Ties That Bind

18

### **Chapter 18: Hardik Pandya's Birthday Bash**

The Sharma-Pandya household was buzzing with excitement, more than usual. Today was a special day—it was Hardik Pandya's birthday, and the family had planned a grand surprise to celebrate him in style. Despite his tough and cold exterior, everyone knew Hardik loved family gatherings, especially when they involved the people closest to him.

Virat and Rahul had been up early, sneaking around the villa to make sure everything was set up for the evening. From decorations to food and even the guest list, they wanted it to be perfect.

"I still can't believe we managed to keep this from him," Rahul whispered to Virat as they checked the final touches on the large dining table, set up with candles and elegant centerpieces.

"Hardik's not as sharp as he thinks when it comes to surprises," Virat joked, grinning. "He'll never expect us to go all out like this."

Rahul smiled, rubbing his belly absentmindedly. "He deserves it, though. He's been such a rock during this pregnancy. This day should be all about him."

Virat gave Rahul a side hug. "It'll be perfect. Trust me."

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**The Decorations and Setup**

As the clock ticked closer to the party, the house transformed. Soft lighting filled the villa, with shades of gold and black—Hardik's favorite colors—decorating every corner. A grand cake with Hardik's name written in bold sat in the middle of the living room. Ishan had taken it upon himself to design the cake, and as always, he went a little overboard, but it was spectacular nonetheless.

"Do you think the cake is too much?" Ishan asked, biting his lip nervously as he eyed the three-tiered confection.

Virat laughed, shaking his head. "It's perfect. You know Hardik loves over-the-top things. It'll be the first thing he notices."

Ishan beamed, clearly proud of his creation. "Okay, good. I want him to be surprised, but in a good way."

Shikhar, Krunal, and baby Kavir were in charge of keeping Hardik distracted until the evening. The plan was for them to take him out to a local cricket match, something that would keep him occupied without arousing suspicion.

---

**The Surprise**

As evening fell, the family gathered in the villa, hiding behind couches and curtains, waiting for Hardik's return. Rohit, always calm under pressure, stood by Virat, arms crossed as he watched the door.

"He's going to love this," Rohit said quietly, his voice low and steady.

Virat smiled up at him, feeling the warmth in Rohit's words. "I hope so. It's been a while since we've done something just for him."

Soon, the door creaked open, and Hardik's voice boomed through the entryway. "Shikhar, what are you up to? You've been acting weird all day—"

"SURPRISE!"

Hardik froze, his eyes wide as the entire family jumped out from their hiding spots, cheering and clapping. The look of shock on his face slowly morphed into one of amusement, and then a wide grin spread across his face.

"I should've known something was up," Hardik chuckled, shaking his head. "You guys are too quiet to not be planning something."

Rahul walked over to him, wrapping his arms around Hardik in a tight hug. "Happy Birthday, babe."

Hardik smiled softly, his hand instinctively moving to rest on Rahul's belly. "You all did this for me?" He looked around the room, his expression touched, clearly not expecting this kind of celebration.