The Birthday Gift

The Birthday Gift

A Short Story By G.S.Vasukumar

‘Son, what would you like to have for your coming birthday?’ Subramanian asked his son ten year old son Pradeep.

‘Dad, I have one small wish from quite sometime...’  Pradeep replied, looking at his parents, who were having their morning tea in the garden behind the house.

‘What is it, my son?’ asked Subramanian, keeping the empty cup on the small teapoy in front of him.

‘Dad, I would like to have love and affection of grandmother,’ He replied, ‘but then I am not lucky like other kids of my age…their grandma tells them stories, prepares mouth watering delicacies, takes wonderful care of them.’

‘I know…’  Subramanian replied, with a sigh, ‘but then what can I do?’

‘You can do anything, dad!’ Pradeep said, ‘Well, you just need to set your mind on something, that’s all! Remember, you had already done it before!’

‘Arpitha, what do you have to say?’ Subramanian asked his wife, who finished her cup of tea too and kept the empty cup on the teapoy.

‘I don’t know what to say really?’ His wife replied, shrugging her shoulders.

‘Should we go ahead with it then?’ Subramanian asked her.

‘Well, it is between you and your son. If you guys want to do it then go ahead and do it. I’m fine with it.’ She replied, smiling at them, ‘Even I need some company while you both are away from home.’

‘Son, I would give it my best try!’ Subramanian said looking at his son.

‘Thank you, dad!’ Pradeep replied, smiling at his parents.

***

Just one day before his birthday, Pradeep asked his father:-

‘Dad, any update about grandma?’

‘Son, I tried my best…but…’ Subramanian said, ‘Would you like to have something else on your birthday?’

‘It’s okay, dad!’ Pradeep replied, ‘Maybe, it’s not in my destiny to be with her.’ He added before going out to play with his friends.

‘Why don’t you tell him the truth?’ Arpitha asked her husband.

‘What’s the fun if you let go of the surprise before it’s actually due?’ Subramanian said smiling at her.

‘That is fine! But I just can’t see the disappointment on his face.’ She said.

‘Well, you are going to see him all smiles tomorrow for sure!’ He replied.

***

Next day morning, Arpitha came to her son’s room to wish and wake him up, then :-

‘Pradeep, wake up! Your dad has brought some gift for you…’ His mother cried, shaking him out of his sleep.

‘Mom, you know well that I am not interested in any other gift…’ He said, opening one eye and looking at her.

‘Just come down and see it for yourself and I’m sure that you shall like it!’ She said, pulling off his blanket.

‘Lemme wash my face at least.’ He said, getting off from his bed.

‘Well, that can wait…just come down and see!’ She said, holding his had and pulling him along with her.

‘Alright…alright…I’m coming..’ He said freeing his hand from her grip, and following her downstairs.

As he reached the last step of the staircase, he saw someone seated on the rocking chair; facing the garden in the hall…she had lot of white hair which was held together with a clip. Immediately, his face lit up with a huge smile as he ran towards her.

‘Didn’t I tell you that he would be all smiles?’ Subramanian asked, patting gently on his wife’s back.

‘Yes, you did!’ She said, turning and smiling at him ‘Thank you for brining her home…’

‘You’re welcome!’ He said.

***

‘Grandma, I’m so glad that you came home!’ Pradeep said, after coming in front of her and looking at her.

‘I’m glad too! This is a small gift from your grandma to you!’ She said smiling at him. She gave him a nicely packed gift.

‘Shall I open it now, grandma?’ He asked, still smiling at her.

‘Yes, please go ahead!’ She said, smiling at him.

He started removing the cellophane tapes as gently as he could.

‘Well, other kids of your age would have torn open it by now…’ She said.

‘I would like to preserve the wrapper for a long time…so...’ He said, smiling at her. Finally, when he removed the gift wrapper completely, he found a beautifully knitted sweater inside. It had nice design and also had his name knitted on it. He started feeling it with his fingers..

‘Do you like it?’ She asked, adjusting her spectacles and looking at him.

‘Yes, I do like it a lot!’ He said, wearing it.

He walked up to her, bent forward, and gave her a gentle kiss on her cheek.

‘Thank you, grandma!’ He said.

‘A very happy birthday, my dear son’ She said, kissing back on his cheek. She had a drop of tear in her eye…which over flowed down her cheek.

‘Why are you crying, grandma? Is something wrong?’ Pradeep asked wiping it with his fingers.

‘Nothing, dear. I was staying at the place where I had everything I needed except love...I was thinking that I would be spending the rest of my life over there…but your father came and found me. He brought me home and gave everything that I had lost in my life…this thought made me to cry…I am happy…very happy to be with you all over here!’ She replied.

‘Oh, you know, something?’ Pradeep asked her.

‘What is it, my son?’ She asked.

‘My dad and mom found me in an orphanage where I too had almost everything except love…they adopted me and showered me with abundant love…’ Pradeep said looking at her.

‘Oh, is it? That is so very nice of them!’ She replied, ‘By the way, whose idea was it to adopt 

me from the old age home?’ She asked.

‘It was his idea!’ Subramanian said, coming towards them.

His mother came with a tray filled with tea cups and biscuits.

‘Happy birthday, Pradeep! Hope you liked your gift.’ His parents said together.

‘Thanks, mom, dad! I liked my gift very much!’ He said, smiling at them.