Love So Far

Birthday Surprise

No Schools. No Tuitions. No yelling from teachers. No early classes; were the only thoughts that ran into my mind, as I laid on the bed until the late morning, Grandpa and Grandma didn't disturb me; as they know that I came home late night and luckily, Grandpa didn't enquire about my arrival to Grandma. As soon as, I got up from the bed, I checked my phone and there was a message from an international number and I knew it was none other than my Krish.

The message read:

This is my no. Krish...

I saved his number and texted him in w******p.

"Hi..." I had sent some kissing emoticons.

"Hey, my princess" he replied.

"When did you reach there?"

"An hour ago"

"Hmmm...."

"Loo..."

"Yes..."

"I miss you, babes"

"I too miss you, dear."

"Shall I come back to India", sent me some winking emoticons.

"Don't talk like an i***t", sent him some angry emoticons.

"Why?"

"Have you lost it??? Remember it's your dream to become a renowned fashion designer... and now you want to leave it..... If you did then I'll kill u...." sent him punching emoticons.

"He...he....he... he... I was just kidding kiddo.... but I want to see you and hug you tightly... I feel damn lonely widout you..... "

This message of him made my eyes to shed tears at the beginning of the day. Even I wanted to see him but I can't, I kept on fooling my heart that I'll go to London and I'll see him; even though I knew that I can't visit London for this Vacation because dad, mom and my sisters are coming to India to spend their vacation with us in India. Moreover, I agree with the sayings "If we have planned something, the faith had already pre-planned something else for us." That month, I helped Grandma in doing household works, downloaded songs and movies in my laptop, packed the unwanted books and the things of mine; so it would be donated to some of the orphanages, which was Grandma's one of the regular habit. She would donate some of my old clothes, books and soft toys to some of the orphanages every month. Then cleaned my room and kept on chatting with Krish. I had spent half of the month doing these kinds of stuff and I didn't hang out with my friends even at once after the last day of our school life. Even when they called me, I used to have some work so I would refuse to go with them.

One day, Neil and I went to submarine, to my surprise we didn't talk much but we kept on watching the dances of sea waves. It was the first time in our friendship history that we maintained silence between us; since we have known each other and I felt awkward at that moment.

"Neil, what happened?" I looked at him.

"That's exactly what I'm asking to you, Looshin." He looked at me, "you are behaving weird since Krish left for London."

"I'm alright" I frowned.

"No you, aren't." he shook his head.

"I am," I argued.

"No, you are not." He argued back.

"Okay." I took a deep breath, "tell me, what I did?"

"You hadn't hung out with us, so far. Moreover, you are making excuses to avoid us."

"Like seriously Neil, what made you think like this?" I was fuming with anger.

"It's the fact, Looshin." He stood up. "It's you, who made me feel like this." He pointed his fingers towards me in frustration.

"No Neil and I did have works in the home to help Grandma in the home." I reasoned him.

"Hmm..." he forced a smile as he sat back on the black rock, "Excuses can also be made in heaven." Sarcasm can be noted in his smile.

"I'm not making any excuses."

"Yes, You're Looshin." He yelled.

"No. I don't." I shook.

"Looshin, I don't care whether you admit or not; the fact is you have changed a lot since Krish left for London." he took a deep breath, "We need you, Loo. I need you, Loo." He cupped my face, "Please don't be like this."

I know that friends would notice all the small changes that occur in us while we forget to do, but those friends are rare to get nowadays. Moreover, I consider myself as a fortunate one; for getting a friend like Neil who cares for me like a brother, a family and a boyfriend who loves me a loves me than more their lives. If you don't count it as a fortunate one, then what would you consider as a fortune one.

"Looshin say something."Neil shook my shoulders. I don't think I've changed Neil, I wanted to say but I said, "Okay, I'm sorry Neil. I won't repeat it." I decided to drop down the argument.

He nodded and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, so I could keep my head on his shoulder.

Later, we went out for a hangout. We called all of our friends to join us. At first, we went for a movie and then had dinner at a small compact restaurant with fully crowded people. Though I was enjoying with my friends, somewhere in my heart I felt lonely. I took my phone and sent a text to Krish.

"Hey!!!"

"Hey, Love!!!" he replied immediately, "what are you doing???"

"Came out with friends...."

"hmmm..."

"What about you???"

"Came out with Shakshi, she needed some kinds of stuff to buy..."

"hmmm..". I replied and looked away from my phone and saw Neil and Monica teasing each other and holding the hands of each other by twinning their finger beneath the table so that no one could see them.

