11 May
I looked at the clock and scratched my neck. Honestly, I didn't really know much about birthdays—how people celebrated them, what was expected, or why they mattered so much. But I knew one thing: today was her birthday.
I picked up my phone and dialed her number. After a few rings, she picked up.
"Yes, Vyom?" Her voice was soft, almost a whisper.
"Nandini," I called her name, unsure how to even start.
"Yes? Tell me," she asked.
"Can you please go to the door?" I asked carefully.
"But why?"
"Just go. Don't ask questions."
She sighed, probably rolling her eyes on the other side, but I heard the faint sound of footsteps as she walked towards her main door.
I disconnected the call, waiting. My chest felt heavy and nervous. And then—she opened the door.
Her eyes widened, and she froze. "V-VYOM?!" she gasped, clearly shocked.
I nodded slowly. "Yes… it's me."
Before I could even react, she hugged me tightly. I stiffened at her sudden move but felt her warmth seeping into me. Just as quickly, she pulled away, realizing what she had done.
"What are you doing here at this hour?" she asked, still stunned.
"Can you come with me to my car? I need to show you something," I said.
"At this hour? Is everything fine?" Her voice carried worry.
She talks too much sometimes. Instead of answering, I gently took her hand and pulled her along. We walked toward the car, the silence between us filled with tension and curiosity.
I opened the trunk, and her jaw dropped. Her mouth fell open as she stared at the ugliest, most amateur decoration anyone could ever make. Balloons tied badly, a few fairy lights crookedly hanging—it was honestly tragic. Decorating wasn't my thing, but after her father's call had left her so stressed, I had to do something.
"It looks really amazing. You remembered my birthday?" she whispered, her eyes shimmering.
I looked away, embarrassed. "Yes."
She looked shocked—maybe as shocked as I was with myself. I pulled out a cake box and opened it. Of course, it was her favorite—chocolate cake, decorated in the cutest way possible. Vyom Shekhar buying a cute cake. What's next? Me wearing a skirt and doing a belly dance?
I lit the candles, and she closed her eyes with folded hands, making a wish. Her face glowed in the candlelight, and for a second, I felt the world slow down. She blew out the candles and looked at me, smiling softly.
"What did you wish for, Nandini?" I asked, curious.
"If I say it out loud, it won't come true," she teased, smiling.I laughed, shaking my head. If she didn't tell me, how was I supposed to make it true?
She cut the cake, feeding me a piece first, and then I fed her back. And in that moment, with chocolate on her lips and happiness in her eyes, I realized something—Nandini looks ethereal when she smiles. Nothing could ever be more beautiful than that.
"Where's my gift, Vyom?" she asked suddenly, holding her palm out expectantly.
I chuckled nervously. Of course. The gift. The one thing I was dreading. The one thing that would probably make her laugh—or traumatize her forever.
"I mean,you might not like what I prepared. Maybe I should give you something else," I tried to dodge.
Her eyes narrowed. "No. I want the one you prepared. Or I'm going to get angry with you."
Arguing with her was dangerous territory. I gave up.
I went back to the car, pulled out a small bag, and handed it to her. She glanced at me, then back at the bag.
"What's inside this?" she asked curiously.
"Open it and see."
She reached inside and pulled out a card. A handmade card. Yes, I had actually written her one because she loved such things. Along with it was a small pendant.
"You… made a card for me?" Her voice brimmed with joy.
I nodded, my ears burning. The card was decorated with flowers because she loved flowers. Lilies, especially. And inside, I had scribbled a message.
"Can I read it?" she asked, her voice unusually gentle.
"Yeah… go ahead."
She opened it and started reading aloud. "Dear Nandini, happy birthday to you. You're growing old now. Please stop overworking yourself and smile more. I love to see you smile."
My heart pounded as she read. What else was I supposed to write? That the stars weren't as bright as her? That the moon lost its beauty standing next to her? I thought she'd laugh. I braced myself for it.
But instead, her eyes glistened with tears. She was almost at the verge of crying.
