" He said looking at her who snapped her head at him, hearing his words.

She felt butterflies by his intense gaze, a red tint spread on her cheeks hearing him.

After that they came out before Ekansh could say anything. Akshita excused herself and went to some poor children and gave them some beverages to eat from the nearby shop while he looked at her in guilt.

When she comes back they both sit in the car but seeing no movement Akshita asks.

"Um..What happened? Aap gadi kyu nhi chla rehe?"
(Why are you not driving?)

"What Happened To You?" He snapped at her, making her jump at her place.

"Wh..What no.. nothing!" She stammered.

"You didn't tell anyone it's your birthday if you did that then everyone would have planned something!" He told her with red eyes.

"I..I. It's just a birthday nothing else" she replied.

"People are excited on their birthdays and you are saying, it's just a birthday! You could have at least told me" he said angrily massaging his temple.

"I don't like celebrating my birthday that's why" she said looking here and there.

"Why?" He was irritated by her attitude, she looked at him for a few minutes and said.

"I am a simple girl who still loves simple things, I got married in a rich family doesn't mean I'm an attention seeker or gold digger, I don't like celebrating it's my own choice, I didn't tell anyone because I know then they will surely plan something."

"Why so sudden interest in my life? Aap is shadi se kabhi khush nahi the, to ab yeh interest kyu? Mujhe kisi se kisi cheez ki koi expectations nahi hai, because bhale hi vo mere liye important kyu na ho par jab mere husband khud mujhe accept nhi krte, to me us family ko kis haq se apna maanu?" She said with teary eyes while Ekansh looked shocked by her confession.

(You were never happy with this marriage then why are you interested now? I don't have any expectations from anyone because no matter how important they are to me but when my own husband doesn't accept me I can't have rights in that family.)

"Please don't tell anyone about my birthday! I will consider it as my birthday gift" she said wiping her tears, she has many things to say but it's of no use to say to him, he will never understand that's what she thinks.

Ekansh silently drove the car towards home, when they reached Akshita hurriedly moved out from the car and went inside, while he just looked at her.

'Did I hurt her so much? I didn't know my actions would cause so much to her, and how can she think that I think of her as an attention seeker or gold digger?' he thought and strom his hand on the steering wheel in anger.

'I know I never behave like a husband but I never thought anything bad about her, she is the one who makes my family happy, she takes care of me even when I told her I don't need her in any kind of things in my life. Maybe Dadu was right about her.'

On other hand Akshita comes to her room and instantly regrets saying that to him.

'What the hell is wrong with me? Why did I burst on him? Now he will be more angry, think something Akshita, think!!!' she panicked.

"Bhabhi!!!" Akshita hears Veer and Trisha calling her, and when she turns she finds them in her room.

"We missed you" They said, hugging her.

"Mee too!" A voice came and they looked to find Avyansh in his casuals.

"Didn't you go to the meeting?" Akshita ask him

"It's over soon, I just came and changed." He replied.

Soon they four feel someone's presence and look at the door, finding Ekansh.

"Ohh bhai thank you for taking care of our bhabhi now you can go we are here" Veer said shooing him.

Ekansh raises his eyebrow at his brother's behavior.

"You know what? She is MY WIFE before your bhabhi" he said not knowing himself.

Akshita widens her eyes and looks at him in shock.

"Ahuh! When did we deny bhai ofcourse she is yours" Avyansh teases him to which he rolled his eyes but deep inside he felt good listening she is his.

"Bhai we're gonna talk to bhabhi all day now as we do every Sunday so you will be bored!" Trisha said, making him frown.

"Why will I get bored? I'm of your age, not a 60 year old man!" He said.

"Still you behave like one" Veer said casually earning a glare from him.

"What? If you don't believe then ask bhabhi" Veer shrugged off.

Akshita widened her eyes and gulped hard looking at him who was already looking at her waiting for a reply.

"Yeah tell bhabhi!" Avyansh said teasingly.

"Yes tell" Ekansh too said more like threatening her.

"Voh..I..I.." Akshita stammered but before she could say anything Trisha interrupted.

"What are you asking bhabhi? She will surely take her husband's side so it's no use, leave it. We have many things to do" Trisha said excitedly.

"Yes, first we will talk, then we will watch a movie, then in the evening we will order something from out and then at nig---." Avyansh was explaining the plan but Ekansh interrupted him.

"Leave the plan after the Movie, I and your bhabhi are going out" he said.

"Why?" Veer asks, coming a little close and eyeing him.

"I don't need your permission to take my Wife out" he said, also coming close to him and making him back away.

Akshita just had a heart attack hearing his words.

"Ohoo bhai Date huh?" Trisha asks with a smirk.

"Sit in this room only and talk. I will also join after changing" Ekansh said, ignoring everyone and moving towards his bathroom.

"What just happened now?" Avyansh asked with a shocked face.

"Is that real?" Veer said with the same shocking expression.

"Bhabhi! Did he hit his head somewhere?" Trisha asked, looking at the closed bathroom door.

Akshita shook her head, It's too much for everyone.

The Ekansh Raghuvanshi wants to spend some time with them.

Who knows with whom he wants  to😏

"Bhabhi you know! Veer fought with a boy in college" Trisha complained.

"Bhabhi you don't know the reason!" Veer said, greeting his teeth.

"What's the reason?" Avyansh asked.

