The Birthday Gift

 

Jai looked out of the window as the rays of the sun illuminated his face showcasing undertones of anxiety and excitement. He was about to go for the school trials of his football team but continuously kept fidgeting with his fingers now.

His skills had always been superior to his fellow peers but that wasn’t the issues that was plaguing him. He did not have boots to play, and time was running out. Now that the basic premise is set, let us look at a tale that encompasses a wide variety of perspectives, and the things people would do for their near and dear ones.

Jai was getting late for school and Dadu was furiously trying to comb his hair to make him look presentable. He put the water bottle around the young boy’s neck and gave him a tight hug as the school bus came to pick him up. Dadi was busy in the kitchen preparing the meals for the day and Dadu decided to go to the park to meet his regular gang after dropping off his grandson.

As soon as he entered, Harish who was already panting and gave him a wry smile. Dadu took a brisk walk around the park and huddled on a bench with all his peers. Ramesh hinted in a playful tone “Isn’t Jai’s birthday coming soon. The young lads grow up so soon don’t they.”

Dadu smiled at him trying to mask the distant thought of what would happen once he grows older. Harish then took Dadu in the corner and tried to hand him a note of Rs. 200. Dadu looked stumped and nodded in disgust, “Sorry, I can’t take this”

Harish held Dadu’s hands and insisted. He tried to rationalise this move with his next statement, “I know Pushpa’s surgery cost you a lot of money and you are currently in a lot of debt.” He took another breath almost carefully weighing his next words and resumed, “Jai is a good lad who deserves something good. This is only a small contribution but get him something good for his birthday.”

Dadu was flabbergasted but the lines seemed to have penetrated through his soul. His grandson was one of the reasons he was still alive. He conjured up his strength and couldn’t help but think to himself how things would have been so different had his son been alive right now.

Jai looked down at his shoes, and immediately noticed a small tear towards the front next to the big toe. The coach had managed to procure these shoes for him from his neighbour’s son but the limit to a person’s charity also stops at a point.

It was 5 mins before training could start and he began warming up now. He started to take a round of the field as was the ritual before any training session and with that all the tension of his present seems to fade into oblivion. He had an impressive training session as one moment stood out in his head even after the match.

He had picked up the ball from just a few metres ahead of the half line. He managed to dribble past two opposition defenders and cut inside with the ball now within striking distance. He curled the ball into the top right corner with his right foot as the goal would have been the perfect definition of a top bin.

While walking back though the glory of that moment started to fade away as he noticed that the gash on his shoes had now increased. It wouldn’t be long before they would need to be replaced. He changed into his school uniform and headed back to the classroom.

The hours were painstakingly slow until it was time for PT period. How he longed for that time of the day, and it was now finally here. Jai would get lost in his own world temporarily as the teams were being decided. The match was getting intense as both sides were at their peak Jai got the ball on the wing and cut inside, giving a pass to one of his team mates ahead. He then dashed into space for a perfect one two, the ball now on his left he did the ‘Ronaldo Chop’ to enter the ‘Big D’. With the ball on his right this was going to be his moment but just as he was about to strike the ball Shrey threw himself on Jai’s back in a staggering collision that saw both players on the ground and the ball in the hands of the goalkeeper.

Jai angered at this vile attempt got up and Shrey almost pushed him to the ground once again. With a slight smirk Shrey stated, “Get proper shoes before you think of scoring against my team bro.” Jai hands almost rounded up waiting to throw a punch when Alok took him to the side and calmed him down. Jai was bleeding and the tussle meant that he would temporarily be limping to the tap.

He put some cold water on his wound and walked back with Alok. Jai had now forgotten about the rough tackle as both were laughing heartily at the expense of Shrey who they remembered had managed to miss an open goal in yesterday’s game.

Despite it all Jai had come home as hungry as ever and Dadi fixed a good meal for him. He went through it in a moment’s notice and Dadu had entered the room just as he was about to finish his meal. Jai was all smiles after a hearty meal and the presence of Dadu made him even happier.

Dadu asked in a gentle and sincere manner, “What do you want for your birthday?” Jai was now at a loss because he knew their condition and had never really asked for anything before. In an innocence burst and hopeful tone he blurted out, “I need new shoes for football so that I can play for the school team”. He pointed to his shoes which had now torn beyond repair.

Dadu looked at him and in a staggering tone managed to fumble a few words, “I I… will try”. Just then Jai knew that this would be a near impossible task and went into his room with the joy almost vanishing from his face.

He tried hard to control his tears now not because he couldn’t get new shoes but because this would mean that he wouldn’t be able to play for the school team this year. Dadu looked at his face and immediately regretted having made that statement.

Jai went back to his room as he looked out of the window but stared at absolutely nothing.

Dadu had now reached the corporator’s office. He had so many thoughts whizzing through his head but none of them could stop him from entering the office now. He joined his hands as he sat down and the boy at the table repaid the favour. He smiled back almost half-heartedly and asked him what was it that he wanted.

