Chapter-15

Sunday morning, they all enjoyed swimming in the infinity pool in the backyard of the resort. The view from the pool looks amazing, it feels like swimming in the open sea.

Rishabh invites them to race, who can swim faster from end to end. Navya clearly doesn't want to lose, she's been good at swimming since she was little. When competing with Aunt Sangeeta, Navya arrived at the end first. She shouted with joy.

"Don't be happy just yet! Compete with me Now, I'm sure I'll win!" Rishabh challenged Navya.

Navya and Rishabh started to race. Navya mustered all her strength to swim fast, not wanting to lose to her brother. In the end, Navya won, even though it was only two seconds away from Rishabh.

"Yeesss!!" screamed Navya, she stuck out her tongue mocking Rishabh. "Weeekk! Rishabh bro lost! I won!" Navya shouted with joy.

Looks like Rishabh is still not satisfied with the result, he shouted annoyed, "Huuu...! Try competing with Mohit sir now!" Rishabh again challenged Navya.

At first Mohit refused, but Rishabh continued to insist. Finally Mohit wanted to stand at the end of the pool with Navya. Navya was nervous as she prepared to race. Physically, Mohit is still taller than Rishabh, his legs are also longer.

When the race started, Navya slid as fast as possible. She could feel Mohit catching up beside her. It turned out that Navya, who reached the end of the pool first, only won by one second from Mohit.

"Wow, you're cheating now! Mohit sir deliberately succumbs to Navya!" Rishabh protested. He still doesn't want to admit that Navya won against him and also Mohit. "Come on, Mohit sir, race with me! Everything will be clear then." Rishabh challenged Mohit.

When Mohit and Rishabh started to slide, Navya could see Mohit swimming fast without any difficulty, and arrived first at the end of the pool, a few seconds faster than Rishabh. Suddenly, Navya felt her face turn red. Rishabh was right, Mohit had deliberately succumbed to her!

"See, Mohit sir can win when he compete against Navya in a fair way!" Rishabh was still protesting.

"That's the difference between Mohit and you " Aunt Sangeeta suddenly interrupted. "You are never a gentle person even with girls. Meanwhile, Mohit knows how to act as a gentleman, especially with Navya." She continued.

"Auntie what are you saying? This is a competition, we should play this competition in a fair way" Rishabh remained adamant, refusing to accept. Mohit just laughed at Rishabh's and Aunt Sangeeta's debate.

Half an hour later, the four of them climbed out of the pool and sat on lounge chairs by the pool. Rishabh and Aunt Sangeeta entered the restaurant which is located next to the pool, perhaps wanting to order some food.

"How's your head, Navya? Does it still hurt?" Mohit suddenly asked Navya.

Navya touched her forehead, the small lump was still there. "It doesn't hurt anymore, Mohit. But it's still a little lump." Navya replied.

"Then just compress it again, using cold water," continued Mohit, looking at Navya's forehead.

Navya was immediately nervous because Mohit looked at her like that. Mohit's eyes are always warm and soothing. Navya again imagined how Mohit carried her yesterday, and how he took care of her with great care.

Suddenly, there was a cry from behind their seats, "Happy birthday, Navya..!!" The voices of Rishabh and Aunt Sangeeta startled Navya.

Navya looked up, momentarily flabbergasted. Rishabh and Aunt Sangeeta laughed at her expression. They both brought a round birthday cake that was beautifully decorated. The number twenty three candle is perched on top of the cake. Then Rishabh and Aunt Sangeeta started singing Happy Birthday while clapping their hands, followed by Mohit. The cake was placed on Navya's front table.

"Gosh! Aunt and Rishabh bro you both gave me a big surprise!" Navya exclaimed in a spiled voice as the song is finished. She even forgot her own birthday. Today is the sixth of September.

Aunt Sangeeta hugged her tightly. "Happy birthday, honey! You're already two heads. Grow up, get more beautiful. May you always be happy and get along with Mohit, okay?" Aunt Sangeeta wished her.

Navya opened her mouth silently. At first she wanted to answer "So be it(tathastu)", but stopped because she realised Aunt Sangeeta's last sentence.

"Thank you auntie, you are the best," Navya finally answered her.

"Here, hug from the most handsome person in the world" Rishabh said and had spread his arms wide. Navya laughed, hugging her brother.

Rishabh hugged Navya and stroked her hair. "Happy birthday, my dear sister. Always be healthy, go to college, be happy, and get a baby quickly, huh!" Rishabh said the last sentence with a wink.

Navya's face flushed. Reflexively she pinched Rishabh's waist. Rishabh screamed in pain.

"Aww! Why are you pinching me again?" Rishabh protested. "That's the best blessing you know!" Rishabh continued.

Navya giggled, pretending not to respond to Rishabh's words.

"Mohit sir you didn't said anything yet?" Rishabh said looking at Mohit.

Ugh! Navya felt like stepping on Rishabh's feet. "This monster can never keep his mouth shut!" Navya said to herself angrily.

"He must have said it in the morning, did you know?" Aunt Sangeeta who answered. She pushed Rishabh's head in exasperation, but she meant it as a joke.

Rishabh laughed out loud. "Oh, yes! Hahahaha...! Must be said it in the bed, yes!" Rishabh teased Navya.

Navya grew irritated with her brother. But she had to restrain herself from replying to Rishabh's teasing, it would be suspicious if she got angry. Rishabh and Aunt Sangeeta might find out that Mohit had not wished her yet. Of course this is the truth. Since when did Mohit know her birthday? On the other hand, she also doesn't know Mohit's birthday!

