The Partham Chronicles

Part 23 - Doesn't kill you

The day had begun like any other day, nothing was unusual about it. Everyone woke up on time. Got ready and went to their respective daily activities.

But Vysna's mood was sour that day. She had got ready for school half-heartedly and was in no mood for the classes as well.

Till lunch break, she had reluctantly sat through the lessons and not paid any attention.

But at lunch, Vysna noticed Meghana sitting beside her and remembered that it was her birthday. Meghana had been yapping about her upcoming birthday for almost a month now, but today, she was awfully quiet. She had not even asked what she had brought for lunch. She had quietly got the tray of food from the canteen counter and sat staring at it. After a while, Vysna noticed that she had not touched her food and was pushing it around on her plate.

" Hey," Vysna said, snapping Meghana out of her silence. " Are you unwell?" She asked.

" No, I am fine," she replied, as she stuffed her face with fried rice.

" You don't look fine," she said, smiling faintly. Each day Meghana talked about any and everything and had also finished most of the contents of Vysna's tiffin. But today she had not asked what she had brought for lunch. And that was bothering Vysna.

" Meg," Vysna called out. It was the nickname she had given her.

" It's nothing, really..." She replied.

Then Vysna took out a separate box from her bag and opened it in front of Meghana. Meghana's eyes widened when she noticed the contents of the box. There were mini cupcakes, each with different types of icing on them. Some had fondant, some had buttercream, a few had cream cheese, and a few had ganache.

Meghana's smile widened and she looked a bit cheered up.

" You remembered?" She said.

" How can I not? You wouldn't let me forget. You have been reminding me for the past month." Vysna jested.

" Ha...ha ...ha... very funny." Meghana scrunched her nose.

Vysna laughed. " Okay, now pick whichever you like," she said and peeped in the box.

Meghana picked a strawberry cupcake with strawberry compote and whipped cream topping. She held it to Vysna's mouth. She noticed that she had a tear glistening in her eye.

Vysna opened her mouth and closed it again. " What's wrong?" she asked.

Tears started rolling from her eyes." I miss my home," she said.

This was her first birthday away from home. That's why she had been reminding Vysna about it for a month. Because she had nobody to celebrate it with.

"Every year my Papa baked a special cake for me. And my Mummy, my sis and my brother arranged a surprise party for me." She said, sulking in her chair.

" Oh, come here," Vysna spread her hands for a hug. She immediately hugs her. She could feel the pain of missing her family. If you don't have the ones you love around you on your special day, the day itself becomes cumbersome and painful.

" Thanks," Meghana said, in a low voice.

Her father owned a bakery in the old part of the city. The bakery itself was very old, handed down from generation to generation. Meghana's mother was a Partham and that's why Meghana and her two siblings had to give the Legacy tests. Meghana was selected and separated from her family and now she was not allowed to meet them even if it was her birthday.

" Don't mention it, what are friends for," Vysna smiled.

Meg looked much more at ease after the hug. Together they finished most of the cupcakes.