HELLOOO EVERYONEEEE...

I AM BACK WITH A UPDATE!!!

ITS 10K WORDS.

I SHALL LET YOU ALL DIVE IN WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY

..................

CHAPTER 28 – MAKE A WISH..

KHUSHI'S POV

26th November - Cape Town 1:00 PM

I smile to myself as I continue humming and hopping a little on the side-path on the way to this Bistro near my University, where I usually caught up with Zara for our Friday Lunches together, ever since she moved to Cape Town around four and a half months ago.

So Zara is like become a very good friend, and its very easy to get along with her.

She's a very cheerful, warm and positive person and well so is Zain.

They are an adorable couple, and I am really happy for them.

It warms my heart to see them together – whenever I have gotten the chance too on the few casual occasions in all these months.

And why am I Humming and Hopping???

Because I am listening to My Hoodie Guys one of the favourites numbers from His playlist.

And.

Also because Its My Bday today!!

So yes, after since my family's passing, I do not like to do much on this day, because that makes me miss my family so much on this day,especially Krish, because he'd get all excited for my bday always – it was like he would fight with me to cut my cakes, and then he'd keeping asking me – di where are my return gifts, cmon I am younger to you, and my bday was like a mini celebration of his bday with his friends too.

So yes,I just keep it simple,(because I know my family up from the heavens would not want to see me cry on this day, missing them..so I keep myself involved in the head like any other normal routine regular day).I mean ofcourse everyone wishes me and Rahul,Diya and uncle and aunty always want me to be with them on this day too, and last year too I was with them at their place all day- since last year my b'day fell on a Sunday, but because today was a weekday – Friday and I had full day jamm packed schedule anyway – I was just meeting up with everyone for an early dinner before I got to my Uber Schedule for the night.

And I have received everyone's phone calls already, but since I left for class so early this morning, I haven't seen anyone yet – as in Uncle, aunty, Rahul, diya, varun, Stacey or jack.(My usual regular friends now family features in my Life). I will meet Varun and Stacey and Jack after lunch with Zara as I return to the Café, and rest everyone over dinner.

I am still humming and hopping right as my phone beeps.

Its Zara.

Zara : khushi, im just running ten minutes late.stuck in traffic.have you reached?

I grin as I quickly reply : yes I will reach in a minute Zara, don't worry about it, ill wait up.i have reserved our usual table

Zara : kool khushi.see you soon.

Me : see you Zara.

I now walk into the Bistro and smile and greet everyone – who knows us very well now as their weekly customers for months now without fail and I take my seat at the usual table me and Zara sit in.

So This Bistro is like a very cozy one – nothing too fancy and not to casual too – like you know those cozy French and European bistro's – yes like that – its unique and cozy in a very special way and they have amazing food too, and that is why I got Zara here for the first time and to my surprise she fell in love with instantly – even though it isn't very fancy or something and we have been coming here ever since.

I adjust myself in the table and sip on the glass of cold water that's now served to me by our usual server Kate and I chit chat with her for a couple of minutes casually and then she makes her way back to the kitchen.

I pick out my phone on reflex and I can't stop smiling as I open my whtsapp chat box with Arnav.

So I had last spoken to him around my 830 pm last night when it was his 730 am , when he was about to leave the hotel as he had that long with the NZ cricket board along with Cap and Coach.

I quickly go through the text he left me ten minutes after too.

His message to me at his NZ Time 740 am : Sunshine, I know we just got off the phone, but I have to leave this text to you, because I will be in this meeting when its your Midnight and your b'day rings in and I am kind off sad that I will not be able to get on a call with you, but know that you are the first thing on my mind and heart, like always.A very Happy Bday to my Sunshine – who lights up my world.I love you and I would wish you nothing but happiness and joy on this special day.Please don't wait up and get some sleep because you have class tomorrow morning at 8 am.I apologize for being so tied up today.Please Forgive me for that.i will call you as soon as I can.I shall drop in a text as and when I can.Carnage Kisses to you Love.