"I'm missing you, Krish..." texted him with a heavy heart.

"I'm too missing u a lot, baby.... please.... come to London for your vacation."

"Sorry, Krish... I'm not coming to London, this year. My dad, mom and sisters are coming to India."

"But you said that you are coming here."

"yup.. but they have changed the plan..... And I was unaware of it... Grandma informed me about their arrival and the day you left for London."

"Tell them that you want to come here..." I could feel the frustration in his messages. "You have to come here..."

"I did Krish..... I made my best.... but it's not in my hand."

"I don't need any reason, Looshin... I want you to come to London... That's all.." sent angry emoticons. "Okay.... bye.... go to go..."

I fought back the tears and swallowed the hard rock that stroked in the midway of my throat, and forced a fake smile on my face so I should not get caught. Then I realised that Neil was right, I had changed.

"Excuse me", I got up and rushed to washroom. I could not control the tears, rolling down on my cheeks in midway to the washroom. I could feel all the eyes upon me, so I hurried into the washroom to wash the tears away from my face.

"Looshin, are you okay?" I felt a hand on my back and saw the reflection of Monica in the mirror.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I nodded, as I wiped my face with a tissue paper.

"You look so tired." She seemed worried, "what happened, Loo? Tell me."

"Nothing, I'm fine." I threw a fake smile as I nodded.

"Looshin" she hugged me, "I can understand what you are undergoing through. But you can't hold through it."

I remained silent and closed my eyes. "I can't be normal like you guys. Whenever I see you and Neil together, it reminds me of Krish."

"I can understand, dear." She nodded. "What if you went to the U.S. and Krish will be in India. What would you do then?"

"I don't know." I shook my head.

"You'll be busy with your new place, though you would be missing him." Her voice softened, "The fact is you haven't got into regular life, so the feeling of missing Krish, stands in front of you all the time. If you keep yourself busy and be with us you won't be feeling lonely anymore." She sounded reasonable.

"Do you think it will work out?" I asked her suspiciously.

"Yes, It will." She assured me, "Now let's go."

When we went to the table we were sitting, no one was there except Neil.

"Where are others? Monica asked Neil.

"They are waiting out." He looked across us, "I was waiting for you guys; shall we move?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Yes" she nodded and we went towards the door. Neil didn't say a single word to me. He just smiled whenever he saw me.

After leaving the hotel, we didn't get to our houses.

"Guys, where are we going?" I asked them suspiciously.

"For a night drive," Vicky answered.

"Guys, please drop me at home. It's already too late, Grandpa will be mad at me; I go home late at night." I was tensed.

Just then Neil looked at through the back mirror and smiled, "Don't Loo, we have got permission from Grandpa and Grandma, they won't be mad at you." He looked on the road again.

"When did you guys do it?" I was surprised.

"Today morning." He smiled once again.

After reaching the outskirt of Mumbai, we halted near a Punjabi Dhabba.

"Guys, do anyone wants something to eat." Neil turned off the engine.

"Yep, I'm tired. Can you please get me some drink?" Vicky stretched his hands.

"Hello." Neil pointed his finger towards Vicky, "You are also coming with me."

"Buddy, I'm tired." He wrinkled his face.

"Okay, buddy." He nodded, "Then I'll assume you as a girl, is it alright?" He grinned.

"Hey!" he frowned, "I'm not a girl."

"Then come with me." Neil got out of the car.

"Hey, even we are coming with you," Suhana called after them.

"Yeah, I tired of sitting in the car for a long time." Nikita agreed with her, "Come on, girls." She and Suhana got out of the car and folded the middle seat to make way for me and Monica to get down as we were sitting on the back seat.

"Guys, I'm not coming. I feel sleepy; I'll to take some nap until you come back." I said as I stretched my legs above the folded middle seat.

"Come on, Looshin. You'll feel better and fresh by getting some fresh air." Nikithaa said.

"Please guy! I need some sleep." I pleaded them, "and I'll join you guys, after some time." I assured them.

"Okay, let her sleep. I'll come with you." Monica got up from her seat and got down from the car.

"Bye Guys!" I smiled at them and waved at them and closed my eyes. I could hear the descending sounds of their footsteps.

After sometimes, I was waked up by the screaming of the voice of girls. I got up down from the car at once.

"Looshin! Looshin!" Vicky came running towards me; his face was a pale as white. He seemed to be frightened as he saw something horrible.

"What happened, Vicky?" I rushed towards him and held his shoulder.

