On her Eighteenth Birthday

 

Sunita was in bed as rays of sunshine started peeping in from the window. Normally she would have loved to snooze a little longer but today there was this tingling  excitement all over her body, right from her feet , to her hands and the upper torso. A smile broke out between her lips. She found herself stretching her hand in the air.  As she got up, she pushed her long wavy hair from  across her face.

 Although she had a round face , the other features were sharp. Any one could see that she was an attractive girl.  Well, no more a girl as on this day she had turned 18, had become  eligible to vote and was now an  attractive young woman! . Sunita’s  friends felt that her brown eyes were intent,  while her boyfriend Rakesh described  it  as "so full of life! "   

At that time the door opened and a lady in her late thirties, draped in a simple yet elegant saree walked in . She was all smiles. “Happy birthday dear!”  she cried as soon as she entered and hugged Sunita. Being a Sunday, 7 AM was too early for her two brothers or dad to get up. But here was her mom so fresh in the morning  having even finished her bath. Sunita’s mom, Anuradha was a slim lady with a tinge of grey in her curly tresses on both sides. She was loved by not only her family but by all the neighbours in the apartment for her infectious smile and readiness to help in any way, be it house warming in one house or an engagement party in another.  Anuradha reminded her daughter of the grand party that  has been arranged in the evening  to celebrate the milestone. “Have you invited all your friends?”  she asked. “Yes Amma” said Sunita happily.

 As both of them moved to the living room, Sunita found  her father and two brothers aged 12 and 7 respectively  were very much awake  although it was a Sunday!. They rushed to wish Sunita. She felt very happy; it appeared that her brothers were even more happier than her, now that she had become an adult. Children fantasize about becoming adults quickly to be able to do those many things that only adults can. The funny part is that most adults look back fondly at their childhood and long for “those care free days”. 

Twelve year old Deepak was a little on the plump side and had to often content with the jokes his classmates made about him. He was shy and withdrawn unlike his vivacious sister. After all, he was at that awkward age of knocking on the door of becoming a teenager, a period of not being sure of oneself, plagued by insecurities.    

Deepak’s younger brother Harish was a self assured boy but known to be mischievous. Frequent complaints were received from his class teacher about  Harish throwing paper arrows at other children. The parents just laugh off his antics. After all, he was only seven and a welcome contrast to the introverted Deepak. Their father Avinash is of the opinion that “Boys should be boys”. He wants them to be more physically active instead of being tied down to their video games.

Although Avinash did become this bespectacled  grim looking chartered accountant in later life, he was  an active scout in his younger days. He was in the football team and did fairly well in athletics too. But now the muscle filled strong body of his youth had given way to a flabby body with a paunch.  His desk oriented occupation had changed his life drastically. Nobody who would have known the Avinash "in his youth" would believe it is the same person!    

At the college Sunita was busy as she reminded all her friends, particularly Rakesh about the party at six.  " So happy for you Sunita!" said her best friend Ananya. All of them expressed similar feelings  and wished her whole heartedly. In the evening, as soon as the classes for the day were over, Sunita rushed back home instead of hanging around as she usually did. She wanted to try on her new dress and be ready in all respects before the guests start arriving. 

It was 7 PM and many guests and almost all her friends had arrived. Sunita, however was distracted and was staring longingly at the front door each time it opened only to be disappointed. Rakesh hadn't come yet and her father was already suggesting that they get on with the cake cutting. After Sunita's father called out to her for the third time, Sunita moved towards the table where the grand cake was placed. It had 18 candles placed on it with her name and "Happy birthday"written in italics. 

At this point her classmate Mayank appeared as if from nowhere and was by her side whole through the cake cutting exercise. Sunita cut the cake and offered the first two pieces, first to her father and then mother. Avinash placed a piece of cake into his daughter's mouth and said "I am so happy my daughter has grown into a beautiful young woman. We are so proud of her."  Everyone clapped. Mayank, who was standing beside her also took a piece of cake and put it into her mouth " You look so lovely in this pink flowing dress Sunita!", he said. Sunita acknowledged the compliment, gave him a piece of cake and then moved towards the other friends carrying the plate containing pieces of the birthday cake.  

Although she was chatting up with friends, there was a feeling of uneasiness with her mind being elsewhere. Rakesh hadn't come and it was such a important day of her life. Normally, he wouldn't miss such an occasion for anything. Her thoughts were running wildly "Why hadn't he come? Did he have some other engagement and if so was it more important than her big day? Did he meet with some accident? or was he quietly 'letting go' of her?" 

Everyone moved to partake from the tastefully laid out buffet dinner. Sunita, however was least interested in eating. Her smiling, animated face that had complemented the pink dress at the beginning of the party had turned pale and the enthusiasm had vanished. Mayank walked over and said" come Sunita, you must be quite hungry. Lets us eat." Just then they heard a thud or two from outside. Was it from the garden or from the adjacent car shed?  Some of the guests ran out to investigate. Sunita and mayank joined them. The sound was coming from the car shed alright which was bolted from the outside. Someone went and pushed open the bolt to see the body of a young man tumble out. His mouth was plastered with tape and both his hands were tied behind him. Sunita let out a surprised and alarmed gasp  the moment the tape was removed. It was Rakesh! 

At that precise moment Mayank quietly slipped out of the house. He was furious with the "Tough Guys" gang that comprised his seniors at college. He had paid them what ever they had asked without bargaining as he thought they would do a thorough job.He should have approached proper professionals instead. The jokers were supposed to pick up Rakesh soon after he came out of the college after classes and keep him far away. Moreover they were to drug the fellow so that he wakes up only the next day. 

Mayank immediately dialed the gang chief " what, what, what do you mean you missed him in college? Even so, you could have pick him up near his house instead of waiting till he reached Sunita's house!  I don't care about traffic blocks or other excuses, you fellows bungled and that is what matters! Did you give a hint to Rakesh that it was me?  What? What What? you fools you thought you were helping me  when you warned him to keep off!" Mayank angrily terminated  the call . He also switched off the phone. He didn't want anyone calling him that day.  

While the guests returned to their meal, Avinash was having a closed door discussion with Mr Premkumar, Superintendent of Police. The SP had come to the birthday function as a guest with his family but was now discussing matters in his professional capacity. Sunita had been extremely upset and wanted to teach Mayank a lesson by putting him behind bars for a few days.  Avinash finally convinced her that these are best seen as the frivolity of youth and not to be taken to heart. It was agreed that Prem uncle would call Mayank to his office and give him a severe dressing down and a warning of dire consequences if repeated. 

Rakesh and Sunita entered the room looking happy and relieved. Prem uncle asked them to sit down. As Avinash watched, he said solemnly " Look here guys, this is the time to study, explore, understand the world. Don't get bogged down by commitment in a relationship so early in life. Eighteen is the time to meet more people, have varied experiences. There is plenty of time to decide on your life partner. Now, fly high, be happy and don't get into traps of possessiveness or envy.. Are you getting me?"   Both Sunita and Rakesh nodded their heads. The two men then moved to the dining hall to dive into their delayed, yet lip smacking sumptuous dinner.  

As she lay on her bed looking up at the ceiling, Sunita found so many thoughts sail through her mind. It was almost 12 AM and in a few more minutes it would be another day. What a birthday it has been! Happiness, excitement, disappointment, shock, relief, all packed into a single day. Waiting for sleep to envelop her, Sunita told herself that she wouldn't be able to forget her eighteenth birthday ever. She would grow up, have many more birthdays but this one would always be special! Perhaps, she would even be talking about it many years later as a grandmother to her grandchildren...