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“Yes, I said, turning around. They were right in front of me. Four of them. All furious. Right then I heard bhabhi calling out my name. Her battalion marched towards us. I had been cornered and how!

I felt like Chhota Rajan or Chhota Shakeel or Chhota ya Bada whatever yaar. It must be a trying experience for them, the moment of trap. All those ingenious plots they must have devised, the dangerous plans they must have executed... the joy they must have derived from their success... all must have dissolved and disappeared in a flash, in this moment of truth. I could sympathise with them. I drew comfort from the learning that popularity in my case wouldn’t be of such impressive magnitude. The clan that would learn about my exploits was thankfully much smaller. As I saw the battalion approach, I felt as Bin Laden might have felt watching the FBI march towards him. One felt like wanted gangster. One needed to act, urgently, things could be controlled even now. All was not lost. One required tact.

“Palak, let them go and watch the movie. I’ll explain every thing to you,” I said coolly to Palak.
“Oh! Don’t be afraid, Tejas. Let everyone know about your glorious deed.” She was boiling.
“I’ll take a minute to explain. Let them go. If you want to tell them something, do that later. Don’t create a scene here.” “Fine,” she said angrily.
I told bhabhi that I’d come in a minute. She teased me: “Flirting around, Mr. Tejas?” I smiled and said, “I am glad you understand, bhabhi.”I gave her the mobile phone and took me ticket. Vineet whispered to me, “You rascal, mend your ways. I’ll kick you but when you come back.”
I returned to the furious four.
“What did you tell Shreya?” Palak got ready for the court martial. “I saw you leaving this place. So I assumed Shreya might not be coming for the movie. But when I saw her here, I thought, might as well talk to her a little and then tell her to join you. So…I just told her what she told you that I told her. It was harmless, sis.” “Come to the point, Mr. Tejas. What about the phone call?” “Which phone call? How do I know?”
“Of course, you know. It can’t be a coincidence that we are asked to go to the back while you flirt in the front.”
“Excuse me. I didn’t flirt. Ask Shreya. I merely talked to her nicely.”
Shreya was puzzled. She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t look at me nicely at all. Palak moved away and did something with her mobile phone. She dialed “Shreya’s dad’s number, I guess. A series of awkward expressions followed. I couldn’t hear her but knew all. She came back red as a tomato and shouted” “That was bhabhi’s mobile.”
“Which mobile?” I asked innocently.
“from which Shreya’s dad called.”
“But how did Shreya’s dad get bhabhi’s mobile? Do they know each other? Small place, this world, extremely!”
“Stop your nonsense, I mean someone called from her cell acting like Shreya’s dad!”
“Oh my God, I can’t see why bhabhi will do this. Something fishy. And I fail to see you how could mistake her sweet voice as a man’s.”
“Tejas, stop joking. I can’t believe you would do that,” she said, looking hurt. “I am sorry, Shreya. I didn’t know he could do such a shameful thing.” My heart winced at hearing ‘shameful’. Some words are like pocket bombs. My sister was hurt. I should have known. Palak does not emotional at such things.

“It is okay, Palak. Don’t feel bad. You didn’t do anything,” said my darling, comforting. She was not even looking at me. I moved towards my dear sister. “I am sorry sis. I didn’t realize you’d feel so bad. Honestly, I did this just to get even with you. And please ask your friend, I talked properly.” Her friend still wasn’t looking at me.
“Tejas, you have crossed all limits this time…”
“Palak, I did this just because you talked like that on the phone yesterday. I didn’t feel good that you were going out with your friends on my birthday. I am sorry. I went too far…” I lied. Of course, I wanted to flirt with Shreya. But I had to lie. She was seriously hurt. I may have been instigated into doing this because of Palak’s tone but the reason was different. I took Palak’s hands in mine and said sorry again. I meant that, though. “Now please don’t spoil my birthday, sis. Cheer up. The movie is about to start. You haven’t missed anything. First fifteen minutes are ads.”

She was still cross, I could see. Saumya and Kamna looked away in disgust. Shreya looked at me, without any anger, I guess. Then she said to Palak. “It is okay na, dear. Honestly, I don’t feel bad. So please don’t fight with him and cheer up. And yes, his behaviour was fine.” She was sweet.

“I am sorry, Shreya. Can I talk to you for moment? In private,” I dared to ask her.
“Yes,” she said. Thank God!
We moved away a little. Rest of them proceeded towards the hall. “I am sorry,” I said looking into her pretty eyes.
“It is okay. You are quite a prankster though,” she commented mockingly.
“Yes. But today it turned out to be horrible. Generally, I like to make people happy.”
“Oh?” she had a sarcastic expression.
“Well, I know you won’t agree. I am really sorry if I hurt you. But it was really nice meeting you. And I mean that.”
“Fine. But honestly I don’t like boys who are after girls like this.” An acid comment.
“Please! I am not after you,” I said, trying to be polite. But I was after her. Now, yes, I was. “I am sorry if give you any such impression. I just tried to be a little friendly; turns out I already have spoiled so many people’s day,” I said., trying to gain sympathy. She did soften.
“It is okay, Tejas. Just be a little careful…” We started walking towards the hall.
“And yes, please pep up my sis. I know you will do that. And you can tell her that I was decent with you, that’ll help.”
“Fine. I will do that.”
“You have a nice heart.” I meant that. She had been so considerate and composed during the whole episode. She was a really nice girl. Beautiful. Inside, as well as outside. I was gone for life.
“Thanks. Interesting meeting you anyway,” she smiled after a long time. That brightened me up. It indeed wasn’t all that bad now. In fact, I felt it had turned out brilliantly.
“Bang on, miss! It is always fun… being with me. I feel life should be a little adventurous. Normal is boring. What do you say?” “Hmm, nice thought but I have a rather weak heart.”
“Hmm, maybe you have the privilege of learning this from me too. Living life king size.”
“Yes, maybe.” She laid stress on that ‘maybe’.

We reached the entrance of the theatre. I glanced at my watch. We were about twenty minutes late. We stopped before going in. “Don’t worry ma’am, you wouldn’t have missed much. The movie has just started,” I said, putting on a sophisticated charm.

“I am not worrying. I have already seen it. It is you who should worry, sir.” And she laughed. She was not very displeased with the developments, I surprised. In fact, she seemed pleased. Quite pleased.
“Eeeks,” I uttered, laughing, “We better rush in then. A moment more though, ma’am. What happens to the guitar and dance lessons? Are they still on?”
“Hmm, I can’t say, right now. I’ll have to think about it, sir,” she said playing around. That killed me again.
“Do tell me though. I hope to stay in touch. Shall I give my email contact?”
“Your wish.”

I took that as a yes and gave her mine. I wrote it on a piece of paper I found in my pocket. Thank God, I was carrying a pen. She gave hers too. Not bad at all, Tejas; not bad at all, I said to myself. We moved in, finally. I hardly cared about the movie. I was in awe of her. I didn’t know if it was love, but I could have done anything she asked for. These girls hypnotize you.

“By the way, happy birthday,” she said so sweetly.
“Thanks, don’t l get a gift?”
“No,” she said cutely and just like a girl can. We parted finally saying bye and smiling.

I knew I had got the gift, though. The best I could ever get. It couldn’t have been a better birthday. She had won my heart and I felt that I had made an impression too.

Such was the unique episode, then, my readers, an impeccable work of Mr. Fate, and I remember singing as I marched towards my seat.

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday, dear T-e-j-a-a-a-s,
H-a-p-p-y B-i-r-t-h-d-a-y, t-o y-o-u-u-u-u-u-u!!!!