"Looshin, Loosh..." his voice trembled in horror, his face was sweating, his shirt was stained with blood. "There... Neil" he pointed towards a banyan tree.

"What happened to Neil? The blood had frozen in my body and my voice startled in panic.

"Looshin, Nei... Neil." He was still panicked. Once again, I heard the girls screaming behind the banyan tree. I left Vicky behind in the car and hurried towards the banyan tree; where the screaming sound was coming from. As I got closer to the tree, I could hear the sobbing sound.

"Guys?" I called them, but there was no response. "Nikithaa. Suhana. Where are you?" panic raised to the highest peak in me. "Guys, where are you?" I cried as I stumbled to walk forward.

Then all of a sudden, there was a flash of light decors everywhere and all of my friends, including Vicky, were standing a few spaces away from me.

"Surprise" they shouted at once, "Happy Birthday."

At that moment, I felt the anger rushing upside down in my body.

"Happy Birthday, Loo" Neil came forward to hug me.

I pushed him away and caught his shirt collar, "i***t, you scared me to the death." I cried.

"Come on, Loo." He hugged and caressed my back. "It was just a surprise, Looshin. We wanted to make your birthday a special and remarkable one."

I hugged him back as I cried, "Don't ever do it again. I was scared to death." I looked back and saw Vicky; he was standing behind Neil wearing a neat purple T-shirt, "and you, Vicky I'll never leave you." I chased him.

"Sorry, Looshin." He ran behind Monica, who was standing next to him.

"Wait there, otherwise I'll kill you." I chased after him.

"Okay, Okay, Looshin leave him. It was just fun." Neil stopped me.

"Ya, it was just fun." Vicky came to me.

"Really" I squeezed his ear.

"Ouch! It's paining. Please leave me." He cried in pain. "Come on, buddy you can't be like this."

"Okay." I forced a smile as I released his ear. "But don't ever do like this again. I can't bear if anything happened to you guys." I s*****d his head.

"Sorry babe." He held his ears, "Now give a hug." He came forward to hug me. "Happy Birthday", he hugged me and patted my back.

I hugged him back, "Thank you."

Then, Monica, Suhana and Nikithaa wished me, one by one. "Looshin, there is someone who wants to wish you." Vicky nodded.

"Do you want to know, who is that?" Nikithaa joined him.

"Yeah, Of course." I nodded eagerly.

"Okay, wait a sec." Neil went somewhere and I was wondering, who it might be? Krish; No. He is angry with me, and we just fought a few hours ago. Then I again wondered would it be mom, dad and my sisters; Or whether it be Grandpa and Grandma. Suddenly, all the lights went off and there was a flash of light in a projector screen across me.

"Happy Birthday, Looshin." I heard a familiar voice. When I turned around to look at the screen, it was Shakshi with Krish beside her.

"Shakshi." I wondered. "Thank you, dear." I smiled and looked at Krish.

"Happy Birthday, my princess." He smiled.

"Thank you, Krish." I fought with the tears that were gathering in my eyes.

"Sorry, Looshin." Shakshi held her tears.

"Why are you saying sorry, Shakshi?" I wondered.

"Actually..." she looked at Krish and he pointed his finger towards the screen with a smile. And I have to admit, I had missed his smile very badly. "It wasn't Krish, who messaged you yesterday evening, it was me. It was also a part of the plan." She wrinkled her forehead.

I was shocked and angry but when it finally made my birthday a remarkable one, my anger vanished. "Its okay, Shakshi."

"Hey, Neil." Krish looked at Neil, "Did you give her?"

"Yep, wait" he looked at Monica and she bought an envelope and gave it to Neil. "Here open it." He handed me a plain envelope.

"What's this?" I took it and flip-flopped to look at the sender address.

"Open it and you'll know it," Krish said from the screen.

When I opened the cover, there was another envelope, which read the sender address as the University of Kentucky. I looked up at all of my friends and at the screen to see Krish and Shakshi.

"Open it," Vicky said.

When I unfolded the letter, it read:

Ms Looshin Malhotra

3rd floor, Omkar Villas, Opposite to HDIL Towers Anant Kanekar Marg

Bandra East Mumbai, Maharashtra

400051, India

Admission Proposal

May 28, 2013

Lexington, Kentucky.

