Even before clock ticks 12 o clock, I started getting Birthday calls and messages.
Meera, first wish will always from our side, today and ever. There is no place to anyone - Anu said and put my phone away even before attending anyone’s call.
Yes, I am Meera, doing my second year of engineering. Today I am turning 20. No more a teen now. Sigh!. My hostel roommates are my friends from school days. We always spend time together. Coincidently we chose same college, same department.
My friends dragged me out of the room. And by that time,whole girls hostel has gathered near my room. Starting with rotten eggs and tomatoes they showered me with all the expired creams, powders which they have been collecting for like months . All the items blended and gave that fabulous smell. I just couldn't tolerate the smell. I ran and hugged everyone and shared some mixtures and the fabulous smell from my dress. So they tied my hands and legs like a dog so, I can’t move. I was standing there near the pillar like a pet dog. My 20th birthday celebrations started. I was so excited.
After all enjoyments, biggest thing is to clean the floor without leaving a single evidence of celebration to escape from hostel warden. And yes, it is a punishment for Birthday baby. I took bath and cleaned the floor. After 2 hours of enjoyment I took my mobile to see so many missed calls.
It's impossible to call back everyone. I just messaged everyone and called only Arjun. I know, he will be waiting for my call. Same thing happened last year also.
Arjun: Hey, you didn’t even get time to attend my Call. I thought of wishing you first at least on this birthday.
Meera: Sorry Arju. my friends didn’t allow to me use the phone. Just now the celebrations got over. Many phone calls but I called you first. I convinced him
Last year also you said the same story . Arjun hung up the phone. I called him again but no response .
Arjun is my batch mate in lab and we became friends after my first lab exams. He helped me in getting done with an experiment.
I felt so tired and dozed off . I came to sense that it is already a morning when someone knocked the door heavily. Slammed the latch.
Nikki pulled my pillow and threw it over Charu. Go and see who is at the door Charu please. I need some more sleep. Nikki murmured without opening her eyes.
It's always me,, Charu said angrily. she got up and threw the pillow back to Nikki.
Charu opened the door to see angry warden waiting outside.
Is this girls hostel or Zoo?? Yesterday night I couldn't sleep. So much nuisance.
Go and see how displicned boys hostel is. They are the best example for discipline. Learn something from them.
She just started scolding us.
Charu suddenly bobbed a curtsy and said bless me Mam, it's my birthday today.
Don't protect your friends, I knew it's Meera’s birthday and you are the only disciplined girl in this room.
See, how they are pretending to be sleeping while I am scolding them. Warden spluttered angrily.
It's the usual thing. Charu is the scape goat in our gang. We do all the nonsense and Charu always protects us. She has good reputation among staff.
We got ready and started to college. As usual late entry. We pushed Charu to enter the class first. When I entered the class, everyone started with chorus voice. "Happy birthday Meera….!!!!” Then the professor wished me. Today we escaped from the free punctuality lecture from our MS professor.
I just tried convincing Arjun but failed. He asked me to join with him for lunch. At the same time, Nikki said, . Come let's go for lunch and dragged me out of the class room.
Hey, Arjun wish to join with us for lunch. Is that fine? I said pleasingly.
Yeah sure, What worse could happen. Nikki said with a sly smile.
Arjun, come along - Nikki waved at him.
Just wait for a second Meera, you will get a message said Nikki.
My phone flashed. We smiled at each other.
Messaged reads , If you don't want to come with me, you can say that directly. Don't ask me to join with your friends. It was Arjun.
Oh not again!!! I don't know why this Arjun hate you girls this much. I sighed.
Hey ignore him. It’s nothing new. He just wanted your first preference. That will never happen. Come come move on . Nikki urged everyone.
Please, you girls ask Arjun to join with us. He is a nice and innocent guy. Not like us. I pleaded.
They didn't mind. They took me to the car parking . there comes a very big surprise. My so called crush Dev was waiting for me. I couldn't control my excitement. It's impossible. He wished me the happy year and joined with us in cake cutting. Thanks to my besties for the unforgettable surprise. In the After noon lab session, Arjun didn't talk much. I felt so bad for that.
Hey sorry Arju. I said.
Have you completed the records? He asked
I said No.
He took my record and completed all the circuit diagrams.
I felt more guilty. You all are important and equal to me Arjun. Please understand.
No guilty conscious Meera. It's all my fault and I shouldn't have tried to get into your gang.
I don't know how much time it would take to convince him.
All these memories just flashed and passed away in my mind. Tears rolled down my cheeks. Today is my 25th birthday. I just woke up to see the empty room. Same missed calls from my friends from different time zone.
I wiped off my tears and went outside. Gave cake to my flatmate and told her it's my birthday today.
It seems very strange. How my life changed in these years. I work in abroad and I have my wallet full, but no friends around me to spend that. In college, we were embraced with so many friends but today life has changed.
My college days were inevitably the best days of my life.
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