Love Returned

Chapter - 3

3 years ago : 

21 wasn't that big of a number for your age. I turned 21 today. But unlike other people, I wasn't allowed to celebrate. Who would I celebrate with anyway? I didn't have any friends. The one girl who came as close to being a friend in college, I had told her that I don't celebrate birthdays. 

Late in the night, when the clock had struck 12, Vedika had baked muffins, and she lit a candle as she asked me to make a wish. 

As my only wish has always been, I closed my eyes and blew the candle. 

Freedom. 

And at the same time, I thanked the universe for blessing me with a sister like Vedika. She was my best friend after all. 

The whole day had passed. It was uneventful. I went to college, came back home, and since then I was in my room, catching up on the assignments, and then starting a new book which Vedika had gifted me today, with other presents. 

Now, it was 12 am, again. The whole house was asleep. I finally had the night to myself. And it was time for my birthday ritual. 

I tiptoed out of my bedroom, and went to the makeshift bar in the house. There were two bars, in the house, with fine collection of liquor. One on the first floor, where mine and Vedika's bedrooms are. And one on the ground floor, situated in a corner of our living room. 

This one was rarely used, whenever my father threw a party. Right besides this one, was a common balcony for the first floor. 

I took a bottle of red wine out of the shelf. 

Walking out the balcony I stretched myself out on the sofa here, and then took a sip staring up at the stars. 

This was a ritual I started since the day I turned 18. A little part of my freedom that I stole from my father's control. 

I kept drinking, until I felt my head spinning a bit, and a light buzz going through my whole body. I felt lighter. 

I stared at the stars, and the full moon that had come out today. Maybe it was another gift from the universe for me. 

Just when I was about to take another sip, I heard the door to the other side of the balcony rustling. My heart dropped to my feet for a second, thinking I was finally about to be caught, but then walked through the door-

A man. 

Oh, he was a man for sure. 

He was wearing white shirt, and black suit pants, the jacket of his suit slung over one arm, the sleeves of his white shirt folded to his elbows, and a watch glistening on his wrist. 

He was talking on the phone, I realized as he walked further onto the balcony. His voice a deep murmur, I couldn't really hear, but can only feel washing over my skin, turning it into the deep shade of red, just like the wine I was drinking. 

He must be the guest that Vedika was talking about. 

Turn around, I wanted to say. 

I wanted to see how he looked like. 

He turned around a bit, after that, and I almost saw him, but then he turned his head to the opposite direction, staring away. The only light on the balcony was because of the moon. And the moonlight was highlighting his other features. Like his sharp jaw, which somehow became even more sharp, when he clenched it. 

He hasn't seen me yet. 

Oh, he hasn't seen me. He doesn't know I'm here. 

I couldn't figure out if I wanted his attention on me, or if I wanted to disappear, or if I wanted to become invisible so that I could keep admiring him from here, without him knowing.