Paayal - His Scarred Butterfly ✅

27 - HER BIRTHDAY

ஏன் என்றால், உன் பிறந்தநாள்!
(If you ask me why, it's your birthday!)

Days slipped by.

The warm evening sun casted its glow on the quiet corridors of the school. As the first mid-term was approaching, the students immersed themselves in the text books with pen and pencil in their hands, furrowing their eyebrows at the books as if they were fighting with the books. The teachers were just invigilating their preparations.

Amidst the rhythmic sound of flipping pages and murmurs of academic discussions, Krishna was in a completely different land, his mind preparing for a special occasion. He leaned close to Ajay and whispered, "Ajay, Tomorrow is Paayal's birthday. We have to do something special for her."

"Oh, is it?! Then do something special and impress her," Ajay suggested in a hushed tone.

Krishna pouted, "I just want to celebrate the day on which my angel came to this earth. I am not celebrating to impress her."

"Oh God!! He has gone mad," Ajay thought in his mind, rolling his eyes playfully.

Ignoring his playful remarks, Krishna whispered, "I need your help. I need you all to come to the school earlier tomorrow. Let's celebrate her birthday surprisingly here tomorrow."

"Earlier means?! At what time??"

"Maybe around 7.30,"

"Okay, done."

Krishna nodded and outlined his plan, "As soon as the bell rings, I will escort Paayal out of the classroom. You inform our classmates to arrive at 7.30 to celebrate her birthday if possible."

Before Ajay could respond, the bell rang, signalling the end of the school hours. As soon as the teacher left the classroom, Krishna whispered in a hurry, "I am escorting her out. You inform our classmates." He rushed to Paayal, gripping her hand and dragged her out of the classroom.

Paayal gasped, "Krishna, Why are you dragging me like this?"

"Just come," He insisted flatly, and left her hand when they came a certain distance away from their classroom.

"Now tell me. Why did you drag me out?" She asked with a mix of curiosity and confusion.

Krishna who didn't have anything to say stammered, "That.. That.. Have you studied well for the mid term test?"

Paayal looked at him, furrowing her eyebrows and asked with a glare, "Did you drag me out to ask this?"

Krishna grinned mischievously, admitting, "No. Will you come to school tomorrow by 8 o'clock? I want to talk with you alone. I dragged you out to tell you this."

"You could have told this inside the classroom itself." Paayal flared her nose.

"Hmm, But Ajay and San will be there. I didn't want them to know about this," He said.

Paayal's face immediately etched with concern and worry. "Why Krishna? Is there any problem?"

"No No. Don't worry. It's about our studies only. But I will tell you tomorrow," He assured and added on, "Now, I have to go to the coaching class. Shall we go?"

Paayal nodded, looking at him puzzled. They came back to the classroom. By this time Ajay informed about the celebration to their classmates and their classmates were moving out, passing a teasing smile at Krishna.

Krishna, sensing their own calculations about his and Paayal's relationship, grinned at them with a bit of embarrassment. Paayal, unaware of anything, headed to her place. Krishna reached his place, grabbed his bag, and asked Ajay, "You informed, right?"