"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to you"
I was half asleep when I heard someone arriving in my room, singing the Birthday melody.
Birthday song Hah.
I entirely forget that today is my birthday. I guess someone remembers, she remembers, always.
I opened my eyes to see those happy faces of my life, for whom I'm willing to do anything, everything.
My little one, My Sister Meera. She is 5 years younger than me. At the age of 16, I lost my parents in an accident. A really bad one. That was not something small to withstand but she was there with me constantly and I knew that I had to be strong enough to take care of her.
My family business was given to me after my parents died. To a 16-year-old kid. It was certainly difficult, but an 11-year-old Angel was holding my hand, standing firm in front of 19 shareholders that was the day I decided to be an indestructible, strong, powerful, cold-hearted man for the world.
As for her, I'm always going to be her big brother. To be able to be at her side eternally.
Today is my 28th birthday. That means she is 23. I suppose... I gave her a good upbringing as a brother, and I know that she can protect herself.
She's holding up the cake, made by her I suppose; with elegant colorful frosting and a few candles on it...
And pause who is it with her? I didn't expect this creature to be here, Her Stupid Duffer Best Friend, Ian.
I thought my best friend is going to be with her here, my only friend. I'm going to kill him; He is so dead.
She Handed over the cake to Ian and climb up on my bed to hold me "Happiest Birthday Old Timer, love you 3000" I wrapped her in my Arms " Thank You Cupcake, Love You More" I smiled, "so you remember, and I'm glad you do" I freed her from the hug. I am happy but a little bit sad too I'm missing a big part of us. A big part of her and me.
She gave me a small Peck on the cheeks and take the cake back from Ian.
"Happy Birthday, Aarav" Ian shakes hands with me and hugs me of course, I hug back" thanks for coming."
I don't hate him, I love him; obviously, I love him. He is the Best Friend of my only sister, from like forever. He is a good person, and he is something more than her friend to us but it's another story, too long.
As I freed him as well, they both started checking their cell phones, calling someone, blabbing something, and abruptly someone arrives, and the lights are on now.
"How can you celebrate a birthday in this dark??" The person who just arrived said.
"Because some dumbass forgot that it's his best friend's birthday and he planned to celebrate it at 12' o clock with his sister and her buddy, but he spoiled the plan" Meera complained.
Yeah, that's my best friend; Aditya/ Bunny. My only friend. And I'm mad at him.
"I'm really sorry. I know that I messed up, but I was stuck in some business" he started to explain but every single soul present in this room knows that he is just making excuses.
"Yeah, we all know your businesses." Ian interrupts "You better stop speaking and wish him the best birthday or either you are going to lose your own best friend."
Bunny wishes me and we cut the cake.
After the first and small birthday celebration of this year, everybody said bye to each other, and leave for their Rooms.
I thought I am probably going to get up late in the AM but gladly I woke up One hour early than always do. So, I hurried to the Bathroom to shower.
Water is running down my body and I closed my eyes thinking, thinking that how everything is going to turn up.
Thinking what if circumstances were different that would have been great but while I'm thinking I'm having that nightmare again in broad daylight. As if that running water on my body is blood. Lots of blood. I'm hearing those screams again. It's like Flashes of scenes.... blood on hands, Crying, Louder. Laying bodies on the blood-coated ground. The noise is louder, that girl, she is there bracing someone crying, out soaked in blood.
"Dada" Somebody shouted out of my door. My Trance Broke. I am trying to come to my sense. "Dada" Again and I know it was my sister. So, I think I really have to reply right now. "Coming down in five minutes." I finished taking a shower and headed toward the wardrobe. Sometimes I think why the wardrobe has to be so spacious. It's kind of my wardrobe is bigger than my Bathroom.
Since yesterday I was thinking that I'll change my Dressing style a bit in the office. It's not like I had a bad taste in fashion. It's just I promised someone special that on my 28th birthday I'll change my Tuxedo to the way he wants, and yeah, I'm going to keep that Promise.
So, I generally wear a suit; a proper professional Suit with a tie but now, I'll be less professional. Actually, I'm just removing the tie and going with bright colors. I got too many Dark Suits just like my past.
I rushed into the kitchen as soon as I got attired. My room is on the 1st Floor and the kitchen is downstairs so when I was going down to the Hall and then the kitchen, I heard some discussion going on between Meera, Bunny, and Ian. That was almost a clash, they can't communicate peacefully, and I'm used to it by now. Meera said "you guys are getting old, live your life man. Get a girlfriend. Plan a vacation. Celebrate life." She was dedicating this sentence to both of us; me and bunny.
Bunny was ready to counter but I interpreted, shifting their attention from Meera to me "you are going to suggest this to me, but you know I don't have time for love" they were looking at me like they just saw a spirit "What?" I laughed "did you all see a ghost or something." Ian got up from his sit and come to me, he is happy I can see in his eyes " you did it, you kept your promise, Thank you" Meera was weeping too but she giggled " now you really have to find someone to love and you don't have to take a break for love if love is going to happen then it'll make its way to you" Bunny was quiet. He doesn't like to talk about love and Meera captured this earlier than I and Ian. She loves him as much as she loves me. After me, Bunny is the one who can do anything for her and after me, he is the next person she can rely on. She can be weak.
She holds his hand and says, to the three of us in a guilty tone "it's been a year and I know I messed up. Everything is ruined because of me. But you all don't have to get punished for my mistakes. We can't live in the past. We have to keep going. Adi Da I know you lost her but she told you to move on" she turned to Ian; kept holding bunny's hand, " bud I know you are not going to forgive me for whatever happened but you really need someone to the peace" after this I know she is going to talk to me and I braced myself " Dada, you don't have to worry about me all the time, think about your future. Find someone to take care of you and also the one who is willing to take care of." she was just going to go on but bunny grabbed her ear and said, "And what about you, why are you running?" "I not running anywhere," she said quickly, but bunny didn't let go of her ear and asked her properly this time "whatever I'll ask now, you are going to tell me truthfully. Ok?" she was quiet cause she knew that there is no going back after talking about our past. She nodded.
He let go of her ear "why are you running away from everyone, from last year you changed your life completely, you don't spend time with us, you changed your university but haven't even attended regularly, what's the last time you remember you genuinely smiled by heart?" he asked her in breath, and again continued "you know you can talk with us, you can talk with me, I'm your brother, sweetheart."
I and Ian were listening to him, we didn't interrupt nor were we planning to. He was just comforting her, but we know he is just trying to break her it's not because he doesn't love her or we don't, it's because she has been too strong for too long and anyone of us doesn't want her mental health to get worse. As Bunny hugged her a tear rolled down her cheek.