Mansi - 5

Mansi is anxious. It's her birthday tomorrow. What should she expect off the day? She has been growing up in the age of mass media. All the drama of the unreal world is creating castles of dreams inside her mind. Having no avenues of opportunities as of yet, she has been increasingly believing in her fate and the God and that one day her life would be lifted from the pyres of pain to the kites of laughter.

It's evening. She feels special. She is feeling hungry. Her mom has not returned from the work yet. She is eager to discuss her plans for tomorrow. Deep down she knows that it is simply unaffordable for her to think of the sparkles she has been decorating inside her mind, although her instinct is not yet ready to accept this. Sitting by the door, she is watching her younger sister. She is playing in her arms and it makes her happy. She giggles with her, "Is it didi's birthday? Is it! Ha!".

By the night, as mother came tiringly, and father a bit later, half drunk and half asleep, she could not see any opportunity to talk to them. Her excitement vanished quickly. In the age of the internet and a fully blown social media, we know how people celebrate their special days. We all want to be surrounded, celebrated and appreciated.

After eating the chapati along with the mango pickle, Mansi is by now in her bedsheet over the floor. She is awoke, heavy and still hopeful for any minor surprises. "Does anyone here remember that it's her birthday?". Mansi fell to sleep with wet eyes... No one wished her at midnight.

"It's your birthday beta, be up quickly now!", her mother seems happy and proud. It's her mothers' special day too! She became mother the very first time and it was a life-changing experience. How could she forget? Mansi overslept a bit in the morning. Her mother hugged her and kissed her in the cheeks to wish her the day. She has asked her to go to the temple. Her father, shying from over the verandah, smiled at her.

Mansi - 4