Once Upon a University Campus

The Art of Accepting Gifts

Annika totally forgot about the gift box and the invitation in her bag. She was enjoying the tranquil but cold early morning as she sipped the hot coffee Sumo prepared using her shiny new gadget. It was surreal that she was waking up to a cup of hot coffee, something that was mere wishful thinking these many years. Indeed her room started to feel like home, coffee to start the day and a simple soul waiting for her company. She looked at Sumo fondly, Sumo had huddled herself in bed, covered herself with her quit almost entirely except the bare of her coffee holding hand and face. It just felt good to have her around, she was indeed family as long as they were here. That reminded her of the party, the party where family is welcome! She fished out the box and invite from her bag.

Sumo's eyes widened at the sight of the gift box, she flung her quit and jumped out of bed in excitement.

"Akka what is this? Is it mithai?" Sumo grabbed the box from Annika's hand and ripped open the git warp. Annika would have wanted to save the pretty gift wrap but she was too late.

"Akka.. it is just chikki and dry fruits... I wish it were mithai. Peda, Ladoo, bufi anything..." a disappointed Sumo lost herself thinking about mithai.

"Hmmm.. so you want to have sweets first thing in the morning?" Annika teased Sumo..

"What Akka.. how does it matter? morning , afternoon evening are all fair game for Mithai. It would not become bitter or spicy because of the time of the day no?.."Sumo whined.

"You don't want to see this card?" Annika brandished the invitation card.

Sumo took the card from Annika, she read it and put it down casually. 'Something to do with something called lohri, so it must be a party for babies who cannot sleep? Why would they celebrate 'lohri' otherwise' Sumo was disinterested.

"Arre! No, Lohri is a Punjabi festival marking the end of the coldest of winter. The song to put babies to sleep is not Lohri, it is LORI" Annika explained.

The twinkle was back in Sumo's eyes.

"Good food there Akka"

"I bet" said Annika, with a great deal of confidence on Oberoi's hospitality

"Am I invited ? " Sumo asked with pleading puppy eyes.

Annika paused for a few minutes just to pester Sumo and said " Yes".

Sumo's joy knew no bounds. She started bouncing all round their tiny room. Annika found it heartwarming to look at this little joyful puppy bouncing around her. There was something about these carefree kids that made her happy for she never got to be one. It did surprise here that the Sumo's excitement lasted through till their breakfast. She informed Om that Annika and herself would be going to a party. She had no idea that Om would be playing host.

"Sumo, I am glad that you will be at the party" Om was amused at Sumo's excitement.

"Om Bhaiyya, you know, food is supposed to be good. Pedas and ladoos at the least" Sumo had really gotten carried away by the excitement.

"Aha I see, what else" Om was in one of his rare jocular mood.

"May be rasmalai Bhaiyya... and kulfi" Sumo recollected her favorites between spooning mouthfuls of scrambled egg loaded with minced green chilies.

"Kulfi in this cold season? " Om had put down his spoon and was looking at her in amusement.

"Season had nothing to do with kulfi bhaiyya" Sumo declared.

"Alright, let's ask them to add Kulfi to the menu." Om casually remarked.

"And warm carrot halwa..." Sumo was lost in her reverie.