In Mumbai, at the prime of night, there were lights here and there on a 35 story building, and on the top floor, in a lavish four-bedroom flat, a man is in his deep slumber when he felt two pair of hands poking him trying to wake him up.
Slowly, with a slight irritation evident on his face, he opened his eyes only to find two happy faces beaming at him.
"What happened girls? Why are you not letting me sleep?", asked the man looking at them.
"Happy birthday pappa", wished the ten-year-old girl wrapping her hands around him.
"Thank you so much little one", replied the man hugging her back.
"Many many happy returns of the day Vi", wished the woman sitting beside him and giving him a side hug.
"Love you Nushki", replied Virat kissing her forehead. Not giving any moment of peace for the couple, their daughter Vamika pulled Virat off the bed.
"Come on dad, let's open the presents"
"Baby, we will do it tomorrow morning, okay...now it's too late. Let's go to bed", said Virat feeling sleepy.
"No, I can't wait so long... please dad", requested the little girl and Virat didn't have the heart to disappoint her. So, he took his mobile and while answering few calls and replying to messages, he walked into the hall where he found more than 20 gifts piled upon. Looking at them Virat exclaimed.
"Nushki, I am turning 41 and not four okay?"
"Shut up Vi...these gifts are sent from your teammates", replied Anushka with a smile.
"Wow", saying Virat examined the tags on each gift.
Shikar, Jaddu, Ro, Harry, Shreyas...
We were all together for almost two decades and I have celebrated many of my birthdays with them during our tours yet not once they gave me a gift directly except the cake smash but just after the year I have retired, they are showering me with so much love...Are they so happy getting rid of me or are they missing me?
He was lost in his thoughts when Vamika nudged him to open the gifts.
He opened Rohit's gift and he chuckled looking at the contents.
"An eye mask", said Vamika taking it from her father and placing it on his eyes and that's when he realized there is something stuck inside. As he opened it, he found two pictures of him and Rohit printed inside, and a note was stuck there. He removed the note and not understanding what is the purpose of the pictures inside an eye mask, he opened the note.
Note: Happy birthday Virat. After a lot of thinking, I bought this one for you to remind you that you should not forget me even in your sleep.
"Brilliant", whispered Virat putting back the note and the gift safely in the box.
Then he opened a gift from Jadeja.
"Wow, it's a chain with a horse-shaped dollar", again exclaimed Vamika putting it around Virat's neck.
Oh my God what else is waiting for me
Thought Virat moving on to the next one. It is from Shikar.
He opened the present and found a box which had a sponge ball smiling brightly at him along with a small note.
Note: Yo Virat, Gabbar here. I know you are laughing looking at my gift and its purpose is fulfilled. I want you to keep smiling like this forever.
"Okay Jatt ji", thought Virat with a smile.
"Uh dad, this is so boring. I thought there would some punching boxes or spluttering water balloons, but these are no fun. I am going to bed. Good night", said Vamika walking to her room making her parents laugh.
