The Fortieth Birthday

 

I am Kavya, and it is not a good day for me.

Every time someone passes by my desk, I tense, dreading that someone will come to know that it is my birthday and will wish me. While I have always loved birthdays, specially mine, I am dreading this birthday like none other.

Today is my fortieth birthday. I cannot bear to think about this.

How did life fly by so fast? One day you are a teenager, dreaming about a career that will help you earn as well as make a good difference to the society, and about finding your soulmate and living with him happily forever. Before you realize it, you are forty, working as a software programmer in a MNC, earning not much but just enough to get by, and are woefully single.

I shake myself out of my pity party and try to concentrate on my work. A hopeless attempt, for while I am dreading that someone will make a huge fuss over my birthday, there is also that disappointed feeling that I am not doing anything special today. My parents called me over video to wish me. I am not expecting any other calls. Childhood friendships got lost somewhere in the flood of daily forwards, chat groups and reactions to every post in the social media. No one in the office knows and no one will bother. It has only been a year since I joined this MNC and while my colleagues are cool, we are not exactly wishing-each-other-birthdays close.

My intercom buzzes and I am summoned to my GM’s cabin. Work beckons as usual!

An hour later, I find myself outside the Ritz Hotel facing the beach. Chirag has accompanied me.

Chirag is the marketing consultant for our MNC. He meets potential clients looking for software for their firms/business and makes deals with him. He is the most successful consultant of our firm. At just thirty-five years of age, he is one handsome dude. That, along with his uber-confident stance and assuring voice ensure that clients fall for him within few minutes of meeting him.

Today he has arranged for a meet with the owner of the Ritz to know the software requirements for the hotel management. I have been assigned this project and I am super excited about it. Atleast one good thing would hopefully happen on my birthday!

Not just one. The beach!

I love it. I have often dreamt of spending evenings there on my own. But time constraints have made it impossible for me to visit the beach in the evenings. By the time I leave office, it is almost night. On weekends I am too lazy to leave the comfort of my home.

But the Ritz is situated at a walking distance from the beach, which means I might be able to spend the evening at the beach and hopefully catch a spectacular sunset.

I and Chirag step inside the hotel.

“Wow!” I say as I take in the grandeur of the hotel. “I am seeing a five-star hotel for the first time!”

Chirag smiles at me and gestures me to sit on the lounge while he proceeds to the reception. He talks to the receptionist who looks absolutely smitten by him.

“Seems Mr. Kapoor won’t be here until evening.” Chirag says with a sigh as he sits beside me.

“Oh. Now what do we do?”

He taps his fingers on his legs and then says, “Come on, let’s have lunch.” He gestures to the in-house dining inside the hotel.

I look at him wide-eyed. “You mean, there?” I know it will be too pricy.

He grins at me. “Come on.”

I follow him dazedly. Lunch in a five-star hotel’s restaurant!? Not a bad way to celebrate my fortieth!

I look at the menu and realize that I can’t pronounce half of the names in there. Without sounding condescending, Chirag explains the items to me and places the order.

A waiter approaches our table carrying a plate with red roses. He places them beside me with a smile and a flourish.

“They do this for everyone, you know.” Chirag says. I nod happily. I couldn’t care if they do it for every person coming here. This is special for me! I take the roses and arrange them in my handbag.

Over lunch, I and Chirag share news of the office. It is very easy for me to talk to him. He was the first one with whom I worked after joining the company. I usually accompany him on his visits to finalize clients and I interact with them for their software requirements. I have always found him to be easy-going and jovial.

Lunch passes by breezily and I really have a great time.

Chirag once again asks the receptionist and this time when he returns he shakes his head.

“Seems Mr.Kapoor won’t be here today.”

“Oh, okay. I guess we should return to the office then.” I say.

He looks at me and gazes out of the glass doors of the hotel. Then he looks at his watch and shrugs. “It is already four. Why don’t we spend the rest of the evening at the beach and call it a day?”

“The beach??” I ask incredulously. This is too good of a coincidence. My birthday is becoming more and more special by the minute.

I grin and Chirag grins back. “Come on.” This time I tell him and we both excitedly walk out of the hotel.

The beach is everything I imagined and better. The sun’s rays have painted the water and the sky in hues of pink and lavender. A gentle breeze blows, bringing with it the smell of salt and sea and I close my eyes to savor it.

Sitting beside Chirag who had miraculously brought a blanket with him, I feel complete today. Gone is the dread of my fortieth. This is life. I smile blissfully.

“I could use something to smile about.” Chirag says gently. When I look at him, I find him gazing at me with an odd expression.

I inhale deeply. “Thank you, Chirag. You don’t know, but today is my fortieth birthday, and you made it really, really special.”

He clears his throat. “I know.” When I look at him in surprise, he takes out a wrapped gift from his bag and gives it to me. “Happy birthday.”

“You knew all this while?”

He looks sheepish. “Actually, I also knew that Mr.Kapoor would not be available today. I just wanted to do something special for you on your birthday. I wanted it to be a surprise.”

I only look at him in confusion.

“I… I have a huge crush on you, Kavya. Right since the first day you and I worked together. I find you fascinating.” He says, sounding nervous for the very first time that I have known him.

“You do?” I ask in disbelief.

He chuckles. “Why so surprised? It is impossible for anyone to not to fall for you.”

“It is??” I ask stupidly.

He laughs. “Have you ever looked at yourself? You are… “. He searches my face for the right word. “You are you, Kavya. Amazing beyond words.”

His words warm my heart. I open the gift and gasp as I hold a limited edition of The Hobbit, one of my favorite books. I remember having confided in him a long, long time ago that I am a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien.

“You remembered!” I whisper.

“Of course I did. And I always will.” Chirag says. “So, what do you think? You and I – yay or nay?”

“I am elder to you by five years, Chirag.”

“Not an issue for me. Does that bother you?”

I look at him, seeing him in a new light. I think about all the moments we both have spent together. There has been laughter, fun and most importantly, companionship.

“How about you go out with me on a few dates, get to know me better? You can take your own time to decide about us.” Chirag says gently, understanding my hesitation in taking this major step of getting into a relationship.

If this didn’t work for me, then nothing will.

I smile at him and nod shyly. He looks as if all his wishes have come true in one moment.

We sit together in silent companionship, our shoulders touching, the promise of good times ahead filling my heart with hope.

The sun sets spectacularly, drenching the world in hues of orange and red. For me, they seem like the hues of love.