Rayyan stood frozen in the dark.
The café behind the college bus stop was almost entirely swallowed by shadows, the overhead lamps outside flickering weakly like dying fireflies. The air smelled of old wood and cold night breeze. His chest tightened as he stepped further inside, the message still echoing in his mind:
Come alone… or I will kill her.
His pulse hammered painfully.His fingers shook.His breath came out shallow.
Every sound felt louder in the silence.Every shadow looked like it was watching him.He swallowed hard and raised his phone, using the dim flashlight to guide his trembling steps.
"Monica?" he whispered, terrified.His voice echoed—which only made the loneliness sharper.
Then—
BANG!
A metal tray fell somewhere behind him.
Rayyan flinched violently, his heart shooting into his throat. His phone nearly slipped from his hand.
And then—
The entire café exploded into bright, warm light.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RAYYAN!!!"
He blinked hard, completely disoriented.
The sudden brightness stung his eyes, but as his vision adjusted… he saw them.
Amir, Naveen, Afiq, Sumesh, Farah, Dina… all shouting and laughing, blowing party whistles.
And right in front, holding a small cake with a trembling candle — Monica.
Behind her, balloons hung from the ceiling in messy clusters. Someone had taped a crooked but adorable banner across the wall:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAYYAN!
Tables were filled with snacks—homemade noodles, chicken wings, sandwiches, chips, soft drinks—too much food for a simple college gathering. Someone even brought a speaker blasting cheesy pop music.
Rayyan just stood there…Empty.Overwhelmed.Speechless.
Monica stepped forward, her smile soft, eyes shimmering.
"Surprise."
Rayyan opened his mouth — but no sound came out.
Because suddenly, painfully, memories crashed into him.
His birthdays were never like this.No party.No friends.No decorations.No shouting.No lights.
Just him…A lonely candle stuck on a small bun from a roadside stall.A tiny flame he blew out in silence.One wish…Every year the same:
I hope next year feels different.
But it never did.
And today — he had even forgotten his own birthday.Maybe he wanted to forget.
Yet here he was… surrounded by warmth he didn't know how to accept.
His throat tightened.His eyes burned.
Amir suddenly grabbed him and hugged him so tightly he nearly lifted him off the ground."BROOO! You look like you saw a ghost! Or… ten ghosts!"
Naveen laughed loudly. "First time the birthday boy looks like he's about to faint!"
Rayyan quickly wiped a tear before anyone noticed — but Monica noticed.
She always noticed.
She stepped closer and raised the cake toward him."Make a wish, Rayyan."
He looked around — the lights, the laughter, the food, his friends… and Monica, standing there like she built this whole moment just to fill a part of him he never revealed.
His vision blurred again.
He closed his eyes.
I wish… I stop losing people. I wish… the ones who stand by me today… stay.
He blew out the candle softly.
Everyone clapped loudly, cheering.
Rayyan swallowed hard. "Thank you… all of you. This is… the first real birthday I've ever had."
Everything went quiet.
Even the music felt softer.
Then Amir, usually the loudest, gently put a hand on his shoulder."Then we'll make sure every year from now is even better, bro."
Rayyan laughed shakily.
Monica blinked rapidly, like she was holding back her own tears.
The Potluck Party Begins
Someone turned up the music. Someone else brought out paper plates. The small café filled with laughter, footsteps, clattering dishes, and excited chatter.
Rayyan sat between Amir and Farah, taking everything in.
The warmth.The noise.The colors.The feeling of belonging.
It was almost too much.
Monica placed a small red container in front of him."This one… I cooked myself."
Rayyan looked up at her, touched in a way he didn't understand."For me?"
She nodded shyly. "I wanted to give you something made with effort. Something warm."
He didn't say it aloud — but in that moment, she felt like the warmest thing in his life.
He opened the lid.Steam floated up.Butter chicken — her specialty.
She bit her lip nervously."I know you like curry… so I tried."
"It's perfect," he whispered.
Her smile grew small, gentle, proud.
Music, Dancing, Laughter
Soon the music got louder.People danced — badly.Horribly even.Naveen tried to moonwalk and almost injured himself.Dina pretended she was in a Bollywood movie.
Rayyan laughed — the kind of laugh that shakes the ribs.
He hadn't laughed like this in months.
Monica came up beside him, leaning close."Your friends are crazy," she whispered.
Rayyan smiled. "The good kind."
Their shoulders touched.A spark he couldn't ignore jumped between them.
Suddenly she extended her hand."Come. Dance."
His soul left his body."No, no — Monica, listen. I dance like a malfunctioning robot."
She laughed. "Then I'll be your engineer."
He panicked. "Monica—"
But she grabbed his hand anyway and dragged him to the center.Everyone cheered like he was joining a world-class competition.
He tried to move.It was a disaster.A beautiful, hilarious disaster.
She leaned closer, guiding his hands."Just follow my steps. Don't think."
"I'm still terrible."
"Still cute," she murmured.
Rayyan forgot how to breathe.
A Quiet Moment in the Corner
After dancing until his legs felt like jelly, Rayyan slipped away to the quieter corner of the café. Monica followed a moment later.
She sat beside him, close enough he could feel the warmth of her shoulder.
"Feeling better?" she asked softly.
He hesitated — then nodded, his voice small."I… no one has ever done this for me. Not even once. My birthdays were always… small. A bun with a candle. That's all. Today… this is the first time I felt like someone actually celebrated me."
Monica's expression softened painfully.She reached out and took his hand gently.
"Rayyan… you deserve more than a candle on a bun."
His heart squeezed.
"And for the record… you're not alone anymore," she whispered."Not today. Not ever."
His hand trembled in hers.
For a moment, the world shrank to just their interlocked fingers.
The Cake, the Friends, the Light — and Something New
The night went on.More jokes.More snacks.More photos.More memories being carved quietly into his heart.
But Rayyan kept glancing at Monica…And Monica kept glancing back.
There was a softness in her eyes.A question.A hope.
By the time the party wrapped up, Rayyan felt lighter than he had in years.
Monica walked toward him slowly, her hair falling over her shoulder, her lips curved in a small smile.
"Rayyan… happy birthday."
She stood on her toes.
A soft kiss on his cheek.
Rayyan froze.
His heart didn't just skip — it ran.
Monica blushed and stepped back slightly."Let this be the start of better days."
He couldn't form a single word.
He just nodded — overwhelmed, breathless, stunned.
She smiled again, this time brighter.
And For the First Time… Hope Felt Real
They walked out of the café together, the night air cool and gentle.The sky was dark but peaceful, speckled with tiny stars.
Monica hummed a quiet birthday tune under her breath as they walked.Rayyan followed behind her, a soft smile tugging at his lips.
Tonight, there were no threats.No fear.No loneliness.No shadows waiting to swallow him.
Just warmth.Just friends.Just her.
And for the first time in his life…
Rayyan felt celebrated.Wanted.Seen.
For the first time, he believed—
Maybe the world isn't always cruel.Sometimes… it gives you Monica.