It was a sunny Saturday morning when my phone rang and woke me up from sleep. I heard a bithrtday song coming through. For a moment, I was confused. Could this really be for me?
Excited and confused, I sat up. My siblings came in, smiling, with gift bags in their hands. I was surprised, it hasn't been like this 17 years ago. What’s going on? I wondered.
My parents weren’t home, and when I asked where they’d gone, no one was willing to give me reasonable answer. Meanwhile, my phone kept ringing, calls from friends and loved ones, all wishing me well.
Since there was no school that day, I freshened up and had breakfast and continue with my normal home activities.Then, just before noon, my parents returned with my cousins and bags full of groceries. I caught sight of chicken, snacks, and other goodies. Still, no one said anything about a party.
Then my elder brother offered to take me out. “Let’s hang out for a bit,” he said casually. We went to a nearby mall and had a lovely time , chatting, walking, window-shopping.
At one point, he handed me a note. On the front, it said, Happy Birthday, my darling sis. Inside, he had written:
“You’re not just my sister — you’re a light in this family. Watching you grow has been a gift. You deserve joy, surprises, and all the love in the world.”
It was such a simple gesture, but so heartfelt that I nearly cried.
Just then, he got a call. “We need to head home,” he said. I didn’t think much of it.
But as soon as we got home, I noticed something strange, cars were parked everywhere. The moment I walked in, I heard it:
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”
I stood frozen, blushing so hard I didn’t know what to say. My parents were smiling uncontrollably, I ran to hug them tightly, overwhelmed with love and surprise.
The celebration was short but sweet. There was music playing in the background, cousins teasing me, and games that made everyone laugh; from “guess the memory” to a light-hearted birthday trivia. We had some baked samosa and meat pie for consumption. Which we shared after the game session.
Then came the cake. It was a beautiful creamy one, just for me. Everyone gathered around, singing, clapping, and urging me to make a wish. I closed my eyes, made the most grateful wish of my life, and cut the cake with other hands on mine.
But the surprises weren’t over.
My elder brother had one last thing planned. From a corner of the room, he unveiled what he called a surprise fruit tree - a handmade arrangement of fruits in the shape of a mini tree. It was beautiful. Iq hugged him tightly, and nearly let the tears fall.
In that moment, I felt deeply loved, not because of the gifts or the food, but because they all went out of their way to make me feel seen.
That night, I went to bed holding the note from my brother and smiling at the memory of everyone shouting my name. I never imagined a day like that could be mine.
I couldn’t wait for Monday. I had a story to tell- the story of a birthday I never saw coming.
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It's your girl @rita