"I will say it when no one else was around." Suddenly Mohit chirps with a smile.

Rishabh and Aunt Sangeeta immediately cheered, "Wuuuu...!" tempting Navya and Mohit. They must have misinterpreted Mohit's words.

"Come on, Navya, blow out the candles and cut the cake!" continued Aunt Sangeeta.

Navya closed her eyes for a moment, then blew out the candle. All clapped. Then she cut the black forest cake. Rishabh and Aunt Sangeeta know very well Navya's preference for chocolate cake.

"The first piece of cake is for my beloved husband!" shouted Rishabh. Mohit and Aunt Sangeeta laughed.

Navya felt her face getting warmer, but she couldn't help it. She put a piece of cake on top prepared paper plate, then gave it to Mohit.

"Thank you, Navya" said Mohit softly, embracing Navya in his arms. Even if it was only for a moment, it was enough to make Navya's heart to jump wildly.

Next Navya cut the cake for Aunt Sangeeta, Rishabh, and herself. They enjoyed the cake while chatting. The view of the open sea became a friend on that happy morning.

If they could choose, Navya wanted their vacation not to end quickly. She felt very happy to be together with her family in Rishikesh. Rishabh and Aunt Sangeeta had come to meet her and celebrated her birthday. But the more she enjoyed it, the faster time passed.

At one o'clock in the afternoon, they checked out of the resort. They returned Shanti Niketan to clean up and collect things, then left again for the airport, because Rishabh and Aunt Sangeeta had to return to Jabalpur.

"Take care of yourself, honey," said Aunt Sangeeta while hugging Navya, when they will part in front of the airport departure entrance.

"I can calm down now. I have to admit, Mohit really loves you. He's a good husband," said Aunt Sangeeta in a half whisper.

Navya's voice chocked in her throat, not knowing what to say. Aunt Sangeeta could say that, because Mohit had always been kind to her. "But can it be truth dear? Or is it because Mohit is really good at acting?" Navya thought in her mind.

"We will meet again soon, Auntie. Be careful on the way." Navya choose to divert the conversation.

"Yes, dear. If you have a holiday, you guys also come to Nagpur, please." Aunt Sangeeta said to Navya.

Navya smiled and nodded. She turned to hug Rishabh.

"See you later, Navya! Don't miss me, okay?" Rishabh joked. "After marriage, now you are a good child, huh." Rishabh joked again.

"It's like bro, you're being naughty as days are passing!" Navya replied in a sulky tone, but she smiled too.

After embracing and saying goodbye, Rishabh and Aunt Sangeeta waved goodbye, then entered the airport departure hall. Suddenly Navya felt like there was an empty space in her heart. Frankly, she misses her family, but she is also still reluctant to return to Jabalpur. "Ah.... until when will I able to forget the shadow of my past?" Navya said to herself in disappointment.

When Mohit's car drove back to the house, Navya's cell phone suddenly rang. Navya grabbed her cell phone from her bag and was startled to see the name on her phone screen. It was her dad. She answered the call.

"Hello, Papa...?" Navya asked in doubt.

"Navya, are Rishabh and Aunt Sangeeta at the airport?" Her dad's voice came from across the phone.

"Yes, dad. We just left from the airport. Now we are about to go back home." Navya answered.

"Oh, that's okay. Ummm, Navya..... Happy birthday. I hope you will be always healthy and happy," He wished her in a flat tone.

Navya's eyes glazed over. This was the first time she had spoken to her dad again since he left Delhi after her marriage. At that time, all she felt was anger and irritation at her dad for forcing her to marry Mohit. But hearing her dad's wishing her happy birthday , somehow it caused a warm feeling in her heart.

"Thank you, dad. You also always take care of your health" said Navya, her voice starting to get hoarse.

As she hanged up the phone, Navya's tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably. She sobbed in the front seat, next to Mohit who was driving the car. Navya could feel Mohit repeatedly glancing at her, but he didn't said a word.

At nine o'clock at night in her room, Navya was putting her laptop in her bag to prepare for tomorrow's lecture, when there was a knock on the connecting door. Navya was surprised. The one who might knock on the door was only Mohit.

Navya turned the key, slowly opened the door. Mohit stands in front of the door looking at her.

"Navya..., sorry, I didn't know it was your birthday today," said Mohit in a deep voice.

Navya blushed. "It's okay, Mohit. I also don't know when is your birthday" Navya said while looking down.

Mohit held out a small box of brown cardboard. "Happy birthday Navya. This is for you. Sorry I didn't have the time to buy wrapping paper either," said Mohit with a smile.

Navya's heart immediately swelled warmly. Not only did he keep his promise to wish her happy birthday when no one else was around, he also gave her a present!

"Mohit, why are you bothering yourself so much? You don't have to buy me gifts, it's okay." Navya's hand shook slightly to receive the box. "Thank you, Mohit..." She said after taking her gift. Their eyes met each other.

"I just thought, maybe you will like this. Because from yesterday, you looked happy when we were on vacation at the beach," said Mohit. "Well, you take rest. Good night okay?" Mohit grabbed the connecting door handle, closing the door again.

Navya half ran and quickly sat on the edge of her bed. Impatiently, she opened the box. Her eyes widened in admiration when she saw Mohit's gift.

A small glass ball decoration filled with water, at the bottom of the ball there are a number of colorful shells and sand. If shaken, the sand will mixed with water, forming beautiful colors, then separating again slowly.

Navya couldn't help but smile. Mohit seems to want Navya to always remember the beach every time she sees the glass ball decoration, the beach where she felt freedom and joy again.