Dedicated to @shivuu77

Media:Cast list in case..you have  any confusion regarding the charecters^_^

Additional cast:
Samiksha Agarwal(Sasha)-Nia's college friend
Pranjal Sharma- Nia's college friend
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"Maa ka phone aya. ...Maa ka phone aya..."rang my cellphone.I was in a sound sleep but Mom had to be mom and ruin it.I picked it up and spoke in a sleepy voice,"Mommy why are you calling me this early?You already wished me at 12 last night.Why are you not speaking now? Did you just want to spoil my sleep by calling me?"I ranted in a sleepy voice.

Soon I heard an ear defening laugh from the other side.It was definitely not Mom.It was Nikita.I rose up from my bed and switched cellphone from right to the left ear.As the echo of her monstrous laugh was still ringing in my right eardrum.I hope I don't become deaf on my birthday."Nia beta, it's 9.30.get up you lazy girl.Its your birthday."she tried speaking in a motherly voice.

"What are you doing in my house you little thing?"I asked faking anger."Mira aunty is making 'Gajar ka halwa' as it's the day you were sent to earth for the soul purpose of torturing the innocent human beings like us.You know I just tasted halwa and it's so yummilicious and the aroma omg!!! It's mindboggling and then she just sprinkled loads of dryfruits.I am telling you Nia if there is heaven on earth it's here right in your kitchen.hmmm...yummm.."she said while munching on the halwa.

"You devil,you don't have any rights to tresspass people's home and then eat their favourite food when they are away.God will punish you for this.Put the darn phone on speaker right now."I yelled at her.I heard her chuckle while saying okay.

"Mom,what is she doing in our house?why did you let her in?"I demanded an answer as if my life depended on it.Offcourse no one comes between me and my favourite food.

"Nia beta, don't talk about her so rudely. She will feel bad."Mom said in her typical calm and soothing voice.I don't belive she is backing her."What did she do to you Mom?Did she hypnotise you? Did she mixed something in the halwa and made you eat it?and don't worry I know my best friend she is shameless she won't feel bad."I chuckled while saying the last lines.

"The phone is still on the speaker.In case you forgot it,Nia.",I could hear Nikki screaming from the background."Well, that was the whole idea."I said in teasing manner." Mom told Nikki to continue the talk as she had to cook lunch for Dad.While handing over the phone to her,she didn't forget to wish me on Dad's behalf"Your Dad wished you happy birthday."

"Mom, It hurts me when you have to lie and it's even more painful when you have to do it for my happiness."I replied her.

"Take care Baby.Mom loves you",she said at the end.Then my so called best friend returned on the call."Did Sam call you?"she asked in a hush tone.She had put the phone on general mode now as Mom wasn't aware of the fight I had with Samar correction he had fought with me.

"Nope."I replied while trying to maintain my composure.He had never missed my single birthday.He would always call me at the stroke of twelve and would sing a happy birthday song we had composed on our own.Then he and Nikki would come to visit me at my house and decorate it.In the evening Sam would cut the cake.Yeah he was the one who used to cut cake on my birthday.We had this deal when I was five.I had invited all my kindergarten friends and Samar was one of them.Just when I was about to cut the cake,he snatched the knife from my hand and cut it.I started crying after that.My mom tried to stop me from crying but it was in vain.Samar really felt bad for what he had done and promised me that he would let me cut the cake on his birthday.Since then we started this weird tradition.But Now things had changed.We know it hurts when a person leaves you, but it is even more hurtful when a person you were sure would never leave you,quits being that person.I never thought our worlds will be so apart one day.But at least I had my other best friend.I thanked Nikki for being with Mom on my birthday.It was really thoughtful of her to do so because I knew Mom would be missing me badly.I ended the call as I had to get ready for college.I wiped the tears which were formed in my eyes due to Sam's  indiffrence and decided not to cry anymore.

After taking shower,I got ready in black jeans and turquoise net top which had a pearly sequencing around the neck.I let my hair open as they were wet from the shower.I stuffed my backpack with all the journals and books I required for the day.

