Twenty fifth of August was a day with no particular significance for either. But that was to change.
Sashi slept over the previous night, so when morning came she wound up in the kitchen making coffee.
"A day couldn't begin without a cup of coffee," she always said.
Since Anad never had a say, he simply agreed. It did help that he liked coffee too. Only, to him coffee was an enjoyment, evidenced from the many varieties of coffee occupying an entire cupboard in the kitchen. There were pure coffees with different origins, as well as many strange and exciting but wholly delightful blends. Though it wasn't very difficult to count, he wasn't entirely sure of how many different coffees he had.
He went with his mood when he was by himself. Sashi was more organised. The guiding tenet was that she had to taste and enjoy every coffee.
Today, she picked coffee from the Nirigiri forests of the southwest blended with wild berries. It wasn't Anad's favourite coffee since it left a not-so-yummy aftertaste that was too strong for his liking. She loved it, however. Especially since she loved the faint flavour of berries. She was humming a morning song as she prepared a mug for each, hers with milk and a mountain of sugar, his with cream and the tiniest spoonful of sugar.
She wasn't shy as she pushed him to make room on his bed. They sat together, leaning against the plush headboard. The morning began with coffee and simple talk.
"Oh, I'm not sure I mentioned it," she said suddenly. "Raul invited me to his birthday party today evening. Think we should get him a present?"
"We?"
She looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
It was his turn to look confused. He wasn't sure he wanted to say what was in his head. And he didn't know how else to answer her. He could only return the question.
"What do you mean?"
She sighed, wearing the expression she did when she thought he was being just a bit too smart.
"You said, we, like a question. What do you mean by that?"
He sighed sorrowfully, like he did when he felt she fell short.
"You asked what we should get him as a present. I didn't get an invitation. So, there's no we. And I'm certainly not going uninvited."
She was even more confused.
"But he invited me," she said.
"Yeah, he did."
"Why wouldn't he invite you?"
"I don't know."
"Think he forgot?"
"I don't know."
"Maybe he thought inviting one was as good inviting both."
"Really?"
"I mean, that's how family invitations work, right? The invitation is for the whole family, rather than a separate invitation for each member of the family."
"Yeah. But this isn't a family invitation."
"Yeah. This is an invitation to his birthday party. And we're all friends. From the same class. Why wouldn't he invite you?"
"I don't know."
"Is it not his birthday today? Did he celebrate his birthday the same day last year?"
"I don't know."
"What do you know?"
She was frustrated. He was amused.
"That I don't care. And I'm not going. Which means, I don't have to care about the present."
She pretended to cry.
"You really won't help?"
He wasn't moved. He couldn't even be bothered to answer. He merely shook his head. She didn't ask again. Instead, she was lost in thought, as she poured over the questions again.
"Just go. You'll know there. If not, you can ask him directly. Not like you'll get the answer by breaking your head over it by yourself."
And that settled it.
She returned to her dorm in the afternoon, primarily to ask her girlfriends about the party, and then to go along with them.
She said she would come back to tell him about the party, which basically meant she would be staying the night. He wasn't opposed to the idea. He was even infected by her curiosity, wanting the answer as much as her, even if he knew more than she did. As the hours went by and the night aged, and she didn't return, another thought sprouted. An altogether unpleasant thought.
He was up all night, waiting. It was almost noon, when she came over. She looked troubled. She got faster as she got closer, and leaped into his arms. Only then, did she look relieved.
"What's wrong?"
She was in his arms, so he was quiet as a whisper. She shook her head without answering. He didn't push. Her actions had proven his suspicion. And so, he knew there was nothing to do but wait.
Back inside, he made her coffee. They sat at the dining table, sipping the steaming coffee blended with vanilla, and waited. The wait was neither short nor long. But it was unquestionably painful.
"So, it really was his birthday," she said finally.
He smiled. She returned the smile, and continued.
"It was also special. More so than the previous birthdays. Turns out, it was only us in the dark. Everyone else knew. Even seemed to help prepare. As if they were all rooting for him. Did you know?"
He froze. And that was answer enough. She laughed mirthlessly.
"So, it was only me," she said, mocking herself. "It doesn't matter anyway. As foolish as I feel, I think I also feel special. Like I'm supposed to. So, yeah. The party. I went along with the girls. They said we would be better off going early. Something about finding the better table. I thought they were just eager to see Raul. He is popular. We were the first. The party was at The Blue Plate Pie. It was truly entirely blue. Blue balloons hanging over all the walls, erected as pillars on the tables. They even put up blue party lights, I think just for the evening. Painted the whole inside blue. Raul and Dru were there, early like us I thought. They welcomed us. Raul had a large bouquet of blue flowers. Lillies. Orchids. Roses. Everything blue. Of course, not naturally blue. Still pretty. He gave it to me. I was surprised. Maybe that's why I accepted it. Suddenly, everyone walked out from where they had hidden. Cheering for Raul and for me. I felt foolish. Turns out we were actually the last to arrive. Then, everyone began chanting. Confess. Confess. I was too stunned to even move. Raul smiled embarrassedly. Went down to his knee. Said he was in love with me since the first time he saw me on the first day. He's been in love with me ever since. For all of the two years. Asked if I could give him a chance. Everyone went quiet. They were all looking at me. Like they were expecting me to answer. Don't they know about us? How stupid could they be?"
"Do they know about us?"
It wasn't a reply. Nor was it a question. It wasn't nothing though. It served to push her just right.
"Of course they know," she answered with frustration. "They just don't care. It's not me. They like Raul. That's clear. They also like me, since they want me with him. So, it's you. They don't care about you. That makes me angry. That they think they are all better, and not just Raul. How could they be so wrong."
He laughed heartily.
"But?"
She froze at the question. She couldn't meet his eyes, because she knew he would see. No, he could already see. Was how he knew there was a but. She kept silent. His smile was unaffected as he continued.
"But, you were moved."
She wanted to deny. She couldn't. Silence was the only answer she had.
**
It was the morning of the twenty fifth of August. A day of no particular note. Anad woke up irate.