Dadu felt as though the words were getting stuck in his throat but after huge efforts finally managed to blurt out that he needed a small sum of money and that he would promptly pay it back once his pension would arrive.

The boy now tried his best to be diplomatic, “I’m sorry but abhi nahi ho sakta. Humne aapko Dadi ke operation ke liye bhi diya tha leking abhi kuch nahi ho sakta. Aap please kuch aur dekhiye.” The circle of request and denial continued for some time before another person from the back-office final came out and tried his best to understand what was happening here.

Dadu again joined his hands and tears almost about to fall from his eyes, he couldn’t have been more vulnerable at any time. The man sensed an opportunity to do something here and he sat beside Dadu. ‘Accha aapko kya chahiye.’ Dadu tried to explain how all he wanted to do was gift his son some playing shoes so that he could continue playing football, the one thing that he truly loved.

The man now stroked his chin and motioned for another worker to get a small almost school bag like object from behind. He then put a hand on Dadu’s knee and said, “Hum help kar sakte hai but aapko sirf yeh bag ek jagah par dena padega. Bohot simple kaam hai aur iske andar kya hai aapko iska koi tension nahi lena hai.”

Dadu became alert because something felt almost too fishy here. Seeing the hesitance in his eyes the man called another worker close to him. In the meantime, he asked Dadu, ‘Aap ke bete ka shoes size kya hai.’ Dadu replied six in the timidest manner.

He then instructed the worker to get some football shoes of the same size from the opposite showroom. The worker immediately left for his mission. Dadu felt very nervous and was sweating profusely at this moment. After some time had passed, in an almost feeble voice Dadu muttered, “Mujhe shayad nikalna chahiye”. The man simply motioned for him to wait for another five minutes and in the next instant the worker came through and kept three shoe boxes in front of him.

Dadu was now in a bigger conundrum as it was immediately evident that they were some expensive shoes. As the worker opened the boxes Dadu witnessed some of the most beautiful and sleek shoes he had ever seen in his life.

The man now took his chance as he put an arm around Dadu’s shoulder and spoke, “You could have any of them, but you just need to give this bag. Point to anyone” Dadu almost with a sense of guilt pointed to the one in the centre as he couldn’t help but feel that his heart was suddenly racing.

He then continued, “Birthday kabhi hai tumhare bete ka?” Dadu recollected his senses and told him that it was in two days’ time. The man then assured him that he could come back in two days and the shoes would be gift wrapped and ready to go once he had delivered the bag. They set a time of around 5:30.

The day had finally arrived. It was Jai’s birthday, and he had a mischievous yet jubilant smile right from the morning. Dadu was as usual applying jam to the chapati as he kept it on Jai’s plate who finished it off like a hungry monster with a few crumbs still dangling near his lips.

He finished the chapati and gave Dadu a tight hug. His day in school was just like any normal day as not many people knew that it as his birthday. As Dadi and Dadu planned for the evening, Dadu seemed lost in a world of his own.

Dadi shook him up as she continued speaking, “Let’s call Ravi and Alok and I can prepare some extra food for them” Dadu nodded in agreement, but his mind was seldom focused on her words right now. As the hours passed by it was finally early evening. Dadu went to the office with a sense of urgency, and he saw the gift perfectly wrapped and kept at the table.

The man in the corporator’s office now greeted him with a smile. He got a rickshaw nearby and gave him concise yet clear instructions. Dadu along his way stopped near their house as he entered the hall room and kept the gift on the table. He instructed or rather told Dadi that he had some quick work to be done but would be back by 7:30.

Dadi initially hesitated but before she could lodge her protest Dadu was already down. He knew that if he waited for another minute, he wouldn’t be able to take the bag and go. Whilst Dadu was still unaware of its contents he knew that there was something very troublesome regarding the way in which this was being done.

The rickshaw took him around at the outskirt of the city and after having travelled for almost an hour, the driver finally pointed to a defunct warehouse just two minutes away. He took few steps as he only saw few pan shops and some men on their motorcycles in the immediate vicinity.

He then took one nervous step after the other as he headed for what looked like the door. Beads of sweat were now dropping from his forehead, as he removed his handkerchief to wipe it off. He saw a small group of youngsters there already waiting for him.

He removed the bag from his shoulder, and he put it on the table. The boys opened the zip to check the content of the bag and just then they heard it, the inevitable sound of doom. There was no hiding from it now.

Jai reached home and was ecstatic as he saw a gift that was neatly wrapped and kept on the sofa. He hurried to it and opened the wrapping with unceremonious motions which tore of the entire package. His eyes started glinting with a sense of joy.

He couldn’t help but clutch the box close to his shoulders as he almost wept tears of happiness. He composed himself and then put on the shoes, unable to take his eyes of them. He had on his feet the Nike Mercurial Superfly 7 as he removed his tattered ball from the cupboard to check the comfort.

He couldn’t stop smiling as he put on a fashion show for Dadi now. She immediately tried calling Dadu to share the excitement, but her call went answered.