I headed out of my room and soon was greeted by Joshi family.Veena aunty, Chetan uncle and Mayank sang happy birthday song in chorus.I couldn't thank enough to god for blessing me with such wonderful people.I had a second family here in Mumbai.Aunty made me sit on the couch and placed a tika on my forhead. Then she fed me a sweet from the the thali she had in her hand.Mayank was our photographer and he really was so pathetic.He would always make us laugh hysterically by passing weird comments whenever we were possing for camera.Those photos came out really funny and we couldn't stop laughing when we all had look at them.

I hugged all of them one by one.Uncle and Aunty gifted me a beautful wrist watch.Then I looked at Mayank with anticipation.He got irritated by my continuous staring and spoke in annoyed manner"Dont be so greedy Sis.I am going to gift you anything."

I made a pout and looked at him with puppy eyes.I was just kidding around as I wanted to tease him.To my surprise he popped up a box which he was hiding behind his back all this while.

"You brought me a gift.you really brought me a gift.I still can't belive this.you brought me a gift?"I know I sounded annoying but I really couldn't belive it.

"One more time ask this question and I will return it to the shop again.They give full money back if we return it in twenty four hours."he said in a fake warning tone.

Aunty and Uncle were laughing at us.I gave them a sheepish smile and soon snatched the box from his hand in case he was serious about returning the gift.I opened it in no time and found out it was a photoframe.Tears soon rolled down my cheek.It was a photo from my childhood.In the picture Mom was holding me in her arms and I was staring at her with the smile creeping across my lips.I hugged him and thanked him.He ruffled my hair and then he pulled me away holding my  arms.He said"Dont say thanks Nia.You are the sibling I never had.If it wasn't for you I would never have realised how it feels to have a lovely sister.",Then he continued to be a jerk again."Now don't let this praise go to your head and I need a new shirt as you ruined this one with your tears."I slapped his arm and we all burst into a fits of laughter again.

I arrived in college a little late.I entered Physics class.Our Prof.Mrs. Shukla gave me a disapproving look.I mumbled a sorry and got seated on the only place which was empty.As I settled down,I looked around me.I saw Pranjal waving at me.I waved back.Sasha was not present as she had gone to Delhi for her elder sister's wedding.She was very upset about not being here on my birthday but I assured her it was okay.We had decided to celebrate it when she returns.I started taking down the notes.Finally The bell rang.Pranjal and I went to the cafeteria since our next two periods were off.The principle had called for an urgent meeting with the Professors.

We sat down at the table in the middle of the cafeteria.I was talking to Pranjal when my eyes met with Aaruj who was sitting at the corner table along with his gang.His girlfriend Vishakha was sitting just beside him.Our gazes connected for a while and then I looked away instantly and got busy in talking to Pranjal again.He pulled out a chocolate box from his bag and handed it to me."It's just a small gift for now as I really wanted to gift you something.Sasha and I will give you a proper gift once she returns."he said beaming with a smile.

"Thank you so much for this and this is enough for me.You guys don't need to get me another gift."I said while taking the box from his hand.I saw something peeping out from his backpack which he had placed on the table.I pulled it out and was surprised to see a hand made greeting card with my name written on it.Though there were some spelling mistakes.But the greeting was really cute."Why were you hiding this cute card from me you Monster Pranjy?"I questioned raising my eyebrows.

He smiled meekly and replied, "It's nothing.Panchi has made this for you.(Panchi was Pranjal's baby sister.)I Don't know when she heard me talking about your birthday.She gave it to me in the morning when I was leaving for college.She has learned to make greetings in her kindergarten class and since then, is making greetings for everyone.You won't belive she made greeting for our cat as well because she delivered kittens.Though the message remains same on every greeting'Happy birthday'."he added fondly.

We both burst into laughter.On my insistence of meeting his sister,he assured me that he would take me and Sasha to his home soon.We were talking about random things now."Nia,I forgot to tell you something.When I was ....."He was interrupted by an announcement on the radio.We had a private radio station for our college.The RJ announced there was a birthday message for me.I stared at Pranjal with a questioning look in my eyes.He immediately nodded his head for no.I wonder who has sent this message since Sasha is not here.Pranjal has not done it.

After a minute of silence,we heard a recorded message on radio."You are getting old.

Soon your skin would have wrinkles and fold.

But never mind as you will always be the same for me.

