“Need your favor” I got call from a friend who’s just married and staying in Hyderabad. 8:00 PM - 7th January’2012, Bopal
I am watching a thriller “Yeh Saali Zindagi” on Akshar Medical Shop and I suddenly listen to “Jaise hare k friend jaruri hota he…..” It went on till I was done with my customer; but before I could respond it stopped. Had been finished with Customer, I looked into my cell and it was her call which I missed. Usually, I only perceive complains of her life and abusing words for me from her whenever I speak to her. Even if I am the only one friend whom she can rely on in ahmedabad, I always found it fun to enjoy her abuses over my friendship. Wow….What a fun it is!! :D :D
She is endearing friend of course, but situations never allow me to talk to her in good manner. I called her back after few minutes when I got free out of my work.
“Need your favor Jasmin…” I heard after initial formalities of “Hi Boy” and “Hello...How are you baby?” :D
“And what is that?” I thought she would again start with Job issues.
“I know you won’t do me favor but still I am asking you, coz you are only good friend you know?” I always knew.
Before I could speak anything, she continued.
“Hey today it’s Dad’s birthday and I want to surprise him on behalf of me and Vishal. You know after marriage I this is his first b’day………etc……etc…..she went on convincing me with all emotions of PAPA KI PARI :)”
“Which cake?” I surprised her as she couldn’t expect me to do as since due to what has happened last few months.
“Wow Jasmin, you really would do it?” she as expected got surprised with my response.
“Which cake and how much?” with little attitude of favoring.
“Just get Black Forest Half KG as only mom and Dad are there” she didn’t even think I would also eat the cake :(
“Okay will do it... ‘LOVE YOU DAD – Avni/Vishal’ on cake?”
“No no…keep it ‘Happy Birthday DAD – Vishal/Avni’….okay?” she gave respect to her recently married hubby.
“Cool….” I said, as who was I to decide what to be sprinkled on Cake and what not to be ;)
The more unforeseen factor was that I never had been to her home before even if we were friends since 4+ years. Besides, I also never met her Mom and Dad before :( :D
“Have you been to my place before? I guess once you’d come. Right?” she asked.
“Wrong!! No, you never invited me when you were alone ;)” I flirted her knowing she was recently married :D :D
“Shut up. Then how would u find my home?” she meant to speak only about favor she wanted.
“Get me the Address, I will find it. No worries” I retorted confidently.
“Have you seen Nehrunagar Cross roads? ……..etc….etc……etc….” she pointed out each corner of around her home so I can find it easily.
“I’ll call you once I reach your place. Anything else?” I had customer waiting.
“Reach early around 11:30 PM, so u may get time to find home….” She didn’t want to miss.
“Bugger Off Girl, I shall find it….you have fitted me with whole map in my mind” :D Girls are like that only.
We also had little talk over cash transfer and little flirty nature of mine in past. But the point was – I am ready to do it again. 3 years back I also executed such surprise for her sister’s birthday and it was fun being Delivery boy from “Cakes and Bake”.
I as usual with my FZ-16 kicked off towards Nehrunagar keeping in mind that I need to buy cake. At 11 o’clock, only RAISIN would be open near Prahaladnagar road, I thought. It’s January, mid time for cold and it was 8 Degree last night heard in news. I was covered from almost side with jacket, hand gloves and handkie rolled over the face. I was mad. Who’ll do such madness in such cold, where in spite of going home I was heading towards 10 Km away from my home bearing such cold to prove some lost friendship. Wow, mad friendship!! :D
Suddenly I got one police staring at me on Prahalaadnagar road and pointed me with her Police stick. I was scared as even I did not have Passbook or PUC and police are always ready to bribe over some or another way. But that should be day time duty; 11:00 at night is not a time for bribing money in illegal way – I thought. I stopped my bike nearby him and said “Yes Sir?”
“Get me lift till next cross road” his words looked order rather than request.
“Ok Ssssir..” I was happy at least he did not ask for money.
I did not speak a word until reached RAISIN and then I uttered to police who was old in age though looked strong.
“I need to buy cake. Can you wait for some time?”
“Alright. If I get another vehicle, I’ll move. You go ahead.” cool and lame answer I got from him.
I parked my bike and went into RAISIN. Opted for Chocolate Truffle as they did not have Black forest. I knew it gonna cost me ~400 bugs unsure of getting it back, but still sometimes happiness for lonely old people gives more value. I was waiting for the cake to be packed up in few minutes after I gave them paper on which I wrote “Happy B’day Dad – Vishal/Avni”.
