The Birthday Party

Ten-year old Atul felt very grown up indeed as he made his way towards his friend's home, all on his own. His friend Sanjay stayed in the same colony as Atul, but in a different building. And today was Sanjay's birthday. The 10th one. The first one of double-digits. Sanjay had invited all his friends for a party at his home.

Atul tapped his pocket yet again to confirm the presence of Sanjay's gift. It was a beautiful golden-coloured pen that had black stripes on it. Sanjay's mother had complained to Atul's mother that Sanjay was not very keen on writing. Naturally, when Atul asked his mom about what gift he should give to Sanjay, she had promptly suggested a pen, the logic being, the pen would motivate Sanjay to write more. Grown-ups were indeed weird.

Atul stood outside the building where Sanjay lived and hesitated. Although he and Sanjay had been friends since a few months, they had never really visited each other's homes. Atul smoothed the new t-shirt that he was wearing and removed imaginary threads from his jeans. Finally, when he felt that he could not evade the visit anymore, he stepped inside the lift and pressed the button for the second floor.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Srikanth placed the cake carefully over the table-top and took a photo of the same. He smiled as memories of his son's childhood ran through his mind. The boy had always loved cakes. And cake-cutting had been a much-anticipated occasion.

"Akhila!" He called out to his wife. When there was no reply, he went to their bedroom and saw her standing in front of the mirror and combing her hair. She was wearing a Kanjivaram saree and looked every inch, the royal queen that she indeed was.

She turned around to look at him. "Let me get ready. It is after all, my son's birthday."

"How is it that you don't look a day over thirty, while I have started looking like your uncle!?" Srikanth wondered aloud, much to Akhila's amusement.

"Thirty is stretching it too much. You reduced my years by half! I know I look my age now." She said softly.

Srikanth shook his head. "No. You look young and beautiful. Now, relieve the mirror for some time. There is a cake waiting to be cut!" 

She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him.

He smiled. "Come on, let us take a selfie." He went to stand beside her. She wrapped her arm around his waist and both smiled at the camera.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Atul stood outside the house and looked at the number plate. Flat 202. The door was open and a small cake was kept on the table.

‘The cake looks small… and why isn't anyone else here?’ Atul wondered as he removed his chappals and stepped in.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"All right, let us cut the cake." Srikanth came out of the room, followed by Akhila. They both looked at Atul in surprise and amusement.

They all stood staring at each other, Atul feeling uncomfortable with the passage of every second. Finally he asked. "Where is Sanjay?"

Akhila looked at Srikanth. "I think he has come to attend the birthday party on the third floor. I did see many children going there." She turned towards Atul and smiled. "I think you are in the wrong house, child. Your friend Sanjay must be living on the third floor."

"Sorry, I will leave now." He said and looked at the cake. "Whose birthday?" He asked, looking at both of them.

"Our son's birthday." Akhila said with a smile.

"Oh, okay. I want to wish him. Where is he?" Atul asked.

Srikanth smiled and pointed to a corner of the room. Atul saw a photo of a soldier with a garland around him. He understood.

"He is no more, like my grandpa. I have a photo of grandpa in my home. Dad puts a garland around it every day." Atul said with all the innocence of a ten-year old child.

"I am so sorry about your grandpa, child." Akhila said kindly. "Would you like to wait for few minutes till we cut the cake? It would mean a lot to us if you join us in our celebration."

Atul thought for a minute and nodded his head. "Okay".

It was indeed a strange birthday party, with the birthday boy missing, and two seniors and a child singing Happy Birthday To You, each according to their own tune. Atul saw Akhila's eyes fill with tears as her husband fed her a small slice of the cake. Both of them broke down a bit.

Atul quietly took a slice from the cake and walked towards the photo. "My teacher has taught about what soldiers do for my country. Thank you, and wish you a very happy birthday." Atul said softly and after showing the cake towards the photo, he ate it himself. This made the old couple smile.

"Wait for few more minutes. I will bring hot samosas. We haven't had a guest in our home since a long time." Akhila said, still feeling emotional, and sauntered off into the kitchen.

"So, what is your name, child?" Srikanth asked.

"Atul. I have seen you at the park with your friends." Atul hesitated for a second before blurting out. "The uncle who carries the stick with him, Sharma Uncle, he is very strict. He lives in my building and doesn't like it when I and my friends play and make noise."

Srikanth laughed. He laughed like he hadn't, since ages. Akhila entered the room carrying a tray full of samosas and sauce. She looked at the still-laughing Srikanth in amusement. "Share the joke with me too!" She said as she handed out a paper-plate filled with Samosas to Atul. She smiled as the child eagerly took the plate and promptly started eating the Samosa.

"Atul has a complaint about SharmaJi." Srikanth said, still chuckling as he took a samosa for himself. 

Akhila shook her head. "That man has to loosen himself up. He is way too harsh on children."

"I was thinking the same!" Atul exclaimed and then suddenly tensed. He looked at Srikanth. "You won't tell him about what I said, will you, Uncle? I am scared of him."

"No child, Uncle here won't say anything to SharmaJi." Akhila said kindly. "How is the Samosa? I made it myself."

Atul's eyes widened. "You made it yourself!? It is so tasty!" He said and promptly lost himself in devouring the samosa. Akhila and Srikanth exchanged a smile. Somehow the child's presence in the house had brightened up their day.

Atul wiped the samosa and sauce off his plate and looked around for a dustbin. Akhila was about to take the plate from him but he shook his head. "No, no. Mom says I should do my work myself. Please show me where I can dispose this." Akhila's eyes lit up with appreciation. She showed Atul where to dispose off the plate.

 

"I think I should leave. Sanjay will be cutting the cake any minute now." Atul said. "Thank you for the delicious cake and samosa." He hesitated for a while. "Can I come to your house sometimes?"

Akhila beamed with happiness. "We would love it if you come to meet us. Thank you so much for joining us in our celebration!"

Srikanth took his cell-phone. “Let us take a selfie.” Akhila sat beside him and Atul snuggled between them.

“And now I want a photo of this handsome boy!” Akhila said gesturing to Atul while taking the cell-phone from Srikanth. She saw Atul hesitate for a second. Then he proceeded to stand beside the photo of the soldier and smiled, facing the old couple.

Akhila gulped, the emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She resolutely shook her mind off all the grief and clicked the photo of the child who had unexpectedly brought in few yet precious moments of happiness in her life.