The Birthday Gift

Sanju could not contain his excitement. It was his birthday today and he knew Vivek Uncle would surely give him a gift. That was always the case for the past 8 years. With great fondness, he wiped clean the Harmonica uncle had gifted him last birthday. He ran his small hands over the words etched on the blue steel surface – ‘Wishing the best to my dear Sanju: Love Vivek Uncle’. Playing the Harmonica had always brought a smile on his mother’s face. Quickly he ran to his mom and kissed her cheek.

As soon as she saw Sanju, she hugged her with her dough-smudged hands and kissed him until his face was bright red. He whined playfully and ran to the garden. Today was going to be a busy day and he already had a list of things to do in his mind.  Time passed, and he sat at the porch waiting. Right when he was about to give up he heard the sound of a car turning in the street. He jumped towards the gate and waited with bated breath for his Birthday wish.

‘Happy Birthday Sanju’, uncle said, planting a kiss on his forehead. ‘So don’t you want your Birthday Gift’, he asked? Sanju nodded expectantly with a playful smile. The smile that reminded uncle about his son. With a tear in his eye, uncle opened the back of his car and Lo! Sanju could not believe it. Uncle had bought him a cycle, gleaming red and with a big ribbon and a tag with the words, ‘Wishing the best to my dear Sanju: Love Vivek Uncle’.

He called out to his mom to come see the cycle, who laughed softly seeing her little one dancing around the cycle in excitement. ‘No more walking to school for you’, Uncle had said. Sanju carefully removed the ribbon, placed it on the porch and gave uncle a long hug. And even as his mother was screaming at him to have breakfast and then leave, he sat on the cycle and speeded off. At a distance, he could hear his mother call out to him – ‘Take Care, Sanju’.

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Neha woke up cursing herself for getting up late. She was new in town and her mom had repeatedly asked her to go meet her uncle who stayed there for the past 30 years and had established himself as one of the best lawyers in town. She resented his questions and his opinions on things ranging from the color of Neha’s hair to what she should eat to remain fit in order to get a smart husband.

After much postponing, she realized she had better make a visit before uncle stormed into her flat and created a scene. She decided she’d be there in time for an early breakfast with her uncle so he would spare her the ‘Importance of Getting Up Early’ speech. To her dismay, she woke up at 10:00. She made a quick call to uncle and told him how she could not get out of the house early since her servant maid showed up after a week and so wanted to get the house clean. She promised him she would meet him for dinner. After a quick round of freshening up, she decided she would go buy something for uncle. After all, Uncle would be pleased that she got him something from her first salary. She decided to drive down so she could explore the town also a little bit and get acquainted with the places.

After a few wrong turns and confusing directions from the local people, Neha realized she was lost. She wanted to reach the bazaar and instead wound up in the middle of a farm lined with mango trees on both sides of the road. Of course, Google Maps didn’t work, thanks to the poor range in the area! She was a little worried but the cool breeze and the shade encouraged her to drive further down the road until she reached a small garage. Who better to guide you than the local garage- walas!

Just as she got down to ask for directions, she saw a small boy seated on a cycle, fidgeting with the handle. A gleaming red cycle. He seemed lost in his own thought. ‘How much does a boy under 10 years of have to worry about!!!’, she thought. Instantly, she felt the need to cheer him up a little. She went up to him and asked his name. ‘Sanju’, he said shyly. Neha found herself instantly attracted to his playful, yet reserved smile. She asked him what he was doing there alone. He simply looked at her and pointed to an old home on the other side of the road. ‘I want to watch a movie, but I don’t have company’, he said dully. The building seemed old and rusty. Neha couldn’t help feeling sorry for the boy. She thought for a while and said, ‘Ok, lets go! But what time’s the show?’ The little boy’s face instantly shone and he was excited. He held her hand and tugged her across the road saying – ‘Any minute now’. Neha laughed at his enthusiasm.

