AN: Nothing much to say. I am editing this chapter and my browser is freaking me out. The thoughts of characters which are in itallic doesn't appear as itallic neither bolds are bold :( I got to fix it, till then enjoy this unedited dosage. :D

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Chapter 3

I hopped out of the car and started my way towards my house, while Ron parked the car at the side of the driving lane. I was jumping on my feet with the anticipation of eating something delicious. I was too hungry and the thought of smoked chicken, which my gran never forgot to prepare on my birthday, made my stomach growl.

"Granny must have prepared something special today. I know she will," I said to no one in particular. I knew Ron was behind me, but he didn't reply anything. It was strange, he didn't comment anything about my growling stomach.

I passed our small garden. It is fourth day since I watered these plants, I thought as I looked at the almost dead rose plants. I needed to water them. I didn't like seeing them die, but I was a lazy brat as well. Shrugging, I stepped on the front porch.

I twitched my nose to inhale the delicious smell but was surprised when I got nothing. What's wrong? I wondered. I know it wasn't a big deal, but Gran always had food prepared by the time I reached home, which was normally this hour of evening. Isn't she home yet? I wondered again.

Without any further delay, I rang the bell. I waited impatiently, tapping my foot on floor. There was no response. My hunger was messing with my patience, which was growing thinner every second and the cold mood of the wind was like a fuel in fire. I tried the bell again, twice, thrice with no avail. I checked the time. Sure I wasn't early. Neither Gran worked till six in the evening, not on my birthday.

"Gran, are you there?" I called out loudly. I tried to listen if there is any rustling sound inside, but no, there wasn't a single sound coming from inside.

In addition to the deadly silence inside the house, Mr. Ribera's dog's barks were creating the creepy site. Not that it mattered much, as their dog barked every time he saw me. I assumed he hated me.

My calm composure started wearing off as panic overtook it. "Ron, there is something wrong. Gran is not answering the door," I said, my voice rushed out in an urgent torrent. This entire time, Ron stood terribly silent. But I continued to call Gran. "Gran, Gran, please answer me. Are you alright?" I cried aloud.

"Ron, why isn't she opening the door? I hope she is alright." I dug my fingers in my hair, while pacing to and fro. I was on the verge of shedding tears. Gran was my only family and I could not afford to lose her at any cost. I needed her. I was being weak, but this was actual me when it came to my family and friends. I loved them. My lower lip trembled and mist formed in my eyes.

Why was Ron so calm?

I ran to the window, but all I could see was darkness. Fear of losing my loved ones had been my worst nightmare and feeling it becoming true was unbearable.

"Ash, relax." Ron held me by my arms. "Relax, nothing is happened to her. You are simply worrying. She must have gone to the restaurant-"

"But she isn't," I protested, shaking my head frantically. "She never worked this late on my birthday." I wanted to believe Ron, but I knew my gran.

"She must have gone to fetch something from the market. Just try to call her on phone." I took my phone out from the jeans pocket and dialed her number. My hands were trembling. My brain wasn't in the state of working properly. Panic was rising in me and a lump formed in my throat.

The ring went on and finally transferred me to her voicemail. I disconnected the call and tried again, but found my call transferred again to her voicemail. "She is not receiving my call, Ron. She is not... She never did that." A sob escaped my lips as I looked at Ron with teary eyes.

"Ash, don't cry." He wiped my tear with his thumb. Ron hugged me, but after few seconds he suddenly pulled away. "Wait a second; you have your duplicate keys with you, right?"

At first I didn't hear what he said, but when it registered in my mind, I nodded my head quickly. Why didn't I realize it before?

"Just open the damn door, Ash." I nodded and sought the keys from my bag. Fumbling from the right one, I turned it into key hole. All the while I heard Ron ranting about not realizing it before and wasting so much time. I entered in, thrashing the door against the wall.

I felt a crushing pain as if stabbed with knife, seeing the sight in front of me.

It was all dark. My heart started pounding hard. A cold trickle of fear began to ooze down my spine. I moved forward, waving my hands in the air to be sure I don't bump into something or someone. The thought itself felt like a cold pinch at my heart.

