The Enchanted Christmas Skit...

Chapter 17

The sun had just begun to rise as the group gathered at the spot early to set up for Jiya's birthday surprise. The air buzzed with excitement as everyone hurried about, decorating the area in a dazzling Bollywood theme. Glittering streamers, vibrant posters of classic movies, and fairy lights adorned the space, creating a magical atmosphere. Everyone had an assigned task, and they completed them with perfect timing.

Hafza and Avani were in charge of the decorations. They hung posters of famous Bollywood stars and iconic movie scenes, while Sharith set up the music system to play Jiya's favorite Bollywood tracks. Safreen, known for her culinary skills, prepared Jiya's favorite golgappas and cinnamon roles, including her famous samosas and sweet gulab jamuns. I took on the task of setting up the cake table, ensuring everything was in place for the grand reveal.

Once everything was ready, I pulled out my phone and called Jiya. "Hey Jiya, we need you at the spot immediately. It's an emergency."

"An emergency? What happened?" Jiya sounded worried.

"Just come quickly. You'll see," I replied, trying to keep my excitement in check.

Jiya arrived at the spot a few minutes later, looking around frantically. As soon as she stepped into the decorated area, we all jumped out from our hiding spots and shouted, "Surprise!"

Jiya's eyes widened in shock, then filled with joy as she took in the decorations. "Oh my God! This is amazing! I can't believe you guys did this for me!" She went around, hugging each of us and thanking us profusely. "Bollywood theme? You guys know me so well!"

As she continued to look around, her face fell slightly. "Where's Aryan? Is he hiding somewhere, planning to jump out and scare me?"

We all exchanged nervous glances. Then Sharith finally spoke up, "Jiya, Aryan isn't coming today. He said he had something important to take care of."

Jiya's expression shifted from disappointment to anger. "He's not coming? On my birthday? Seriously?" She pulled out her phone and tried calling Aryan, but there was no answer. "Why isn't he picking up?"

We tried to lift her spirits. "Come on, Jiya," Avani said, putting an arm around her shoulder. "Let's cut the cake and enjoy the party."

With a sigh, Jiya nodded and approached the cake. We all sang "Happy Birthday" as she cut the cake, her smile returning bit by bit. The delicious aroma of Safreen's snacks filled the air, and we all indulged in the tasty treats.

The music started playing, and soon we were dancing to energetic Bollywood numbers. We even started a game of truth or dare, the bottle spinning and landing on different people, leading to hilarious dares and revealing truths.

"Truth or dare, Jiya?" Avani asked, grinning mischievously.

"Truth," Jiya replied, feeling playful.

"Who was your first crush?" Hafza asked.

Jiya blushed, thinking back to her school days. "Okay, it was Hrithik Roshan after watching 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai'. Happy?"

Everyone laughed, and the game continued until the sun began to set. We hugged Jiya once more, wishing her a happy birthday, and began to part ways.

As Jiya walked home, still thinking about the day's events, a hand suddenly covered her mouth from behind. She tried to scream, but the grip was too tight. Panic set in as a black cloth was wrapped around her head, obscuring her vision. She was pushed into a car, her heart pounding with fear as it sped away to an unknown destination.

The drive seemed endless. Jiya's thoughts raced: "Who could this be? Why would someone do this? Is it a prank gone wrong?" She tried to remember the route, counting turns and bumps, but her anxiety made it difficult to focus. She heard muffled voices but couldn't make out any words.

After what felt like hours, the car finally stopped. Jiya was roughly pulled out and guided somewhere. She heard a door creak open and felt herself being led inside. Her heart was pounding in her chest, fear and confusion mingling together.

Then, as suddenly as it began, the cloth was removed from her face. Jiya blinked against the sudden brightness, trying to adjust her eyes...