The house stood eerily quiet and dark.
“This is strange. Why are none of the lights on?” Janak observed.
Raashi frowned. “Come on. Let’s find out what’s happening here.”
They walked towards the main door. Janak rang the bell once, and then again and again. When there was still no response, he twisted the doorknob and the door swung open. With a worried frown, Janak stepped into the house with Raashi following him.
The moment Janak stepped inside the hall, the lights came on with a chorus of “Surprise” and “Happy Birthday”. He turned to Raashi with a stunned look on his face.
She gave him a wide grin.
“Surprise!” she said.
Raashi stood to the side as Janak’s friends and family surrounded him to wish him. Keya, Sheena and she had planned this little celebration for Janak’s birthday. He was eighty today and had refused to celebrate his birthday as was usual. But unlike other years they weren’t going to let this landmark birthday go uncelebrated. They had plotted and planned this surprise for him. He had been a pillar of strength and support to each of them for so long now and it gave her the greatest joy seeing the smile lighting up his dear face.
Sameer’s sister Rhea brought out a two tiered cake with several candles lit. Raashi clapped with everyone as Janak blew out his candles and cut the cake.
“You knew?” he asked, as he finally came towards her.
“Of course, I did,” Raashi smiled at him kissing his weathered cheek.
“Happy Birthday to you,” she said. Janak put his arm around her shoulder.
“You think we would have let your 80th birthday go unnoticed?” Keya said as she joined them. Janak held out his other arm and Keya stepped into it, naturally.
“Happy, Happy Birthday. You know we love you the most,” said Sheena who joined the three of them, easily becoming a part of their circle. “Come on. Let’s click some pictures.”
Sameer watched his grandfather laugh and chat with the three girls who meant the world to him. Sheena was clicking selfies and all of them were posing and pouting, his grandfather with them enjoying all the way. But his eyes kept drifting back to Raashi standing by his grandfather’s side, his arm around her.
Her teal blue strappy dress hugged every curve and her spiky, shiny heels made her legs look amazing. Her lips were painted a berry red and her long hair was flowing down her back. His mouth had dropped open when the lights had switched on andhe had seen her enter with his grandfather. He still couldn’t stop staring at her. But so far she had ignored him as was usual and expected now.
He had been hurt to learn that his grandfather had gifted the villa and its surrounding land to Raashi. But he had come to terms with it. He would just buy it back from her. She would have no choice but to interact with him because of the land and he was thrilled at that aspect. She wouldn’t be able to ignore him forever. He would ensure that. Though why he was keen on spending time with her and why he wanted her to pay him notice was another question. Right now all he knew was that her indifference was grating on his nerves.
“They have such a special bond,” Kabier said, looking at their grandfather and the three girls.
“The girls have put in a lot of effort to make this special for him,” Rishi commented, flanking Sameer’s other side.
“Yes, I can see that,” Sameer said, looking at the birthday de´cor in Kabier’s home. The entire ceiling was filled with black balloons with the number 80 printed in block letters on it. Gold streamers were strung from the ceiling in tandem with the balloons making the room look festive. The huge living room was converted into a party space with a bar on one side and a dance floor in the center. Soft music played in the background. There were just about thirty or so people who were close to his grandfather present.
“So, did you guys contribute anything to this party or were you just required to show up?” Rhea asked, as she came and stood next to the three of them.
“Oh! We just had to be here on time. That’s all the instructions those three gave us,” Rishi accepted, giving Rhea a naughty smile.
Kabier turned and put an arm around Rhea affectionately. “So, when are you coming home to have a chat with Keya and me? We have been asking you ever so often to come over.”
Sameer knew that Kabier was as worried about Rhea as Rishi and he were. Rhea still stubbornly refused to confide in any of them. No one knew why she had dropped out of college and returned from London. Now he waited to see what his sister said next because knowing her and her black mood these days this conversation could go sour very quickly.
Rhea looked at Kabier with a frown.
“Are you guys genuinely interested in spending time with me or are you going to interrogate and lecture me about dropping out of college?” She jutted her chin out. “Because if that’s the case then I am not wasting my time. As it is that’s about the only conversation that these two want to have with me.”
She shrugged off Kabier’s arm and stared at the three of them defiantly as each of them exchanged a concerned look.
“You don’t need to be rude to him, Rhea,” Rishi said, looking furious now. “He’s worried about you just like the rest of us.”
“Yeah, right. As if you guys are actually worried about me. You’re only concerned that I took such a big decision all by myself without consulting any of you. I’m not a kid and I can decide what I want for myself. Anyway, don’t you three have better things to do than gang up against me? Why can you not just leave me in peace?” she said rudely.
“Hey,” Kabier said raising his hands up, “I meant no harm, sweetheart. You can come over any time. I promise just to spend time with you. I won’t ask any questions that you don’t want me to.”
