Vihaan

The next morning I woke up to hundreds of messages and a dozen missed calls. At midnight, I kept waiting in for her call. I didn't receive any call I got last night thinking that it will come engaged when she calls but she didn't and eventually waiting I fell asleep.

I unlocked my phone and check my messages. Not even a message. The last message was Good night at 11:30. Did she forget? She will when she gets time. She cannot forget, right? Yes, she must be busy. I mean it's not mandatory to wish at 12. Am I expecting too much?

I get up from the bed and open the drapes letting the sunlight enter my room. I squint as the bright sunlight hits my eyes. I was glad it wasn't raining. I brushed my teeth and took a shower. I got ready and went downstairs sitting at the dining table. I was surprised when I saw my parents downstairs waiting for me.

That's rare considering the last three years they weren't here. As soon as they saw me they stood up and come towards me. Dad came in and hugged me.

"Happy Birthday Vihaan." Mom hugs me and wishes me. We sat at the dining table and to my surprise, mom made breakfast. It reminded me of my childhood days. When we sat to eat breakfast together...

I turned the plate and maa served me what she had made. Paranthe and tea. She also made sheera and the smell of ghee filled the room. We ate breakfast together and I take a look at my phone again and again for a text.

Nothing...

"So what are your plans for today?"
Dad asked me is when I take my eyes off the phone. Yesterday I knew the answer to this but today I don't know. I was hoping to spend the afternoon with Aayush and my friends and then I wanted to spend the evening with Amyra but now I don't know.

"Here is a gift for you." Maa handed me a gift box beautifully wrapped. I thanked them for the gift.

"Open up." Dad insisted and I opened the wrapper up. It was a box and by the looks of it. It seemed to me that it was a watch.

I opened the box and I saw the latest smartwatch which I wanted but I would have been happier if they could give me their time. As expected they were gonna be out for the night. I didn't expect more from them.

They left and I was all alone. I opened up a couple of messages and thanked them. Those were a few Whatsapp messages. I didn't dare to open my Instagram. We can do that later.

With nothing to do, I turned on the TV. I switched from the movies channel to the sports one. Nothing interesting. Every time my phone made a ping, I jumped up hoping for a notification from him, and every time I was disappointed.

It was past one in the afternoon. I was hungry. I ordered pizza and it came in about half an hour. I took the delivery and paid the delivery boy. I placed the pizza box on the table and stared at the box.

What I imagined today to be and what it turned out to be. I couldn't wait anymore and I called Amyra. She didn't pick on the first call so I called her again.

"Hello, Vihaan. I am so sorry." She said in a hurry.

"It's alright." At this moment I thought she forgot but as long as she remembers now that's fine.

"I am busy with my assignment. That's why I couldn't text or call. I know I should have told you but I didn't get the chance to. I have been working on it since last night."

"Oh! Okay." So she did forgot my birthday. Should I remind her or not? I don't know what to do.

"Are you fine? You are sounding too dull." She asks me because I have been quiet for minutes thinking about whether I should tell her.

"No, I was hoping we could go out tonight." I finally said.

"I will not be able to make it tonight." I understand but even an hour would be fine with me. It's okay if we don't go out. Please agree, Amyra."Half an hour is fine too. I just want to meet you. I can come over and help you."

"No need for that. We can meet tomorrow. I am sorry but I can't today." She explained and I could feel it in her voice that she was disappointed.

"Okay. I hope you complete your work." And she hanged up. I should have reminded her that it was my birthday but I didn't because if I did, her mind will be on how she forgot about it and try to plan something. She said she was busy and birthdays are going to come every year.

I open the box and take a slice of pizza in my hand is when the doorbell rings. I get up to open the door. It was Aayush.

"Dude, you are alive." He said hitting my shoulder.

"I am standing right in front of you. So yeah I am." I mock him and he enters and taking off his shoes.
"You could call me back or reply to my text."

I sighed. Ever since I had been on a call with Amyra. My mood was off that I didn't see my phone."I haven't taken a look at the messages yet."

"That's fine. I bet Amyra was keeping you busy." I wish. He hugs me.

"Happy birthday." I thank him and we go to the main hall. He takes a look at the table."You were eating pizza without me." Uh oh! He glares at me. I shouldn't eat pizza without him. He will kill me. Pizza is his favorite.

"I forgive you only because it's your birthday. Tell me what Amyra planned for you."

"About that..." I was about to explain to him about Amyra forgetting my birthday but he didn't let me speak. The excitement was written all over his face. "Did you stay up all night talking to her? Or she sent a surprise gift for you."

"She doesn't remember my birthday," I said and he stopped talking.