As soon as she reached the building she noticed it was empty. ‘Who would come all the way here to watch a movie!!’ – she wondered. Just as she thought that maybe the show was cancelled since there were no people, she heard the music from the screen. ‘Ok!! So tickets first and hopefully an icecream’ she said, winking at Sanju. He let out a cheerful laugh. They couldn’t find the ticket vendor and Sanju was growing impatient waiting to get a glimpse of the screen. After a full five minute hunt in the ground floor Neha decided she would come pay during the interval or after the movie was over. Afterall, what is the point in missing out the beginning!! She held Sanju’s hand and went in.

From the first scene, Sanju was animatedly cheering, singing the songs, and even saying most of the dialogues. Neha could not get enough of his smile. She sat there, with no interest in the movie but all the while admiring this little boy. She felt an instant connection to him. Something like a special bond that demanded her to care for the little boy. And lost in her thoughts, she fell asleep.

A couple of minutes later, she woke up startled. For a minute, she didn’t know where she was or how much time had elapsed. And then things became clear. She looked up and saw the screen blank. Maybe the movie got over and she hadn’t even realized. Then she looked to her side. Where was Sanju? He did not wake her up and was not even in his seat. Did he just leave her and go? Did he wander off somewhere else? Neha felt responsible for the boy. She sprang for the seat and searched for Sanju in the entire building calling out his name but he was nowhere to be found.

She rushed out of the building, crossed the road and went to the garage. An old man in his fifties was lying on a makeshift cot taking a nap. She nudged him slowly and asked if he saw a small boy coming out of the theatre. The man looked at her, puzzled. ‘A red cycle’ she said. A gleaming red cycle. That’s when it struck the man. He looked at her and gave a subtle smile. A smile that failed to cover the tears forming in his eyes. Neha sensed something was not right. She asked him what was wrong and what she heard seemed impossible.

Sanju had driven to the garage in his cycle on his birthday. He wanted to show baba what uncle had given him. As soon as Baba saw the cycle he was very happy. He wished him a very happy birthday and asked him what he wanted as a gift. Sanju pointed to the theatre. Please Baba. You promised me I could see a movie today. Smiling Baba nodded his head and went inside the garage to make sure everything was locked before he left with his son. And that’s when it happened. It was a white car and the driver, a college boy perhaps, was driving to face to impress his girlfriend. What he hadn’t noticed was a small boy crossing the road to watch a movie on his theatre. It all happened too fast. After that, all Baba could remember was tiny Sanju in his arms soaked in blood. It was eight years and yet the memories seemed so fresh.

Neha listened to all this with shock. She couldn’t believe the man was telling her and yet, looking at him she realized no one could lie about their son. She softly asked him if she could see a picture of his son. ‘Oh I have an entire album that I keep flipping over and over!’, he said with tears rolling in his eyes. Neha reluctantly opened the cover with trembling hands half expecting to see a face she was not familiar with. Yet, he was there. Sanju and his playful smile. The smile that drew her to him. And she couldn’t bear to be there anymore. She contemplated asking Baba if she could have one of his photos for herself. She didn’t need one though, since he was already etched in her memories. She didn’t know what to say. All she could do was tap his shoulder and drive away looking for the bazaar.

The Oath under the Lemon Tree

The news hit him like a blow to the stomach. Gaurav could not remember the last time he had spoken to Neel. After all, they were best friends in childhood! Now he would never be able to. Cancer had taken its toll on Neel and after a great struggle he had finally succumbed.

Gaurav was now flooded with memories of Neel and himself in childhood. The two of them were always together, be it early morning baths in the Kasinath temple pond, going to school, stealing mangoes from Ganesh kaka’s backyard, spending hours in the playground until the sun sets and many more.

All memories of Nellore seemed distant to him now. Gaurav felt nostalgic and alone. He had lost one of the closest persons he had never known. The thought made him realize how much of a loner he had become in Chennai.  All he had was colleagues and flat- mates. No friends.

