Crazy Thoughts

My euphoria was over and Vic pulled away, as Anya coughed loudly behind him. 

I felt so embarrassed that I wanted a hole to open up right in front of me, so I can jump in and disappear!

Why do I keep doing this to myself?? 

Why do I keep wanting something I would never get! 

I didn't have the time recover much as all my friends began to give me presents and wished me once again. 

Rahul and his girlfriend Pari were the last to wish me.

"Thank you so much for coming." I shook Rahul's hand and smiled back and extended my other hand to Pari. "Pari, I am so glad you came. And I am sure you made Rahul come here, am I right?" I smiled with extra cheerfulness to cover up for my nerves. I still don't know why, but Rahul had a huge crush on me two years ago, which I completely ignored. After sometime, once he and Pari started going out together, he began to talk normally again, but I was never comfortable around him.

"Sorry Misha for crashing in to your party uninvited. But we both wanted to wish you before we leave for our hiking camp tomorrow." Pari pressed my hand.

I felt so relieved to hear that from Pari and the way Rahul looked at me happily, without any awkwardness was proof enough.

"What are you talking about? I am really happy that both of you are here." I assured them.

Vic's Parents gave me the latest Caprese handbag and I took their blessings. Mum and Dad gave me a gift voucher and hugged me from each side as I closed my eyes for few seconds, enjoying the bliss. Forget Vic, at least I have loving parents who knew their daughter and never hurt her.

I hugged my Dad and thanked him for inviting my friends and organising the party.

"Oy helloo! All that credit goes to me. I was the one who pushed and pleaded with everyone to come here." Anya declared as she came forward, carrying two trays of plates laden with cake pieces, closely followed by Vic with two more trays.

"Don't believe a word of what she says Mo! It was your friend Victor who organised this surprise party and called all of us." Shaz spilled the beans on Anya and Anya gave her a murderous look. I quickly looked up at Vic, but he was busy distributing cake pieces to everyone.

Great!!

But I was confused. Vic never showed any interest in meeting or talking to my friends all these years. What brought this sudden change that he invited them and even organised this party? Maybe he did it because I was going away.

My parents along with Vic's went upstairs to play cards, urging us to continue our party.

All of us settled down in different lounges and cushions on the ground, as Anya cleverly manipulated me to sit next to Vic on the lounge.

That girl never gives up, does she?

We chatted for a while and all my friends were curious to talk to Vic and his pilot training. Vic could be very charming when chose to be, and my friends got floored by his cocky answers cleverly mixed with humour and wit. And the girls... Vic spoke to them with such a cute smile that they were hanging on to every word he said! It hit me just then. This was how he used to talk to me, till few years ago.

But the last few years, either he changed or something between us went sour. He was too busy with his training and me in my studies, and even in the little time we spent together, he would provoke me or make snide remarks, and I always ended up fighting with him. I was lost in my thoughts and didn't realize that cake in my plate finished and I was licking the empty fork.

Vic moved closer to me and whispered, again in that husky voice, “The cake is nice, isn't it?" I forgot all about the cake and stared at him, still sucking on the fork.

"Hey Mo!"

Thanks... I was back on earth...

"Why didn't you ever bring Vic along to any of our parties?" Teja asked me accusingly as he devoured the cake. Teja was the most chilled out guy in our group and he was friends with everyone in the college, including Rahul.

Before I could say something, Vic replied with a smile. "It's not her fault. Being her neighbour, I see Mo every day at home and she was also my junior at high school. I didn't want butt into her college friends circle too." He gave his leftover cake to me and I started eating that straight away, glad to have some distraction.

"Hmm... But I suspect there is another reason behind it. She was trying to protect you from all the... I mean all of us." Teja broke into an evil grin and Vic looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

I stilled, with my fork dipped in to the cake, wishing it was Teja's throat instead, which I so wanted to slice away, at that moment!

Rahul joined "I agree Teja, and it kind of explains why Mo rebuffed so many guys in the college!"

What are these guys doing?

Is today let's embarrass Mo Day or my birthday?

"Hey Mr Sour Grapes, leave her alone. Don't mind these guys Mo. But I must say, Vic looks quite hot." Shaz winked at Vic, as she rose from her chair. 

She too?

I gritted my teeth and looked straight at Vic, deciding to deal with Shaz later.

Believe it or not, Mr Hottie was trying very hard to suppress a smug smile!

As I contemplated deeply on why I took Engineering instead of Medical studies, where I had a better chance to access some untraceable poison that I could use to kill all my friends with, they all began to get up and leave. Perhaps they could sense my positive vibes!

But before they could leave, Anya stopped everyone and announced loudly.

"Hey guys! Our party is still on for tonight but with slight changes; and Vic is going to join us too."

"What?" Vic looked at me in confusion but I had no idea what was going on either.

"Vic, don't panic. We won't eat you. I was supposed to drive Mo to the city but I need to get my bike serviced." Anya lied shamelessly. What was she talking about? She got a cool new bike as present for her twentieth birthday which was just six months ago! I so wanted to kick Anya in the backside for her pathetic attempts.

Anya avoided looking at me and continued, "Shaz managed to book a table at that Italian restaurant in the Cineplex, that we have been planning to go for so long. And from there we will go and watch a movie. But I am not going to say which movie it is, because each of you will want a different one. We are just going, Okay?" she looked around as if daring someone to speak against her.

"Geez Anya. Calm down. Of course, we will go. Spending time with Mo is the priority here." Teja said as he left.

Everyone agreed to meet in the evening and left, leaving me and Vic alone.

And some awkward silence.

****

A/N

That was some birthday party, huh?! What did you make of the tension between Vic and Misha??

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