ABEER:
I wanted to lie down on the bed and sleep but I still needed more practice. My eyes were closing and literally ached and I couldn't resist the urge to fall back on Aamna's bed who had exchanged room with me for that night because the heating system in her room wasn't working and she had a really bad cough with headache.
I also needed to stay awake so I offered her to sleep in my room that night which she accepted gratefully.

Finally, the debate seemed like it was good enough so I placed it on the bedside table and curled up into a ball inside the comforter. I was just drifting away into sleep when I heard a scream and just then, I realized that it came from the room adjacent to the one where I was sleeping.
I jumped out of the bed and ran bare footed outside.
"Aamna?", I yelled stopping outside the door.
There was no reply and it was dark inside the room since the little space between the door and floor showed no light. I hesitated for a moment and then picked up a vase. My body tensed up as I placed my hand on the door knob and my heart lurched as it creaked open.
"Aamna?", I called but the tremor in my voice didn't remain hidden from even my own self.
With my heart ready to break out of my ribcage, I reached for the switchboard on the wall and turning the button on, closed my eyes tightly.
"Surprise!!!", three familiar voices, shouting in unison made me open my eyes slowly.
"Happy Birthday Abeer", Sahir was the one who spoke first and for a moment, I could only stare at the gas balloons, fairy lights and flowers they had decorated my room with.

"Happy Birthday", Aamna said embracing me in a tight hug.
Waqas had also stepped forward.
"Happy Birthday", he said with an affectionate smile.
"Thank you and really guys....this is unbelievable", I said turning around and having a glance at my room once again.
"How did you do it?", I asked.
"Don't ask", Waqas said.
"Your final debate tomorrow had nearly spoiled our surprise ", Aamna said.
"We had to literally climb up to your room through the drain pipe because you kept on sitting in the lounge till 11:00 and we couldn't come through the main door", Waqas said.
"Well..... I am sorry for that", I said.
"Okay leave all that aside and let the Birthday girl cut her cake", Sahir said lighting up the candle on a dark chocolate cake.
Aamna took a number of pictures as I cut the cake.
"This was my best ever birthday surprise! Whose idea was it?", I asked with cheerfulness mixed with gratefulness.
"The one and only Sahir Khan Afridi", Waqas said looking towards him and he just passed a smile.
"But this would have not been possible without these two because had it not been for Aamna's acting, we would have never been able to drive you out of your own room and had it not been for Waqas, I would have never got the idea to climb up the drain pipe", he said.
"I am so lucky to have you guys. Thanks once again", I said.
"Okay. Okay. Enough of it. I guess its time for Abeer to have some sleep because tomorrow's the finale for debate and that's such a big day", Aamna said.
"Yes and I think that its not a very modest hour to be found in your apartment so we should also leave", Sahir said.
"Down the drain pipe or would the birthday girl let us use the door this time?", Waqas asked picking up his backpack which had probably contained all that what was in my room now as all of laughed.
"Of course the door", I said and the four of us walked out.
"See you tomorrow", Sahir said at the door.
"Wait, wait, wait..... We forgot to tell her", Waqas said.
"Tell her what?", Sahir asked.
"The party", Waqas said.
"Oh yeah. We are having a party in the evening so we sent out the invitations but if there's still someone you want to add to the guest list, invite them personally at the University", he said.
"But this was enough.....in fact....more than enough",I said
"You said yourself that we should keep the party for something big and tomorrow's a big day", he said.
"And it would get bigger if she wins the debate. So let's go and sleep", Aamna spoke quickly.
"Okay. Okay. We're leaving. Good night to you two", Waqas said and they left.