On an Evening in Roma

Anirudh's Birthday, part-2

"Birthdays pe yeh sab koun kerta he bhai?"

Vijay asked, gesturing to the rows of gigantic pans and pots...and the mountain of empty packets. Today was 14th January a sacred day for Batuk...today was his brothers birthday...so of course the celebration have to be grand..

Up until this year Batuk used to throw an enormous party with free drinks to celebrate the joyous day...but this year he was doing something different. Since clubs or bars were out of option and Durga won't allow him to go anywhere near any alcohol...Batuk and Durga has planned to celebrate his brothers birthday by feeding and giving cloths, books and toys to the orphanage kids.

At the children's village, which is located at central Rome, almost 300 kids of different age lived there...so it wasn't an easy task. Bondita has been cooking since 3am in the roof of their apartment...in between she had just went to do her morning puja.

After the cooking was done they had brought everything on the roof to pack the food since it had the biggest open space...and that is where they were right now.

Vijay poured kheer in a small cup and sealed it with a cover then continued, "Birthdays pe cake kat te he... birthday boy ko gift's dete he, although tera bhai abhi kisi bhi angle se boy nahi raha... family aur friends ko khana khilate he...unse ese kam nahi karwate he."  He said the last part bitterly.

Bondita's all the students were here today to help with the packing... Francesca was the only member missing from the group...well, Luca wasn't here too...he went to hire a truck that will transport everything to the orphanage.

Since her students results were released they have started to spend more time at this house...since they have passed without any struggle or begging to the principal, her students and their families have started to see her as some kind of miracles worker...and they believe if they spend more time around her they will pass their future exams with good numbers as well.

Bondita's own result...that will come out today evening.

"Toh humne kaha tha tum logo ko ane ke liye? Hum help hire karne wale the na...lekin tum logo ne hi kaha ke jarurat nahi he hum samhal lenge." Bondita said putting her hand on her waist. She was packing the shingara's in a packet and then she was passing it another student who was packing the roasted chickens.

"Haa...toh bolega hi naa...tere hath ka khana jo khane ko milega inn sab ko...woh bhi free me."  Batuk snickered while pouring biriani in a different packet.

"Chup ker besharam...khud toh her roj Durga ki hath ki khana kha kha ke mota hote ja raha he..."

At which Batuk loudly protested, "A me mota nahi hu...dekh Durga kya bol raha he yeh?"

Yes he has gained weight but he wasn't fat...thanks to the four kilo morning run Durga made him do every morning.

Vijay overlooked his protest and continued, "...aur humhe jo kabhi kabar milta he uspe bhi najar laga raha he?... Wase Durga kheer bohoooot accha bana he, ager yeh Anirudh dada ka favorite dessert he then it's a shame that he won't get to eat it." Vijay said pouring a spoonful of kheer into his open mouth. He has been doing that every now and then.

Bondita agreed with him...it really was a shame that her Sakha Babu's another birthday will pass and she won't get to see him...or feed him his favorite kheer.

How she wished to greet him happy birthday as Bondita...give him all the wishes of happiness...tell him that she was nervous about her result...how she wished he will be there holding her hand when her results would be announced.

"Woh kheer uss cups me dalne ke liye he...tere pet me dalne ke liye nahi, bhukkar kahi ke! Adhe se jyada kheer toh shyad tere pet me hi chala gaya he." Batuk exclaimed annoyingly bring Bondita out of her daydream...in reply Vijay poured another spoonful kheer in his mouth just to spite Batuk.