FF: It's Not Right - Chapter 39

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Chapter 39

Arnav lay down on his pillow with one hand behind his neck. His face still bore traces of the smile that had adorned his face for most of the day. Since his parents had died his birthdays had always been just another day that reminded him of his mother and the fact that she wasn't alive anymore but today had been different. Even speaking about her, speaking about that day hadn't thrust him back into the pit of despair it usually did.

He turned to his side and smiled as his eyes fell on the silver photo frame on top of his bedside table. Knowing that Khushi had only found out about his birthday yesterday he hadn't expected a present at all. The sugar-free cake therefore had been a pleasant surprise but when at the end of the evening she had pulled out a shiny blue rectangle package from her bag he had been taken aback.



The frame was silver plated and probably not very expensive at all but the picture she had chosen to put inside it was perfect. It was a picture of him, Anjali and Akash that she'd taken the night before at his birthday dinner without them noticing. Anjali was leaning across him slightly to talk to Akash and Arnav was smiling at them both.

Khushi had gone early in the morning to get the photo printed and framed. She'd said she chose that particular picture because it showed her just how much he cared about his siblings even if he didn't like to admit it. The irony of that statement and the significance it held to their earlier conversation about Dhruv hadn't passed him by and Arnav had sent an e-mail to Dhruv and Dhruv's Principal before he'd gone to bed. Hopefully by the time he woke up he would have received some positive news he could tell Khushi about.

He had almost fallen asleep when the ringing of his phone woke him back up with a jerk. He fumbled around in the dark before pressing the answer button and holding the phone up to his ear.

'Hello Arnav, were you asleep?'

The slightly worried tone to her voice had him sitting up immediately. 'Khushi? Is everything okay? Did Buaji say something because you were late? What is it?'

'No no, everything's fine Arnav.' Khushi laughed 'I just... erm... I just wanted to say happy birthday again. I hope you had a good time and you liked the present. I'm sorry I didn't have time to get anything else.'

'Khushi, I already told you. It was really nice. Honestly, it was perfect.' Arnav lay back onto his pillow settling down preparing to listen to Khushi worry unnecessarily.

'Are you sure? Okay, happy birthday. Good night.'

Arnav moved the phone away from his ear shocked at the abrupt end of the phone call before pressing the button to call Khushi back.

'Khushi? What was that? Why did you cut the call?'

'Oh actually Arnav I just wanted to be the... I wanted to be the last person to say Happy Birthday. Actually I wanted to be the first but I was so tired last night and then I thought I have to get up early anyway to get the photo and make the cake and maybe you have a ritual with Anjaliji or Naniji and they say it first and I didn't want to ruin that and now it's 12 o clock so I should go to sleep. What if Buaji checks in my room and I'm not there? She'll think I've run away or been kidnapped and wake up the whole neighbourhood! So I should go, okay bye.'

Khushi spoke all in one breath while Arnav wondered at her lung capacity. Once again he found himself staring at his phone having just been dismissed abruptly but this time he was smiling. 'Pagal,' he said to himself as he put the phone back under his pillow and settled down to sleep.

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Short update I know but don't complain too much and you just might get another update as quickly as tomorrow :D (The wonders of writing only one FF at a time :P)