Episode 4: Happy B'day Eathen - CRUSH STORY Contd...

It’s 19^th June, but most of all it’s Sunday Morning and Dad is trying his best to wake me up. The day starts with a nice kiss on my forehead “Happy birthday Son” said Dad and a huge gift all wrapped up was lying alone besides me begging to be unleashed. This tempted me to get on my toes as quickly as possible and unwrap the gift. The Kiss was something that made me a little uncomfortable, I am a 16year old guy you see . It’s a bitter reality that our parents never accept that we have grown up J. However, as I started tearing apart the wrap, I just got the feeling of what was to be revealed and to the best of my surprise there she was , so smooth, so serene, and standing tall. My baby, my guitar J. “Thanks DAD” I hugged him back. “Now go get ready” he said.

It was just the perfect start of a wonderful day ahead; as I cherished my gift the fragrance of “Sheera” (A sweet dish) just got my mouth watering. I couldn’t resist the temptation, so quickly had to get myself ready and dressed up for the dish J. Its truly said “the path to a man’s heart is through his stomach” and how well does my mother know about it, she is a wonderful cook and that is very much evident how much she has conquered Dad’s heart looking at his belly.

Had the best of the breakfast since quite sometime. I could hardly get up after the delicacy. As I was picking myself up, in stormed my friends singing “HAPPYYY BIRTHDAYYY TOOO YOUUU” and to my surprise Ganesh was strong enough to come in without minding Jackie. “Thanks Guys” I said. “Open up” said Girish handing me the gift. The next of the surprise, there it was my favorite “Rolling Stone” CDs. It was so far the best of the start for the day. Dad had gifted me a whooping new Guitar and my friends just bought me my favorite music. YES, folks, I am somewhere related to music as well. I play guitar and “Rolling Stone” is my favorite band. “GUYSSSSS!!!!!”  I yelled “thanks buddy thank you”, I hugged each one of them.

We couldn’t spend much time together. The pain of class X has already started. It was Sunday and we had our first class test of Std X. “THE STUDENTS INSTITUTE” has started ruining our Sundays. However, the only motivation today was, I will be seeing Nandini today and I doubt, if she remembers my birthday today. I packed my bag quickly and rushed out as quickly as possible.The test was at 12pm and we left home at 10:30 am the only preparation that could possibly happen was in the class.

We all were trying to get in as many as possible in our little brains. “Sheera, Guitar, Rolling Stone and Nandini” were all fighting hard as to who will occupy my mind”. It was one of those days, where lot of things come together. It was just 10 minutes for 12pm and in walked Nandini. She looked so serious and didn’t  greet any of us, not even Ganesh. She sat quietly at the very place where we have been sitting since the start of our class.

In came the invigilator with the paper and there it was the toughest 90 minutes of the day. As I was struggling to start, Ganesh was equally struggling to understand the paper. However, Nandini was not waiting for anyone as her pen started solving algebra as if it was gifted by "The Aryabhatta" himself. Concentrating on Nandini and not on the test has already fined me 15 minutes. I tried everything possible to put whatever I know in there and there it was 90 minutes expiring like seconds.

Nandini handed over the paper as if it was a piece of cake and Ganesh was just getting his last point in and there it went, it was all over. It was 1:30 and I stood up to leave. It was very much evident that Nandini didn’t even have an idea that today was my birthday. All where discussing the paper, answers and to my surprise even Ganesh was involved in serious discussion. God knows what he was discussing??. I called up Ganesh and told him “I am waiting downstairs, if he can make it quick?”. He said “will be down, in 5 mins”. I looked for Nandini in the class and she was nowhere to be seen . I thought she had left for the day and might be downstairs waiting for the pick up. I rushed down as quickly as possible and there was no sign of her. With a little disappointment, I went out to get my bicycle, as I was just getting it out of the parking, I heard Nandini calling out “Eathen, Eathen”. I quickly turned behind to find her standing with a red rose, neatly wrapped pointing right at me. I didn't trust the sight to be honest. “Hi”, I said, with a surprise look. “Happy birthday Eathen” she said. I thought you had left for the day. “No, I just went across for the rose and this card” she said and handed over the card. I opened the card with surprise and disbelief “TO SOMEONE WITH A BEAUTIFUL HEART….. HAPPY BIRTHDAY from Nandini” it read. I said “Thanks” I am surprised you remember my birthday. “Yeah, thanks to Ganesh” she said, with a smile. “Hope you like the card??” she said. “Ya Ya, its great!!! Thanks!!!” I replied, still surprised and with goose bumps running all over me. “So what did you get for your birthday?” she asked. “Guitar” came the answer, not from me but from Ganesh. “Guitar?” she asked, “Yep!!!” my friend is a very good guitarist and singer”, he replied putting his arms around my shoulder. I didn’t know why he was doing this, but whatever it was, he was helping me. "Wow!!! so you play guitar for me sometime”, she asked. “Sure, I will” I said.

In a while “The Scorpion King” arrived to pick up the little princess waiting!!!! “Bye Eathen” she said and boarded the vehicle, as it started, she lowered the window and waved me bye.. This was something new as well!!!. I couldn’t hold back my smile, but had to give it for her. “Well Well Well, someone is gonna treat me for sure” said Ganesh, leaning on his bicycle. “Tastings!!! (A cake Shop) for sure”, I said with a bright smile


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