Finally, the night had come. It was her birthday night and long back she had thought to take the final decision on that night…
She closed her eyes & all the memories flashed back; the first time she met him, how they discussed studies, their long phone calls, some healthy flirting and more and more….
She opened her eyes and got up. She had to decide tonight. She loved him, she really did. He was her closest friend and will always be. But she wanted more, maybe something that was out of his budget to give her.
She is a simple girl and he is a complicated boy. It was a fight between her heart and brain. But she was firm this time. She has always believed in TRUE LOVE which is beyond looks, caste, creed and social status; but at the same time, she is very practical. She is a girl with self-respect and could not tolerate his careless and insensitive behavior. But, deep in her heart, she knew that he would never hurt her intentionally; after all, she was his BEST FRIEND (that’s what he always addressed her as!)
She got off her bed, went outside and sat under the dark sky with twinkling stars. It was a close competition, just like the buzzer round of a quiz.
“You love him”, said her heart;
“But he doesn’t”, replied her brain.
Her brain reminded her of all the occasions he had made her feel avoided and unwanted; while her heart recollected the memories of their long phone calls, their late-night bike rides, the only time she hugged him, and the kiss she always wanted from him but never got.
She went back to her room, opened her drawer and took out the cards he had given to her previously; one on her last birthday and one on a random occasion. In the very same drawer, she found out the wrappers of the gifts he had given her before. She had kept them all with great care.
She was baffled. She was confused. But, then, she took a deep breath and realized that his activities don’t bother her anymore. She doesn’t feel jealous when he talks about other girls, she doesn’t feel sad if he forgets her birthday.
And that’s where she found her answer; an answer that was always there within her but it took her so long to find it out. FINALLY, she recollected all those loving and cherished memories and wrapped them in a gift called “JUST FRIENDS” and erased off all the other feelings, she ever had for him. That was the best birthday gift she could have ever given to herself.
