KMKV One Shots

Rani Mangamma's (Priya's) Birthday

"Is everything ready Appa?" Pooja asks, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Arjun puts a finger on his lips and nods. Quietly, they both make their way to the kitchen where everyone except Priya were up and busy. It was 11:50pm and everything was ready for 12am. "Sukanya Atha cake ready ya?" Pooja whispers. Sukanya nods and shows Pooja. "Wow! Priyama is going to love this!!" Pooja whispers excitedly. The clock ticks as they are joined by Manju, Unnikrishnan, Vaishu, Biju, Shruti, Jai, Kavitha, Bala, and Shravan. "Pooja, late night-a yean koopathinga?" Shravan asks. Pooja shushes him and whispers, "12 o'clock iku Priyama odu birthday, adhaan surprise kudakalam indhu invite pannean." "Apa neengal ennodu Amma voda birthday ku varanum, deal?" Shravan asks. Pooja agrees and then checks the time. "11:57 aachu kediya!" She rushed everyone. Arjun lights the candle, picks up the cake, with Pooja right beside him with her gift, and everyone around and behind them with their gifts. At 11:59:59 they open the door slowly, and at exactly 12 they start singing happy birthday and enter.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Priya (Chitti, Amma, Chechi, Anni) happy birthday to you!" I wake up to see my family singing happy birthday with a large Black Forest cake and balloons and gifts. As soon as I sit up Pooja comes and hugs me. "Happy birthday Priyama!!!!!" She says and kisses my cheek. "Thank youuu!!" I say kissing her back. "Candle a oodungo!" She tells me. I smile and close my eyes, making a wish, before blowing out the candle. A little while later we were all in the living room with slices of cake while I opened my presents. Pooja was seated in my lap, with Arjun right beside me, and everyone else surrounding me. "Priyama ennada gift than first a open pannonum." Pooja says, handing me a bag. "Of course, Pooja kutty thandha gift than naan mudhala open pannavan." I tell her reaching inside the bag. Inside was a bracelet made by Pooja, a drawing of us, and a mom locket, with a picture of Pooja and me inside. "Idhu Pooja avoda piggy bank vachu vendunva." Arjun tells me. I squish Pooja into a hug. "Really? You bought this with your own money Pooja?" She nods "Thank you so much Pooja kutty!!!!! This is one of the best gifts I got!" I tell her. "Hmm it's not the best!? What's better than this?!" Pooja pouts. I laugh and tell her, "that worlds best mother trophy you bought for me is number one." She smiles and hugs me. One by one I open all the other gifts from everyone. All of them were so thoughtful and meaningful, I was on cloud 9. Arjun had gotten me a gold necklace set, atha, mama and amma, Appa, had gotten me sarees, Sukanya, a makeup set ("Arjun a correct pannarukhu" Sukanya whispered in my ear), Shruti and Jai, a jewellery box and a pack of earrings, Vaishu two tickets for a resort, Kavitha, Bala mama and Shravan, a saree and Kavitha found my old favourite stuffed animal, and Biju a couple of novels. We all talked and laughed until 2am when both Pooja and Shravan were deep asleep. That's when everyone started leaving, yawning and half asleep. After everyone left, I pick up Pooja (who had fallen asleep on my lap) and go into my room to tuck her in. As I turn to go to the kitchen and help clean up Arjun appears. "Enga poringal?" Arjun asks stopping me. "Clean panda help panaruku." I say. "Adellam venam, Amma thaan solli vitta ungala thoonga solli." He says, blocking my way. Knowing there's no point to even try to argue with him at this moment I surrender and sit down beside Pooja. Arjun sits down on the sofa and waits for me to come over. "Yenna? Sofa la padakaporinga?" I ask sitting down beside him. "Illa ungalodo than padakavin." He says wrapping his arm around me. I lay my head on his shoulder. "Thank you Arjun, truly this is the best birthday ever." I tell him. "It's not over yet. It's barely even started." Arjun whispers, kissing my head. "Theriyuma idhu ellam Pooja kutty oda plan." He says. I smile, and look over to sleeping Pooja. "Of course, ava vittu verai yaar idhellam seivangal ennaku. Yen ponnu ennaku thaan idhellam seivangal." I say. "Adenamo unmai thaan." Arjun mumbles. "Arjun." I say, looking into his eyes. He looks back raising his eyebrows to ask what. "I love you." I tell him. He smiles and grasps my chin, leaning in. "I love you too." He says before closing the gap between our lips.