Tring tring!!! The sound of the alarm clock woke me up from my deep slumber awakening me to this chilly morning when the sun is about to come but the stars not willing to hide .This winter morning with the stars still shining bright welcomed me to another day. The weather day by day is getting freezing and the moment I stepped down from my blanket I felt the sudden urge to dash myself back to the comforter. The most difficult task every morning for me is to get get down from my bed, leaving my cozy blanket behind,and in winters it becomes worse . Anyhow I headed towards the kitchen preparing myself a cup of coffee went back to my room and sat on the couch with every sip preparing myself for the day ahead . As I picked my phone the wallpaper flashed in front of my eyes took back to the childhood memories. It was a family pic of me and my brother with gifts in our hands and papa dressed up in Santa attire and maa smiling. I really miss those days and with Christmas nearing in just 4 days this nostalgia is hitting me hard .
From childhood I had a super craze for this festive feel and since past two years I really miss celebrating it with my family as I m working here alone. Still lost in my thoughts a message flashed on the screen ...
" good morning sweetie!
hope u are awake snow-white coming to pick u up in an hour ... be ready plzz don't make me wait outside .. it's chilling outside nishu!! "
Reading this stupid message from my idiot friend my mood lighten up and a smile crept on my lips ... and I started getting ready ...
And within an hour I was in his car with him shivering with cold..did i mention earlier that he is very punctual...
"Kya yar nisha jaldi nai asakti thi see meri kulfi jam gayi h " he spoke irritated
"Kabir i m just 4 minutes late " I answered back ..
"Han to thand me ek minute ki deri bhi jaanlewa hoti h " he spoke
"Aww and thand me having ice cream late night with your date is so life saving haina ?" I mimicked him ... and he scowled making me laugh and I suppress my laughter earning a deadly stare from him ..(and did I tell u he looks super cute with that reddened nose ) "ok chalo lets have our special coffee ,my treat as a penalty for being late " and his scowled face turned to a 1000 watt smile "now that's like my bestie" and he pinched my cheeks.
Kabir is my colleague and a good friend I have here or rather my only friend we met in the office working on the same project and since then we are inseparable. He is the only one because of whom I have survived these two years away from my family . Whenever I am with him he never let me miss them . His small actions can tell how much he cares for me and vice versa .
We reached office not before a small trip to our coffee shop having our special coffee with sandwiches as kabir was hungry even though he had his breakfast some 40 minutes ago .
The office was decorated with the festive feel and all the employees seemed so happy . Festival have this effect on us no matter how much trouble we have in our life we forget it and enjoy with each other filling happiness in others life.
Another reason for these excited faces is the new competition or the game that was beginning from today . These games were organized in our organization to relieve the employees of stress during the festival time. And this time the game was none other than 'Secret Santa' ... anyone can become a Secret Santa for someone. The Secret Santa will gift something to the person without being caught and the person has to identify his/her Secret Santa . The one who correctly identify wins . The result will be declared on the Christmas party .
"Kitna achcha game hai na kabir ,chal hum bhi participate karte h " I spoke all excitedly
" Isme kya achcha h nisha ... it's so boaring.. tu jaa I have lot of pending work .. aur han agar koi secret dating game ho to mujhe jarur batana " he blinked and all disappointed I went back to my cubicle.
May be he is right I also have lot of pending work but I get all excited thinking about Santa ... back at home every year during Christmas papa used to keep a new gift behind our pillows for a week till Christmas day and every morning waking up to new surprise was all new excitement for me and my brother. For many days we used to actually believe that Santa used to come , but actually yes he came yes he did my dad was our Secret Santa since childhood.
Diverting my mind I concentrated on my work and by evening I was done . I winded up my work as I thought of leaving with kabir and have dinner at my house as he was not well enough to make his dinner due to cold and was even drowsy all day due to medicines ,and I knew he would skip the dinner for his sleep so it was better to keep a check on him .
I went to the washroom to freshen up and as I returned to my cubicle. A box wrapped with golden shiny paper draped with a red ribbon was kept on the table over my keyboard. I looked everywhere but none suspicious was found ... everyone was busy with their work least bothered. I picked it up and read the label it read, " To the most beautiful girl I have ever met . From your Secret Santa " ,but I never participated then how can I receive the gift .
I was still inspecting the box when kabir came from behind sneezing " kya hua nishu chal na ... mujhe bhook lagi h *sneezes* " complaining like a child he spoke .
Hiding the box in the bag I rushed outside with him .
On the way back I asked kabir suspecting " kabir what if tomorrow morning you receive a gift kept secretly on your desk ?"
He laughed " nishu why will someone give me a gift secretly ... you know na how much girls are crazy for me " he teased ... yes he was right every girl wanted to be with him no one ever leaves a chance to flirt with him ... but why am I being irked ...
" And if I receive a gift ?what should I do " I tried to ask him indirectly but failed.. " kya tujhe kisi Secret Santa ne gift dia ?... dikha na mujhe " he asked .. " nai nai mujhe kaun gift dega ... I hardly talk to anyone .." I spoke ... "han ye bhi h ... achcha nishu khane me kya hai ... I m so hungry " he asked.
After the dinner kabir left for his house he lived only few blocks away . I was lying on the bed with the box in my hand sleep far away from me today thinking who could be my Secret Santa ?