Sidharth slowly caressed Manvi's head as she slept on him.

Her memories are so sweet. I wonder if I will be ever able to give her better memories. My bitter memories began from where I had lost it few days back. I wish I had actually forgotten them all and was never ever reminded of it.

Flashback

Sidharth stood up and the invigilator ran to him with a supplement paper.

Sidharth: No sir, I am done.

Invigilator: (surprised) So soon? You still have 20 minutes gentleman. Why don't you recheck your work once?

Sidharth: I am already done, sir.

He submits his answer sheet to the invigilator well before the bell rung and goes out while his other classmates looked at each other in surprise.

He goes near the window of another classroom and glances inside hiding himself from the eyes of an invigilator of that class. He sighed having seen Gunjan still scribbling her answer sheet. He glances yet again to see her biting the back of the pen trying to remember an answer and smiles to himself.

He kept looking at the watch counting every single second which looked not less than a decade to him. Finally the bell rung and the invigilator starts collecting the papers. He ran to the entrance of the classroom and waited for her arrival.

Sidharth: Hey Gunjan! How was the paper?

Gunjan: It was okay, not so great. I couldn't complete my final answer though. (sad pout)

Sidharth: Oh! Nevermind! I know you will excel it.

Gunjan: Hmmm.. hopefully!! How was your paper?

Sidharth: It was fantastic!!

Gunjan: Undoubtedly! Else you wouldn't have been a topper in the class every single semester.

Sidharth: (laughs) Gunjan, I wanted to tell you something.

Gunjan: Yes Sidharth, tell me.

Sidharth: Come here!

He took her into an empty class room and they both occupied a seat.

Sidharth: Gunjan.. (very nervously he bit his lips) aaa.. aaa..

Gunjan looked at him bemused.

Gunjan: Hmmm.. You are fumbling so much.. Let me guess.. since you are going to join your new job, new place, you need some money, right?

Sidharth: Huh? (Confused) No..

Gunjan: Hey don't hesitate, I know you are an orphan and that you can't afford lot of things. You will need lot of money to settle in new place as well. I am your friend, you can ask me for help anytime. You know my father gives money on interest. You can take some loan from him. I will ask him to not charge exorbitant interest from you.

These words were enough for him to realise that she wouldn't accept his proposal as she feels he is an orphan and can't afford things. He decides to not confess his feelings to her yet as he wanted to become capable of taking responsibility of her by earning enough first.

Sidharth: Not at all Gunjan, I can manage my expenses. I just wanted to ask you whether you will keep in touch with me since I am going to another city now.

Gunjan: Ofcourse Sidharth. We are friends you see. Call me whenever you possible.

Sidharth's thoughts - She is talking as if we are strangers. She doesn't look so much affected by me going away from her. Hmmm.. some people don't know realise the love they have for other until they experience the pain of seperation. Let me give her sometime to realise.

Sidharth smiles and gets up. They bid adieu to each other. He starts the journey next day to a new city. Settling into the hostel and a new job, he calls her after 3 days. She speaks to him for sometime and disconnects citing some reason.

This happened quite a few times in next 4 months where he longed to speak to her but she never reciprocated it.

It had been 2 months since he hadn't spoken to her. All he did was stalk her on the social media. He calls her up to wish her on her birthday at 12 a.m.

Gunjan: Hey Sidharth! How are you doing?

Sidharth: I am doing good. How are you Gunjan?

Gunjan: I am doing great.

Sidharth: Many happy returns of the day Gunjan.

Gunjan: Thank you. Hey Sidharth, I am actually expecting another call. I'll talk to you later.

She disconnects the call abruptly and he becomes disheartened. The next day afternoon he gets a call from her.

Sidharth: Hey Gunjan.

Gunjan: What's wrong with you Sidharth? Why the hell did you send those flowers, cake and card? My boyfriend thinks I am having an affair with you now.

Sidharth: Boyfriend?

