10th April arnd 10 pm
She can hardly wait to set the Birthday gifts up, the card and the candles up for him. the excitement building up from a couple of hours.
Then she sees him all dressed up, and get confused.
He comes over to the kitchen and says:
Me heading out.
Aap jaa rahe hain? (u really going?)
Haan. I'll be late.
normally she isnt "supposed to ask" but she risks it: u'll be late?
Yes.
hmm, kay.
********
11sumthin pm.
She reaches her bedroom n takes out the gifts and its accompaniments from their hiding place. (Hiding pretty pointless since he knows when where & what time she went to get gifts for him). It wasnt necessary to make it this special and "filmy". Nobody bothered for her.
She caresses the maroon satin&lace gown, without thinking. She planned to put on before 12 for him. Between all that hurt n anger, a thought crosses her mind, maybe he's kidding afterall, he'll probably make it here arnd 12. There is no way he'll want to miss out on that moment. Afterall, he spent all those prev. birthdays wishing she was with him. Now there she is, waiting, in their bedroom, with his gifts, welcome arms and a night full of affection and giving.
*****
before 12
Applies her fav body butter. Slips on the gown.
(anxious)
Dont wish him. He's made it clear he dznt deserve all this from u. HE'S TELLING U himself.
But i planned to set up a lil surprize for him
and where is he, mysh?
Out wid friends.
Doing what? sumthing imp. that cant wait till tmrw?
No, Out partying.
Oh. (silence)
All i can say is dont go d extra mile, no candles jus hand him the d gift in his hands, and DONT wish him till he really apologizes.
Okay.
************
~Flashback~
1 week before 3rd of march.
place: City center's food court (how romantic)
"ceremony": Gift giving apparently.
She is sitting with in-laws, waiting for him to join them. He comes holding electronic store's shopper, takes out a box:
Yeh lo. (take this)
(She stares)
Tumahara b'day gift.
She's staring still at him and his ways. (People lend money in better ways).
Lo0o! (take!) Mu kya dekh rahi ho? :) Look, she's jus staring at me.. (everybody laughs).
She takes it frm his hands and: Thank u sweety.
No hugs, no kisses. Not even an ironic 'Happy birthday'. It would still have been better to rcv it in privacy of the bedroom. I mean an overcrowded fish-market resemblin food court?? With onlookers staring? rcving ur first b'day gift after marriage. Dreamlike!
****
2nd march a lil b4 12am
(She's done wid all her b'day wishes b4 12am incase she gets busy with her hubby).
Him: Im not sleepy, i wana go watch tv.
Okay, umm... sure. Or.. .. or u can sit talk to to me if u want. whateva u like.
Acha..... alryt.
**
12.
Happy birthday.
thanks.. :)
she reaches upto him, a small peck.
and thn he stares at clock.
12:15
She rcvs a call.
Okay, im going down to watch tv, theek hai.
Call: Happpyyyyyy birthdayyyyyyyyy!!! we were both on bed, cudnt wait to wish u, but then he must have arranged a surprise for u, so we didnt wanna disturb at 12. wudnt take too much of ur cuddle time. (A very cheeky) Byyyyyeeeee.
Wait, dont hang up... Im okay. U werent interrupting anything. Lets talk for a bit, im free.. he's... He's gone to watch tv.
R u crazy, he's gone to get sumthing for u!!
No, its okay, he's jus watchin tv.
Pagal! hang up, he's going to open d door any min n walk in wid some surprise, as much as i know him.
No summ, please! dont get my hopes high again. Im already tryin hard not to get disappointed. K??
*** 3rd march. Morning.
Wakes up, freshens up, changes, wakes him up, ask wht he'ld like to have for b'fast, goes down to kitchen, gets his b'fast ready, he finishes it up & goes upstairs to get ready, he's gettin ready..
All the while She waits for one more b'day greeting frm him, for sum weird reason against her better judgement.
And then, he gets pissed off at the extra bag in the wastepaper basket.
She tries to explain, he get more pissed and loud.
n few mins later, acha happy birthday...
Childish disappointment engulfs & her against her will her tears pour out, not coz of his morn. attitude, rather everything related to her b'day so far comes back to her.
she goes out of room n downstairs with his coat n while he puts on shoes she waits for a small 'Im sorry, baby, cheer up... I love u'
Instead: Give me my coat no need to take it to the car with such a face.. & announces Allah hafiz to everyone.
Thruout d day of cleaning and mopping, she's expected to make dinner for the whole family for her birthday.
That's okay, she wudnt even blink an eye if she's kept happy.
She dumbly thinks maybe there still is sumthing pleasant to come to compensate for such behavior.
Maybe they'v called her mum papa lil bro n sis and evrybdy's going to come to celebrate her b'day??
Cleaning d kitchen after lunch she gets started on biryani and chicken drumsticks for supper. Sleepy while doing it since the whole house is quite & napping for d a'noon. Finally, she gets done when everybody is waking up for A'sr. After changing into a new dress, she heads out into lawn wid everybdy for tea.
She smiles wide & genuine when she sees her mum and lil bro n sis entering her house. Happiest thing to have happened the whole day!
His mother to my Mum: Its so0oo wrong that u've come without informing us.
She stares at her manners. Her family is not expected to bring gifts or wish her on her own birthday? And if they do they r supposed to come in limited no.s?
her Mum: But i did call and told u i was coming baji..
his mother: Yes but u didnt say u were coming with the kids. (Her bro and sis r not expected come to her house on her birthday to wish her) They apparently need permission. How pleasant.
When she sits down at dinner her dad notices the exhaustion on her face. He asks whats up, u look tired?
No papa just tensed abt the biryani i made, hope everybdy likes it! :D
Everybody annoyed that her papa thinks she's worked her ass off, n she didnt say no papa i didnt move a muscle. :) :) :)
----
After dinner, whn her family is gone. It doesnt feel like it wznt her Birthday.
She hopes/wishes & prays this sort of birthday never happens to anyone. Where ur mum is embarrassed, you r made to feel guilty abt ur lil bro sis turning up, u end up laboring ur ass off without appreciation, n u still have "elders" whispering behind ur back. Buying things n handing them over as if doing a favor isnt called as giving Presents.
*************
Present. 10th april.
12ish
She lights the candles. Holding back the urge to tear apart the card, and turn the happy stuff into angry debris.
Tears streaking d cheeks and droppin away making dark spots on d satin gown.
Its cold. The gown is supposed to be worn in Hubby's vicinity so the gown-wearer doesnt get the chills.
**
Half Past 12.
No sign of him.
**
Li'l after 1.
He isnt home.
**
At 2 she's jolted up, realizing she's sitting up nodding away.
**
2:30am she takes off her gown, rolls it up n dumps it in wardrobe. Then thinking again, hangs it up properly.
Changes into her cotton night-hoodie and plops down on bed fuming, anger so not enough to warm her cold legs.
**
At 4 the door handle turns.
He walks into bedroom. Smiles at the candle-lit set up, checks his gifts out. Heads out to washroom changes n gets into bed.
Spoons her in & thanks babes. Blablabla...
Her: What made us happy last year wz d fact we'll be together this year at 12... hai na?
u knw i can be stupid.. u shud'v asked me not to go.
Oh? Can i?? (his dad had made it firm & clear that; Where, When, What time his son goes and comes back SHE holds no right to even ask. She's just his wife.) Lol @ her stopping him. That'll be commitin suicide.
She decides there'll be no birthday wishing thingy in the morning since he's got more than his fair share.
Brushing his teeth never helped. His breath stinks bad of alcohol.
She knows its going to get worse by morning. But she bears it.
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