A Four-legged Friendship [COMPLETED]

Chapter 6

There's a small crowd of people outside the door, holding a huge cake, and grinning from ear-to-ear.

"Surprise Alia!" They all yell again. I am really shocked. I can't believe they are here- Tanvi, Shruti and Sayali (the twins and my friends from college), Nishita (an old friend from school), Mayank, Saurav (my cousin) and to my surprise, Ayush and Siddharth.

"What are you guys doing here?" I ask stupidly.

"Standing in line and singing the national anthem", says Saurav, rolling his eyes. "What do you think we are doing?"

"Can we stop grinning now; my jaw is really starting to hurt", says Nishita, rubbing her chin.

"Happy birthday sweetie!" says Tanvi, hugging me. "I hope you liked the surprise."

"Did you organise all of this?" I ask her, to which she nods. "This is fantastic! I've never celebrated my birthday like this before! You guys are great!" I exclaim ecstatically. "I'm so happy all of you are here, for me!"

"Who says we are here for you? We are here to meet Elsa", says Siddharth, sitting next to Elsa, and rubbing her belly and scratching behind her ears. I realise I have stopped refering to her as "the thing". Maybe it's a birthday bonus. Elsa looks as if she is enjoying herself, wagging her tail and licking Siddharth. I actually find it cute.

"Here, take this tissue before you start getting all emotional", says Mayank laughing. I laugh too.

Everybody hugs and wishes me happy birthday.
"Hey Alia, happy birthday!"
"Wow, can you believe you are already seventeen?"
"Happy birthday babe! Where's my return gift?"
"Hey Alia, can we cut the cake please? I'm starving."
"So what sort of ageing cream do you use, Alia?"

Although mom has let my friends inside the house, she doesn't join in the celebration. Neither does dad. I guess they want to give me and my friends some privacy.

I can see that Elsa and Sid have instantly become friends. She is already following him around, and to my utter disbelief, I find that I'm a little jealous. Well she's supposed to be my dog, for crying out loud!

"So Alia, I didn't know you have a dog", says Mayank, conversationally.

"Don't worry Mayank, I didn't know either until yesterday", I reply.

I walk towards Tanvi and hiss in her ear, "I can't believe you invited Ayush and Sid."
"Well they wanted to come", says Tanvi, innocently.
I glare at her, but I am secretly glad that Ayush came. I find myself blushing a little and playing around with my hair everytime I catch his eye.

"You could spend time with us too Alia, you know", say Sayali and Shruti, feigning hurt. "We know you have a new pet now and you are it's new mommy and everything.."

"I am not a mommy", I say, gritting my teeth.

"Well I can tell you one thing, sis", says Saurav, smirking. "Your hair is shaggier that Elsa's. Which doggie shampoo do you use, again?"
Everybody laughs loudly, and I throw a pillow at him. "Jerk", I say. He seriously cannot crack such jokes in front of Ayush. It's so embarrassing!

"Hey, Alia..." says a soft voice behind me. I turn around to face Ayush, stumbling a little. I blush. "Can I talk to you in private?"

"Sure." Through my peripheral vision, I can see Saurav narrow his eyes. He is an overprotective brother. But I wouldn't want anybody to mess with him. He is huge.

I lead the way into my balcony.
Once we stand near the railing, Ayush speaks again. "You look beautiful."

"I'm in my pajamas, Ayush", a thrill goes through my heart as I say his name. "But thanks anyway." I smile at him.