Awkward Heartstrings (HEARTSTRINGS SERIES-1)

Reyansh pov

The past two months had been brutal.  Ahmedabad felt a million miles away from Aadya and the sweet smell of her kitchen.  I missed her like crazy.  Every phone call, though filled with her excited chatter about Sweet Surrender, just made the distance ache more.

I was so incredibly proud of her.  She was killing it!  Her little bakery was a sensation, and she was working her magic, creating the most amazing treats.  I scrolled through her Instagram feed constantly, my stomach growling at the sight of her creations.

  But more than the bakery, I missed her.
Her laugh, her smile, the way her eyes lit up when she talked about something she was passionate about.

Her birthday was fast approaching, and I knew I had to be there.  No meeting, no matter how important, could keep me away.  I started planning the surprise weeks ago, coordinating with Abhi. He was a rockstar, agreeing to play along and help me pull this off. 

The “crucial meeting” story was a necessary evil, a little white lie to keep the surprise intact.  I even managed to get a custom cake topper made – a tiny replica of her bakery logo.  It was perfect.

The morning of her birthday finally arrived. I was a nervous wreck, buzzing with anticipation.  I couldn't wait to see her face.  Abhi had gone ahead to her place early, setting up the cinnamon rolls – her absolute favorite – and making sure everyone was in place.

  I took a deep breath, the lilies I’d picked up earlier clutched in my hand, and walked up to her front door.  Abhi opened it silently, a conspiratorial grin on his face.  I stepped inside, and there she was, in her robe, looking a little sleepy and utterly adorable.

"Happy birthday, Aadya!" everyone shouted.  Her eyes widened in surprise, then filled with tears.

  "Reyansh?" she whispered, her voice trembling.  My heart melted.  I put the flowers down and pulled her into a tight hug. 

"Happy birthday, my amazing baker," I whispered in her ear.

"I missed you so much, and I wouldn't miss this for the world."  Seeing her face, the pure joy and surprise, made every bit of planning, every white lie, worth it.  This was the best birthday surprise I could have ever given her, and honestly, it was the best gift I could have ever received.

The warmth of the hug enveloped Aadya, chasing away the last vestiges of sleepiness.  She clung to Reyansh, burying her face in his shoulder.

  The scent of his familiar cologne, a mix of sandalwood and something subtly spicy, filled her senses, a comforting reminder of home.  Tears streamed down her face, but they were tears of pure joy.  She hadn't realized how much she'd missed him until this moment.

"I thought you had a crucial meeting," she mumbled, pulling back slightly to look at him, her eyes sparkling despite the tears.

Reyansh grinned sheepishly. "It was... postponed," he said, winking.  He knew she wouldn't believe him, but she was too happy to care.

Abhi, ever the supportive friend, chimed in, "Yeah, it was really crucial.  Like, life-or-death crucial.  We almost lost the contract for... uh... space muffins."

Aadya giggled, shaking her head.  "Space muffins?"

"Don't ask," Abhi said, throwing his hands up in mock surrender.

The room erupted in laughter, the tension of the past months melting away like butter on a hot pan.  Aadya's grandparents arrived shortly after, adding to the festive atmosphere.  The aroma of cinnamon rolls mingled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee, creating a cozy and inviting ambiance.