My Best Birthday Gift..

Being excited for the next day, I couldn’t sleep.Just spending my time watching a film.

People call me Kumbkaran, an epic villain from Ramayan who used to spend his six months eating and the rest six sleeping (I’m not the eating part). But I wonder why I couldn’t sleep.

It was around quarter to 12 and then suddenly my phone rang, I picked it up.

“A Very Happy Birthday Ruthvik” said the voice, for a moment I couldn’t recognize it and also for had forgotten that it as my 16th B’day..!!

“Thank You” I whispered, trying not to wake everybody.

“Recognized me?” Said the voice again.

“Actually…No” I said trying to remember.

“Ruthu” Said the voice.

I was dumbstruck!! It was my Dad!! all the way from Germany. My heart knew no bounds of happiness.

Ruthu is my nickname, only my dad used to call me.

“Daddy”!! Tears flowed down my eyes.

“Yea son, your Daddy, how are you my child?” asking me affectionately.

“I’m Fine dad, missing you very much” I said wiping my tears.

“I know, just few more days Ruthu, I’ll be back” he said trying to console me.

“Okay Dad, I’m Waiting” I Said

And then suddenly, the lights were off, wondering what had happened, then they were back again in a movement.

“Happy B’day to you, Happy B’day to you…” the chorus continued.

Again it was a surprise..!! All my family members, My Mom, My uncle, Aunt, Grandmother, Grand Father and my lovely brothers. A big round chocolatey cake.‘Happy B’day Ruthvik’ written in bold letters. My face and mouth filled with cake all over… WOW..!!... A wonderful moment which I cannot forget.

At the end, My Mom gifted me a Fastrack Watch. It was the best gift. Everybody wished me Once again and went to sleep.

I totally had forgotten about the phone call, but it was too late, I felt annoyed on myself, Cannot call back as I had no balance left in my phone.

Now you may wonder why I couldn’t recognize my dad and why was I missing him?

It had been 2 years since I had met him and talked to him. He was in Germany do to his work. I cannot explain much.

I tried to settle myself on my bed, remembering my moments spent with my dad, and I finally Slept.

Next Morning I woke with the excitement of my b’day, I quickly got dressed myself and wore my special Fastrack Watch.

At the lunch hour, I was served with many mouth watering dishes, One of my Favorite ‘Aloo bath’ was also prepared.

“C’mon you arent eating anything” said my Grandma serving me some more rice.

Actually it is a typical Indian dialogue, where u are forced to eat more than your belly’s size.

The whole day was spent receiving phone calls from my friends and my relatives, saying ‘Thank You’, also replying for the wishes on Facebook. I was waiting for some to call me, sadly it didn’t come.

At evening, a small party was arranged at our lawn. My young brothers kept me asking for the chocolates and the cake. Actually they didn’t even wish me the whole day..!!

It was around 6:00 P.M when everybody had gathered. All of them where welcomed, where made seated and served with lemon some juice to drink and spend their time.

  Almost everyone had gathered expect one, my childhood bestiee Radhika, we have been friends from the day we were born, Yes you read it correct from the day we were born. We never hide anything between us, It has been everything transparent in our friendship, No clashes, No quarrels nothing. She has been the best companion for me, Whenever I used to get hurt emotionally she was always there for me to console me, and when she was, I did. So you can say the Best friendship we had.

But those days she was acting something differently, as if she was happy to gain something, she used to speak very shyly with me. I tried to ask her, but she used to end the topic saying ‘Nothing’.

“Hey Ruthvik, whom are you waiting for? Come and join us” asked Rahul while gossiping with friends.

“Radhika dude, she isn't yet come yet” I said tapping my feet.

“Oooooo…” All my friends started. They always thought that I had a crush on her... Actually I did have crush on her a BIG one. But I Never expressed it to her, what if our friendship breaks; even the thought would kill me. I never thought if she had.

And there she was!! Wearing typical red saree... Uff... she was too beautiful too express in words... her glittering eyes... her lovely hairs... I completely had fallen.

“You wear a saree?” I enquired surprisingly, she never wore a saree, as it was her hattest dressing style.

“ I know you like it” she said with a big cute smile. As I said before, we never hide anything in our friendship.

Now I felt complete, her presence was enough in my life, I thought.

All the party she was just looking at me. I couldn’t figure it out why?

At last she came to me and whispered in my ears “Come aside I want to say something”. I went along without delaying.

“Yea tell me, what is it? Any problem?” I asked bravely.

“No…” she stopped for some time. “ Actually… yes” shaking her head rapidly.

“Tell me, I’ll help you” I said, as if I was going to fight a Mahabharata for her.

“I’m in love with a guy” she said. It was so fast, that I couldn’t get it for the first time.

“What, I didn’t get you” I asked again.

“I love a guy” she said, this time very slowly and calmly.

There was thunderstorm in my heart; I stood like a rock, without replying to her words.

“I should have told her “I thought, repenting for my mistake.

“I said something Mannu” she said, reminding me. Mannu was my nickname, only Radhika used to call me.

“Ohh, yea, who is it?” I asked, trying to make it look simple.

She suddenly went in the room, and brought a small box with her, in her hand.

“Happy Birthday Mannu” she said, helding me the box.

“Thank you Mickey” I said, with a grin. Mickey, I kept it for her. “By the way, you didn’t answer my question” I said, reminding her.

“Open it” she said ignoring my question, and left the place biting her lips also smiling shyly.

When I opened the box, my heart beat skipped, I was flabbergasted. Literally my heart started doing ‘Lungi dance’. My happiness was beyond this galaxy.

It was a statue of a girl kissing a boy on his cheek, with her one foot up. At the bottom it was written

                                                            ‘I Love You’