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That sounded reasonable, so I smiled tremulously.
“Okay, I’ll accept that. But where’s my birthday gift? I’m not going to let you weasel out of giving me a gift,” I teased, willing him to tease me back. To take us where we were just the night before.
He shook his head.
“I’m sorry. I have nothing for you,” he said, even more stiffly.
Oh, God! This was so typical of me! I always spoke without thinking, and always, always ended up jamming my foot in my mouth. Of course, he didn’t have a gift for me! On a resident’s stipend, he barely had enough money for food and clean clothes.
“I… I was joking, Aryan. You don’t have to get me anything,” I said hastily.
“Well, I can’t even if I have to,” he said bleakly. “Ran out of money last week. Luckily my roommate has stocked up on Maggi or we’d both starve.”
“I could have food sent over,” I began and stopped at the mighty glare on his face.
“I don’t need your pity, Your Highness. I can pay my way in the world,” he bit out.
“I didn’t mean it that way, Aryan. I was only trying to help. And I know you can pay your way. You are going to be a very successful doctor someday,” I said softly.
He raised an eyebrow at me quizzically.
“And what if I don’t? What if I decide to settle in a rural area to treat the poor?”
“I’ll build a hospital for your poor. And stock up your pharmacy. You’ll have the best rural hospital in all of Asia,” I declared.
He smiled again, and again the bleakness in his face scared me.
“I know you’re very eager to play Lady Bountiful, but I can manage without your help, thank you very much.”
That stung. A lot. Because I only wanted to bring a smile to his face. I wasn’t trying to be patronising or anything.
“Why are you being mean to me on my birthday?” I whispered.
“I’m just stating facts. I have nothing to give you today, and it doesn’t look like that’s going to change for a while.”
“Fine! But not all gifts are made of money. Some of the best ones aren’t,” I pointed out.
“Really? Like what?”
The sight of that raised eyebrow made me want to smack him. I settled for walking up to him, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him closer. He let out a surprised huff of breath and I smiled slightly. And then, I just stood there, staring at him, not knowing what to do next. I had never kissed a boy before.
But this wasmybirthday gift to me. Even if it wasn’t Aryan’s.
I took a deep breath and set my pride aside because I wanted my first kiss ever to be our first kiss together. The first of many to come.
“Gifts like this don’t cost a penny, and yet, they are priceless,” I murmured, just before I pressed my lips firmly against his.
And then, instead of kissing me back, Aryan had taken my pride and ripped it to shreds. I was damned if I’d let him do it again.
* * *
ARYAN
Jessie stared at him unseeingly, and he wondered what she was thinking about. Whatever it was, it couldn’t have been very pleasant, for there was a flash of pain in her gorgeous Manga eyes. She straightened up and looked at him bleakly.
“All that is in the past, Aryan. I think we’re old enough and mature enough to let go of the past.”
“And what about the present?”
