CHAPTER 41! BIRTHDAY GIRL #2
Samarth shot them a look. "Should I also arrange for a full fireworks display next to the admin block?"
Rohan considered this seriously for a second. "Honestly? That would be nice."
A senior professor walked past them just then, casting a sharp glare over his spectacles. "Class."
The group scattered instantly in four different directions, the laughter cutting short.
As they hurried toward the stairs, Rohan muttered under his breath, "inko bhi abhi aana tha."
"Sale class hai unki."
The chaotic lunch rush had completely overtaken the canteen by the time they managed to secure an empty table near the back.
Somewhere near the counter, a student was shouting for extra sweet chutney, steel plates clattered rhythmically, and the thick, heavy aroma of samosas and over-brewed chai hung under the ceiling fans.
Rohan dropped into a plastic chair with a heavy sigh. "Finally. Survival."
"You've been walking for exactly six minutes," Samiksha said, pulling out her own chair.
"It was an exhausting six minutes."
"You need serious help."
"I need food."
Aadhira shook her head, laughing as she unzipped her bag and pulled out her steel lunch box.
Riya's eyes locked onto it instantly.
"What did Aunty send today?"
"Parathas. And laddoos."
The entire table stopped.
"You brought laddoos?" Rohan asked, his voice dropping an octave.
"I didn't bring them," Aadhira clarified. "Maa stuffed them in there."
"Your mother is officially my absolute favourite person."
"Unhe pata bhi nahi tu kaun hai," Aadhira said flatly.
"Doesn't matter. She sent laddoos."
"She didn't send them for you."
Rohan's hand darted forward anyway, successfully invading the tiffin territory.
"Table pe rakhe ho toh public property."
"Ye seedha loot hai, Rohan!" Aadhira snapped, trying to pull the box back.
Without a shred of guilt, Rohan stuffed the entire laddoo into his mouth, chewing happily.
Riya doubled over laughing, while Rohit just watched them, shaking his head.
The conversation drifted easily for the next twenty minutes, bouncing between assignment deadlines and complaints about the internal marking system, until Rohit finally leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers against the table.
"So... the actual birthday plans."
"I told you guys, dinner," Aadhira said, picking at her food.
"Where?"
"The rooftop place right near the lake."
"Oh." Rohan frowned. "A proper family dinner?"
"Yes."
"And then?"
"Then I go home."
A heavy, collective silence dropped over the table. The four of them exchanged a very brief, synchronized look.
Then, with perfect unity-
"No."
Aadhira blinked. "What do you mean, no?"
"No," Riya agreed instantly.
"Absolutely no," Samiksha added.
Rohit gave a single, definitive nod.
Aadhira turned her head to look at Samarth, who was sitting quietly beside her. "You too?"
He raised his hands in self-defense.
"I haven't said a single word."
"You don't have to. Your face is saying it."
He shrugged, leaning in a bit closer. "It's your eighteenth birthday, Aadhira. Birthdays like this don't exactly roll around every year."
She looked thoroughly unconvinced.
"We're just saying..." Riya leaned across the table, lowering her voice. "...come out with us after your dinner. Club chalte hain."
Aadhira let out a sharp laugh. "Absolutely not."
"Why?"
"My mother. And Shourya bhai."
"We'll manage him," Riya said dismissively.
Aadhira stared at her.
"You don't know my brother."
Rohan slowly raised his index finger. "I've met him once. At the parking lot. I'm still terrified of him."
Aadhira broke off a small corner of her remaining paratha.
"It isn't happening, guys. Seriously."
Samarth spoke up then, his voice quiet but steady beside her. "We'll go for just an hour. You'll be with all of us. We'll leave early."
Aadhira hesitated, her gaze dropping to her plate. The silver bracelet on her wrist caught the fluorescent canteen light. "I've never actually been to one."
"Exactly!" Riya seized the opening. "You'll probably hate it."
"I most likely will."
"Great! Then you'll never have to go again for the rest of your life."
Aadhira let out a quiet laugh. Samiksha nudged her shoulder playfully. "Please?"
Aadhira looked around the circle. Every single face was watching her, waiting for the verdict. She let out a long sigh, covering her face for a brief second.
"You people are genuinely impossible."
"So..." Rohan leaned in.
"...I'll ask Maa," she conceded. "If she says no, then it's a hard no."
Rohan immediately turned his gaze to Samarth. "You. Convince her."
Samarth smiled, leaning back into his chair. "I'm not convincing her. If your parents aren't comfortable with it... we don't go. Simple."
Aadhira smiled back at him.
"See? A sensible person."
Rohan groaned loudly, slumping back into his seat. "You're both incredibly boring."
Samarth didn't answer.
Instead, his hand snuck across the table, his fingers neatly pinching the remaining half of the samosa on Aadhira's plate.
She stared down at her empty plate, then up at him. "You too?"
He took a slow, deliberate bite, offering a quiet shrug. "Tax."
Aadhira shook her head, a genuine smile breaking through as the canteen bell rang for the next lecture.
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Follow.