"Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday day to you. Happy birthday dear Olivia, happy birthday day to you."
Clap,clap,clap, clap, clap.
Everyone sang and cheered for the five-year-old little girl cutting a big cake at the centre.
BAM.
A car got toppled as a truck crashed into it head-first.
"MAAAAA!" An ear-piercing scream of a little girl rang out inside the car.
The mother shielded her with herself as the truck rammed the door on her side.
...
A man desperately ran, hugging the little girl tightly in his arms.
"Huff... don't cry maa, I huff... won't let anything huff... happen to you. Everything huff... will be huff... fine." He tried his best to console her.
The little girl was crying and screaming nonstop, calling for her mother. She struggled to get out of her father's arms, stretching her hands towards the car which was now far behind in flames.
Screech.
A car slowed down near the man and the door opened. A pair of hands pulled the child inside but before the father could get in...
BANG.
A bullet pierced his head.
"BABAAA." The girl's screamed her lungs out.
Her voice, which was already much hoarse and broken, croaked from strain.
The man smiled at her one last time before his body fell on the road limply.
The girl banged on the car window as endless streams of tears slid down her cheek stained with drops of blood.
The car went on at full speed.
The little girl wailed loudly. Her Aunt's hugged her and caressed her head as her own eyes too filled with tears.
Boom.
A tree exploded nearby and crashed on the middle of the road.
Screeeeech.
Bam.
Crash.
The car, thrown off the edge, rolled down to the very bottom of the cliff and went up in flames.
Ankita slowly opened her eyes.
Staring at the ceiling blankly, lying on the bed, her black eyes were empty. Not a single muscle moved. Her gaze fixated at a point on the ceiling, unblinking.
Slowly and steadily she let out a breath. No one knew how long it was held in.
In an unhurried and gentle motion, her hand caressed her head, from the temple to the back, gliding fingers through the hair.
It was weekend so undoubtedly Ankita woke up late. The smell of something delicious drew her to the kitchen. Her father was cooking Aloo Parota.
"Mmm... such a nice smell!" She said sniffing.
Jumped on Mr Chakraborty from behind, she gave a tight hug.
"Good Morning Baba."
"Arey arey Anu don't do that. The pan might fall off my hand. Go and sit, I'm almost done." Mr Chakraborty placed the pan back on the stove and ruffled his daughter's hair.
"Anu beta come here once. Take these to the washing machine." Mrs Dey cried from the second floor.
A heap of bedsheets and pillow covers was bundled in her hands. A vacuum cleaner and an electric broom also laid beside her.
"Coming, coming." Ankita jumped up from the sofa and ran upstairs to help her mother.
"You two be quick. Breakfast is ready." Mr Chakraborty called from the dining room.
"Just a minute Baba. We're almost done with this room." Ankita shouted.
"Come and have breakfast first. You can do all your cleaning after gaining energy. It's not healthy to work on an empty stomach in the morning." Mr Chakraborty said as he set the table.
He raised his eyebrows seeing Ankita coming down alone and asked "Where's your mother?"
"Maa said she would come after washing up. She's covered in dust. She also asked me to tell you to not wait start eating as she won't take long and the food." Ankita relayed everything.
"Ok. You start eating. I've already served your plate and cooled it down. I'll just wait till your Trina comes down. I don't know when you two will make it a habit to eat food when it's still warm. Sigh." Mr Chakraborty shook his head.
"Probably in the next life." Ankita giggled and dug in.
Soon Mrs Dey came down.
"How many times do I have to tell you that you don't have to wait for me to eat? You can have your meal and then wait for me too right?" Trina smiled helplessly.
Mr Chakraborty always waited for his wife before eating no matter how late it was. It has been like this since they started living together even before their marriage. Mrs Dey found his behaviour heartwarming yet concerning. She worried that he would become sick like this so she also made her best efforts to join him on time during meals.
They had their breakfast together. Even though Ankita started before them, she ate at a snail's speed and as a result, she was still eating when Trina and Subhashish started. She was also eating when both of her parents finished their food.
"Anu dear, eat faster. If you continue eating at this speed, you'll always be running late in the future. Am I supposed to keep rushing you for everything all my life?" Mrs Dey said with a helpless expression.
"Mm, mm. I'm done." Ankita said putting the last bit of Parota in her mouth.
She gulped some water and took the utensils to the kitchen.
"Maa, may I go to Rai's place today? She invited me and Rishav to her orchestra. I told you that she's a musician, remember?"
"Oh okay. But be careful on your way and don't forget to take some snacks with you too. When will you be leaving? Shall I drop you off? Is it only you?" Mrs Chakraborty said.
"No maa, I can go by myself. You've finally got a day to yourself. Stay at home, take some rest and spend a lot of time with Baba. He misses you, you know." Ankita winked at her mother.
"Rishav will meet me at the intersection so don't worry, I won't get lost. And as far as I know, only Rishav, Rai and I will be there. I don't know if she will be inviting any of her old friends. I didn't ask." Ankita replied, wondering if Rai told her about inviting other people.