"Are you bhabhi?" Trisha said sarcastically to which everyone chuckled except one and we all know that one.

"Bhabhi, he proposed to Trisha!! How can I tolerate it?" He said angrily.

"WHAT!?!" The other two brothers snapped at him.

Ekansh who was half lying on the bed beside the sitting Akshita immediately sat straight while Avyansh came close to veer.

"And you are telling us now?" Ekansh scolds.

"Come on bhai it's not a big deal" Trisha tried to explain.

"What? Not a big deal? Of course, it's a big deal if someone tries to propose to you." Avyansh glared at her.

"Who is he? Tell me his name and details" Ekansh said furiously.

"Bhabhi please help!" Trisha pleaded to Akshita.

"Rukiye! Please gussa mat hoiye, I know as a brother you all are possessive but it's common, every girl has to experience this in her life someday and Trisha too..."

"Veer I know you are just doing it so your sister doesn't fall for someone who is not worthy of her, but what do you think if you love someone genuinely and her brother will beat you, will you stop loving that person?" Akshita asked Veer to which he shook his head.

"Avyansh you and Tara both started dating in college, if her brother stopped you then would you be where you are today, No na.."

"I'm not saying to let anyone propose to her, but she is mature, she knows who is good for her, I believe she can never choose a wrong person and you guys are here to save her from evil eyes" She explained making them understand what she is trying to say.

"You are right bhabhi! But I will make sure she will not be trapped by any bad boy, " Veer said to which Avyansh nodded but all this time Ekansh didn't say anything, he just looked at her.

"Bhabhi how many people propose to you before marriage?" Trisha asked, making Akshita uncomfortable and Ekansh curious.

"Common bhabhi it's just us you can share" Veer said.

"You must have got more than 40 proposals, I'm sure," Avyansh said with confidence, making Ekansh's eyes snap at Akshita in shock.

"I never counted." She just laughed awkwardly.

"Then tell us anyone that you know was special or different from other proposals you got," Avyansh asked.

"There is nothing special or different but yeah there was a person or I say my friend who proposed to me, he was the perfect example of the boy any girl can ask for" Akshita said thinking about him with a smile.

Ekansh literally got a heart attack seeing that smile on her face.

'how can she say that in front of her Husband'

"Then did you accept?" Trisha asked.

And here our Ekansh start praying to God...

"No!!" She shook her head, making him sigh in relief.

"Why? You said he was perfect" Veer asked.

"Perfection is not everything everytime, sometimes your heart wants the one you never imagined to be with" hearing her Ekansh felt something he never felt before, he was touched by her words like it was only for him.

"I never saw him in that way. He was always a good friend to me, even though I tried to give him a chance he tried his best to make it work, but my heart never accepted our relationship" She said, Ekansh fists his hand.

"I think someone is jealous!!" Avyansh teases him earning a glare.

That's the time she realised he was there too..

She gulped hard but didn't dare to look at him but could feel his continuous gaze on her.

---------

After sometimes they watched a movie when it was over they all stand up, it was already going to be evening

"Trisha make your Bhabhi ready today as if it's her special day" Ekansh said, still looking at Akshita but there was not a hint of any kind of expression on his face.

"And I don't want you guys to disturb my DATE" he said forcing on the last word making Akshita feel butterflies.

"Oohoo bhai" Avyansh tease him and he and Veer follow him out.

"Bhabhi looks like bhai gonna give you full compensation for his all busy schedule." She teases her

Akshita becomes more nervous now.

Time skip...

Ekansh got ready in his formals and now waiting for Akshita to come, he was waiting very impatiently for 15 mins, if it was not her birthday he would have definitely scolded her or dropped the plan.

"What the hell! How much time Trisha is taking to make her ready God!!!" He muttered irritatingly, tapping his foot.

He lost his patience and turned to call them but his eyes were stuck on the stairs.
It was the first time he see her wearing something else than a saree, she was looking beautiful in the simple black anarkali suit and the big oxidised earrings were making her more beautiful with her naked neck, she put on minimal makeup and a small diamond bindi making her face glow like a moon.

She lowered her eyelashes because of his intense gaze, and nervously came downstairs while his eyes followed her every movement.

She stood in front of him and looked at him putting her hair strand behind her ear.

"Chalain?" She asked softly.
(Shall we go?)

He come back to his senses and nodded

"Bhaiiiiii have a good Date" Veer winked at him to which he rolled his eyes at his antic.

"Bhai don't come soon, take your time with our Bhabhi" Trisha said.

"Guys please don't fight when we go, I know you will fight for something useless and take care of the house and eat food on time." Akshita instructs them politely.

"Don't worry bhabhi you enjoy your date we will not fight!" Avyansh confirmed.

Ekansh put his right hand forward which she held with hesitation and left from there.

Today she was feeling different. His looks show different emotions.

He opens the passenger door like a gentleman for her, and they both settle in the car and drive off.

The ride was silent which Akshita thought to break.
After a lot of hesitation and fighting with herself she initiates the talk.

"Where are we going?" She asked in her melodious voice which anyone can feel except this man sitting beside her.

"For dinner!" He replied with full concentration on the road.

"Why?" She asked, but he didn't reply.

"It is because of my birthday right? But I told you I don't celebrate my birthday!" She said her tone was not like usual.

"It's because I wanted to come" he replied, surely he is going to be pissed off, he just wanted to celebrate her birthday.