***
I woke by my alarm sound which went for the n'th time; I slowly snoozed it off and looked at my phone.

14 missed calls and 20 messages.

It was only then I came to my senses,

‘You’ve got only 5 minutes to get ready Mina, or you’ll miss your trip!’

Shit! Shit! This is insane!!

I quickly dressed up as fast as I could and hurried out.

The entire crowd was waiting for me.

“What were you doing for so long Mina?” I could see Lia's lips pronouncing those words, while my entire class was staring at me awkwardly.

“Why are you late Mina? The entire class has been waiting for you for more than 10 minutes!” Mr. Alex said.

“I…I was…no.. I am sick!, I’m sick” I said and made a fake cough.

“Since my body was tired because I am sick, I cannot wake up early!” I replied and looked at the reactions of my classmates,

Blank, they were totally blank.(crickets creaking) I’m not so good at acting.

“Oh really? So can you stay back in the hotel, while we go to the falls? You need to take care of your health!” Mr. Alex asked.

Wait, no! no! no! I don’t want that! I don’t want to sit and stare alone these bizarre hotel paintings!

“I..I am pretty fine now, Sir, I just want to tell you the reason for my delay that’s it!” I replied.

I looked at Lia, her expressions were like, ’Oh really?’

“Fine, then students, make sure all of you stay together and let’s move!” Mr. Alex words went which was succeeded by a loud excited scream by us.

***
We reached the marvelous queen of Canada,

“THE NIAGARA FALLS”

And undoubtedly it’s true when people say it as the 8th wonder of the world.

This is awesome, I’ loving it! I’m just gonna fill my instagram with me and my Niagara pics!

Lia and I, we both were enjoying ourselves thoroughly.

***

“3..2..1..”

And we both started to shout above the sound of the gushing water, I knew it was stupid, but we loved it!

Mike was hanging out with Brandon and we din’t had any time to talk. Suddenly I came up with a thought,
Why can’t I give him a birthday party? That would be great and would be really sweet to celebrate his birthday with his class, he would definitely not forget it!

So I planned something,

“Lia, I need your help, we’re going to give Mike a surprise party, because it’s his birthday today” I said at once.

“Really? Today? That’s cool, okay what’s the plan?” she asked me.

“Plan 1, Calling Brandon now!”

***
Brandon and Mike spend most of the time together, so I waited till one of them parted.

I waited…I waited…

No use! I’ll better text Brandon now.

-Brandon, do you see a board ‘Welcome to Niagara? You see a beautiful girl there with pink hoodie and blue jeans, well that’s me please hurry up I want to tell you something about Mike!

I waited for him to first notice me and done he found me, then I waited again for his message.

-If you want to talk about Mike, you have to call him, not me and I don’t see any beautiful girl there.

Done with this guy!

-Brandon…it’s his birthday today, we have to do a birthday plan, got it? Now give him some excuse and hurry up to where I’m standing now.

Then I could see in the text minute Brandon telling something and getting away from Mike and obviously heading towards me I made sure that Mike cannot see us.

“What? Really, Today is his birthday?” Brandon asked me in surprise.

“Yes”

"He said that only to me" I replied.

“And you wanna give him a birthday party?” he asked me narrowing his eyes at me like he was suspecting me for something else.

“Brandon it’s just a party and nothing beyond that!” I replied.

“Oh really, we’ll see to that!” he said in a mocking tone.

“Din’t I hear someone telling about parties?” I heared another voice in our group now.

I turned to see who it was and it was the someone who I never wanted.

“Rachel! What are you doing here?” I asked her, now party’s over!

“How can your ears only hear words like parties, proms and make-ups?” Brandon asked.

“I’ am not talking to you!” was her firm reply against him.

“We were planning a party!” I said again.

“Whose?” She asked again lifting her eyebrow.

“That’s not….” Before I could finish Lia said,

“Mike’s birthday party!”

I gave her a cold glare.

She just gave a sheepish grin. And this is what I don’t like in Lia, she answers all the question that goes around her even when it is not asked her.

“Interesting, Just add me in this plan or I’ll spill the tea!” Rachel replied flipping her hair dramatically.

“Who on earth cares if you spill tea or coffee, we are just going to execute it and that’s it!”

