Reyansh's POV:
(on call with Aayan)

"Bhai rakhde phone 11:45 hue hei." I said getting impatient—hoping that Amaira will call me sharp at 12:00—because the time was ticking fast and Aayan was in no mood to cut the call.
(" brother end the call its 11:45")

"Ha ha bhai rakh raha hoon. Tuje pehle birthday wish karna tha pr tuje to amaira ka wish hi pehle dekhna hei," he said dramatically from the other side of the call.
("yesyes brother going to cut the call, wanted to wish you first on your birthday but you want to get first wished by amaira")

"Ha bhai rakh de abb, pleasee baadmein karlenaa call." I almost pleaded.
("yes brother, cut the call now please call me later")

"Rakh raha hoon, rakh raha hoon...
sunn "
("yes keeping it keeping it ,...... listen")

"haaa bol"
("yes say")

"Kal to confess karde," he said, making my insides churn with excitement and fear.
("atleast confess her tomorrow")

"Nahi yaar muje dar lagraha hei, I don't want to lose the connection I have built in these 8 months. I don't want to take any wrong step in this  friendship." I said, telling him my genuine feelings about the situation.

"Theek hei bhai... chal kal milte hei," he said, understanding me.
(" okay brother, let's meet tomorrow")

That's what I liked the most about Aayan; he knows me so well that even if I say something without explaining, he gets everything that my head and mind think.

"Haa bhaii byee," I said, and he ended the call.
(" yes brother bye)

I never ever eagerly waited for the clock to strike 12:00am, especially for my birthday, but this year it's different. I am waiting for Amairas message. I know she will text me; she said she will be the first one to wish me on my birthday. As I was impatiently walking in my balcony checking the time, it was 11:59, the clock was ticking increasing my excitement 59,58,57.......10,9,8,7,.....1, and it was 12:00. I checked for the text, but to my surprise I received a call from her, and I quickly picked up the call.

Author's POV:

"~Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you," Amaira sang loudly from the other side of the call. her melodious voice bringing joy to his heart.

"Thank you so much," he said, smiling like a child walking here and there on the balcony, and the next half hour went by them talking with each other. Amaira was the one talking, and Reyansh was listening to all her childhood birthday memories.

Next Morning (Saturday, 1 April)

"Manviiiiii aate vakt gift paper lete aana, muje gifts wrap karne heiii," Amaira said to Manvi on call.
("Manvi bring gift papers while coming, I want to wrap the gifts")

She was looking for the dress to be worn for the evening party. whereas Manvi on the other side was looking for gifts for Reyansh.

"Ha ha theek hei laati hoon, chal bye thode der mei pohoch jaungi tere ghar," Manvi said.
("yesyes I'll bring it, bye I'll reach your home in skme time")

After cutting the call, Amaira got busy deciding dress and accessories.

Time skips to 5:00 pm

"And done," Amaira said, wrapping the gift properly. She bought Perfume and Watch for Reyansh as she knows his preferences in perfumes.

Manvi and Amaira are getting ready; Aayan is coming to pickup them, and they will go together at Reyansh home.

Amaira's POV:

I wore my favourite gown that has a slit open on the right side, wore accessories, did minimal makeup, and kept my hair open. I was all ready to go to Reyansh's house. As we were almost ready, Aayan also arrived. Now me, Manvi, and Aayan are heading towards Reyansh's house.

After reaching his house, we were mesmerised by the beauty in front of us. A big house with a modern interior designed perfectly setting the homely vibes. For the birthday, a whole room was decorated, and the foods and drinks were arranged in another room.

As we entered, we were greeted by Reyansh; he was looking marvellously handsome; that suit hugged his body, and I imagined how lucky that shirt must be to be so close to him -What are you  thinking amaira, back to sense, back to sense- He came and hugged Aayan, then side hugged Manvi and then came towards me.

"Hi," he said with a smile as he side hugged me, keeping his hand safely around my waist. "Hi," I replied, almost breathless as he was so close to me. We wished him and handed him the gifts we bought for him. He then took us to meet his parents.

"Mumma pappa meet Manvi and Amaira; aayan ko to aap jaante hi ho," he said. His mother came forward and hugged us; she complimented Manvi and then came towards me; she cupped my right cheek with her right palm, rubbing her thumb over it. "You are looking so pretty," she said, and embraced me in a tight hug. I was feeling a motherly warmth in her embrace.

