Enigma

Chapter 1

Trrring trrring trrring..my alarm couldn't stop beeping and I was annoyed enough to throw my phone across the bed, but it was my prized possession considering the fact that I wouldn't get a new one if I broke this iPhone. Trying to switch it off, I realised it was still 12:00 am.

Who in this living hell would keep an alarm at twelve in my phone? As this little debate continued to proceed in my head, there was a boom on my door and it opened instantaneously. My father, Jake and Jason entered the room with a cake! What a deadly surprise indeed. "Happy birthday to you..happy birthday dear Ashley..happy birthday to you!"

I was overwhelmed with joy. They do this for me ever year and every year I feel so elated and gleeful. Finally blowing the candles which read seventeen on my cake, I cut the cake giving my dad the first bite. Hugging him, I mumbled, "I love you dad..thank you so much." He hugged me back and gave me my gift.

Unlike every year, my father handed me an envelope which read "To my most beautiful daughter Ashley.." I was confused and addled. Reading my expressions carefully, my father finally said, "Read it after we're gone."
Nodding my head I gave a mouthful of cake to my brother and my best friend.
"Where is my gift, boys?"
"Ummm..you'll get it soon", they said sheepishly. I hugged and shoved them out of my room.

As I was about to open the envelope, there was a knock on my door. I kept the letter away instantly and opened the door. "Oh Jason. It's you!" He was nervous and rubbing his hands on his joggers. "Mind if I come in?"
"Didn't you already barge a few minutes ago?"
"Ummm yeah.. listen I got something for you!"
Jason was the silent and shy kinda guy. He never really cared about others. I don't know how we became best friends but there is a famous saying 'opposites attract'. Well, not really attract in our case, but we were surely a mixture of a bubbly extrovert and a shy introvert. He slid his hands inside his pockets and removed a paper. I was befuddled. "Why in the hell would you gift me a paper Jason?"
"Look at it clearly"
OH MY GOD I WAS FREAKING OUT. HE GOT ME AN AUTOGRAPH OF MY MOST FAVOURITE AUTHOR, J.K ROWLING. I was surely baffled. I couldn't control my excitement and started jumping everywhere. He waited for me until I came back to my senses. "Did you like it?"
"No duh... I love it." I saw a huge smile on his face and then I hugged him swiftly. I've got the best best friend in the entire world! "Thank you so much J. I love it."
With that he said, "okay I'm gonna get strangled at home if I don't leave right  over. Bye, see you tomorrow." Bidding him a goodbye I touched the paper and felt the amazing autograph. Never in a million years could I believe it. My birthday was so far going really well. Suddenly I realised the letter my dad gave me. It didn't seem like his handwriting, but it was a handwriting I knew. It was a familiar handwriting..I have seen it somewhere. It hit me after a while. It was hers. I opened the letter..

Dear Ashley,
                      Happy birthday my beautiful daughter. Seventeen is a good and a big number, young lady. Life is full of enjoyment and thrill. It has its own way thrilling us. Life will throw many obstacles at you but you have to face them bravely, my child. If you ever feel low and downhearted talk to your friends and most importantly your father. He will always be there for you. He will never leave you. I was seventeen when I fell in love with your father. There came many hurdles in our way but we faced them. If you ever fall in love with someone, let it be genuine. Give him your heart and soul. After your father and I got married, our parents abandoned us for a while. Sooner or later they gave up on us and were forced to accept us. Now that you're big enough, I'm sure you will make the right decisions. I will always be proud of you my little girl. Have a good and a great life. Enjoy your birthday, sweetheart.
                                          With love,
                                           Mumma
There were tears welling up in my eyes. I missed her so much. I wanted to hug her right away. Call her. Scream at her. But it was useless. She was gone. She would never come back. I remember how I always started crying while playing hide and seek when I was unable to find her. Well, I couldn't find her forever now. She was lost in a different world. A world only she was allowed to enter. I wanted to cry and tell her to come back. But as she said, I had to be brave. If not for myself at least for her. I wanna make my mum proud of me. I will do anything to make her happy. "I love you Mumma and will never let you down." I whispered those words. Hugging the letter, I slowly started drifting in my dreamland.