"What?" Looking at Aayush's face I knew he didn't believe me. He laughs at first thinking it of some joke or prank of mine but then when he looked at my serious face. He understood it wasn't a joke.
"And you didn't tell her."

"She is busy with her assignment. If I tell her she will rush all the way here and feel guilty for forgetting."

"Sometimes I forget how selfless you can be. I know how long you were waiting for your birthday to spend time with her." Aayush says taking up a slice of pizza. He then excuses himself to the washroom and I take my phone. I was looking at our photo in my wallpaper. As much as I am not showing that it affects me, I waited for my birthday to be with her.

Aayush comes from behind patting my shoulder. "We are going out tonight." He says looking at my sad face. I am not in a mood to go anywhere."I don't want to go anywhere."

"Come on, it's your birthday and I am not listening to a no. I am calling the boys right now. You go and get ready." I knew he won't listen to me. So I agreed. Maybe I will distract myself by going out for a bit.

At about six, I got ready and picked the boys from our common point that was decided, and head to the club. I wore a white and black check shirt over my white t-shirt along with black jeans and my white sneakers.

I take my car and drove to the location Aayush sent me. On the way there, I realized. Maybe the assignment thing isn't true. That was a plan to catch me off guard and surprise me.

Or maybe I am thinking too much.

We will know when I reach there and yes I was thinking too much.
Everyone met me at the entrance wishing me a happy birthday and then hugging me one by one. As soon as we entered, the guys went to the bar to have drinks and I found myself a place to sit.

Aayush joined them and they brought a cake with candles singing happy birthday. A birthday without a cake is incomplete. I blew the candles and cut the cake. Everyone had a piece of cake and the rest was distributed amongst the staff. Then all of them got back to dancing and mingling with the girls. Krish and Aayush pulled me to the dance floor.

I tried to move my hands a bit and then again at the perfect moment I sneaked out of the crowd. I found myself a corner and sat on one of the couches. I hope they don't find me again.

As much as I tried to distract myself from Amyra, I couldn't. My mind was on her. Should I pay a surprise visit to her place? No that's a bad idea. She will be distracted.

What if I get out of here and head back home? Will anyone notice? Krish and Dhruv are drunk and it's not even right. Aayush is busy dancing alone. He truly knows how to party and Raj is talking to some girl he met at the bar.

I decided to stay here for a while. It's not like I have something else to do at home but with passing time, I was getting bored. Aayush spotted me and called me to dance and I shook my head. He shoots me a glare and walks towards me.

"It's your party and you are sitting in a corner." He yells in my ear because of the loud music. "Remind me again why I am here. Not that I like drinking or I love dancing."

I take a look at the watch. It was 8 30. We could have gone to an open mic restaurant or a karaoke where Amyra and I would have sing. Whatever I am trying to do isn't working because my mind wanders off to her.

"I am going back home." Aayush knew by now he couldn't stop me here anymore. The boys wanted to stay for more so they thanked me for the night and we left. I took our car from the parking lot and left.

"Are you coming home with me or going to your house?"

"I think that was enough fun for today. Drop me home." So, I dropped Aayush home and head back home. I take the key from my pocket and open the door. Back to reality. Half an hour ago I was in a small place filled with people and blaring music and now I am in a bigger place than before with me alone and silence all around.

I went upstairs to my room and laid on the bed. What a boring day! I shouldn't have gone to the club. I closed my eyes and visualized the imaginary birthday I had thought would be. The guys and me going to the club and after excusing myself from them.

Go on a long drive with Amyra, then go eat at a restaurant and come back home when I will cut the cake. She will feed me and say Happy Birthday. We will then watch a movie or listen to songs together. I feel the smile curl up on my face thinking about it.
.
Boom
.
The fuck. I was peacefully laying on the bed is when I hear a bang from upstairs. I immediately ran upstairs to where the noise came from.

I slowly step towards the rooftop. There was light coming out which is unusual. The lights should be off. No one was home and I was very sure mom and dad aren't going to back until tomorrow.

The back door and the windows of the house are closed. It wasn't raining but during the rainy season we pull up the glass windows and glass roof. So we can hang out on the terrace in the rain.
The question is who is on the terrace at this time.

I come in front of the terrace door. There was something like a white projector screen blocking the entrance. There was a little space from the corner from where I go in.

There was a bed made of blankets and pillows. The fairy lights lighting up the whole place. The citrus smell filled over because of the scented candles all around. The projector was set up. There was a box in the middle which I am assuming is cake but I thought what can be in the tiffin and the gift box.