His father had got a promotion in Chennai and Gaurav had to shift with his parents. He remembered with a smile, the tantrums he had thrown the day he received the news. From ‘How could you do this to me, Pa?’ till ‘Can Neel come too?’ he had spent every day of the next month coaxing his father to reconsider. To him Nellore and Neel were everything. Who would laugh at his silly jokes and his mimicry of all the teachers and bullies in school… Hell, how could he even go to a school without Neel?!  He didn’t even know how to tell Neel but he knew he had to.

Gaurav and Neel were playing in Ganesh kaka’s backyard. Neel loved the smell of fresh mangoes and lemons. Gaurav noticed the sun had already set and it was time to go home. He caught Neel by the shoulder, ‘Did u know Pa’s got a transfer to Chennai? We are all shifting by next week. Ma even started packing my stuff.’ Neel’s face had sunk when he heard the news. Gaurav was his best friend. He asked Gaurav, ‘Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Do you have to go? You can stay with us. Don’t go, Gaurav.’ Neel had kept on rattling until Gaurav held his hand with tear-filled eyes and said, ‘I will come back Neel, as soon as I can and we will meet right under this Lemon tree. I will tell you all about Chennai and you can fill me in with whatever happens here. Its a promise.’ All Neel could do was hug his friend and wish him luck. The next week and flown by and before Gaurav knew it, he was in Chennai Railway station, nervously holding Pa’s hand.

He was amazed at how much he had changed as time flew by. After he came he had not even considered visiting Nellore. Twenty years later, he had made sure he had a healthy paycheck but that was all life had to offer him. Thanks to Facebook, he had been informed of the news by distant classmates and now he had decided to visit Nellore. Atleast now he had to keep up his promise. For Neel, he thought even as he realized it was more for himself. He had to be there for Neel for the last time ever.

The next day he reached Nellore. The railway station still as heartening as it was twenty years ago, but Gaurav could only feel regret. He cursed himself for not making this journey sooner. He hired an auto and went straight to Neel’s house. On the way, he stopped at the temple and school. Not much of Nellore had changed in the twenty years. After what felt like hours, he finally reached Neel’s home. As soon as he got down he noticed people standing in groups fondly remembering Neel. From what he’d heard Neel owned two shops in Nellore. Neel’s father had passed away a couple of years back due to excessive smoking. He had been sick for almost a year now until finally his body could take no more.

Gaurav dreaded going inside and seeing Neel or his family. Just as he was standing there not sure of what to do, he saw Priya. Priya had recognized him and walked over to him. She looked very pale and her voice was hoarse after a lot of crying. ‘You finally came!!’, she said. Priya had studied with the both of them. She had also grown from a chubby classmate with ponytails to an elegant lady. Gaurav didn’t know what to say. As soon as he was about to ‘Hello’, Priya said, ‘We were about to be engaged next week. Neel didn’t want to go ahead because of his health but I had finally forced him to.’ With this she broke down and Gaurav found himelf consoling her, realizing how badly he had missed Neel all these years.

The two of them went inside to see Neel one last time. His body looked frail but Gaurav could make out the personality that Neel had become over the years. Gaurav could not stand there any longer. At once he rushed out for some air. As soon as he got out he saw Ganesh kaka’s backyard and it all came back to him, the sunset, the lemon tree and the Promise.

He walked over to the backyard and sat under the lemon tree. After a few minutes, he found himself talking to Neel. He sobbed and told him how much he missed him, cursing him for leaving him, all the time wondering if Neel would hear. He did not want to go back. All he wanted to do was sit there until he felt he could handle the news. When he came back to his senses, it was almost evening. Gaurav decided he should leave now. As soon as he was about to get up, he noticed a crevice on one side of the bark of the tree.

On an impulse, Gaurav extended his hand and felt inside the crevice. It was covered with dust and dry leaves. Slowly, he started removing the dirt and debris. That was when he saw it, a shining piece of gold. He removed it and placed it on his hand to see better. A ring, with Priya’s name on it. At once, Gaurav realized that Neel hadn’t forgotten him, or the promise. He knew he would come back, and this was his gift to him. Along with a subtle message. Gaurav couldn’t take it anymore. It was all too much for him to comprehend. He turned and returned to Neel’s house, now searching for Priya.