Gunjan: Yes, boyfriend! Please don't ever send such gifts to me in future. And please don't ever call me again. Bye.

His heart was broken beyond repair. He had forgotten to smile. He stopped socialising with anyone and spent his time either working out in gym or working in office to keep himself occupied.

Flashback ends

Sana came down after few hours and went into his room. She saw Sidharth sleeping and so was Manvi on his chest. She went and slowly picked up the baby but Sidharth immediately held the baby along with her hand.

They both looked at each other.

"Sorry, I.. I thought Manvi was about to slip of my chest.", he said leaving her hand.

"No, I thought, I would take her slowly so that you can sleep well.", She said.

"Hmmm.. What's the time?", He asked.

"11:58pm.", she said.

"Hmm.. I thought you came down to wish me.", He said.

"Huh?", She looked at him perplexed.

"In 2 minutes, it's going to be my birthday. 12th December. You forgot?", He said.

"Aaa... Aaa... I've forgotten to keep track of the dates after the accident.", She said nervously.

"I can understand.", He said with a smile.

She looked at the time again.

"Happiest Birthday Sidharth. Wish you all the happiness in the world.", She said with a little smile.

He sat up straight and looked at her.

"Is this how you wish me every year Sana?", He asked.

"Huh?", She looked at him in shock.

Flashback:

"Agastya.. Agastya.. wake up!! It's your birthday.", She shook Agastya who was cozily sleeping.

"Hmmm..", he looked up at her by opening one of his sleepy eye.. "What's special in that darling? It comes every year. Let me sleep please." He said in a sleepy voice.

"What? It's very special for me. I want to celebrate it. Wake up!", She said shaking him again.

"Please baby, you can celebrate in the morning as well. What's the hurry? Please.", He said with his eyes closed.

"Huh!!", She frowned and sat with her arms crossed like a little kid.

Zzzzz..... Zzzzzz.... He snored unaware that she was still mad at him. She stared at him for sometime.

"Agastyaaa.. Oouuchhh!!!", She shrieked.

He got up and sat at once. She was holding her stomach.

"Sana.. Sana.. What happened Sana?", He asked in a panicked tone. She was sitting on the floor.

"Ahhhh.. my stomach!! It hurts.", She complained.

"Oh God! Let me call the doctor.", He grabbed the phone on the table.

"No!! No need to call the doctor. I have the medicine, can you get the water jug quickly which I forgot on the dinning table itself?", She said awfully.

"Yeah, hold on!! I'll get it.", He said as he jumped out of the bed and ran to the dinning hall. He looked at the cake kept on the table with lit candles.

"Happy birthday to you.. happy birthday to you.. happy birthday dear hubby.. happy birthday to you.", Sana sang from behind.

"Is this the way you celebrate birthday? You scared a shit out of me.", He said looking at her.

Sana giggled while forwarding him the knife. He shook his head in disbelief and then cut the cake and fed her. She fed the cake to him and nuzzled her nose with his while snaking her arms around his neck.

"How could I let you sleep without cutting the cake I baked for you? How is it?", She asked.

"It's awesome", he said eating another piece. He popped the remaining cake inside the fridge.

"Where is my gift?", He asked.

"What do you want?", She asked raising her eyebrows.

"You! I want you! You spoilt my sleep now I am not going to let you sleep!", He said picking her up in his arms while Sana laughed uncontrollably.

Flashback ends..

"Happy birthday to you.. happy birthday to you.. happy birthday dear Sidharth.. happy birthday day to you.", She forwarded her hand and shook his hand. She bent down and side hugged him.

He chuckled as he knew it was missing the feeling yet.

"I will bake a cake for you tomorrow, Sidharth. Now what do you want as a gift?", She asked with a smile.

"You!", He said.

"Huh?", She was taken aback.

"Can you grant me three wishes as a gift today? Those which you can't deny and have to fulfill at any cost.", He asked.

Sana looked at him for sometime and then nodded to agree. He smiled.

______________________________

To be continued.. ❤️❤️