Student ID Number: 882874

Dear Ms.Looshin Malhothra

We are pleased to inform you that your application has been accepted for the following programs:

Course Name: B.S. in Neuropsychology

Commencement Date: June 1, 20XX

Expected Completion Date: July 1, 20XX

To complete your enrolment to the program on the above dates, we would ask you to send the following before 20XX/06/1

•    A signed acknowledgement form ( page 30 in the Academic & Administrative procedure manual)

•    Full Payment.

Excitement rushed through my body; I was walking on the air. I wanted to dance, jump and shout in joy. "Guys, when did you get this letter?" I asked my friends.

"When you and Neil went to marine sub, we went to your home to ask permission for hangout and they gave this envelope and said to give it to you." Monica smiled.

"Thank you so much, guys." I went to hug them.

"Wait still the surprise is not over." Neil nodded with a smirk.

"Hey... Hey... guys, we have to go, it's time up." Krish interrupted us. "Once again, Happy Birthday Looshin."

"Yeah, Happy Birthday enjoy your day." Shakshi joined him.

"Thank you, dear."

"Okay, bye." They said at once as they waved their palms and the screen turned off, meanwhile, my phone beeped and the screen displayed Krish's name. He texted, "I'll call you, later don't be asleep. Love you :*"

"I'll be waiting, don't be late ;)" I replied to him and looked at my friends. They were having some mischievous look on their face.

"What?" I widened my eyes.

"Guy, are you ready?" Nikithaa smirked.

"Yeah," Al said at once.

"Then, let's execute it." Along with her, everybody came forward.

I had an idea that my so-called 'friends' won't leave me unless they do some crazy things. So I kept my admission approval letter in the backside of my denim pant packet to save it from any damage. "Guys!" I stepped backwards as they came forward, "I know something is cooking in your mind but please give a hint, so I can guess that what are you up to?"

But there was no response from any of them and then I finally ended up by a tree which was in the middle of the ground. As they counted One, Two, Three; I squeezed my eyes shut and blocked my ears with my palms and waited for their attack but there no such attacks. Then I released my hand from my ears and opened one eye to take a look at them, but they still carried that mischievous smirk on their faces.

"Seriously, Looshin I didn't think that you'll be scared this much." Neil chuckled. "Anyways here we go." He pulled out a rope that was hanging from one of the tree branches. As soon as he pulled the rope, I got showered by chocolate bars and one large gift-wrapped ball hit my shoulder and fell into the ground.

"Ouch! What is that?"I cried in pain.

"Check it out by yourself." Monica raised eyebrows.

"Come on buddy, still how many surprises are there?" I cried.

"Don't ask questions, Looshin. Just do what we say?" Suhana ordered.

"Okay." I raised both hands to shoulder level and started to uncover the gifted ball. As I uncovered the gifted ball, it turned into a box and I could feel something moveable in the box. At first, I thought it might be a prank but when I felt something moving in the box, I wanted to know what was there in the box. So finally opened the box, to my surprise there was a puppy of Shih Tzu. It was such a cute puppy.

"Guys, I love it," I said as I took it out of the box. "It's so cute." I caressed its head and named it as Snowy as its colour was pure white. "Thank you, Guys." I went near my friends and we had a group hug, "It's such a lovely gift ever, I got."

It was almost 3 a.m. when I and Neil reached home and Snowy was sleeping in my lap. "Thank you, Neil," I said as he turned off the engine.

"May I know the reason for you thank you?" he looked at me as he unbuckled his seat belt.

"For everything." I got a bit emotional, "for being with me in all my sad time, for this new friend." I looked Snowy, "for making this birthday of mine a special one."

"i***t, don't forget that you are not the only a friend, you are like my sister." He caressed my head.

"Yup." I nodded.

"Okay, I wanted to say you something." He nodded, "I'm going to London, to do my graduation." He sounded excited.

"Hey, that's great news." I was happy because now boyfriend and my best friend are going to study in my hometown and I could see them whenever I go to London. "But Monica would miss you."

"Yeah, I had even asked her to come along with me but she has already got admission before in Pune and she is going to study by staying in her uncle's home." His voice saddened.

"Come on, dude. It'll okay, now see me and Krish, we both will be doing our graduation different places but still, we will keep in touch with each other and nothing will change between us." I tried to cheer him up.

"Hmm." He nodded.

"Now, hold snowy for a while so that I can undo my seat belt and get down," I ordered him.

"Yes, Madam." He laughed and took Snowy in his hand.

After reaching home, Grandpa and Grandma wished me, and I showed Snowy to them and they also seemed to like it. I changed myself into pyjama and waited for Krish's Call. He called half and an hour later and we talked for a while and while I slept by keeping the phone upon my ear.