Wednesday, August 5, 2009

His Birthday

The hot tea was dripping inside throat. I am sitting near the window and watching kids paying in the garden. Wanted to call them inside as it was drizzling but they looked careless of getting wet.

The calendar on the table grabbed my attention. It is 21st November today. I grew old over the years, crossed many stages in life, saw quite a few ups and downs, but still the day is clear in my memory when I took part in my friend’s birthday.

The first meet was very casual and somehow I didn’t like the shirt what he was wearing. I came to know his name by an email dropped in my mail box early in the morning saying its his birthday today. I don’t know what made me to wish him immediately, just did that as if I know him since years..! Who knew he will become a part of my life in the future ! All I noticed was his smile !

He was a perfect blend of maturity, intelligence and smart. Just that he has created a wall around him so that he can get away from all the troubles which can affect him and his family. No one knew what he is from deep inside. But somehow he was an open book for me, I read him line by line, word by word. He is sweet, caring and also a responsible guy. The cutest of all was his smile.

I took almost 2 years to get him out of that shell. I didn’t believe my ears when he called me his girlfriend. He celebrated his birthday twice in those years, I wanted to be alone with him on that day, which never happened. I used to be very naughty with him, careless about his reactions. But then he accepted me as I am.

Years gone, became close, so close that he used to advice me what medicine to take during difficult periods. There was nothing which have I hidden from him and same with him too. In the mean time, another girl entered his life on his big day of life. Though I didn’t attend the function, I was sitting somewhere alone and wishing for all the success and happiness for the future. For sometime we were in touch through mails and calls, it gradually reduced later. Last time I met him was to receive the invitation and wished him luck with a warm hug. But then he was blind to see my tears. ! Yes, he was going away day by day.

Last week, when I was shopping for vegetables in the market, a familiar voice got into my ears, and I just turned back. It was him with a lady next to him. May be his wife. While I was still wondering should I go and talk to him, he looked at me and he almost screamed ! He is still the same, except lot of weight and almost no hair on his head. But then, his million dollar smile, for which I used to admire him a lot, has the same sweetness. I took a long breath as my heart was beating twice than the normal. He came near me and introduced his wife. My eyes were searching for something, he noticed that, I guess and he said kids are with mom..! I had a lot to talk to him, but somehow my tongue refused to do its part. I just swallowed everything and came home back. I even forgot to give them address though I invited them home.

And today its his birthday, I wanted to wish him, but I don’t have his number. I looked outside, the rain has stopped and children were still playing. Everything is still the same just that years gone by and everything has become a memory. My wishes remained as wishes forever.