Well I had continued with my usual routine and then I had slept by 1am too because I had early class, however when I got up I saw the notification of Cricbuzz telling me that the third t20 between India and NZ anyway did not happen because it was a total washout due to bad rains, and I was kind of surprised to not have a text or a call from Hoodie Guy yet though – maybe because he's really tied up winding etc because they all have to leave for India soon.

I grin to myself as I continue scrolling up reading our earlier conversations and right then my phone buzzes.

Its My Hoodie Guy.

YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

I grin as I pick up – " Hey love, I was just thinking about you, and you called, you know that killer telepathy in between of us is getting stronger...and I didn't think that was possible, because duhh its so strong already...."

I hear him chuckle on the other end – " Happy Bday Sunshine, and I apologize for being so tied up today, you know that meeting with The NZ board went on and on until we all had to get to the stadium and the match was a washout anyway but we had so much happening back in the stadium inside the doors , as in while we all waited for the weather to clear up – the organisers organised a little casual mixer for us teams because we were leaving and they had predicted that its going to be a washout anyway, so yeah I was just busy with all of that, and then as we got to the hotel all that winding up and packing...."

I smile to myself as I say – " ohhhh Arnav, don't you worry about it, I figured you would be busy or something, I know you would call me the minute you would be free..."

Him – " god I love you, khushi you gotta stop being so understanding ok??"

I smile – " shut up ya, if I wont understand you then who will....i know you miss me too.."

He – " ofcourse....so hows it goinggg??? How was class?? I think its your time 115pm right? Are you at the Bistro already for the lunch with Zara??"

I grin – " yes that's where I am, she should be here in five minutes, that is why I am not video calling no Hoodie Guy, and the day is going great...I am going to binge eat five chocolate muffins after lunch..which shall be a chicken steak and stir fry veges..your favourite.."

He chuckles and then his voice reflects a lot of emotion that I understand – " goddd...you have no idea how bad I want to be with you today..and I miss you...so much...",and he pauses and I hear a yawn come up in his voice and I say on reflex – " Arnav, you are exhausted, and you have to fly out tomorrow, why don't you get some sleep now, please..."

He yawns again and I say immediately – " ok Sunshine, I am hanging up now..you need to sleep..."

Him – " Khushi, thanks im sorry its just that this NZ time difference with you – its really kind of messed up our schedules right..."

I smile to myself – " hoodie guy, relax and you are going back to India no, itll be settled...don't worry about it, please sleep, and do not call me for the next say what like next 9 hours atleast...you need that rest before you start making that super long journey back home..."

He sighs – " ok I will hang up now, because my eyes are shutting out, happy bday once again Love, I shall call you the minute I wake up, and you please continue texting me about your day anyway.."

I grin – " yes I will...Arnav...",and right then I spot Zara enter in through the doors and I smile on reflex and I wave at her and I say – " ok Zara is here too...tata hoodie guy, until we video call again..."

"Ok then, have a good day ok, I love you.."

I smile as Zara nears the table and I gesture to her to give me a second and she grins as she gives me a nod and settles in the seat – " okkk hoodie guy, go to sleep now...love you too...",and I hang up and just as I do Zara pulls me in for a wonderful hug and she hugs me hard as she says – " Happy Bdayyyy Khushi...."

I pull back surprised as I ask – " how do you know its my bday today????"

She grins and winks at me – " ohhh so you thought that you are too clever haan that you would hide this from me and I wouldn't know..."

I look at her surprised as I take my seat – " tell me, how did you figure it out..."

Zara grins – " well, you did receive an email from HR at Big Bus wishing you a Happy Bday now didn't you???"

I nod – " yes...it's a standard emailer everyone associated with Big Bus in anyway receives on their Bday..."

Zara grins – " and its also gets bcc'd to the CEO, which is Zain..so yes he told me as in he forwarded me the email asking me if I knew it was your bday today.."

I look at her surprised – " really? Bday wishes being sent out to us gets bccd to Zain too??"

