Saisha's pov:

The soft light of dawn slipped through the curtains, painting the room in hues of peach and gold. I stirred slowly, eyes still closed, wrapped in warmth - not just from the blanket, but from the way Pranay held me.

His arm rested protectively over my waist, his thumb gently rubbing small circles on my skin. I could hear his heartbeat slow, steady  like a lullaby written just for me.

My body ached a little, but not in a way that hurt. It was the kind of ache that reminded me something intimate, something precious, had just taken place.

I turned to face him.

He was already awake.

His eyes, soft and still laced with sleep, met mine. "Good morning, birthday girl," he whispered, brushing my hair behind my ear.

I smiled. "Morning, Pranu..."

He leaned forward and kissed my forehead  long and lingering , as if sealing a promise.

"You okay?" he asked softly, his hand moving up to gently stroke my back.

I nodded. "More than okay. Just... full. Full of so many emotions. I can't believe last night was real."

He cupped my cheek, studying my face. "It was real. And it was perfect. You're perfect, Aishu."

"I was nervous," I admitted, voice barely above a whisper. "But with you, I felt safe... like nothing could hurt me."

His eyes glistened just slightly. "That's how it should always be. I never want you to feel otherwise , not even for a second."

We lay there for a few minutes, just breathing, just being. He held me tighter when the breeze from the window brushed past, pulling the blanket higher over us.

"Does it hurt?" he asked gently.

"Not really," I said truthfully. "Just a little sore. But mostly... it feels warm. Inside."

He kissed the tip of my nose. "Still, we'll take it easy today. You stay in bed as long as you want."

"Only if you stay with me," I whispered playfully.

He grinned. "Deal."

Then, without warning, he slipped out of bed. I watched him, confused. "Where are you going?"

"Aftercare," he said, half-grinning. "Warm water, your favorite soft clothes, a back rub, and the fluffiest pancakes known to you. Let me take care of you."

I couldn't help but laugh. "You're spoiling me too much."

He peeked back through the door. "how can i not?"

A while later, he returned with a warm water bottle, a cup of chamomile tea, and made me wear his softest hoodie. He massaged my shoulders gently while I sipped, then pulled the covers around us and laid my head on his chest again.

"You were my first everything," I whispered. "And I wouldn't want it to be with anyone else."

"Same here" ,He kissed my hair. "You are everything to me, Aishu. And last night... wasn't just about love. It was about trust. About us."

Tears welled in my eyes again  not out of sadness, but out of that overwhelming feeling when you know someone has chosen you, completely.

"I love you so much, Pranu."

He kissed my temple. "And I'll keep loving you every morning, every night... for the rest of our lives."

Pranay's pov:

I woke up before her. The sunlight filtered through the curtains like it had some poetic purpose — warm, soft, and golden, just like her sleeping face. Aishu lay next to me, tucked in my arms, her breath slow and even, her lips still parted slightly.

I couldn't stop looking at her.

She looked... serene.

Like every piece of her found its place last night.

And honestly? So did I.

Never in my dreams did I think we'd take that step so soon. Not because I didn't want it - I did, more than anything. But because I never wanted her to feel rushed or obligated. But last night... she wasn't unsure. She was glowing with something fierce and beautiful. She chose it. She chose me.

And that thought alone made my chest ache in the best way.

After we were done she drifted into sleep,i woke up and gently wiped her core with warm water and fluffy towel ,then made her wear my shirt.

I slowly ran my fingers through her hair, careful not to wake her. But as if she felt my thoughts, she stirred.

Her brows furrowed adorably, and she groaned, burying her face into my chest. "Mmm... five more minutes..."

"You've been asleep for seven hours, birthday girl," I chuckled, pressing a kiss to her hair. "How many more do you need?"

She peeked one eye open and mumbled, "Pranu... don't tease. My whole body's aching."

I smiled, tightening my hold. "Well... we did burn quite a few calories last night."

She swatted my chest, blushing. "Shut up."

I laughed, the sound echoing in the quiet of the morning. She buried her head under the covers, groaning again. "College reopens day after tomorrow..."

I blinked. "Wait... what?"

She popped her head out with a pout. "Don't remind me. I want to stay like this forever. No exams, no photography deadlines. Just you, me, and this blanket."

"You say the most dangerous things when you pout like that," I said, pretending to think. "Tempting me to kidnap you."

She grinned, biting her lip.

The rest of the morning passed in slow, sweet motions. We stayed in bed longer than usual, watching reruns of our favorite series , the kind that made us laugh even though we knew the dialogues by heart. I fed her popcorn from a bowl balanced on her stomach while she made faces every time I chose an episode she didn't vote for.

"Why do you always pick season four? Season three has the best storyline," she argued, dramatically pointing at the screen.

"Because season four has the best kisses, and I plan to recreate one or two today," I said, grinning.

"Shameless," she muttered.

"Always," I replied, stealing a kiss.

In the afternoon, we attempted to cook lunch together , which meant flour in her hair, tomato stains on my shirt, and laughing so hard we nearly forgot to check the rice on the stove. Eventually, we ended up making just pasta and garlic bread. But when she leaned against me at the counter, whispering, "This is better than any restaurant," I believed her.

After lunch, we played video games - she beat me three times in a row, I blamed the controller, and she rewarded herself with a victory dance that was part hilarious, part adorable.

By the time the evening rolled in, we were back on the couch, her head on my shoulder, my fingers absentmindedly playing with the edge of her sleeve.

She turned to me suddenly, her voice soft. "You know... I never liked birthdays. They were always forgotten in the chaos back home. Or came with scoldings instead of surprises."

I turned to face her, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. "Not anymore."

She nodded. "Yeah... because of you. Because of everything you did. The midnight surprise, the cake, the books... even just today. This 21st birthday... it was the best day of my life, Pranu. You made me feel like I matter. Like I'm someone worth celebrating."

"You are someone worth celebrating, Aishu," I whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple. "And not just on your birthday. Every day."

She smiled, her eyes glassy. "I love you."

"I love you more."

She rolled her eyes. "Don't start that again."

We laughed.

Later, after dinner, after brushing teeth with sleepy smiles and shared glances, we crawled into bed.

She wrapped her arms around my waist and snuggled close.

"Don't let go," she whispered.

"Never," I murmured into her hair.

And as we drifted off, tangled in each other, I knew...

No grand adventure, no wild success story , nothing in the world could ever feel more right than this moment, with her breathing against my chest, her fingers curled into my shirt, and her love wrapped around my heart like a promise.

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