Joy would never forget the celebration of his 25th birthday !
Joy was staying alone in a flat in the city of Mumbai. He wished he were with his dear and near ones to celebrate his25th Birthday! His parents, brothers, sisters and all friends were miles away.
Joy didn't get leave for two days to go home. His Boss said “You only joined about a month ago Mr. Sen, sorry you cannot take any leave now – there are Board Meetings, Annual General Meeting, visitors would be coming from overseas – all are lined up. This time we have to be on our toes you know.” Joy understood. He felt what his Boss said was really not unfair.
“That’s O.K.Sir,” he said. Boss, Mr.Bose, patted his back and said “You see, my birthday is coming up soon but I would not be able to celebrate it with the members of my family as on that day itself I would have to be in New Delhi to attend a very important meeting.”.
Joy felt relieved to think that his birthday was on Saturday, when the office would remain closed. As it happened his girl friend, Smita, was at that time in a town very close to Mumbai visiting her elder sister and brother-in-law. Joy told her that he would not be able to go home and wondered if she could come over and stay even for a few hours. Smita smiled and said that she would.
Joy was delighted, he booked a Table at The Oberoi hotel to have a dinner with Tina under Candlelight. He waited there for long two hours. The waiter came to him five or six times wanting to know when the dinner could be served and each time Joy asked him to wait for a while. Smita didn’t come. Joy tried to contact her over cellphone but there was no reply. He felt very sad and wondered why couldn’t she even phone him up to wish him a happy birthday!.
He hired a taxi to take him to his residence. He was hungry, he couldn’t eat alone at the hotel and felt miserable. As the taxi stopped outside his flat he found his Boss waiting in his car.
‘Mr.Sen, please come in. Don’t ask where we would go.”
Joy hesitated for a while and got in. Mr. Bose drove fast and parked the car outside the same hotel where Joy was a little while ago.
Mrs. Bose arrived along with their daughter Priti almost at the same time. They all sat at the table in the corner. There was no Birthday Cake but Joy’s birthday was celebrated with delicious meal and sweet wine. And then Mrs. Bose handed over a birthday gift to Joy. It was a very beautiful sculpture.
Joy felt grateful and so delighted that he couldn’t find words to thank them.
He was dropped back with one more gift with request that he should open the packet as he entered his flat. They smiled, waved and drove off.
Entering the flat Joy opened the packet and found a big bottle of Aftershave and a bunch of red roses. And to his utter surprise he found a Birthday card and a letter from Smita which read as under:-
“Dear Joy, My Sweetheart,
You see I was so upset this morning when I realized that I wouldn’t be able to go to Mumbai. I have a fever but don’t worry, I shall soon be alright. As I was wondering what to do, Priti, my cousin phoned me up and when I told him about you she asked me whether you were Mr. Joy Sen. As I said Yes she laughed and said ' My father works in the same office. Last night he was talking about a gentleman, yes I am sure he mentioned the name as Mr. Joy Sen. Father was sad thatt his request for two days leave to attend his 25th birthday could not be honoured because of very important works that have to be done. He talked about Mr. Sen as a perfect gentleman."
Priti came to see me this morning and said that they would take you out for dinner. I wish I could come my darling but I am very weak at the moment. I am sending a small gift for you. The bunch of roses are fresh, my sister plucked them for you from her garden. My uncle, auntie or Priti would not say anything about me this evening as they thought it would be better when you heard from me later. I shall see you once I got better. I miss you.
Yours,
With Love,
Smita”
Joy phoned up Smita, thanked her for the gift and went to bed keeping the roses on the bedside table and fell asleep as he was very tired. When he woke up he found the roses still looking so beautiful and fresh. As he phoned his mother and told her about everything that happened last night she was very pleased and said “They must be very nice people, May God Bless them. You know my child God sometimes does things in a mysterious way.”
This was the first time Joy didn’t have his parents, brothers, sisters, friends and Smita with him on his birthday but with God’s grace he had a good night out and taking the entire situation into account he felt that his 25th Birthday celebration was indeed a pleasant one in a very special way.