Zara grins – " well Zain's asked for that change in HR when he stepped in, you know his managing style is very different, more transparent and open, he doesn't like to give like crazy importance to hierarchy, for him its more about building an community culture in the workplace...he wants to be in the loop about everything that's happening, and his workplace always kind of becomes like a second home to him"

I grin – " yes we all know that...my boss, as in the one I report too, talks really high of the new management..."

Zara grins – " which would be Zain and Asher and their team..."

I smile – " Yes..",and she grins now – " ok so since its your b'day and you didn't tell us, I mean neither me, Zain or Asher, I took it my hands for us to all to at least catch up with you for a while, Zain and Asher will be here in five minutes..i hope you don't mind..."

My eyes widen in surprise – "But Zara, why??? I mean it's the middle of a working day..."

Zara grins – " but ones gotta eat lunch anyway right...????"

I nod and I quickly pick up my phone and I text Hoodie Guy about the same – I know he is asleep. He will see the message when he gets up.

Zara grins as she asks me – " messaging your hoodie guy????"

I smile and nod – " yes...so hes in a different time zone right now due to his job and he is sleeping, but he will read my messages when he wakes up..so..", and I finish texting Arnav and Zara folds her hands on the table now as she says with a smile – " I keep telling this to you and I will say it again ..its fascinating you know to see this..i mean I have to commend you on this..trust me in this day and age, I have never seen this kind of commitment in anyone to make long distance work like this...people end things because of this..."

I smile on reflex – " I know what you mean..."

Zara sips on her water as she says – " you know what, I don't think iv told this to you, I mean me and Zain have always been together always as in we have been high school sweethearts and have been together since...and I honestly cannot even imagine being apart from him like for a day even...so yes hats off to you and your hoodie guy...",and she paused as she spoke – " do you know Asher has a little putting off experience though, because of this distance issue ,he dated this only one girl in first year university ok?? But she got a transfer to an Ivy League school in second year and she ended things with him on the pretext that she couldn't make long distance work.. and that kind off did hurt Asher, because he was ready to put in the effort but then we get to know in just three weeks after her shift to Yale, she's moved on already.. so yeahhh..that is why Asher's never gotten into relationships ever again..but glad this happened before he actually fell in love with her..so yea..."

Ouch.That must have Surely Hurt.

I just nod my head and give her a polite smile and sip on my water and Zara continues with a roll of her eyes– " now well aasra aapi and his ammi are just after him to settle down and I think he should too..we all know he is a one woman man..but he is stubborn man I tell you and a workaholic – his work is his wife already.."

The concern for her best friend is very much evident in Her voice.

I smile at her and I say honestly – " you are a great friend Zara..."

Zara winks at me - " I know...right..", and she says – " cmon lets order, I already know what Zain and Asher like here too so by the time they come, the food will start to arrive.."

I nod and we start to place the order.

................................

Asher pulls the car into the parking lot near the busy street of eateries and joints around Cape Town's buzzing university surroundings and he hears Zain say – " ok Asher, that's a good spot, its just a three minute walk to the Bistro from here.."

Asher smiles at his friend with a nod and gets off and Zain says – " zara texted, shes already ordered for us too..."

Asher grins – " thank god for your wife and my best friend,for I am starving.."

Zain winks at him – " well so am I...",and he pauses as him and Asher now start walking towards the Bistro and Zain looks at his friend as he asks, concerned – " so...have you been able to get Khushi out of your head ??"

Asher looks at his friend sheepishly, he knows what point he is bringing up and he admits with a shrug – " well, not that you don't know about it from Zara..but although I have been working on it as in..you know how iv only seen Khushi like what ten times in these past five and a half months and had very brief five – ten minutes conversations with her on those occasions, but its like – there's something about her that's stuck in my head...she does came back into my thoughts a lot more than my mind would want actually...and so to answer you honestly , I would say that I am working on it.."

Zain shrugs – " but Asher..thats why we are worried for you, both me and Zara..because theres no point..it will be a.."

