HaPpY bDaY sAfI :D

"It's that day of the year again. One of the most important days of my life. The day where it all ended and began. It was the last day of college. Swayam and I were sitting together in the rehearsal hall. It had been three months since we got into a relationship. I had finally admitted to Swayam how much I loved him and wanted him in my life. I had told him that he did not deserve one bit to be as hurt as he was. He did not deserve to be treated the way Taani, his dad, Rey, and moreover, I had treated him. I had told him that I will never ever hurt him anymore. I had promised him to give him all the happiness that he deserved. It had been three months since our relationship, and this time a real relationship, and not a "trial" one, had kick started. I could see how happy Swayam was. And that made me even happier. But somehow I realized that something was eating him up from within. He was always restless and even though he was always busy in treating me like a princess, I knew very well, that something was missing. And it did not take much thinking to guess what was bothering him. I had already talked to his dad about him. I had told Mr.Shekhawat that Swayam was an all rounder. I told him that he was an excellent student, an excellent sportsperson, and an excellent dancer. He had not chosen dance because he could not do anything else. It was because he loved dance. It was not him who chose dance, dance had chosen him. I told Mr.Shekhawat he was wrong in comparing Swayam with Rey because Swayam was incomparable. He was a flawless gem and nothing could change that about him. I had somehow been able to bridge the gap between Swayam and his dad. He regretted not knowing his son properly for all these years and for having ignored him. And Swayam was more than happy to have his father back in his life and forgave him instantly for misjudging him. Taani, regretted having ignored her brother, and she helped a lot in bringing about the father-son reunion. Now the only problem left in Swayam's life was Rey. I knew that Rey was avoiding and showing attitude to Swayam in order to make him believe that his breakup with Taani was genuine. I saw no reason for doing this. Knowing the understanding person that Swayam was, I knew very well that he would have supported Rey if he knew the truth. Rey was wrong in hiding the truth from Rey and was hurting him in every way possible. Rey was in no mood to tell Swayam the truth. I did not know what to do. I had tried very hard to make Rey see reason, but Rey refused completely. Swayam never complained but I knew this behavior from Rey was killing him from inside. I had to do something about it. But I was helpless. In no way could I better the situation for Swayam. And that made me feel all the more helpless. Knowing the truth bothered me, but what bothered me more was hiding the truth from my Swayam. Every time I looked at his face, tears welled up in my eyes.

Anyway, coming back to that particular day. Rey, Swayam and I were supposed to meet up in the rehearsal hall to discuss about the future of our dance group. College was over and we needed to buck up.

"Should we start?" I asked Swayam.

"No. Rey is not here yet."

He knew Rey was ignoring him. And yet he chose to wait for him. The amount of love and respect that Swayam had for his friends sometimes annoyed me. Rey entered the hall putting up his pretence of I-don't-care-about-anything-and-anybody. He gave me a brief smile which disappeared in response to the smile that Swayam was smiling at him. I just couldn't take it anymore.

"Stop it! Stop it Rey! Don't do this to Swayam! He does not deserve any of this!" I shouted.

Rey had not expected me to speak up. He was shocked. And so was Swayam. But he recovered soon and said, "Sharon, calm down." But I had had enough.

"No Swayam, I won't! I won't anymore. Rey you have to stop this behavior of yours towards Swayam. I don't want to know what "greater purpose" it is serving! I just don't want to know!"

Rey tried to stop me. "Sharon, don't talk rubbish. I don't understand a single word you are saying" he said. But I was in no mood to stop. I turned towards Swayam and let out whatever I had hidden from him with so much pain all those days. I told Swayam how Rey had manipulated Taani to break up with him in order to show her the right path. I told Rey behaved with him the way he did because he wanted Swayam to believe that the break up was a real one. He did not want to face Swayam because he knew that Swayam would be hurt.

I kept on talking non-stop, but after I was done I looked at both of them. Rey was teary-eyed and was not looking up at Swayam, fearing his reaction. Swayam, on the other hand, kept looking at Rey with a stone- like face. No words were exchanged and for a second, I started doubting myself for taking the wrong step. Why the hell were they so quiet? And then suddenly, Swayam walked up to Rey, wrapped him in a hug, and they did what I had never expected them to do-they cried! No words were exchanged; they just cried their hearts out. I realized that tears were rolling down my eyes too. I knew they were tears of joy. I called out to my "anmol ratans", "Guys, I am the girl here. And look, I am crying too. I can do with a hug too, you know."

They immediately looked up at me and rushed to hug me. Both of them engulfed me in a bear hug together, rendering me breathless, literally, and at the same time, making me the happiest girl in the world.

Thus I will never forget this day. Anyway I have got to go. Rey and Swayam are waiting for me for lunch. And as usual, I am fashionably late. It has been five years, and our friendship has grown stronger with each passing day of our lives. I hope we continue to remain this way throughout our lives and the ShaReYam bond grows stronger and stronger. "

Sharon closed her diary while smiling a ear-to-ear smile, she put down her pen, and braced herself for the fifth anniversary of the day, which they called the ShaReYam day.

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