Like the leaves are always green to it's tree

I wish you all the happiness of the world

As I keep all the stones for me and for you the gold

Never forget that I love you with all my heart

even though we might have fights as sour as tart.

I will be by your side whenever you have a bad day.

Now I will end this song and wish you happy birthday."

He remembered my birthday.Soon I heard his voice again but It sounded like he was so close.Like he was present in the cafeteria.

"Happy birthday Motu."he wished me and I looked in the direction of it.I thought I was imagining things but he really was there as the whole cafeteria went silent on his arrival plus only he calls me Motu.

I got up from my chair.I had forgotten my surroundings.All I could concentrate on was my best friend Sam.I took few steps and reached to him.He gave me his regular smile."Happy birthday Motu"he repeated.

"Don't talk to me you idiot.I hate you.You know how much time has passed since we talked the last time?"I asked him while hitting his arm.

"Three months,one day,ten hours  and thirty five minutes,five seconds,  precisely."he replied.whoah!Even I didn't remember it this exactly.This melted my anger.But I wasn't planning on forgiving him so easily.I decided to trouble him with my fake anger.

"I am not talking to you.What you had thought?You will just pop up from nowhere on my birthday and will get away with this cheesy move of yours.You are wrong Mr.Samar Wadhawa."I said while crossing my arms.

He was taken aback by my behaviour but soon resumed his usual self again and what he did further made me regret the idea of stretching this topic so far.He bent on his knees and sort of announced in front of everyone,"My dear Motu,I know I have hurt you so bad.I was being a jerk all this time to you.I broke my promise of being by your side for every decision you make...", I interuppted him as I felt people's eyes on us,"Sam get up right now or I will beat you infront of everyone.I forgive you."I mumbled threatening him.He stood up immediately grinning ear to ear.

I dragged him to the table where I was sitting earlier and almost pushed him in the vacant chair next to Pranjal."Hi buddie, thanks for helping me in planning this surprise for Motu."He said while shaking hands with Pranjal.After hearing it,I shot a glare at Pranjy.He scratched his head and mouthed a 'Sorry'.

"Hey don't be so scared of this chicken.She may look like murderer but hasn't killed even a mosquito till date. I still remember how she used to get scared of the sound of thundering.I had to hold her and Nikki's hands all the way from school to home as these chickens wouldn't come out of classrooms whenever it thundered."he said with a smirk on his face.

I slapped him instantly and he shot me a surprised look.He was now rubbing his cheek."What was this for?"he asked."for lying and also you can think of it as your return gift and this reminds me where is my gift? Don't tell me you came all the way from Pune with empty hands."I said trying to sound mean.

"You see Pranjal how mean and selfish this girl is.If it was some other person,he would have been content seeing his best friend on birthday.A best friend who is as handsome and as sexy as Tom Cruise."he said witfully.

"You and Tom Cruise?Pleeeease!Pranjal would not be able to bear such trauma. Spare my innocent friend for humanity's sake"I begged dramatically.Pranjal was suppressing his laughter.When our eyes met we both started laughing.Samar crossed his arms and looked away with angry expressions on his face.Now I had to make it up to him.

I nudged his arms while he was still carrying those rotten expressions on his face.I kept doing it for next five minutes.That was all it took to melt his anger.He yelled at me,"Stop doing that.You know how I hate it.I am not angry okay?But you have to spend rest of your day with me."

"I can't do that as I have chemistry practical to attend.That Mogambo will kill me if I bunk."I replied.

"Stop being such a spoilsport Nia.Can't you bunk few lectures for your best friend?"he asked looking at me with puppy eyes.

"Nia, you go I will make some excuse for you not attending the lab session."Pranjal assured me.

"Now Pranjal also agreed to help us.Come on Motu."he said expectantly.Then he turned to Pranjal and added,"Why don't you also come along with us buddie? It would be fun."

"No thanks Dude.I have already missed previous lab sessions and Mogambo will cut me into pieces and put me into the flask along with boiled water"replied Pranjal.

"This Mogambo aka your chemistry teacher sounds dangerous."concluded Sam.

"You have no idea."We both replied in unison.

Then Pranjal went to attend the chemistry practical and we headed out of the college gate.Sam almost dragged me to his car and made me sit inside.Then he drove us to a place unknown to me.

