"Not all gifts are bought. Some are crafted with time, love, and glitter pens."
Birthdays always felt weird to Siya.
So many people showed fake excitement on the actual day… and then disappeared.
But this time, something was different.
Because Ruhan was in her life.
She was expecting a text. Maybe a voice note.
Maybe a call.
But what she got was a full-blown fairytale moment.
🎁 The Surprise Before the Surprise
A day before her birthday, he called her out of the blue.
"I want to meet you today."
"Today? Not tomorrow?"
"Nope. Today. Just trust me."
They met under the tree near their regular hangout spot.
He came with a bag—slightly crumpled, totally suspicious—and a nervous smile.
"Happy almost-birthday," he said, holding out the bag.
She raised her eyebrow.
"I'm not opening it now."
"Exactly. That's why I'm giving it a day early. You open it tomorrow. Promise me."
"Why though?"
"Because I might not be able to meet you on your birthday... and I don't want you to feel forgotten. So I made sure this reaches you anyway."
Siya melted like a chocolate bar in the sun.
His voice, his nervous energy, that shy smile—better than 1000 gifts.
📦 Midnight. The Unwrapping Begins...
At 12:01 AM, she couldn't wait anymore.
She opened the bag, heart racing, hands shaking.
Inside:
1. 🎨 A hand-drawn sketch of her — slightly crooked nose, oversized eyes, but adorable as heck
2. 🧩 A handmade puzzle with a cute message that formed when she joined the pieces:
"You make even the boring days feel like festivals."
3. 💍 A pair of silver jhumkas taped inside a book with his scribbled notes all over the pages.
One page said:
"These jhumkas are nothing compared to how you shine, but at least they won't give you emotional damage."
4. 🍫 Chocolates!
She held it all against her chest and smiled through happy tears.
"This boy is a walking Pinterest board of love," she whispered.
💍 A Week Later… the Real Cherry on Top
Just when she thought he'd done too much already—
A week later, he met her again.
This time, no bag.
Just a tiny little box in his hand.
"What's this now?"
He opened it.
Inside was a ring — sleek, silver, elegant.
"I saw this in a shop and thought, this is Siya."
"Why?"
"Because it's simple, shiny, and has a little curve—just like your mood swings."
She smacked his arm.
He laughed. She blushed.
Then he gently slid it onto her finger.
No drama. No big speeches.
Just a silent promise wrapped in silver.
Her birthday wasn't just a date anymore.
It was a chapter.
One filled with crinkled paper, jhumkas, puzzles, laughter, and a boy who remembered the little things.
That was the day Siya stopped liking him.
She started loving him.