A reason to live.

Chapter 5

The sun was bright, early in the morning and it reached my eyes not allowing me to sleep further.

I rubbed my eyes and felt the watch, took it in my hands and saw that it was 7:30. I didn't have to go to work today, it was my day off, so yaaaay!! just then ma came in and was quite pleased that I had woken up “ go get ready, go to church and go to your dad's office, our relatives are coming and dad wants you to be there" Ma said as she sat on the bed.

“okay wake up all of them, Ria had called she'll be here by 9:00, okayy, I'm going, I'm preparing pasta for breakfast, fine right? ok" ma said as she closed the door and I nodded.

I looked around the room to see my besties all beside me, sure Ria is on her way. Ria and I were friends from college, from the beginning we started talking to each other like we had known each other for ages.

I snapped out of my thoughts when my phone beeped. When I took it that's when I realized I had received numerous wishes since morning. I went over to Krys she was right near me, I pulled her blanket off and tapped her and screamed so that everyone could wake up. I got up and pulled their blankets one by one, after moans and groans they all got up and we started to get ready.

It was perfect - our timing, just as all had got ready and were getting out of my room we all heard the door bell ring. I opened the door and “happy birthday Saraaaa." Ria gave me a bear hug, we all went and had pasta, I love pasta, the flavors which ma puts in it is just mouth watering. By the time we finished, it was around 10. Akila and Payal had to leave. Krys, Ria and I told them bye and left home, we went to church and were there for about half an hour.

I love going to the church. It gives me such a peace of mind which no other place does. Then we went to a mall and as always we clicked pictures. Everyone in the mall stared at us like we had gone crazy. At around 12:45 pa called and told me to come soon.

“oh yea!! Krys, Ria got to go dad's calling,so bye, see you two in the evening" I said as I hugged them and went off.

In dad’s office...

I reached dad's office and I see an auntie and an uncle. I don't remember ever meeting them “hello uncle, hello auntie" I say smiling as much as I can

“Oh my! what a long time it has been and you look so pretty dear" auntie said as she pinched my cheek and kissed her fingers “how is work going??" uncle asked  “uncle, work is great, I have a day off as today is my birthday" I said smiling. I kept on smiling as I didn't want to be rude to them. “happy birthday dear,may God bless you" uncle and Auntie said as they placed their palm on my head as a blessing. They were really sweet people and were behaving like I was their own, then we all decided to go for lunch to a biriyani restaurant. We are south Indians and any occasion called for biriyani. I was told by pa that uncle's son would also be joining us. “call ma and tell her to be ready, please" pa said as we went to the car.

In the restaurant

As I was going through the menu, I just looked around. Pa, ma, uncle and auntie were chatting like they knew each other for years and like they were more than just relatives. I was scanning around the restaurant “who is that? I know him, he's very familiar, where have I seen him?"I think when it strikes me - the New Year guy Rohan.

“Ma one minute I'll be right back" I say as I leave. Rohan is looking around and I'm guessing, searching for someone, I go behind him and tap him on his shoulder, he turns around and tries to recognize me “Rohan, right? “I ask and he nods “I'm Sara, the New Year party remember?”

“oh yeah. hi, how are you? thank you so much for that day" he says with a smile on his face “by the way how are you here?" he asks me.“uh....mm....I'm with my family, mmm...today is my birthday,so"

“Oh wow!! great happy birthday, I'm looking for my parents, they've come here with a few relatives." he said looking around. His phone beeped and “ma I'm here but cannot spot you guys, please come to the reception" he told as he disconnected the call. “OK bye got to go, bon appetite."I say as I walk off.

I come and sit at my table and in a few minutes I see Auntie coming with Rohan. “hi this is my son Rohan" Auntie says and ma and pa start talking to him, I don't know what they are talking about, but seems that they are having a happy conversation. Just when I look up I see Rohan smiling and listening, but is looking at me. I look at him and smile, after a while pa moves and asks me to sit near Rohan cause they wanted to talk other things. “do your parents know that we know each other?" I ask “ uh, no, It’s OK let it be, doesn't matter now" he said taking his glass and sipping some water. “I thought that you came to meet your girlfriend, when I saw you coming" I said and as I said  I realized I was judging and  bit my tongue and screwed my eyes....“no, no I don't have a girlfriend, I mean I never had" he said half laughing and smiling.