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Best birthday
Sonia munched on a biscuit as Ameena said, “I gave my dad his favourite designer’s shirt on his birthday last month.” “How much did it cost you? A bloody fortune?” asked Sonia.
“Yeah, kind of, but I’d been saving up since the past six months and I’d got enough cash on my hands.” Then, looking up at Sonia, she asked, “What will you buy for your dad? His birthday comes two weeks later, doesn’t it?”
“That is the problem. I can’t decide what to buy. I saw a watch in a shop and it was a really nice one but it’s too expensive and way out of my reach. And, anyways, my dad is not a bit eager about watches,” Sonia explained miserably.
“Silly, then you ought to buy him something which he will like, not something which will put you under debts,” Ameena said, doubting Sonia’s mental health.
“Ameena, don’t tell me this because I know I should get him what he likes, but I most probably won’t be able to do so.” Ameena felt that Sonia really had lost her mind. Sonia studied the expression on her friend’s face and said, “Look here, when I tell you what my dad likes you’ll know why I can’t choose a reasonable gift for him...”
“Does he like socks?” asked Ameena, thinking that it must be something like socks because of which Sonia was making such a fuss.
“No!” snapped Sonia, “He is a food-lover! And as he is quite a perfectionist about eating, I dare not cook him a meal or bake a cake myself. I can’t even afford to take him out for a nice dinner.”
“I’ll tell you what to do. You run off to your neighbourhood shops, grab some cake mixes and other yummy ready-to-cook goodies and voila! A lovely birthday tea is ready,” Ameena could work up the best of plans in an instant.
“Ameena, I’m your servant for this week!” Sonia marvelled at the idea and felt like hugging her, “But which mixes should I buy? Gulab jamuns, faluda, ras malai, chocolate cake, cream donuts…”
“If you don’t shut up I’ll drool over your lunch!” warned Ameena, who was a great sweet-food lover. Sonia laughed heartily and then an idea flashed like a light bulb in her mind, “Hey Ameena, why don’t you come with me for shopping this evening and we can get all our favourite mixes, then later you can help me in cooking and baking.”
“Whoa!” Ameena nearly dropped her lunch. They always had fun when they were together.
It was July 29, Sonia’s father’s birthday. Sonia hummed a merry tune as she arranged the eatables on the table and poured the tea for her parents. As she did so, she thought about Ameena, who would also be putting a chocolate cake and gulab jamuns on her table at home. She had taken packets of cake and gulab jamun mixes from Sonia because she realised it was a terrific idea for a surprise tea.
“I bet Ameena’s dad will be delighted with her,” she thought, and just then her dad appeared from his room. He threw a glance at the things on the table and his mouth dropped open. “Happy Birthday, dad,” said Sonia in the most cheery voice she could manage, meanwhile thoroughly enjoying the surprised expression on her father’s face.
“Thank you dear, but what’s all this. My God, won’t your mother be angry and tired after all this cooking and baking. I can’t believe she actually managed to make so much food. Look at all this delicious stuff…” her dad went on talking as he looked at each food item and imagined how tasty it would be. There was his favourite sponge cake with small candles on top, a tempting platter of syrupy gulab jamuns, cheese nuggets, fries, small pizzas, a large dish filled with ras malai and a plate of cream and chocolate donuts.
“It wasn’t me,” said Sonia’s mother as she appeared from the balcony tying up her hair, “It’s all the magic of Sonia’s hand.”
“And Ameena’s,” added Sonia, not for once forgetting her friend. After all, it was Ameena’s idea in the first place and she had also helped her with the preparation of all the food stuff.
“Oh my, Sonia, you and Ameena ought to teach your mother how to cook because she still hasn’t been this good, not even with mixes,” Sonia’s father was genuinely impressed and happy. It had been a pleasant surprise for him. Her mother shot her daughter a look of false envy, but Sonia was thinking about something else.
“Dad, you know I was actually going to get you a really costly watch and it was worth its price too but Ameena said that food was a much better idea and so…”
“It’s the best birthday ever,” her dad interrupted her as he sipped his tea and gave her a big wide smile. And Sonia hoped that Ameena’s dad would be saying something similar to his daughter too.
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