Asher shrugs as he completes the sentence for his friend – "a one sided emotion, I know...but I cant help it, you feel what you feel right, and to be honest,I am kind of surprised to feel all this in the first place, because after that one bitter experience in university, I have kept myself quite immune to all of this, but then its like a sudden jolt into my Life as I meet Khushi, and something sparks within from the first instant, its weird but cant help it too so even though I do like her, I respect the fact that she is in love with someone else, and I am happy for her...",and he pauses as he shrugs disappointed – " bummer that I met her much later though, I would have liked to have a shot atleast you know to woo her...but well...tough luck to me...well whoever her hoodie guy is better know how lucky he is...for Khushi is precious...",and he paused as he continued a second later – " anyways im working on it..should be ok..for I know theres never going to be a chance for me but still..i need to also respect what I feel right..i cant help it if all these feelings are cropping up...."

Zain nods and pats his shoulder – " I know what you mean, you feel what you feel anyway.."

Asher grins as he pats his friends shoulder – " don't worry about it, I am happy with just knowing her too...I will be ok with some more time maybe.."

Zain nods and they now enter the Bistro.

Asher steps in behind Zain and right then he spots Khushi and Zara laughing and talking,and the happiness on Khushi's face and something about the warmth in that laughter touches a cord in his heart.

She was also looking very pretty in that plain pink colour cap sleeves round neck tee and her dark blue denims – and her hair were left open but tied in the center with a little clip and she had some natural look make up on with a faint pink matt lip stain up her Lips- Simple, very simple, yet very alluring.

Ok.Asher.

You Gotta Look AwaY – Asher scolds himself a little, but then he doesn't want to be too harshon himself too.

This Girl wouldn't just leave his Head or Heart.

But He Couldn't Help It.

Not that he hadn't been trying – he'd also met her on rare occasions in all these months and spoken to her very briefly too but still – her thoughts would find their way in anyway.

Well – he couldn't fight what he felt so Asher knew the best way to go around this would be to just accept and give respect to his emotions as is and then get them to find their way around this one sided emotion.

But There was a little Catch too.

He was liking what he felt too, because he hadn't felt something for anyone in a long long time.

It was kind off nice to have someone in the back of your head – that ones heart liked to think about – even though in his case, he knew that the object of his attention was already deeply in love with someone else, and if anything he was – he was a man who was very strong in his morals and ethics – he would never cross the Line, knowing the reality, so no matter how twisted this seemed – Asher believed that you gotta let Time just do what its meant to probably.

He shrugged and cursed his tough luck again as him and Zain walk up to the table,and join Khushi and Zara.

Zain pulls Khushi into a side hug as he wishes her, and Khushi smiles at him and hugs him and Zain says – " you know what Khushi..you are so like the little sister I always wanted..a happy bday to you...and I wish you all the happiness in the world...Did Zara tell you that I am about to ask you to start calling me bhaijaan..",and he paused as he winked – " on a second note, that does make me feel like I am an oldie..ok khushi..you can call me Bhai though.."

Khushi grins – " thank you Zain...Zara was just telling me about it...okkk let me think which one is better bhaijaan or bhai.."

Asher grins as he puts his hand out to shake to Khushi – " happy bday Khushi...I wish you nothing but the best...".

Khushi shakes his hand and smiles at him as she nods and acknowledges the wish – " thank you so much Asher.."

Zara gestrues them all to sit back and she asks her husband and friend – " do you guys want to order anything to drink??Khushi and me are having their amazing ice tea's.."

Zain grins at his wife – " im just going to have half of yours anyway.."

Asher – " I will take one lemon iced tea..Zara.."

And he places the order and turns to Khushi as he says – " so khushi done with the chartered accountancy..??"

Khushi smiles – " yes finally..."

Asher smiles – " must have been a relief..when is the result out??"

Khushi – " I think around the 15th of December..."

Zain – " oh and I have a complain though Khushi, you should have told us right that its your bday...we could have atleast gotten you a cake on the way..it was such a short notice..i only saw the email like by Noon..and I messaged Zara first thing.."

Khushi shrugs her shoulders – " oh no Zain please...I don't