Love Shorts #12

I scan through my notifications for her Whatsapp message every morning ,and if it is not there, I look at her ''last seen.'
I perform the ritual several times during the day. I often wait a long time for her message, but if you would ask her, she will say that I take a long time in replying. She can disappear for hours, sleep without saying 'goodnight' or leave promptly in the middle of chat, but if I take a few more seconds in replying, I am disqualified.
''Till when are we going to play the game by your rules?'' I ask her.
''Till you like it.'' She replies with a tongue out emoticon

The idea of a perfect happy birthday

I don't know how to react on my birthday.

I am not a fancy person.  I never planned anything extravagant on my birthday, had a grand party or bought an expensive gift.  Mostly because I could not afford it.  And I never liked to rob my father's money for my pleasure.  I have been a good kid.

I believe that all days are alike and we should try to make every one of them special.  So why put extra emphasis on birthdays?  But much before the day comes,  I have an expectation in my heart that something special should happen on the day.  Someone must take initiative to make it special.  I expect phone calls and long messages wishing me well.  And recently on my 23rd birthday,  I realised that how more people come to know me every year but lesser people wish me on time anyway.  It is different that you wish someone via a phone call or even a message at 12 sharp and you post a half hearted 'hbd''  on their Facebook wall when Zuckerberg instructs you to do so.

I have to digest the fact that my friends are moving along in their lives  and are involved in activities,  work,  career,  family life and such  things.  It is possible to forget that the new date that has just come once held some significance in their life.

The thing is about expectations.  My parents would never forget my birthday.  My sister would want to try her best  to make it special.  A few friends would always wish me,  even if they do it later,  it would be from their hearts.  But I would not be grateful for that.

I would not accept the fact that people do not call anymore on birthdays.  WhatsApp has changed the tradition.  It is the emozies that are the perfect substitutes to express our heartfelt feelings for somebody.

I would not accept  the fact that I can never have as happy a birthday as I used to have till the number of candles on the cake were in single digits. Maybe birthdays are for children.. Because it is only children that can be contented on birthdays. They would not want everyone on their contact list to wish them to start with. They would enjoy the little toys they receive.  They would enjoy plying with balloons,  eating cake and chocolates.  They would enjoy running,  playing,  dancing, anything,  everything,

My idea for a perfect birthday would be pleasant weather and no mosquitoes..  But that is not in one 's hand.  On my 23rd birthday,  my internal examinations began.  I had to attend college. Again something not in my hands.  My idea of a perfect birthday would be to spend the day hanging out with people I feel comfortable with (termed as 'friends'  in common usage) ,  doing random stuff,  chatting,  maybe singing and dancing,  or anything fun that comes naturally to anyone. I would like to have one meal of the day with my family as I know they are the ones who would unconditionally stand there for me when i am in need.  And maybe when I sleep at the night,  I should have a smile of contentment,  feeling gratitude for the company I had.  That would be the last piece.

Do you have happy birthdays?  What is your idea of a perfect  happy birthday?