Birthday Girl

It was raining heavily from the early morning. I got up bit early than usual to enjoy the first rain of the season with a cup of tea in my balcony. The clock struck seven. Today, it was my little sis Saloni’s 9^th birthday. Fooling around the home with her little feet and incessant meaningless cute queries, she looked like an angel in blue skirt and white top. Everyone’s birthday was welcomed with open arms but not hers. Her birthday was never ever celebrated in our home since her birthday was on the same day of our mother’s Barsi. Saloni did never feel the same warmth and personal loving touch that a normal family brings with it for a child.

“Papa….Please Papa……………………..Pleeeeeaasseeeeeeeeeee……….buy balloons, a cake, and candles for me! How about a nice dress?’ she pleaded with her indifferent father, ‘Okay…will you buy chocolates for me? Neha gave us Cadbury chocolates on her birthday,” Saloni tucked at his shirt’s sleeve.  He was lost in the morning headlines, “I have promised my friends a party this time, mere achhe Papa,” Saloni flashed her sweet smile.  Her face was glowing with thoughts of first birthday celebration ever.  She had dreamt about her new dress and birthday cake. It was like celebrating her birthday was the biggest dream of her tiny existence.   

“Stop all this, have bath and go to school,” Papa shouted at the top of his voice! Saloni’s hopes were shattered!

Her small beautiful eyes got soaked with tears. She wondered where the fault lies with her!

Papa’s questionable indifference to her innocent desire had never allowed even the small celebration ever. Saloni even didn’t ask me or my younger brother Shyam to celebrate her birthday. I doubt whether it was fear or total surrender to her fate. I don’t agree with those who say that children don’t understand things. In fact, I believe they accept and move on quicker than so called mature adults. Though, we were not rich ones, but of course, a small celebration was never a problem.  But I and Shyam never dare to say or do anything about this.

The rain had trickled to drizzling. I left for my office, Pizza Hut. I had joined Pizza Hut as a service guy just two months back. Today, it was going to be a hectic day since one of our regular customer; Mr. Ghosh had booked Pizza Hut for his daughter’s birthday celebration. Around 30 children along with few other close friends were invited to the Birthday party.

The floor was decorated with lots of mushy-mushy stuff. The red and white balloons had been drifting down from the ceiling, covering the floor and flowers were unfolding all over the place. Balloons were tied to the backs of chairs too. A large balloon stuffed with dozens of smaller balloons & other glittery stuff, decorated with ribbons and gifts was dangling from the center of the ceiling. A containers was filled with toys and chocolates suspended from a rope which were broken by children.

Making children smile and enjoy the event was the best part of my job. However, it was not the same today. Every single moment, Saloni’s face would come up in front of my eyes with open arms pleading for a tiny celebration.

The birthday girl, stood just below that big balloon to cut the cake with her name on it.  “Happy Birthday to You………… Happy Birthday to You………Happy…. Birthday to Dear Neha…. Happy Birthday to You,” the floor echoed with birthday rhymes. My heart was singing the same rhymes but for Saloni. I was on the verge of tears. If I was going through this, then only could imagine what that innocent soul would be going through alone past these years: sheer insult, apathy and that too from whom, her own father! For her, good things happened only to other people. How god can be so cruel?

I never felt as strong about anything in my life as today while coming back to my home. Her image of sleeping on sofa with folded legs and squeezing an old doll close to her heart, given to her few years back by Buaji flashed in my mind. I couldn't wait to see her.  I wanted to give her a tight hug. Here, a child was waiting for someone to take her up in arms and embrace. She was hungry, hungry for love, care, attention and above all a feeling of wanted in the family. She was lonely and her eyes declared this every time she wept alone. I don’t know when and how Papa’s aloofness infected everyone at home. However, today I was determined not to be coward anymore!         

As I entered the home, both Papa and Shyam were standing with Saloni in the middle with two cakes on the table. Saloni was smiling like an angel, readying to cut the cake. The rainy evening was swamped by real fun and freedom from strife was astonishing. Family was together first time and the bounding force was little angel Saloni. Saloni had got the gift of her life: a family with lots of love and compassion. Her dreams had come true. Though she was nine, she was celebrating her first birthday.

Papa was smiling quietly probably because for him, the most baffling question he faced every day had already been answered.