My Happily Never After

Chapter 12 : Is it really a Happy Birthday for Kiara ?

Ding dong !
Kiara ran and opened the door being scared as it was late at night.
"Happy Birthday Ki !!!!!" She heard him scream and wished her with a cake and some balloons in his hands.
[I saw Manav with a cake and balloons in his hand singing the birthday song for me at 12am. But I peeped out hoping that he was there, the person that I wanted the most.]
"Ki, kise dhoondh rahi hai? I came here alone. No one's there with me."
(Ki, whom are you searching for?)
"Oh ! I-I know… tha-thank you."
[While we were talking Maa and Dad called Manav inside. He opened the cake, it was my favourite cake, Dutch Chocolate cake.I cut the cake while everyone was singing the birthday song.]
"Chalo, Ki I'll leave."
"Manav beta, stay here for tonight. Go tomorrow, it's pretty late."
"No aunty, maa is waiting for me."
"Manav! Wait, I'm coming."
"Bye Ki, See you and Happy Birthday Ms. Sanghvi."
"I can't believe you remembered."
"How can I forget my bestie's birthday! I don't want to die."
"Oh shut up Manav ! Go now. And don't forget to come for lunch tomorrow."
"Bye. Yes I won't forget. It's good that it's a holiday for tomorrow too. This three day holiday was a must for all of us . We will have fun."
[Saying this Manav went and I was there feeling broken. "I am so mad, I think he will come to wish me now. He must be busy studying" I said .I cried again thinking and blaming my fortune for not getting the same love that I have for him and slept while crying after convincing my self that he might just be busy. I could tell it was already the worst birthday anyone could ever have.]

Next day
[I have called Ritesh five times. And he hasn't picked up any. I am gonna try for the last time.]
"Hello, What is it Kiara? Don't you understand that I am busy?"
"Sorry, but where are you?"
"I am out with my cousins. In Goa. Please Kiara, now don't call me again."
[He said this and hung up the call. And I was shocked that he didn't even let me speak.]

During lunchtime

"Ki, Graduation exam results are around the corner. Have you applied to any of the Universities for further studies? "
"I have applied to the University that Papa had suggested. Now let's see."
"Wow, so you have finally made up your mind to go there."
"Yes, I have but something just tells me that I should rethink this."
"Ki ! Pagal hai kya? Aisi opportunity mile toh tujhe manaa nahi karna chahiye. You should give it a shot."
(Are you mad ? If you will get this opportunity then you should give it a shot.)
"Let's see Manav, also you are the only person who knows about this. Kritika and Ritesh know nothing about this."
"Okay, yeah! I just remembered you saw Kriti's Instagram story?"
"No, I didn't I am not active on Instagram. Why? What happened?"
"Check her story now !"
"Okay, okay I am checking it, wait."
[I clicked on Kritika's story and the thing I saw made my face frown. The picture was her with Ritesh on the beach. So he clearly lied to me. This thing made me more mad then sad. But I decided to shrug it off. And focus on lunch. But before keeping my phone aside I took a quick screenshot of her story.]

A night after Kiara's Birthday
"Bhai, where were you huh? I was calling you for so long the day before."
"Manav, I told you I and Kriti went for a vacation in Goa."
"Oh, yes! How did I forget it? I thought you left the day our college ended and would come back the day before yesterday."

"No! So why did you call? Even Kiara was
calling me. But I didn't tell her that I was with Kritika. So don't tell her about it." "Yeah, but she.. nevermind. Do you even know why she was calling you?"
"How will I know? What was it?"
"Oberoi! It was her birthday. She called you to invite you for lunch just like she does every year."
"Oh Okay. Wait what! It was her birthday? Shit how did it slip from my mind? No worries, I will make it up to her."
"All the best with that."

Next Day

At Sanghvi Residence
Ding dong !
I opened the door and saw Ritesh with a lot of gift bags in his hand. He came in and gave me a hug. But I didn't hug him back.
"Kiara, i know you are angry ok? But I am sorry, I was out with my cousins."
[There is the lie that he is telling me from that day. Kiara thinks. And Ritesh gives her the gifts he bought for her.]
"Take this, belated happy birthday Kiara."
[I looked at those gifts and a sudden wave of anger rushed in me and I instantly threw all those gifts on the couch]
Kiara! What is this?