I panicked. "Hey—Nandini, why are you crying? Did I write something stupid? I knew it, I should've just bought you some expensive gift".
She shook her head quickly, clutching the card to her chest. "No, Vyom this is beautiful, I've never received a card. It was always something which people bought from the store and gave. Nobody ever really took enough time to sit and prepare a handmade gift for me."
Her voice cracked, and for the first time that night, I realized something: sometimes, the simplest things mattered more than anything else.
She looked at me, her eyes shining even in the dim light. "Thank you so much for making me feel special."
I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly, trying to hide the heat rising to my cheeks. "Well,someone had to. And who else is there other than me?"
She chuckled softly, wiping her tears. But her gaze didn't leave mine. It lingered. And in that lingering silence, I felt something stir inside me—a warmth I couldn't name, but one I didn't want to lose.
She was still clutching the card to her chest, smiling through the tears when her eyes fell on the little box in her hand. She opened it carefully, and the pendant glimmered under the faint light of the street lamp. A delicate silver chain with a lily-shaped charm—simple, but it reminded me of her.
"It's beautiful," she whispered, holding it up.
I cleared my throat. "Yeah well, it reminded me of you. You like lilies, so" I trailed off, awkward as ever.
She smiled at me with a warmth that melted something inside me. "Will you help me wear it?" she asked softly, her voice almost shy.
For a second, I froze. My mind went blank. Of all the things she could've asked, she chose this. My throat felt dry, but I nodded.
She turned around slowly, lifting her hair up. The night air carried the faint scent of her shampoo, something floral and soothing. My hands trembled slightly as I unclasped the chain. Carefully, I draped it around her neck and fastened it. My fingers brushed against the curve of her skin, warm and soft.
"There," I said, stepping back, though my heartbeat refused to calm down.
She let her hair fall back down and touched the pendant gently, as if it were the most precious thing she owned. Then she turned to face me, her eyes shining.
"It's perfect, Vyom," she whispered. "Thank you."
I shrugged, trying to act nonchalant though my chest was on fire. "It's just a pendant, Nandini. Don't make it a big deal."
She shook her head. "No. It's not just a pendant. It's from you."
Her words hit me harder than they should've. I looked away quickly, trying to hide the ridiculous smile threatening to creep up my lips.
And then she did the most unexpected thing—she stepped closer and hugged me again, softer this time, as if she was afraid to let go.
For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel the urge to push the world away.
I didn't move for a while. Her head rested lightly against my chest, and for a second, I thought—maybe this is what peace feels like.
But of course, my stupid mouth had to ruin the moment.
"So are you planning to keep hugging me forever? Because, you know, I might start charging rent."
She pulled back instantly, glaring at me. "You're impossible, Vyom!"
I smirked, shrugging. "What? I'm just saying, hugs aren't free. Inflation, you know?"
She rolled her eyes but I caught the smile tugging at her lips. "You just can't be serious for once, can you?"
"I was serious!" I argued, crossing my arms. "Deadly serious. Hug rent is no joke, Nandini."
She laughed, that soft little laugh that always made my chest ache in the best way. Then she touched the pendant again and looked at me with mock suspicion.
"Actually this is your plan, isn't it?" she said dramatically.
"My plan?" I raised a brow.
"Yes. You gave me this pendant so now you'll come around every day to check if I'm wearing it. Admit it, Vyom—you're secretly a pendant inspector!"
I couldn't stop the laugh that escaped me. "Exactly. My undercover mission has been exposed. Congratulations, Nandini. You cracked the case. I'm a collector just to hide this amazing fact."
She burst into laughter, covering her face with her hand. And for a moment, I just stared, memorizing how her eyes crinkled and her shoulders shook when she laughed freely.
God, if she knew what she looked like right now, she'd never believe me.
"You're crazy," she said finally, calming down.
"Takes one to know one," I replied, grinning.
She shoved me lightly on the arm, but didn't step away. Instead, she looked at me with that soft smile again, the one that made me forget everything else.
And just like that, it was enough.