Twists Twirls Perils & Pearls

34. Gift- unconditional and eternal love

Swarnima's offer was very tempting. Abhedya was thinking to keep his ego or let it go and see what was there in the cupboard.
Swarnima was smiling from within. The dilemma Abhedya was going through could be easily seen in the lines on his forehead.

"Fine!! Since you are dying to tell me what's in there, I will see it, else I have no interest." Abhedya looked everywhere but at Swarnima.

Swarnima very dramatically confessed, "I am so thankful. I will be indeed honoured if you would accept the things inside it."

Abhedya ignored her sarcasm and went inside the room. Swarnima also came inside and said to herself 'it's tougher than any exam. I feel so nervous.'

Abhedya sat on the bed surfing his phone. "Umm, please leave your phone for some time. It's something really important for me."
Abhedya kept his phone aside and got all attentive.

Taking a deep breath Swarnima started, "so when I was fourteen it was the first time I got fifty dollars and permission to go out from granny. It was also the first time I asked her something. She didn't deny. It was a happy day. It was your birthday. I went out with, security of course and got this as a gift for you."

Swarnima gave a box to him. It had a Rainbow coloured wrapper which faded though and a name tag 'happy 15th Aby!! May your life be more colourful than the colours of the rainbow.'
A small red rose was stuck with the tag. The flower wilted but was still there.
Abhedya smiled reading the message and kept the rose carefully in a plastic cover. It was childish but they were kids then. He unwrapped and found a wristwatch. He opened the case and found a cute red coloured dial, digital watch. He took off the one he was wearing and wore it. It barely fit him in the first hole. But he liked it on his hand and set the time.
"Press the button on the right," Swarnima instructed him and he did. A birthday instrumental played and a smile graced Abhedya's face.
It was unique. Swarnima herself was unique and it reflected in the choice of her gift.

"How come the battery is not dead? I mean it's almost six years now." Abhedya questioned.

"I knew I will not meet you anytime soon. So, it was not on and the battery got saved. Thankfully, it didn't ditch me." Swarnima answered with a content smile.

"Is there anyone who can ditch you?" Abhedya said casually glancing at his new watch.

Swarnima turned around and searched for the next gift. She could not answer Abhedya's question.

"It became a ritual for me since then to go out on the day it was your birthday and buy a gift. My allowance was increased too. This one was for your sixteenth." Swarnima gave him a box.

This gift was wrapped in a red wrapper with hearts and a name tag that read 'happy 16th Aby!! You are now not too small and not too big. Make the most of this time.'

Abhedya loved her quotes. He quickly unwrapped the box to find a black leather jacket, headphones and a small key chain with a heart. Just what a 16year old would like. He tried wearing the jacket but it didn't fit him.

"Seems like I will have to give up on my biceps and triceps to fit in this one," Abhedya said trying to fit in it.

"It's okay not everything from the past fits in the present." Abhedya didn't quite understand her statement.

"Now for your 17th birthday, I got something from the money I earned. Yes, I did review a few programmes and got money for it." Wrapped in a black wrapper with golden dots was a big box which got Abhedya curious coz this was not just a gift for his birthday but was a gift from Swarnima's earnings.
'Be careful! You are entering the adventurous and sparkling seventeenth!'