A Tale Of A Few Friends

Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

Friday, at exactly midnight:

“I wanna stand with you on the mountain…”

“Happy birthday doll. See you tomorrow!”

“I wanna stand with you on the mountain…”

“Hey Rhea, happy birthday!!”

“I wanna stand with you on the mountain…”

“Happy birthday Rhea, enjoy your day”

“I wanna stand with you on the mountain…”

“Rhea, 18 finally!”

“I wanna stand with you on the mountain…”

“Happy happy birthday! Lots of love to you”

“I wanna stand with you on the mountain…”

“Happy birthday babe!”

“I wanna stand with you on the mountain…”

“Happy birthday Rhee, see you on campus in the morning.”

“I wanna stand with you on the mountain…”

“Many many happy returns of the day, Rhea, God bless you.”

“I wanna stand with you on the mountain…”

“Happy birthday beautiful,” Rakshay’s deep voice said through the phone. “I gave the others exactly eight minutes to wish you so now I can have you all to my own and bug you the whole night,” he chuckled, “Just kidding. You should get some sleep; you have to look gorgeous tomorrow. Good night.”

Rhea grinned her way through all the phone calls. She wished herself happy birthday and fell asleep with a smile on her face. Morning came quickly and she woke up. She opened the door and collected the newspaper. Still in her sleep shirt and messy hair, Rhea walked into the kitchen and started to make a cup of coffee for herself. Humming a song she started day dreaming.

Suddenly she felt arms around her waist. She screamed in fright and turned around. There was Rakshay, standing there with the biggest bouquet of flowers she had ever seen.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY,” Rakshay wished her while giving her a big hug and a kiss on her cheek. Her stomach fluttered but she decided to ignore it.

“Thank you Rakshu,” Rhea grinned back at him. Rhea’s phone started ringing; she looked at it and explained, “It’s my parents!”

“Go on speak to them, I’ll see you in the living room in a few minutes,” Rakshay said.

Rakshay looked around the kitchen and found what he was looking for. He wanted to make Rhea’s favourite breakfast – waffles with maple syrup. Using a pre-mix, he quickly made the meal and took it out on a tray with a glass of orange juice and some flowers from his bouquet.

Rhea was sitting on the sofa smiling at her phone, reading and replying to text messages. Rakshay just stared at her for a few minutes, really enjoying seeing her so happy. He quickly composed himself and went over to her with the tray. They ate together while watching TV. Later they ordered some lunch and finally Rakshay left so that she could get ready for her birthday dinner.

****

Rhea had a relaxing bubble bath. She was enjoying her day so far, just chilling out at home. She took a shower and got ready for the night. She sprayed her body with her favourite perfume and put on her gorgeous dress and shoes. She dried her hair and pinned it into a perfect twist, letting a few ringlets frame her face. She looked at herself once in the mirror, put on a touch of gloss, a single swipe of eyeliner, and was satisfied. Her face glowed with happiness. Rakshay had offered to pick her up to drive down to the restaurant.