EVERYTHING'S PERFECT!

2

LIVING ROOM

Neha answers the door to a courier boy with a slim, brown, square box in his hand.

COURIER BOY: Mrs. Neha Vardhan?

NEHA: (a little surprised) Yes. Is that for me?

COURIER BOY: Yes, Ma'am.

He enters some info on his phone while Neha eyes the package.

NEHA: (thinking) Wonder what it is? And who sent that? I haven't ordered anything if I remember.

He hands his phone to her.

COURIER BOY: Sign here, please.

She signs with her finger, returns his phone and takes the package from him. She checks the label. Indeed, it is addressed to her. Details of the sender says: TECH RETAIL, MUMBAI.

She hears a bike revving, looks up to see the courier boy leave.

Aadi comes downstairs, sees Neha at the door with a parcel in her hand.

AADI: What's that?

NEHA: (inspecting the box) I don't know.

AADI: Who sent it?

NEHA: How would I know?

She sits on the couch, begins to tear off the wrapping.

The elders pop in. All are curious.

AADI'S MOM: What's that dear?

NEHA: (tearing the wrapper) No idea, Maa.

DADI: Who sent it?

NEHA: I don't know.

Her words trail off when the last bit of wrapping comes off to reveal the contents. An iPad.

AADI: Wow!

Neha is stunned, she stares at the expensive tablet.

NEHA: (mumbling) Who could have sent this?

AADI: Did you enter some contest or something?

NEHA: Wha ---? No. Why would I?

AADI: Look, there's a card.

She sees it now, picks it up. It's a handwritten note:

"With lots of love to my dearest Sherni, yours one and only, hot and handsome hubby, Aadi... MUAH!!!"

She also spots some symbols drawn in, codes that only they knew, codes that indicate a long, hard session.

Bug-eyed, she looks up at the culprit – Aadi.

He winks back and bites down on his lower lip as if to remind her that they have a session tonight.

Suddenly, the family bursts into song - "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

She ogles at all of them, her eyes glassy with tears. She's embarrassed, awkward and happy all at once. So... they care for me after all?

Shailu rolls in brandishing a beautifully iced cake. On it, in fancy writing: Happy Birthday Neha

A ball forms in her throat. She tries to talk, but her voice barely leaves her throat.

NEHA: (sheepishly) I forgot --- that it was --- my birthday ---

AADI: Yeah, stop acting now and blow out the candles. I can't wait!

SHAILU: (rolling up his sleeves) Come on! Hurry! I'll die now!

All of them burst out laughing, Shailu is a huge fan of cakes.

Neha fidgets on the spot, uncomfortable about the whole thing. She's super embarrassed and awkward, because she isn't really a fan of "cheesy" stuff, cutting cakes, candlelight dinners and all that... and Aadi knows it.

AADI: (smirking) Go on, blow out the candles and cut the cake.

NEHA: (blushing) Um--- You do it.

AADI: (laughing, teasing her) What? Why should I do it? It's not my birthday.

NEHA: (mumbling fast) So what? Your birthday or my birthday it's all the same.

AADI: Blah-blah-blah. Come here.

He grabs her hand, literally drags her alone.

NEHA: Aadi! No, wait, I'll... Aadi! I'll kill you!

All of them laugh.

He hands her the knife.

AADI: Go on.

NEHA: What?

AADI: Go on, kill me. I mean... the cake.

She shuffles on the spot.

SHAILU: (clenching his fists) Come on, Neha! You can do it!

PREM: Yes, come on! Up! Up! Up! Up!

A rhythmic CLAP!

AADI: (feigning panic) Hurry! It's running away!

Neha finally gives in with a laugh, cuts the cake.

SHAILU: Oh! Thank God!

One by one, she shares a piece with each member.

When it's Aadi's turn, he takes a big bite off the cake... and her fingers.

She snaps her hand off, YELPING.

NEHA: Ouch!!!

She glowers up at him, her fingers hurting.

He smirks back at her, licking his lips, wiping the cream off them.

AADI: Mmm, it's good.

Turning red, she punches his chest and buries herself into him.

NEHA: (smiling) Idiot.

It's her way of saying "I love you" and Aadi knows that. He smiles and hugs her back.

AADI: Yeah, I love you too. 

***