Indhu's POV
The unit test — or should I say the heartbreaks of our life — had finally ended.
I really don't want to share about them, and I don't know why, but I remember only our school trips, food, friendship… not about my exam. 🤣
Okay, now for the good thing…
The countdown had already begun.
Just a few days to go for Charlotte's birthday — and everyone in class knew it.
But the excitement wasn't coming from Charlotte.
It was coming towards her.
It began casually one morning, when the V5 group circled around Charlotte during lunch.
"So, Miss Scorpio," teased Rohan, "big birthday coming up. Nervous?"
"Excited?" added Aditya.
"What are your birthday plans?" I asked with a soft smile.
Swetha leaned forward. "Or… what would your dream birthday look like?"
Charlotte blinked. Her fingers twirled a loose thread from her water bottle cover.
She didn't usually open up about things like this. But maybe just this once…
"Well," she started slowly, eyes distant like she was seeing something far beyond the classroom wall,
"I've always loved beaches. The sound, the wind, the calmness. I always dreamed of waking up or being taken to a beach — decorated lights, balloons, a surprise cake… maybe a movie under the stars. My parents or my sister or anyone surprising me… It's silly, I know."
There was a small pause.
Then, all at once, Rohan coughed, Swetha looked at her shoes, Aditya suddenly stretched, and I made a big show of sipping water.
We exchanged a very suspicious series of grim-smiles, like we all knew something that Charlotte didn't.
But Charlotte, too dreamy-eyed, didn't bother noticing.
As the days moved on, she began to feel something odd.
We were acting too normal.
Too casual around her birthday.
No teasing, no suspicious mentions, no early gifts.
Saturday Night – 11:45 PM
Charlotte sat on her bed, phone in hand.
She wasn't able to sleep. Her birthday was just fifteen minutes away.
Just then — ping — a message.
Swetha: Come down. Now. Urgent.
Charlotte blinked.
What? She rushed down in her nightdress and slippers, her heart beating fast.
As soon as she opened the door —
"Boo!"
Someone gently covered her eyes from behind.
"Hey! What's going on?!" she shrieked, laughing and slightly panicking.
No reply.
She was guided (maybe dragged) carefully. She could feel the wind. Smell the salt. Hear the waves.
When her blindfold was taken off—
Her breath caught.
Surprise!
We were at the beach.
Lights twinkled around us — golden fairy lights strung across sticks and palm trees.
Bright balloons floated gently with the breeze.
A big banner hung across the center, glowing:
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLOTTE ❤️"
There was a huge cake.
A printed photo of the V5 group together stood proudly on an easel, surrounded by gifts, cards, and candles.
Her parents were there. Her sister.
And — of course — the entire V5 team smiling proudly, some holding party poppers, others barely hiding laughter.
Charlotte froze, her eyes glassy with disbelief.
"You guys… you did all this?"
Swetha hugged her tight from behind.
"You said it once. We remembered it forever."
But they all leaned near me and said,
"We should forget the artist who drew your dream to make it come true."
Charlotte hugged me tight.
Rohan and Aditya quickly went and grabbed paper plates just to get their cake pieces fast.
We could help but slapped our heads in unison, looking at our half-brain friends.
Later, we cut the cake. Everyone cheered. Cameras flashed.
Charlotte received gift after gift — handmade cards, perfume, a sketch by me, a music box from Aditya, a little mystery book from Rohan, and a bracelet from Swetha.
After dinner — biryani, sandwiches, cupcakes, and all her favorites — the beach lights dimmed slightly.
Suddenly, a projector flickered on.
"Wait… What's happening?" Charlotte asked.
I winked.
"Your second dream."
On the screen: Charlotte's favorite movie, playing right there on the sand, under the stars.
People lay on beanbags, wrapped in blankets. Popcorn was passed around.
Laughter echoed along the shoreline.
Charlotte looked up at the sky.
And she whispered to herself,
"This is it. My dream came true."
Her parents stood there, seeing their daughter smile.