“I’m saying it again, I am not talking with you Brandon!” her voice started to become like roars.

“Please don’t spoil the plan by telling it to him, we will add you.” I said quickly.

“The plan is already half spoilt now” I could hear Brandon murmuring.

“That’s smart, but if I find the plan boring I can change it anytime!” Rachel replied to me.

I know it’s hard with her but I had no other go.

“Guys, just come to my room after we reach the hotel, make sure Mike doesn’t find it, we cannot plan everything here at once! Any more questions?” I asked.

“Not to you but to her, how do you walk in this 6 inch high heels Rachel?” Brandon raised his question.

“Tell me this boy is not in the group, I’m leaving now!” she replied rudely shooting B daggers against Brandon and left the place.

“Brandon, Seriously?” I asked him in disbelief.

“Was that a wrong question, but I always want that to know!” he replied.

***
Back in hotel just as planned and thanks to God, everyone came to my room as planned.

And with great difficulties in midst of my quarrels with Rachel, stopping Brandon from asking his stupid questions and finally pausing Lia from texting her Judith, I made… sorry we made the plan.

***
Evening fell!

I was praying that everything should take place at the right time; we have already got permission from the hotel and Mr. Alex.

We have set up our spies to watch him enter the lobby, those spies were none other, me, Lia, Brandon and Rachel.
I kept my phone in conference.

“Lia What’s up?” I asked over the phone.

“He is entering the elevator from the third floor!” she replied.

“Brandon?” I called him.

“Perfect, just tell me when” he replied.

“Cool!”

“Rachel, enter the elevator in the second floor and bring him to the lobby without any doubt and don’t flirt with him!”

I reminded her. I could have done this job by myself but Din’t I say I’m not a good actor, so I will definitely mess up things and acting and dramas are never an issue when it comes to Rachel.

“Okay!” she replied with toughness in her voice.

I was waiting in the ground floor, the lift must have reached by now, but why it din’t?

“Rachel, what’s happening?” I asked.

“He stopped the elevator at the first floor, I don’t know why!” she just typed me a message because she was not able to talk to me, with him beside her.

“Ask him, now!” I said.

“Why are you stopping in the 1st floor?” I could hear Rachel asking him in that same husky tone.

“Where is Mina? Is she in her room? I want to see her?” Mike’s questions landed on my ears through the phone.

I was skipping beats. This guy thinks of me always? Ok now focus!

“Did you hear what did he say? You have to pay for this girl!” Rachel’s message reached me, though it’s just a message I can very well see her tone in it.

“Bring him down, now, tell him something!” I added.

‘Ok, I’ll see to that!” Rachel texted.

“Brandon! You’re ready?” I asked.

“When I say NOW, switch off the lobby lights!” I said. I was hiding behind a big flower pot next to the elevator. I could sense the sound of it getting opened. I could see them both walking across me through the lobby.

But that Rachel din’t stops flirting with him.

“Brandon, Now!” I said.

At once the entire lobby lights were cut off. The cut off time was only for a gap of 5 minutes so we should be quick.

Everything was going on well till now, just like how I planned. When he steps into the lobby, everyone made a light wave with their cell phone flashlights, singing, I'll be there for you _ FRIENDS theme song and after the song in the next instant the lights went ON and with birthday pops going everywhere, every one started to scream, “Happy Birthday”

You must see his face, it was blooming with happiness, he couldn't stop his mouth from saying thank you's

I was really happy about my class, these guys stuck to the timings and everything went flawlessly great. Sommes this kind of parties can also be satisfying.

Soon he get surrounded by many girls in the name of selfies! I din’t go near him, I just don’t want myself to get crushed in that human crowd, I just stayed back and watched him enjoy his birthday with a smile.

He was trying to look for me among that midst because he definitely knew that I was the one who planned it because he din't said about his birthday to anyone else in our class.

I just left the lobby and went to the hotel garden, I don’t know why but I think he loves me and enough of this confusion game, I’m gonna ask him today straight and if it’s yes, I’m gonna tell him too.

<Inhale> <exhale> You can do it Mina Josh

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Hey guys, hope you're enjoying my book, keep supporting me buddies, love you all❤