8 years back

"Happy birthday to you~
Happy birthday dear Ayush~
Happy birthday to you...
May God bless you~
May God bless you~
Happy birthday dear Ayush..
Happy birthday to you~"

Our whole class wished Ayush and he thanked us. He was dressed in new clothes and looked like a baby. I wished I had a younger brother like him. If anyone tried to hurt him, I would beat the shit out of them.

"Happy birthday Ayush," I said when he reached my desk and gave the chocolates to me. He looked here and there and sneaked two more towards me. I smiled at him and he went to the next student.

In the lunch, Ved tried to steal my lunchbox but I knew what he was planning. He kept staring at my bag since morning. I ambushed him and he ran away after calling me stupid.

"Here Sandhya. Your invitation." Ayush handed me a card and I gladly accepted it. I couldn't wait to see his reaction when I give him my gift. I am sure he would love it.

×~×

"Sandhya hurry up. Aren't you getting late for Ayush's birthday party?" Mom shouted from downstairs.

"One minute!" I shouted back and after wearing my shoes, got down in the hall. Dad was at work so mom was going along with me. I was going to stuff myself full with all the food.

"Let's go!" I ran outside and mom grabbed me before I ran into a vehicle. I was super excited for this. I knew Ved was not happy with me going but he could just cry about it. Ayush was my friend too.

"Do you have the gift mom?" I asked as we took an auto.

"Yes. Don't worry. You have asked me that for the hundredth time now," she said.

"I was just making sure."

She showed me the gift box and I relaxed back in my seat. The ride was pretty long. It took us forty minutes to reach his house. Mom paid the autorickshaw driver and I skipped towards his house.

"The house is so huge!" Mom exclaimed and I nodded my head.

Mom showed the invitation to the guard and he let us in. Mom kept commenting about our surroundings and I giggled at her reactions. I told her that we would build a house bigger than this and she chuckled. She patted my head lovingly and I gave her a huge smile.

"Ayush!" I called when I spotted him sitting on a sofa with his mother. He snapped his head towards me and smiled. His mother got up and approached us. She welcomed me and my mom.

Mom took a seat and began chatting with other aunties who had also come. I was happy she wouldn't get bored. I saw some of her old friends and greeted them. They all greeted me back and I went to play with other kids.

"When are you going to cut the cake?" I asked Ayush.

"Ten more minutes. I am waiting for my dad. My uncle is coming with his friend today."

"Tell him to hurry up. I am getting hungry," I said and licked my lips while staring at the cake. Ayush laughed and told me eat something else for the time being. I shook my head.

"No! Cake comes first. I can wait ten more minutes. By the way, I haven't seen Ved yet. He isn't coming?"

"I don't know. He should have been here one hour ago."

"Don't worry. He won't ditch you. You are his best friend." I patted Ayush's shoulder and he gave me a small smile.

After twenty minutes, I sighed in relief when Ayush's dad arrived with two more men. I think they were his uncle and his uncle's friend. Now I could eat the cake but Ayush had other plans.

We had to wait for more fifteen minutes, because Princess Ved had to make her royal entry by coming late. I cursed him under my breath and Ayush hugged him tightly.

"I know you are best friends but could you please cut the cake now," I complained and Ved pushed past me.

After singing the birthday anthem, Ayush finally cut the cake. Everyone was told to help themselves with the dinner at buffet in the backyard. Parents went to eat while children stayed behind to give gifts.

One by one, Ayush received the gifts and thanked the giver. The line was so long. How did he had so many friends? In school, he was the most shy person I knew. Ved's turn came and he gave him a huge gift box. What could be in it?

Ayush hugged him and then Ved stood beside him. After sometime my turn came and I glanced at the box and card in my hand. Ved smirked when he saw the card and I rolled my eyes.

"Happy birthday," I wished Ayush and gave him the gift and the card. He read out what was written and smiled. He kept the box along with other gifts and I moved aside for the kid behind me.

"Wait a minute. Why don't you open Sandhya's gift, Ayush? I want to see what she has gotten for you," Ved told Ayush and he glanced between us.

"Yeah. Go ahead. I am sure it's better than what Ved gifted," I said and motioned towards his gift.

He stared at me angrily but held back since it was Ayush's birthday party. Birthday boy picked up my gift and began unwrapping. I crossed my fingers as everyone waited in anticipation.

