BIRTHDAY PARTY

The party was at Malviya Nagar, a South Pune colony. That evening I wanted to look, the best for Piyush. I was so nervous . I took three hours to get ready with perfect dress and make-up, thanks to Zarah she helped me to get ready for the party. I was wearing a tight satin red dress with red lipstick probably not my type, but I had to do it for my love, my one-sided love.

Zarah and I reached there half an hour before the set time, as Zarah wanted to help Rohit with the arrangement. I was alone in the car, as I had no option but to sit there and wait for the other to arrive.

One after the other, many unknown faces walked in. Most of them were boys from his college. There were a few of Rohit's friends and relatives, and a girl named Sophie came in with a big bouquet of red roses. She was Rohit's childhood friend's sister. She worked at an investment bank in Delhi. Zarah updated me with the details of all the girls who had arrived at the party without their partners. Finally, at 7 p.m, Piyush graced the party with his presence, along with a small group of friends----two boys , might be college buddy's.

There was a girl with long, silky hair wearing a green sweater and a black skirt , she could not take her eyes off Piyush and tried to put her paws around him at every opportunity.

'Who is this girl?' I asked Zarah.

'I don't know,' she replied, might be his college mate.

I chose to ignore the crowd around me, which also included my friends, and focused on my plan for the night. I wanted to give the best gift and note to Piyush who looked super hot in his black leather jacket with a pair of black jeans perfectly fit for his body, and branded shoes . His hair well managed and set as per his face, looked perfect. I was beyond mesmerized, just looking at him from afar.

Finally, I managed to wish him happy birthday thirty minutes after he walked in. At that time his friends were still with him, so I could not just hand over the gift to him. Thanks, Adira,' he said with a bright smile and then moved his attention back toh his friends. After a while, his friends dispersed from his side, but Sophie and that girl with long, silky hair ensured that one or the other was with him all the time, giving me no chance to go near him. I envied those two beautiful girl, not only because they were close to Piyush but because they could converse freely with attractive males. I, on the other hand, was the least comfortable in that department. How can I compete with them? I wondered.

After continuously attempting and failing to go anywhere near, for one hour before as well as after dinner, I decided to quietly slide my gift into his bag. He was too busy to notice, and I was sure that he would get the opportunity to check his bag only when he was alone in his room.

Music began and everybody started to dance and I was just sitting there like an own in night staring everyone in the party. Sophie insisted Piyush to dance with her. I was so jealous that night, I wish I could punch her, but I can't. She was getting close to Piyush, making me more jealous in the party, how can someone dance and get close with my love, he was mine and only mine, no one is allowed to get close with him. when you are in love with someone, you can't see them with others, but I can't do anything . Suddenly a guy named Saket, one of Piyush classmate, came to me and asked for a dance, but I refused. So he started a conversation, in which I wasn't interested at all. Few minutes later after the dance, Piyush went to the loo and came out beaming with the leather box in his hand.

Pune was freezing that night; the temperatures were way below average, yet I felt beads of sweat on my forehead at the sight of his walking back into the room with my gift in his hand. I felt as if something blazing hot had entered my lungs and made me breathless. I was more nervous than I had ever been in my life.

He walked into the sitting area where thirty-odd people were enjoying their drinks and music. He was surprised, and at the same time excited to open the gift.

'What is this?' he asked, looking at no one in particular. He was talking about the gift. No one said a word, and Rohit swiftly lowered the volume of the music system. Piyush looked every bit as surprised and intrigued as I had wanted him to be. He sat down on the sofa next to Saket and looked at everyone in turn, as if trying to guess just by the faces who had given him the gift.

'Open it and see. There is a note as well,' Zarah cheekily told him, and my face started getting warm.

He carefully pulled out the note from the box and took out his present -----a branded Silver Watch. It sparkled beautifully as the numerous lights in the room fell on it from different angles and directions. He then opened the note to read it.

'Read it aloud. We want to hear what it says too,' Sophie told him. I looked at her in disgust but then quickly turned my eyes to my Crush as he read my note. My amateur words came out of his mouth like a beautiful poem:

Dear Piyush,

You are the most handsome guy I have ever seen,

and after knowing you the little that I have, I can

say that you have the most beautiful heart too.

On this birthday, I hope, wish and pray

that you get all that you have ever dreamed,

desire and hoped for. May this year be the

beginning of the best phase in your life!

I am not a good writer, and words

don't come to me quickly. But looking at you,

I think someday, I will write a love story.

Love,

A friend

My breath was stuck in my lungs while he read the note, and I softly exhaled on hearing him say, 'Love'.

'Tell me now, who is it from? This is so lovely!' he chirped, looking extremely happy with the surprise.

'You dumb. You did not write your name?' Zarah hissed at me in a shallow voice.

'I did not because I will tell him tomorrow. Let him guess and be impatient today. That is my plan!' I whispered back at her grinning.

'It was me,' someone said, and the face-splitting grin disappeared from my face. It was that girl with long hair, that Bitch Lily.

'Oh, Lily!' Piyush exclaimed, and all his smiles were suddenly directed towards her. 'Oh, Lily! You are such a sweet person. I am blessed to have a friend like you,' he added and I felt as if all the blood, as well as my life, had been sucked up by the earth in one go.

Lifeless, I looked towards Zarah who annoyingly remarked, 'Well done, Miss planner. What a Jerk you are! You just wasted your money. Congratulations.'

For the next fifteen minutes, we witnessed Lily's cheap acting and blushing skills. My head nearly exploded when Piyush asked him to put on the watch, which she shamelessly did. The guy's went ooh and aah over the gesture. Zarah and I took our leave, which no one opposed, we went back to our respective houses.

A little relief came in my direction when fifteen days later I got to know that Lily had asked Piyush to be her boyfriend a few days after the party. He, however, had thought of her as just a good friend and declined his generous offer. The last I knew, that girl had been friend-zoned for life! That watch however, still was with him and shine in his wrist and, looking at it each time, my heart hummed a love song!.