Birthday Night

Birthday Night……!

5^thJan 2020

“Will you join me at the temple tomorrow in the morning?” he said standing at the door step. We are staying in same room for a year. I learned that he said something but not clear about what he said, except the word temple. As I came out of thoughts of fight that happened to me and Pappy a week ago on the temple issue.

“entii(what)?” I said rising my head towards him, still my fingers texting Pappy. 
“Temple, at 6 in the morning, tomorrow” a bit louder.

“6!” with an astonished face, “sorry I can’t take a bath that early with that chilled water” straight to the point.

“Ok” he said dialing a number on his phone. 

Then I came back to texting.
Pappy: Gud nyt, Feeling sleepy _11:15

In reply: Gud nyt, Happy nyt _11:15

It was around 11:25 pm.

“Why can’t you pick up my call at one ring?” on the other end of the call.

“I was sleeping, I didn’t hear the ring” trying to reply in a drowsy voice to make her believe I was sleeping, actually not.

Sisters are too dangerous; they are detectives by birth. But this time murderer escaped with no clue.

“What are the plans for tomorrow?” nothing else there to talk.

“Nothing, I said no to temple when Manoj asked” continued in a drowsy voice.

“Why to temple, anything Special?” she said “is it his girlfriend’s birthday tomorrow?”.

“I don’t know” my fingers scrolling instagram.

“Or is it his birthday?”

My hippocampus started sending signals, check check I remember that his b’day is in the first week of Jan.

“Oh no!” involuntarily.

I made a search on Instagram Monoj patel. It displayed first cry 06 Jan. I jumped and sat, “fu...” it’s your sister on the line reminded my brain as quick as possible “yes, it is his b’day tomorrow” at the lowest of my voice, not to wake him up who is sleeping besides me.

“ooh,wish him in the morning, what can you do now, it’s almost 11:30” she said

“I am feeling embarrassed, how can I forget, how can I face him in the morning” with guilt.

He celebrated my b’day at the first minute on that day, he called all my friends gathered them, taking numbers from phone when I was off for bath, though he doesn’t know any one of them.

“I have an idea” there came a fairy to resolve my guilt. “what?” my reaction out of excitement.

Sisters are not only detectives but, event planners too, my mind irrespective of situation.

“check swiggy” she said.

Many times, I have heard the word swiggy, but this time I felt different. I put my ear phones to continue the call and switched to swiggy app. Every baker I have gone through showed more than 30min for delivery.

At the back of my mind there are many questions, why are you so worried you just forgot a b’day?

But I was bound by guilt, sort of regret, I don’t know but I wanted to celebrate his b’day, I mean a sort of self-satisfaction.

I ordered plum cake which is the only one available. Which assured delivery in 32min. I am afraid that I may miss the ritual of celebrating b’day at midnight by 2min.

Fortunately, I got the delivery within 20min.

This is the only birthday celebration I am part of with least possible members participating in it, two. Of course, my sister keerthana on speaker phone.

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday! happy birthday! happy birthday to you……. ♫♫♫