“The
coast is clear. Alright, everyone group up,” spoke a raspy voice, just
above the audible level, in the empty, dim lit hall. Three doors opened
and six figures started moving towards the source of the voice. Another figure
emerged from a room behind the voice with muffled footsteps and closed the door
as silently as humanly possible. With a flick of a switch, the shadowy room is
flooded with light from the chandelier at the center of the room. Two more
figures emerged from peripheral shadows and joined the ensemble. The excitement
in the room is palpable.
The
raspy voice started giving orders to the members of the group. “Alright guys.
We have too little time and too much to do. Let’s hurry up. Shyam and Murali,
you go secure the package and be back in exactly one hour. Shiva, you are with
me on this. Sita, Radha and Hema, you co-ordinate with Latha to realize her
arrangements. Try to keep the noise as low as possible. Naresh and Kumari, you
both guard the front gate and make sure only friendlies are allowed into
the...” went on Prasad until Latha sneaked up on him and nudged him in the
ribs. “Ouch”, cried a startled Prasad pretending pain. “Stop it. What’s with
all that military lingo? You are watching too many movies,” she said.
Prasad
sighed and said “why do you always have to take the fun out of everything?” He
turned to others and said “You got your orders. What are you waiting for? Come
on, move your asses and get things done quickly.” There is a sudden spike in
noise due to murmurs and running footsteps. “Shiva, you get those carry bags
from Shyam’s room. I’ll scout the building for strategic points to secure
decorations,” said Prasad. Latha, with a sigh, turned and headed towards
kitchen, followed by rest of the women.
The
band regrouped at 11:50pm and glanced proudly at their accomplishments; the
living room decorated with balloons and color papers, a two-step cake on the
table in the center of the hall that has “Keep calm and blow the candle”
written across it in colorful creams and a variety of sweets and snacks
decorated on the dining table. Shyam approached and reported to Prasad, “a
total of thirteen friendlies arrived, which is 88% turnout.” Prasad nodded
approvingly. “Then it’s time to wake him up. Come on,” he led them into the
room.
They
entered the room silently, arranged themselves into groups of two, a husband
and a wife. Then they all shouted at the same time, “Happy birthday Manoj…”
just as the clock struck 12.
* * *
Manoj
was startled by the noise and sat up straight in his bed. For a brief moment,
he couldn’t understand what was going on around him. He rubbed his eyes and
looked around. As the four figures standing around his bed came in to focus
from a blur, he started screaming in fright. Then he recognized their juvenile
faces and stopped himself. Their faces were radiant with joy.
All
four of them shouted “Happy birthday” again. He now understood what is going
on. So, was all that happened until now a dream? So it is true, the talk about
dreams such as the one he just had. Of course it is true, with them being a
bunch of orphans craving for loving families.
He
then gathered his wits and thanked them as they wished him individually. His
eyes were scanning the group for his best friend. At that moment, a small
figure emerged from the group. A smile bloomed on Manoj’s lips. His best
friend, Madhu, approached him timidly and wished him. This is a pretty big deal
for shy and reserved Madhu, to come into a group of people.
Manoj
pulled the hand of Madhu and hugged him tightly, as tears flowed on his cheeks.
Madhu freed himself, looked into Manoj’s eyes and gave him something. Manoj
cannot properly see what the round thing in his hand is. He guessed what it
might be, but he couldn’t believe it. He walked to the bright corner of the
room. He cannot believe his eyes. He looked, bewildered, at Madhu. Madhu smiled
and nodded.
Manoj
looked once again at the shiny, plump orange in his hand, recollecting the
incident when he told Madhu that he will save money and buy at least one orange
at the big supermarket with glass doors that’s across the street. He turned the
orange and found a sticker at the bottom displaying the supermarket’s name. He
immediately ran to Madhu and hugged him again, crushing him as if the amount of
crushing is equivalent to his love and respect for Madhu. Manoj knew exactly
how much Madhu had to sacrifice in order to buy the gift. Madhu freed himself
and muttered something.
Manoj,
wiping his tears, laughed at that and started peeling the orange. He
distributed the segments among his friends because there is no telling when
they will get something as costly and delicious as this. He saw the look on
their faces as they ate the segments. That’s the true gift for him. He ate the
last piece himself, a bonus for the birthday boy.
As
everyone started retiring to their beds, he held the empty orange peel and shed
a tear because he just couldn’t throw it away.