"Gran," I called out. "Gran, where are you?" I blindly made my way towards the wall where the light switch was. I flicked the button ON and OFF several times, but light didn't flash ON.

"Ron, will you please light the torch? It is there on the table next to the coat stand." I didn't get any response from Ron, so I called him again, "Ron, where are you?" I paused, gulping a lump in my throat. "Ron, please stop this hide and seek game. I don't like it. Ro-"

'THUD'

I stopped mid sentence on the sound of the front door being slammed shut. I turned abruptly, as I fell in utter darkness.

Oh. My. God. I am trapped, I thought in panic. Gran! I froze in place with a fear, not about being trapped, but about Gran. I hoped she was fine. I didn't care about my life as much I cared about Gran's safety.

Just then, I felt a movement behind me, as if someone passed behind me. I wasn't alone, that was sure. "W-who is it?" I tried to act brave trying to hide panic in my voice. "Who is it? S-show yourself, NOW," I hissed and positioned myself into attacking mode.

Suddenly everything felt bright, blinding my eyes. I blocked my eyes with my arms and tried to adjust my vision to the sudden brightness. And when I finally managed to clear the black spots off my vision, I frowned at the faces that were grinning at me cheekily. A sudden wave of realization brushed me. It all downed on me what was this entire thing about. I let out a breath; I didn't know I was holding.

Everyone started singing birthday song aloud, almost making me deaf, followed by 'Youuuuuu Whooooooo' by my friends.

It took me several minutes to come out of shock and smiled at my friends who almost gave me heart attack few minutes before.

"Surprise!" Gran came out with the cake, which I recognized as my most favorite cake, chocolate-almond fiesta that Gran prepared herself on my every birthday. She was a nice cook. She placed the cake on round glass tea-table that was in the middle of the living room and hugged me tightly, squeezing me to death.

"Are you okay, my love?" Gran asked pulling me out of her embrace when she saw my tear stricken face. I was unable to say a word. Tears started running down my face without warning.

"Hey, no, no. Don't cry, love," Gran caressed my cheek, wiping the tears in the process. I hugged her back and muffled my sobs in her shoulder.

"Please, Gran, don't ever do this to me. I can't bear anything happen to you," I mumbled in between the sobs.

"I am sorry, love. I didn't know it would hurt you so much." I could feel her voice trembling with heaviness. The last thing I wanted on my birthday was to make her cry.

"Well, I forgive you," I said, stretching my lips widely into smile to calm her down. "I won't forgive Ron, though." I wiped the remaining traces of tears with the back of my palms and turned to search Ron. "RON! Come here, NOW," I shouted on top of my voice. I heard giggles from my Mitzy, Lee and Stechi, while Ron came out of the kitchen with a plate filled with sausages. He was grinning sheepishly at me. He placed the plate on dining table and came towards me.

"How was the surprise?" Ron asked mockingly.

"Ron, I will kill you." I started punching him hard, whilst I heard Gran say, "Poor boy and his great surprise."

"Aah... Oww... Please... Aah... Ash, pardon me..."

"Pardon you, never. You did this plan, then, huh?" I punched him again on stomach.

"Aah... Ash, please."

"Why couldn't you tell me, Ron, that you remembered my birthday?" I stopped punching him and hugged him. "Why couldn't you?" I let out sob wetting his t-shirt with my tears.

"Oh, Barbie doll. It wouldn't have been fun like every year I have in apologizing you, facing your sweet anger." Ron hugged me back, kissing my hair.

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"Hey guys thanks for being here for me," I thanked my friends who were now leaving to go home after much longer night party.

"Anything for you dear." Mitzy hugged me back and turn to take her seat at Randall's side. I smiled which they all returned instantly.

"Bye Ron... Bye guys... and thanks again." I waved them bye until their car turned in a corner street into driving lane.

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(Hey frenz, I'll be posting next chapter very soon and promise to go deep in Ash-Steve relation and much more twists and turns. And as usual please vote / comment / fan.

love)