After talking for a moment, she asked all of us, "Reyansh ki koi girlfriend hei kya? Hume to vo batayega nahi tum sab ko to pata rahega na."
("reyansh is in relationship or not? he won't tell us all this, you all must be knowing about it")

"Nahi aunty ji isko kab se bol raha hoon koi to achisi dhoond tere liye pr ye sunta kaha hei mera." Aayan said, to which Reyansh shot a glare at him.
("no aunt, I always tell him to see find someone good for him but he won't listen to me")

"Bas karo abb tum bhi iske saath mat jud jao nahito ye meri shaadi yahi karwa degi," Reyansh said, to which everyone laughed. Then we all met his college friends and everyone.
("stop it now don't get into her team or else she'll get me married here itself now")

Now it was time for cake cutting. We all sang happy birthday for him as he cut the cake; his mother took a piece of cake and fed him; his father too did the same; and then we went near him.

Everyone fed him cake, and I was fighting with my inner mind if I should do it too or not, but Manvi gave me the piece indicating me to go towards Reyansh.

As I approached him, he looked into my eyes and my stomach did the flip thing, i fed him the cake.

"Happy birthday; you are looking handsome in this suit." I whispered in a low voice enough for him to hear. He looked at me smiling wide, his ears turning red.

"Thank you, and did I tell you today that you are looking marvellous and hot?" he said to me, to which I smiled (blushed) and went towards Manvi.

"Hm..hmm.. kya khusurphusur chal raha tha tum dono ka," Manvi said, nudging her shoulder with mine. I smiled and said, "Kuch nahi bas aisehi."
("hmm hmm what whispering was going on there")
("Nothing")

Then me, Manvi, and Aayan went towards the food counter. We had our food as Reyansh was busy with his other friends and family members.

Later on he came towards us. We all talked for some time, his eyes never leaving mine. I could feel his constant gaze on me; more and more butterflies were erupting within me. We all took pictures with each other.

Beside the food counter, to my surprise, along with soft drinks, beer, vodka, and wines were also placed, and as much as I knew Aayan and Reyansh never drink, then for whom these arrangements were made, I was engrossed in my thoughts.

"The drinks are for the other members and some of my other college friends who consume beers and wines," Reyansh said, standing behind me and whispering in my ear. Goosebumps rose around my neck and body hearing his voice so close, and I was shocked at how he guessed what I was thinking.

"Have I said anything loudly?" I asked him as he came beside me with hands in his pockets and a soft, knowing smile on his lips.

"No, you didn't say anything loudly; I just guessed it," he said, and I was relaxed.

"Toh theeke," I said, to which he only smiled. Then we talked for a moment as Manvi and Aayan were busy taking pictures.
("then okay")

Later that night

Reyansh's POV:

I was standing in my balcony thinking about everyone who came for my birthday and wished good for me. I heard footsteps as I saw my school friends approaching me with shots and a bottle of whisky in their hand. They came and wished me a happy birthday. I was so happy to see them after so long.

We then talked for a while. One of my friends offered me to have a shot, but I refused, telling them that I don't drink except the one time I remembered I drank.
I almost drowned myself in alcohol when I misunderstood about Amairas and Aayans relation.

Everyone was convincing me, telling me that it wouldn't do any wrong if I drank one time, and to their satisfaction, I took just a shot. Not that drinking was not allowed in my house; my father sometimes has to drink at their business parties, so it was ok.
As I took a shot, I could taste a bittersweet taste.

They handed me another shot, but I did not drink that. I was firm that I would only have one shot, so I just kept it in my hand, but still I was feeling a little dizzy, maybe because of the whisky.

We were talking to each other when Amaira came. Seeing her presence, everyone left us alone, making excuses. She came and stood beside me.

She looked at me, and then at the shot in my hand, I noticed her eye movement.
"I didn't drink on purpose; my friends made me drink," I said, but she said nothing in return. She was just blankly staring at the glass as if she was thinking something.

"Please, Amaira, trust me. See, see I just took one shot and the other is still in my hand. I swear I only had one." I said more like I pleaded with her.

The drink was taking the best of me, as my eyes were now glistening with tears because of her silence. She took the glass from my hand, and I only kept looking at her, my head getting heavier with each passing second.

Author's POV:

As Amaira took the shot from his hand, she threw the liquid from the glass and kept the glass with a thud.

A little more force, and it would have been in pieces lying on the floor.

She took a hold of his right hand, caressing it a little. "Don't drink; I don't like people who drink," she said.

He came a little forward, still holding her hand firmly, as if he left her hand, she would disappear.

"So will you love me back if I don't drink ever again?" He said more like whispered, making her freeze in her place; her heartbeat fastened, and the next moment she felt him leaning his head on her shoulder.

To be continued...

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