Waiting for cake gave me lot of past thoughts within 15 minutes. These 15 minutes were very painful if I be honest. There was lot to think about my so far past birthdays while buying cake for the people who were unknown to me. Even when cake arrived I lasted there for few more minutes and kept thinking. Last thought was “How many times I would do such favors to others?”
I set off from RAISIN at 11:30 PM. When I got out I found poor lady selling balloons with Hope of earning few bugs. There was no reason to deny for Balloons when someone is trying to earn at 11:30 night by selling balloons to pour their stomach. I bought two balloons from her ignoring other poor but young man who was begging rather than trying for earning. Balloons, I got one for uncle and another for auntie, but more precisely my intensions were to help that poor lady who was trying. There was some calmness after last 15 minutes twister in heart when I left from that place.
Within 15 minutes, I reached Nehrunagar holding up 2 big balloons in one hand and cake in other one along with lots of thought in mind. Finding her place was no burden. I figured out it easily the place of her mom and dad as she fitted me every corner around her home.
Game starts now,
I reached TrustNagar society and read name of her father on front society board outside. I had some kind of zeal still scary feeling. I get into society and dogs started barking seeing me wrapped up like thief from every side. I also had dark green polarized glasses on which resembled me no lesser than DON with black jacket, hand gloves(which normally murderers wear before killing someone) and face covered with hankie.
Suddenly I hear barking of dogs from nowhere and saw 2-3 street dogs were following towards me. I gave sweet whispering whistle to dogs as soon as I reached 10 meters from her home. That’s all I knew how to handle street dogs ;) Dogs were ready to get me caught as thief by society people. Some hidden emotions came out from Dogs and I could see their Tails dancing. A mature sign of dogs that when they are calm and convinced, they start using their tail :) I was relaxed.
I am standing outside her home in Trustnagar society and thinking of calling her up. But I am me.
Mind-blowing. I acted as soon as idea of jumping the locked gate of her bungalow hit my notorious mind(knowing of first time being to someone’s place whom I never had met :D :D :D). Keeping my glows and Specs aside, one hand having cake and other has balloons. I could see someone watching TV inside but that could not stop me. I just climbed gate and phone rang :( Shittttttttttttt !! She called me up when I was about to jump. I informed her what I gonna do and she was excited too. It’s surprise factor :) Someone came to open door probably listening to ringtone or my jumping feet. All I had to do was………..
“Happy b’day to you…Happy B’day to you… Happy B’day Uncle” I was singing and laughing :D :D
He was more than surprised. Auntie came out and I performed my show offs bowing her ;) I gifted them cake and 2 balloons instantly and I was gifted with “BIG SMILE” on uncle’s face :)
Uncle was so happy…so were auntie. We sitted for next 15 minutes together and they asked me for my job and how I had been her friend. Little chat gags and I felt like being part of her family. I had Ice cream offered by auntie – Cookie creams my favorite :) I shared it with uncle and auntie and they loved it. Though, I was unaware but they already knew me by name :)
My Name is jESS and I am not Terrorist ;) I had to admit after jumping their gate at 12:00 :):):)
I left her home after having ICE cream with lots of smile on faces. I was on bike back to 10Kms and got her call and she was very laughing too with all heart of happiness. I just was feeling good in corner of my heart….
“It was very sweet gesture of friendship from your end. You have good side within your heart and thanks for making me part of that good side. Really appreciate it. – Love Avni/Vishal“ - was the SMS I received from her.
Things did not end here….However things do not end here. Back to home on the way, and I was thinking why I did this? What I gonna get apart from 2 hours of good feeling and one blog post? What’s the reason I always think about making others happy when I never brought such lovely moments for my parent? It’s not only up to my parents. It’s about my whole family. I do it for others - Why? Some tears in eyes with thoughts of this was really not done even if was done. Life has betrayed me with unconditional happiness because I was never able to give such surprise, such feel good flashes to my family itself. There is big distinction between happiness and satisfaction. I can laugh and I can make other smile. But do I really feel happy? Do I feel satisfied? I just feel good momentary….it will be vanished….
A biggest secret is – I never had visibly happiest birthday of my life ever. Every b’day of mine brings some shock and some sadness; which overrides other happiness I receive on same day. Most of my birthdays have been my exam days during schooling. All I remember, It started since b’day on 12th of my schooling; when best friend of mine did not attend my party giving me hardest feel. Someday I did not receive call from the girl I loved most – I cried a lot. Someday I was crying on my b’day after losing job and lost in gloomy days. Someday I was crying on my break ups on my b’day itself. I always remember my every b’day with no fair and clean happiness.
I still do enjoy whatever god offers me.
I will ask to god someday on my birthday - “Need your favor SIR" :)
