Sameera gets up in the morning and finds a gift by her bedside. She excitedly gets up and opens it. "The Lucifer Effect," the book that she had wanted to read from a long time but it was out of stock from all sites!
"MA! MA!" Sameera eagerly gets up from her bed and tries finding her mother. She finally finds her in the kitchen and runs and hugs her. "Ma! I love you! Thank you so much for the book!"
Her mother smiles and kisses her daughter.
"But Ma, where did you get this book? It was out of stock right?" she asks inquisitively.
"Well, I have my sources." they both laugh. "Happy Birthday dear! May you always remain happy and achieve huge success in life!" she touches Sameera's cheek and says warmly.
"Thank you Ma! You are the best!" she holds her mother's hand and says.
"Okay, now go and get ready. I am preparing a special breakfast for you. We will eat together." her mother says. Sameera nods and goes to freshen up.
Meanwhile, her mother sets up the breakfast table. In between the phone rings.
"Hello?"
"Hello? Sameera?" a woman answers.
"No, its her mother."
"Hello aunty! Its Richa." she says enthusiastically.
"Oh! Hello dear. How are you and how is Jay?" she asks kindly.
"I am great aunty! Jay is good too. How are you? Is Sameera there?" she asks keenly.
"I am good too! Actually, she has gone to freshen up. I will tell her to call you when she comes dear."
"No.. no aunty. Its fine. Just tell her that we will come to pick her up in the afternoon and...she should get ready for her surprise." Richa says mischievously.
"Okay.." her mother smiles and cuts the call.
After a while, Sameera comes to the breakfast table. She sees her favorite breakfast, Spiced Omelet, Chocolate Pancakes with Apple Smoothie. She smiles and sits down at the table. Her mother sits too. They begin eating and strike a conversation.
"Dear, I forgot to tell you. Richa called. She told you to get ready in the afternoon. She and Jay will come to pick you up." her mother says while drinking the smoothie.
"Okay.. did she say something else?" Sameera asks suspiciously.
"Yes.. she also said that you should get ready for your surprise." her mother says.
"No! No!" Sameera says annoyedly. Her mother smiles.
"Ma! How can you smile! You know their surprises right? They are the worst." Sameera says while looking shockingly at her mother.
"I know dear. But they are your friends and they try to do something for you every birthday. Of course.. it goes wrong.. but, they always put in the effort. So, you should be happy.. not worried." her mother says calmly.
"Ma... I know they care for me.. but those surprises.. they are too much! I mean.. who gifts someone a monkey on their birthday?!" she says fed up.
Her mother laughs.
"But, you have to agree.. the monkey was cute.." her mother says.
"Ya, that it was. But it ran away." Sameera makes a baby face and nods. Then, they both laugh, remembering the incident.
...
"SAMEERA! Richa and Jay are here!" Sameera's mother calls out to her from the living room. Richa and Jay enter Sameera's house and greet her mother warmly.
"Come, Richa and Jay.. Sameera is probably getting ready, she will come in some time.. till then, I will bring juice and snacks for you.." her mother says cheerfully.
"No.. no aunty.. please don't... we have just come to take Sameera with us." Jay says smiling.
"Why is she taking so much time though?" Richa whispers while looking at her watch impatiently.
Soon, Sameera comes out of her room.. dressed in a beautiful crème Georgette suit with white heels, minimal makeup and long jhumkas.
"Damn.. she is looking gorgeous!" Jay says mesmerized.
Richa nudges him and he mouths a sorry.
"You are right though, she is looking extremely beautiful!" Richa says admiring Sameera.
Sameera finds Richa and Jay staring at her and bites her lip.
"Am I too overdressed?" she asks uncomfortably.
"You look amazing dear!" her mom says emotionally.
"Thank you Ma! Love you!" she hugs her mother.
"Nooo.. not at all Sameera.. on the contrary, you are perfectly dressed." Richa gets up and hugs her. "Happy Birthday Sweetheart!" she says cheerfully.
"Thanks Richa!" Sameera says hugging her back.
"Yes.. you look lovely! Happy birthday!" Jay says and hugs her too.
"Thanks Jay!" she says smilingly. "I don't know where we are going... so I was confused about what to wear.." Sameera says eyeing them both.
"Don't worry Sam.. you are perfectly dressed for the occasion.. and just wait for some time.. you will get your surprise soon!" Richa winks.
"Come come, lets go now.." Jay says rushing them both.
"Yes.. lets go, bye Ma!" Sameera kisses her mother goodbye.
They soon get in the car and are on their way to the place.
"Can you tell me where we are going...at least now?!" Sameera asks frustrated.
"Prithvi Café!" Jay answers excitedly while driving.
"A Café? That's all?" Sameera asks shocked.
Richa nods.
"No safari or cruise?" she asks sarcastically.
Richa and Jay laugh.
"Great! Finally.. you both got some sense and we are going to celebrate my birthday normally this year.. " she says cheerfully.
"Not WE Sam, YOU" Richa says calmly.
"Sorry?" Sameera asks confused.
"YOU are going go the Prithvi Café. Alone." she says smiling.
"Wait.. I don't understand? What are you trying to say?.. " Sameera asks astonished.
"This is our surprise! You are going to the Prithvi Café on a BLIND DATE... We will go somewhere else.. You can call us when it's over, we will come to pick you up.. " Richa says smirking.
"Yup.. Happy Birthday Sameera!" Jay says happily.
Sameera's eyes widen with shock. She is bewildered.
"A what?..I AM GOING TO KILL YOU GUYS!! Sameera shouts angrily with rage in her eyes.
...
A white Sedan stops at Prithvi Café, Juhu, Mumbai. A man gets down from the car, wearing a blue track suit. His head is covered with the jacket's cap and he has goggles and a mask on. He looks around cautiously and enters the Café.
It is packed with people, but beautifully decorated.
He hesistantly walks in and the attendant shows him a seat.
He looks around awkwardly, inclined to leave. Before he can, a waiter brings him water and asks for his order.
"I am waiting for someone." he says. His voice is bold and calm.
The waiter nods and leaves. He takes out a phone from his pocket, and opens the contacts. He clicks on one and is reluctant to call.
'Sameera,' it says.