Short Story - 1

He wouldn't wake up. He wouldn't show any movement. He simply lay on the floor motionless covered in the white sheet. Everyone in the family is wailing except his wife Jenny. She is stoned in shock and refuses to except that Chris is no longer with her.

Just on her last birthday, their fast friend Joel called her up in office at 3pm. "Jenny, Chris's scooter got hit by a car.. and broke down on the Market Street. He called few moments ago.. I am going there to see what happened.. Just letting you know that he doing fine..Bye". Before Jenny could say something, Joel hung up the phone. She tried calling Chris's phone but he wouldn't pick up. She tried calling Joel and even he won't answer. Her mind was racing and so was her heart, "Is Chris is okay? God!! What happened?".  When she could no longer resist, she picked her bag and drove as fast as she could to the Market Street. Except when she reached there, she could not find any cop car or ambulance. She was puzzled. She drove around and street and there, at the corner, she found big banner that said "Happy Birthday my Sweetheart Jenny". And Chris was standing right below the banner with open arms.

The year before that, again on her birthday, Chris left for work early in the morning without even wishing her. A disgruntled Jenny found a post-it on the fridge when she woke up, "Look inside the top most drawer of your dressing table". When she opened the drawer it had a box of her favorite caramel chocolates and another note saying, "Identify the black dress which does not belong to you in your wardrobe, wear it and drive to place mentioned in the note kept in its pocket". When Jenny finally identified her new black dress, she quickly read the note. The note said, "See you on Hilltop View Restaurant at 9am". Chris had booked her birthday bash at her favorite restaurant which gave the most scenic view of city and the three lovely mountain ladies.

But today was different. The cry of death was loud and Chris's body was soundless. Jenny collapsed on her feet near his body and with all the force she had in her body, she shook Chris's dead body. She requested Chris, "Get up Chris. I am not liking this surprise. This is no way.. This is no no way to surprise me on my birthday.. Get up Chris..". It was her birthday today. Chris, like on all her birthdays, had given her the surprise of her life.