One and a half hours later.....

I kept asking about the place but he didn't reveal it.On our way I saw a signboard.It read "Lavasa-12km ahead".I was sequeling in excitement.He just smiled at me and kept his eyes on the road.We were going to Lavasa.We finally entered the city and met with a colourful buildings and the view was panoramic.Then he opened the car door for me like a gentleman.We headed inside one of the lavish restaurant in this lake city.The interior was mesmerising.I was sure Sam would have spend all his pocket money on me.We sat at the table.I whispered in his ears."Don't tell me you spend all your pocketmoney on this expensive restaurant?"He replied,"Not all but some of it.The rest of the money is sponsored by my great Daddy.You know how he loves you more than he loves me.He insisted on taking extra money.He must be under the influence of your fake innocence".

This earned him a smack on arm.He handed me a menu card and excused himself to go to washroom.Just when I was looking at the menu card I heard a familiar voice."Glutton are you going to eat all that at once?"she asked.I screamed out loud as I saw her standing in front of me.It was Nikki.I ran upto her and hugged her tightly.I could feel people's eyes on us but we didn't care.We remained in that position for a while.

Then I asked her,"How did you reach here before us?"

"Perks of living in Pune."She smirked while answering.

Soon we were inturrpted by Sam.He was not alone.There was one guy as well.He extended his hand and wished me.I thanked him.We sat at our table.Then Nikki finally introduced me to that guy.His name was Jitin.He was her college friend.After the round of introduction, we ordered food.I was observing how insistent she was on making him try her favourite food.When she caught me staring at them she blushed.Something was definitely fishy.I shot her a look that said 'we need to talk'.She just mouthed 'not now'.We continued eating our food.Soon the cake arrived.It was chocolate hazelnut cake as usual my favourite.I handed knife to Sam.Jitin looked surprised.So Nikki told him about our weird tradition.He laughed heartily.He was sweet and cute.

"You can also put your hand on mine while I cut the cake.I can give you some levy you know since it's your birthday", said Sam pretending to do a big favour on me.I thanked him dramatically and Then we cut the cake.Needless to say my favourite cake went all over my face rather than going in my mouth.

After fixing my face and paying the bill, we all headed out to explore the beautiful lake city.Sun was setting in the west and a beautiful shade of orange was splashed over the sky.I looked at it and a smile was creeping across my cheeks.

Finally our pending trip to Lavasa had been accomplished.I thanked Nikki and Sam for making my birthday so special.While hugging her I didn't forget to whisper in her ears,"You have twenty four hours to give me all the details you have been hiding from me."She whispered okay and we pulled apart.Nikki and Jitin left on his bike.Now it was just Sam and me.

"Motu is it necessary for you to return Mumbai today itself?You could go home and Meet aunty you know.I am sure it won't be a big deal if you miss college for one day.Any whichways the day after tomorrow is Sunday."he suggested.

He had a point.He had to drive all the way to Mumbai again to drop me off.So I agreed to his suggestion.We drove to my house.When we reached to my place,I almost sprang out of his car and headed inside.Mom was cooking something in the kitchen when she saw me standing at the doorframe.She dropped the ladle from her hand.I ran to her and hugged her tightly.

Sam entered inside and joined us in a group hug.Mom thanked him for bringing me home.He gave her a beaming smile.After talking for a while he left as it was already night.Mom served me dinner along with my favourite desert'gajar ka halwa'.On my insistence she fed it to me.I enquired after Dad and found out he had gone for to Nagpur for some office work,in the afternoon.

At night I rested my head on Mommy's lap.I had missed her all these days,her cooking, her calm and soothing voice in the morning which worked as wake up alarm for me.Her protective behaviour when Dad would be angry on me.She started sliping her fingers through my hair and soon I drifted off to sleep.
*****************************************A/N:An early update(*_*)....Birthdays make me happy whether it's mine or others.I love greeting cards.I used to envy my elder sis when she used to get cards for her birthdays and other occasions as they were a huge hit when she was in college.She still has them and I have a few cards as well.I got on my birthdays from school friends.I have preserved them over years.I feel nostalgic when I see them.^_^what