Lumanti (Memory)

A Birthday Reminder

Exactly after a year, a name flashed in his phone screen. It was late night, but he was awake and the ringing phone dimly illuminated the dark room of his. He saw the name and got up from his bed with a surprise as he was just dreaming about the day he last talked properly with her.

That name brought back many memories. He was very much surprised but also worried for what might be reason that she is calling in the middle of the night. Is she in trouble? Does she want me to be there for her? Is somebody else calling from her phone because something happened to her? Leaving his quandary behind he hurriedly picked up the call before it ran out.

He slid his screen to pick up the call, brought his phone near to him and said nothing; only listened. The voice from the other end was calm unlike his mind at the moment. The voice said, "Hello." A rush of calmness came to him as he heard her voice after what felt like eternity. His heart fluttered upon her one hello but there was some sort of strangeness in her voice. He responded with same word, Hello. She remained silent for a while and with quiet a hesitation, she asked, "Hi, is this Bee? I am sorry to disturb you like this, but there was a reminder on my phone to call you right now, so I thought I should."

He was shocked, surprised and little hurt all at the same time. How can she not know me or recognize the voice? If she doesn't know me then why is she calling me at this point of time? Is this some sort of joke? Not knowing what to say he replied, "Sorry, what? Are you saying you don't know me?"

"I am sorry. This might feel like a joke to you but my phone had a reminder to call you tonight. And I felt that it must have been important, so I called you maybe you know something."

He recalled the time few years back that he spent with her when she pretended to forget his birthday. He said while lying on his bed with disappointment in his voice, "Hey, it is my birthday today and you did not even wish me." To which she replied while sitting at his chair, "Is it really? I should set a reminder then, she joked and spoke into her phone. "Hey Google, remind me to call bee on 12 July every year," and she smiled back at him and said, "here done."

"Wait why didn't you say wish me."

"Because I will remember it is your birthday, silly. Why would I call you in the middle of night otherwise?". She winked.

"Why not? There would be several reasons for you to call me but you seriously forgot my birthday today?" He pouted.

"Yeah, sorry, I did." She sighed but he knew she was lying.

"You are such a terrible liar, you know. I know about your surprise." And that was her first failed attempt at giving him a birthday surprise.

But today, it was different. She was not lying. She really did not know it was his birthday. He was hurt but confused about her call. Of all the things he thought she could call him, he didn't realise it could be for his birthday but he couldn't believe that she didn't know about the day because she always made it her goal to make it grand. He felt bit disappointed and felt this might be a joke but why would she call after a year without any communication for this long and pretend she didn't know him so he just replied, "Umm, well, it is my birthday. I don't recall anything important, maybe since it has been a year since last time we talked." Bitterness was prominent in his voice but so was calmness.

"Oh", she chimed, "then it is important day, Happy Birthday!!! I guess that was what that reminder was for. Do I only call you on your birthdays as you said I called you only last year."

"umm Thanks? And no you never called me after my last year's birthday," his irritation was getting better of him and so he responded with. "What are you trying to do T? Is this some sort of joke to you? You don't call me or contact me for a year and all of sudden you call me today out of any other days and pretend like you don't know me at all."