It was a normal working day.
Nothing special. Except that it was his birthday. His first birthday away from
home. His first birthday when he couldn’t share the joy of spending one more
year with his loved ones. Calls poured in all day long. Yet he felt all the more
away, all the lonelier, and all the more alone. Time to go back home he thought
as he started putting his papers back in place.
His cell beeped. His roommate
would be back late. His meeting had been delayed which meant birthday
celebrations at home stood canceled. Great!
“Hey Abhinav! All packed? Lets go.
I’ll drop you home” Gaurav said.
Gaurav was more of a friend than
colleague. “Sumedha’s waiting downstairs” he said referring to his wife.
On the way home they stopped at a
newly opened restraint.
“Happy birthday!” Sumedha wished
him from behind the wheel, while Gaurav handed Abhinav a gift.
“What’s this guys?”
“Just to make you feel all the
more special”
“Come we’re having dinner
together, the treat’s on us.”
From the next hour Abhinav felt
like he was almost home.
Yet when they dropped him off, he
couldn’t help feeling lonely again. To ward off going to an empty home, he
decided to take a small walk.
He called up his mother.
“Hi mom, what are you doing?”
“Happy birthday! We were just
done with dinner.”
“No cake for dinner this year?”
he asked, forlorn.
“We’ll definitely have some when
we meet! I’ll bake your favorite chocolate cake. Where are you by the way? You
haven’t reached home yet? Still working?”
“No mom! I’m done with dinner.
Went out with Gaurav & Sumedha. Just out for a walk right now. I’m
missing…”
“Abhi, I’ll call you back, wait”
and the line disconnected
“I love you mom. I miss you all a
lot.” he said, staring at the phone.
With heavy legs and a heavier
heart, he walked back to his place. Climbing up the stairs, he saw one of his
fellow residents being greeted by his children, the warmth and love of a family
pouring out of their place. Waving towards the father, he trudged along the stairs
and put his key into the lock. Opening the door, he switched on the lights of
his place and was greeted by shrieks of “Happy Birthday!”
Shocked, he banged the door shut!
He couldn’t believe his eyes! His eyes welled up with tears as he stood looking
at his family. His girlfriend stood nearby holding out the chocolate cake for
him.
He had never been happier!
