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!'

A Gucci T-shirt, Gap hoodie, Puma shoes and a Tommy Hilfiger wristwatch. The best part was...A basketball autographed by Kobe Bryant.

"Are you kidding me? An autographed basketball by Kobe Bryant!! and you are giving it to me now??!!! This is a treasure!!" Abhedya kissed the ball. "How much did you earn? These look expensive."

"I got them on discount. The ball however was a lucky deal. So, while I was in the mall shopping, Kobe was there too.  Huge crowd was there to get a glance of him. He was randomly selecting people. I didn't even go there. I don't know how, but he called me and asked my name. I told him your name and he signed it with your name. I knew you were his fan then. So, it was added to your birthday present list." Swarnima explained.

Abhedya was overwhelmed. "Okay! The big eighteenth?" Abhedya asked rubbing his hands.

"Your eighteenth birthday gift is at the wall behind your bed."

Abhedya was shocked would be an understatement. The huge portrait of him that was on his bedroom wall was painted by her. He remembered saying to his mother 'the painter you got this painting from, has made my eyes smile just the way they smiled when I saw Sona.'  What he didn't know was it was his Sona herself who painted it. Abhedya's chain of thoughts was broken when Swarnima gave him a guitar.
Abhedya saw the cover of the guitar was not the regular one. It had little quotes, drawings and stickers on it.
Oh!God!
It was handcrafted. Did Swarnima make it? Abhedya looked at her and she smiled. He got his answer. It was made by Swarnima. She made little drawings depicting friendship, life and music. The quotes she wrote and the stickers were also on the above topics. 'LOVE' did not find a place. Strange! But there wasn't a single picture or quote or sticker that mention love.
Abhedya opened the cover and saw a Spanish guitar with his love name 'ABY' engraved beautifully on it.

Swarnima turned her back and wiped the corner of her eye which had a small drop of tear. She was happy. She handed her priceless possessions to their rightful owner.

"Ready for your nineteenth?" Swarnima asked him and Abhedya could only nod. His throat lumped. Swarnima took out a box wrapped in blue cover and gave it to him.
'To Mr. genius on his nineteenth. Happiness and good health."

Abhedya unwrapped it and found a black Armani shirt with black pants. A Louis Vuitton belt, wallet and shoes. A handkerchief with 'A' on it.

"Are these on discount too?" Abhedya loved the gifts but they lacked the personal feel to them.

"No! I got access to papa's savings after I turned eighteen. So, I got these from that money. Papa would have surely spent more on you, you know that!" Swarnima stated the fact. Her father treated Abhedya as the most precious thing on earth. He could sacrifice everything for him and he did.

Abhedya did not say anything. He knew what she said was true.
"Other than these the fresh flowers which have wilted by now and your birthday cake which you and Nivi gobbled up." Swarnima giggled thinking about how Nandini narrated the scene of her boys eating the cake.

"You made that cake? Wow! It was super yummy!" Abhedya had his shine back thinking of the cake.

"Your twentieth birthday present." Swarnima gave him five boxes wrapped in green coloured sparkling paper.

"This one is opened?" Abhedya said looking at one of the boxes.

"You wore the loungewear that day. It was a part of your twentieth. All sorts of attires. Have a look." Swarnima gestured Abhedya to open the boxes.
Each box had a tag.
Box 1: all work and no play will make you a dull boy.
sportswear- Nike shorts and Ganji with a bandana and wrist band with his initials. Nike sports shoes.

Box 2:  the one for your mystic grill hangouts.
casuals- a ripped denim Levi's jeans, T-shirt, a leather jacket from Saint Laurent and Red Wing boots. A bracelet with a guitar charm hanging. A Gucci belt and dark brown shades to complete the look.

Box 3: when you decide to just relax.
Loungewear- he already wore it. But found cute reebok chappals in it.

Box4: the one for your formal meetings.
Formal clothes- Ralph Lauren three-piece suit. With customised shoes and an omega speed master.
Abhedya looked stunned. She has surely spent a fortune.

Box 5: wishing you the sweetest dreams and the power to fulfil them.
A crisp white soft cotton Kurta pyjama. Typically ethnic but comfortable. Below it was a cute red night suit with a unicorn on it, a matching Santa cap and fur chappals with unicorn horns on them.

"You seriously think I will wear this?" Abhedya said displaying the night suit.

"I thought you will," Swarnima replied and gave him a picture of his when he was 3 year's old and was wearing Swarnima's teddy bear night suit.

