Life Goes On... - Neha Dua (good beach reads .TXT) 📗

tell you from the last so many months. I don’t know how to say this, but I think I like you. I like you more than a friend, I don’t know how you feel about me or what you think of me as now, but I am sorry that I couldn’t reverse the feelings in the past that you had for me because of what I have seen in my family. I know it might be too late to express my feelings to you, but I didn’t want to have this regret that I didn’t even try and lost this opportunity”.

Shane kept quiet for some time, but it felt like it was my heartbeat had stopped at that moment, I couldn’t guess what was running in his mind. He looked surprised and amazed both to me, but I wanted him to share his part with me. “Shane please say something. Your silence is killing me. I am sorry, I know I am too late to have feelings for you like this, but please, at least share your thoughts with me. I am in dilemma now, whether you still feel the same for me like you used to do two years back or have I lost that chance forever”.

The wind outside was sending chills to my body, but I was still focused on Shane’s face to have my answers. After a long pause, he came near to my face and looked me into the eyes, with his soft and innocent look. He enchanted me though, with his fascinating emerald eyes that were shadowed by his shaggy black-hair and his smile that took my breath away. He entirely took the definition of beautiful. He cupped my cheeks into his hands, and suddenly closed the distance between our faces with a gentle and sober kiss on my lips. I closed my eyes at that moment as I wanted to capture that moment for the rest of my life, in my memories. It was our first official and romantic kiss. I was blushing, couldn’t look at him and give in to his charming smile and bright eyes.

He didn’t say anything but his eyes and the emotions they conveyed said it all. I let myself fall under his temptation and looked at him, his charming grin turning into a smirk, as if he was reading my thoughts.

I didn’t need any words of commitment from him, because he was the only one who stood by me and Susan every time and never let us down. With this kiss, we said our goodnights and walked towards our homes.

Chapter 15

 It was my birthday week and unlike every year, this year was just a normal passing year, as I lost my family and my friends also got busy because of their work schedules. Everything changed since the day I left college and took the responsibility of managing the household work & Susan’s life. I was not even excited to have my birthday week like I used to. It was going to be just a small get-together which unexpectedly Prince and Alex arranged at their apartment. It was going to be a very small celebration between us friends. 

On my birthday today, I woke up early in the morning. I took an off today from work to be with Susan for the whole day. I wanted to spend the day with my only family left with no disturbances at all. I went downstairs in the kitchen to make us breakfast when I saw that Susan was making me a cupcake all by herself by reading the recipe in the cooking book. I heard some noise from the living room and when I peeked through the door, I found Shane all covered with balloons around him and was filling air into one of the balloons.

He was wearing a small-cap, on which it was written “Birthday Girl”. He was looking too cute with that cap and all surrounded by balloons and ribbons. I felt happy from the inside after so long. All three of us enjoyed together at my home till our lunch hours after which Shane went to his apartment as he had to meet Alex and Prince before the party starts.

It was 5 o'clock in the evening, I got dressed up in my favorite red and white sundress. I wore small studs to match my dress and a bracelet. I kept my hair straight with half of them tight up with bobby pins. I wore my favorite white heels matching my attire for the day. Susan and I walked out of my place and there Shane was already standing in the driveway wearing a black shirt and jeans, looking handsome as always.

We reached the venue at 6 o’clock and every one of them was there waiting for me to enter. They had made arrangements with balloons, ribbons, drinks & a big 2 layered cake. After the cake was cut, they handed me my birthday gift, which was a big white envelope. I sat down on the sofa to properly open the seal of the envelope. I was in shock to see what they had arranged as my birthday present.

The envelope had three letters in it. One was of the doctor’s appointment for Susan’s operation with which she could be healed. The second one had my college rejoining letter, I was going to complete my studies again. The final one had my scholarship to a London school for my internship program. I couldn’t hold back my tears at that time. It was like a dream for me to get back to college and to go to London for my internship. My friends made it possible, all this, without even letting me know this.

I was feeling blessed to have such wonderful and supporting friends in my life. It has been a month after my birthday, and I had to join college next month. I was going to go for my internship for the next 6 months in London. It was all possible because of my friends. They took care of Susan after her operation. They made us a part of their family and gave us all they had earned and saved just to bring my life back to normal after I lost my real family.

It is truly said that “a friend in need is a friend indeed”. They all are my heroes and I am so glad that I had found them and got an opportunity to share my happiness & togetherness with them.

Post Script

 To Shane, Denise, Maria, Mary, Alex & Prince

 

Thank you so much for standing with me in my ups and downs and for being a support system to me every time I found myself getting weak and ready to give up on y responsibilities. You people made me strong internally and I am for sure lucky that you guys chose me as your special friend, for whom you people invested your time, money, and efforts.

 

P.S. I love you all more than I could express.

Love,

Elena.

Imprint

Publication Date: 08-02-2020

All Rights Reserved