A Birthday to remember

I realized someone hitting my head with pillow. Though the pillow was soft, the hit was hard. I tried my best not to open my eyes completely with an intention of not losing the sleep. But a guttural female voice made me to wake-up. I saw a cute figure standing next to the bed. She was neatly dressed in a red chiffon saree. It was none, other than my lovable wife Priyanka. Her face was red, might be the reflection of saree.

I reached to her hand, pulled her towards the bed and wrapped her in the bed sheet. She reacted instantly and got out of the bed.
"Her face is red in anger; Not due to reflection," I confirmed.
With anger, she offered her mobile phone and requested me to take her a snap. She does that everyone, while wearing a new Saree.
“Hey Sweetie, Looking damn hot in new Saree. But, what special today? Hmm,.. Ethnic day at your office?" I asked clicking her picture. Before I could open the gallery to check the captured picture, the mobile flashed a name "Preethi”

Preethi - My Wife’s  bestie from childhood. I was about to attend the call, but my wife snatched the mobile and started talking to her. Over hearing female conversation is fun at times; hence I engrossed my ears on their chat.
“He hasn’t even wished. As usual he forgot my birthday" my wife was complaining to Preethi

 Then it struck my mind, today was her birthday. As always, I missed to wish on her on right time. People say the best way to remember your wife birthday is forget it once. But it has been 5 years now; I never forget to forget her birthday. I can remember the day India won Cricket World Cup and all those complicated dates. But my wife's birthday I never remember.

"Can you take off from your work and be with me today?" she pleaded in a soft voice. I could sense from her eyes that she was expecting a yes answer.
“I have an important conference to attend, can’t avoid it." "You could have informed me a week before right.” I said in a sterner tone
She did not flailed out in anger but left the house in silence. I dropped a message apologizing and promising that I would be back to home early and surprise her with loads of gifts.
But the day we plan to leave early from office is the day we get bombarded with works. By the time, I completed the work and checked my mobile I had 15 missed calls and lots of what’s app notification. Priyanka has requested for a dinner, which I failed to make it again. Because, it was 10 PM. I called her to check, whether I can get a parcel but she was done with her dinner already.

Finally, I decided to celebrate her birthday with a cake cutting, but all the shops were shut by sharp 10. I roamed another 1 hour to find a bakery shop. It was just a small shop and there were no candles or the plastic knife available. Whatever it was, I just took the cake and left. By the time, I reached home, she had slept.

It was 11.55.
I lighted the cake with a big candle that I had as a backup at my home in case of power cuts. I woke her up and blushed as If I was giving her a big surprise. I gave her the real knife insisting, “No fake things in between us”
She must be now used to all my worst behaviors. She snatched the knife and tried to cut the cake. The cake was so hard that even with a real knife, we could not slice the cake. Understanding the rigidity of the cake, she went inside to get a bigger knife. After repeated attempts, the cake was still in its shape, but the knife got broke. The disappointment roared in her eyes and it was 11.59. Still I have not wished happy birthday or surprised her. Leave about surprise, I kept disappointing her from morning. She was about to leave the place and without a second thought, I pulled her closed, kissed on her forehead and said “I love you birthday baby”.
The clock stuck 12:00 and tears flooded her eyes. I opened my mouth to apologize, but she clogged my mouth with hers.

Who said expensive gifts, or surprise only would make a person happy? Sometime, a tight hug and a Love you said from the heart are more powerful.