"Where did you get this? Hahahaha! This is so funny!" Abhedya laughed seeing his picture and Swarnima kept smiling looking at him.

Abhedya stopped laughing and said, "I am no longer small and stupid."

"Call whatever you want to call yourself, Now! But you dare not say anything to your younger self." Swarnima gave him a warning and shut the cupboard.

"Hey! Why did you shut it? I can see more things in it." Abhedya questioned her.

Swarnima lowered her eyes and said, "There are. If at all life separates us again you can open it and see..."

"I will burn the world! I swear I will burn the world before it takes you away... this time." Abhedya said with raging eyes and determination. He didn't let Swarnima complete and shut her mouth with his hand.

Swarnima got a little scared with Abhedya's reaction. They kept looking at each other. Abhedya was telling Swarnima what he said, he meant. Swarnima felt guilty. She knew they might have to separate again if things don't work in their favour.

Abhedya removed his hand and said, "you know what! You know how to perfectly ruin moments."

"Sorry!" Swarnima apologised and went out of the room.

Abhedya looked at the bed which was full of presents. Precious and treasured. Swarnima chose his birthday to go out and not her own. She spent her money on buying presents for him knowing she would not be able to gift him anytime soon. She wrote a special message each year. All of this was an overdose of sweetness, kindness, affection and love. He definitely did not deserve any of it.
He ruined her birthday in every possible way. He accused her. Did not wish her. No presents. He was a big-time jerk and she was a big-hearted princess in every sense.
Abhedya was cursing himself when Swarnima entered the room and gave Abhedya the coffee that he left. He took it from her hand and pulled her towards himself. Swarnima distanced herself. She was already emotionally high and was in no position for any more encounters.

"Why did you do this?" Abhedya asked her.

"The gifts? Why would I not do it? Birthdays are special and special people deserve special treatment." Swarnima stated the obvious.

"Am I still special?" Abhedya questioned.

"You were, are and will always be special," Swarnima told Abhedya the biggest truth of her existence.

Abhedya kept his glass aside and put his head on Swarnima's shoulder and asked her, "why? I have been a total jerk to you. I haven't even accepted you in my life yet. I say mean things to you. I shout at you. I fight with you. I do everything that is not correct." He couldn't say more, his eyes made way for the saltwater that he was holding from the time he got his fifteenth birthday present.

Swarnima was not prepared for this breakdown. She thought he would be emotional but happy. She could not bear this Abhedya.

"It's not like that! Don't say that." Swarnima made him sit on the bed and sat next to him.
She could handle all his mood swings but seeing his single tear and she cannot handle herself.
To make him normal she had to be normal. So, she first wiped his tears, the sight of which pained her heart and stopped her thought process.
Her soft hands reached his face for wiping his tears and that touch made Abhedya look at Swarnima, who was so disturbed to see him like that.

Abhedya analysed his behaviour perfectly. Very few people in this world can see their flaws. He was rare. He realised and accepted his mistakes and regretted them.

Abhedya was Swarnima's life. She could do anything for him. She was so madly in love with him that all his faults were justified to her. She could fight the world to bring a smile to his face. So, all reasons her heart gave her, she gave to Abhedya to convince him that he is not a bad person because...

"One, I never felt you misbehaved because you had reasons which are justified for those outbursts.
Two, it was me who did the crime of hiding things from you. Hell! I still do. My reasons are meaningless and baseless to you but that is something not in my hands. And no! There is no scope for argument over it.
Three, you and I have grown up under different circumstances and environment. So, there are bound to be contrasts. We both feel those differences, right?
Four, my world is confined to just you all but you have so many people in your life and they have their importance and impact in your life.
Five, I have never expected you to let me in your life. Trust me I am happy to just be able to see you all, again.
So, stop shedding these precious tears and smile. And, anyways jerks have a right to get gifts too."

A smile came on Abhedya's lips and he nodded his head and asserted, "I guess I am a lucky enough jerk!"

"You sure are lucky. Stop calling yourself that. Now, Let's get done with the project. A lot of time is already gone."

Swarnima was about to go when Abhedya asked her "Swarnima... be my friend?"

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Dear Readers,
Gifts are something that reflects your ideologies. Swarnima got the best of things she could, for the love of her life. She had no idea when she would be able to give them or will she ever be able to give them. Still, she made sure she did her bit.
It's said when a man cries in front of you, you probably mean the world to him.
What will be Swarnima's reply...
stay hooked
Lots of love!