There was a happy birthday sign with golden and white balloons. Everything was color coordinated and it looked so pretty in here. I was about to turn when a pair of hands hugged me from behind and I didn't have to turn around to see who it is.

"I am so so sorry." I take her hands off mine and turn around. There she was. Wearing denim one piece over her white top. Her hair loose with eyeliner and lip balm. Just how she likes dresses yet seems different every time. Beautiful than before.

"Don't you have an assignment to do?" If she is here, her work will be left."Do you want me to cry? I already feel so bad." A frown settling on her face as she lowers her gaze. I lift her chin so that she looks up at me. "As long as you are here now."

She smiled a bit and then we sat down. She takes up the cake box and opens it. Red velvet. She remembered. "Happy Birthday Vihaan."

"I baked it myself." This is so much better than my imaginary birthday.
She lights up the candle and I look up at her. She took the cake in her hands and the flame of the candle was in front of her. She is so pretty.

I blew off the candles and cut them with a knife. I take a piece and feed her with it. She takes a piece and brought it to my mouth. She feeds me half of it and smears the remaining on my face.

"Hey..." She laughs and I take some of the cake and do the same to her. Now she glares at me but to me, she looked cute with cake all over her cheeks.

"I would have hated you if even a bit of this gets on my dress but everything is forgiven. I am so sorry. I forgot. How stupid can I be?"

I take her hand and smiled at her. Doesn't matter. She surprised me and it's beautiful. I wasn't expecting this that too last moment. "You did all of this."

"I had help. All thanks to Aayush who called me and helped me. He is at my home completing my assignment. He truly is your wingman."

"I can't thank him enough." I smiled making a note to thank him later. She then hands me the gift box. It was beautifully wrapped with a small bouquet of artificial flowers attached to the bow. I carefully open up the wrapper and opened the box. I didn't want to tear the wrapper apart it was wrapped so beautifully.

I open the box to find a mug. I take it out. It was a customized mug with a quote.

'You had me at just being you'
Was the quote on the mug with a football and guitar. There was a date inscribed on the mug in really small lettering. It was the date we met. A smile curls up on my face reading the quote.

I look up and smiled at her. Then I notice a blue paper in the mug. It seemed like a note. I take the piece of paper out of the mug. I take a look at her figuring what might be written and she gave me a nod telling me to open it. I unfolded the piece of paper and look at her as soon as I read it.

Is that even a question? This boring day just turned into the best day of my life. What more could I have ever wanted? I liked Amyra a lot more than I can imagine and I knew she liked me too but we didn't want to rush things and put a tag on it. I so wanted to call her my girlfriend in front of everybody.

"The grin on your face explains everything." She says and I hug her tight. I had never been this happy is what I say every time I am with her and it's not enough.

The Girl I Like Is My Girlfriend...

I look at her to assure myself that this isn't a dream. It's real and when I see her blushing I knew it wasn't a dream.

I looked at her I felt the urge to kiss her. I was looking into her eyes to her never-ending smile. We both were happy. I pull her close to me by her waist and she puts her hands on my neck.

I take a strand of hair and push it behind my ear staring into the brown hues of her eyes. She smiles while she tries to steal her gaze away from me. She was blushing and closed her eyes with a smile curled up on her lips. I moved forward kissing her cheek devouring the cake. I felt her tremble when my lips touched her cheek.

I was about to kiss her lips is when I whisper in her ear."May I?"

Then it was her who went with it and her lips touched mine. I was surprised but went on. It was pure bliss. Everything around was magical. It was sensual, gentle yet rough at the same time. I felt the smile on her lips. I savored every moment of it.

I know it's cliche and very much Bollywood but time seemed to stop. Violins were playing behind me and only we were in the moment. I was lost...

To be honest, I did go on some dates but this was my first kiss and I was glad it was her. I couldn't love anyone as much as I loved her. It can be too fast for others but I was sure. When we pulled back we looked into each other's eyes smiling at each other.

I was screaming from within.

Best birthday ever.

"Just so you know you are my first kiss ever."

"Not like I have kissed anyone before. You are my first everything." She blushes and I grinned knowing I was her first too.

We watched a movie together and are aaloo parantha. She thought pizza and burgers are what everyone eats, we would do something different. Besides it's my favorite, I am not complaining.

After the movie, we just laid down and gazed at the sky through the glass roof. I put my arms around her and cover her with a blanket so she isn't cold. Then we just laid there silently and I thought of today. I can finally call her my girlfriend and the gift. All of this was beyond what I anticipated. So far, it was my favorite and best birthday.

(A birthday well spent. Things are amazing. What happens next? Keep reading to find out.)

Read the next chapter for Amyra's POV.

...Thank you for reading...

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