When he took out the doll, his eyes widened. His face lit up and I was delighted he liked it.

"A doll?! You gifted him a doll? Are you an idiot Sandhya?" Ved shouted and everyone began laughing. They pointed at the samurai doll in Ayush's hand and then at him.

"Ayush is a girl!"

"Boys don't play with dolls!"

"Are you a girl Ayush? I thought you were a boy!"

"That's why she got him a doll."

Kids teased him and I looked at him. His face was reddened with embarrassment and he clutched the doll harder.

"All of you shut up! What's wrong with you all? There's no need to make fun of him," I shouted at them but they continued calling him names.

"Look what you did!" Ved pushed me and I fell down. Ayush was crying now. I looked at him confusedly and got up. I told him not to cry and he flinched away from me.

"You call yourself his friend? How could you do this to him? Everyone is laughing at him thanks to you, idiot. You really have no sense," Ved said and took the doll from Ayush's hand.

He threw it at me and it hit me on the chest. It fell down and I picked it up. Other kids kept teasing Ayush and he began wailing louder. Would they just shut up? They were acting like complete idiots.

"I hate you! Don't talk to me ever again," Ayush shouted at me and ran away. Ved snatched the toy from me and threw it in the dustbin. What the hell? How did it turn out like this? Why was Ved blaming me for all of this? What was wrong with me gifting a doll to Ayush?

Everyone's parents came after hearing the chaos and my mom asked me why I was crying. I was crying? I didn't even realise.

"Ayush said he hates me," I said and mom hugged me.

"Don't cry. Tell me what happened."

I told her and she looked at me sadly. She wiped my tears and grabbed my hand. I saw Ved's stepmother approaching me.

"Why are you crying? You are a brave girl," she said and I gave her a small smile. She talked with my mom and apologized for Ved's behaviour. She saw all of it?

"It's okay, Mrs. Rajput. He is just a kid," Mom sighed and glanced at me. She told me we should leave now and I nodded my head. I didn't even get to eat anything. Ved's mom gave me her handkerchief and I cleaned my face with it.

"Thanks aunty. I will return it to you after washing it," I said and she patted my head.

"Let's go mom. I don't think Ayush wants me to stay here now. I spoiled his birthday party."

"Don't think like that," Mom said and we started leaving.

"Sandhya! Wait!" Ved shouted from the stairs and I turned towards him. He had my gift card in his hand. He ran towards me and stopped. What did he want now?

He waved the card in front of my face and I tried to snatch it away from him. His mom intervened but he shouted at her to stay away. He held the card in front of him and shred it into pieces.

We all gasped and I looked at him in horror. His mom grabbed his hand but he pushed her forcefully and she stumbled. My mom caught her in time before she fell down.

"Don't touch me! You are not my mother so stop acting like one," Ved shouted.

"That's your mother. Have some respect!" I shouted at him and he fisted his hands.

"She is not!" He gave her a last look and ran back upstairs.

"Are you okay aunty?" I asked his mom and she nodded her head.

"I can't believe I have to apologise again," she sighed and my mom told her to relax.

After few minutes, we left. I asked mom if it was wrong of me to give a doll to Ayush and she shook her head. I told her other kids made fun of him and Ved also blamed me.

"It's not your fault, Sandhya. Remember that. It is just stereotypes that are still prevailing in our society. Girls are supposed to play with dolls and boys who do that are considered less in others' eyes."

"Why is it like that? I play with cars and dolls both. So why can't boys do the same? Why is there a discrimination in toys too?"

My mom pursed her lips and thought for a moment. She sighed and told me to forget about it. I wasn't convinced. This was ridiculous. I saw Ayush admiring that samurai doll when we went on our picnic. So, when I saw it in the fair last month, I quickly bought it.

I knew he would love it and I saw it in his eyes too when I gave it to him but those kids made fun of him. On his birthday! How could they be so senseless?

Now Ayush also hates me. Should I apologise to him? But I didn't do anything wrong. What if he doesn't forgive me? I didn't have any bad intention. I wasn't planning on hurting him but I still did unknowingly.

He said he wouldn't talk to me again. Was he serious? I was his friend so he would forget about it, right? What if he doesn't? I humiliated him in front of his friends. Of course he won't.

Come on, Sandhya. Atleast do one thing properly.