On any Sunday like this...

Sundays are unique. It seems that the sun shines brighter on any
given Sunday and the grass looks greener. After the hurly-burly of the
busy week that stretches into Saturday, the Sunday is like life-giving
oxygen. It's the only day of the congested week when you can breathe in
peace. For Andy, a ten year old the weekly break was the only time he
found out that he had a family. Both his parents were successful
doctors and his elder sister was in junior college. During the week, he
spent his mornings in school. The rest of the day was spent in the
company of a lady who looked after his various needs. He had to be fed
and put to sleep. When he joined his friends for a game of cricket, she
kept watch over him from a distance. In the evening she helped him with
his homework. She was of his mother's age and he called her 'Miss'.
Incidentally that is what he called his teachers in school.
Andy was a little late in getting up today. Nobody seemed to mind. His
'Miss' would only come in the evening. So the whole day would be spent
near mother. Today morning three of mother's friends were coming for
breakfast. Actually it was more like a late morning brunch. By the time
the ladies came Andy had had breakfast. So he was ready for the day.
Andy felt very happy today though he was not sure why. He attributed
his good spirits to the sunny day. Andy was playing in the playroom
when his mother had him summoned. The ladies were assembled in the
drawing room. When they saw Andy they smiled at him. Mummy said, 'This
is my son. Do you think you will be able to organize it at such short
notice?' The senior-most lady assured her, 'We have done many of these
before. And children are so sweet.' While saying these words she patted
Andy on the head. Andy was puzzled. These people were talking about
something but he did not know what it was. With his mother's permission
he left the room and went back to his playroom. After a while his
father came into the playroom. He gave Andy a card. 'My son,', he said
, 'We doctors in Calcutta have a club. At the club there is a library,
a cricket and football pitch and a music room. When our children are of
a certain age we allow them to visit the club. All the children have to
promise that they too must become doctors someday. Do you want to
become a doctor Andy?'. Andy was not sure what he should say. He took a
look at the card that his father had given him. The card contained his
name and name of the club. There were other details that needed to be
entered. Before he could say anything, his father said, 'It is believed
that you are old enough to fill in the details'. Saying this Dad left
the room. Andy was more confused than before. Why did Dad give him this
card today? Maybe it was&;#8230;but no one had wished him. Very soon
he was called to a very special lunch. It was a meal to remember.
The time after lunch was generally reserved for a short siesta. But
when he went to his bedroom, he found the adjacent room filled with
people. On looking he found that his sister June was present there with
at least ten more girls. He was rubbing his sleep-filled eyes when one
of the girls spotted him. 'Is that your brother? He has such chubby
cheeks', she said to June and pressed Andy's cheeks hard. Another girl
called Jill came up to him. With a tossing of her hair and a twinkle in
the eyes she said to Andy, 'Will you marry me little boy?'. Andy looked
helplessly at June. June however said, 'Well tell her whether you will
marry her, Andy. She is asking you a question.' After this the whole
group of girls burst into loud laughter. Andy was cross and he went to
the next room and fell asleep. He woke again at four pm.
It was time for him to go the adjoining children's park. Miss had
arrived by now. She had brought him a present. The gift was a book of
fairy tales. He asked her why she had given him a gift today. She
replied, 'Because, I love you'. Andy was not sure what that meant but
it made him happy nevertheless. He was dressed in new clothes and they
walked to the park. However Andy was disappointed. Not a single one of
his friends had come to the park today. He waited till six pm when the
sun went down. As he walked home Andy thought how the evening was
wasted.. As they approached the house he found that all lights were
powered off. He rang the bell but no one answered. He pushed the front
door and found that it was open. He then entered the huge hall that
serves as their living room. It was completely dark. As he switched on
the light he was amazed by what happened thereafter. The whole room was
decorated with balloons and streamers. The huge table in the centre had
all kinds of food, the pride of place being occupied by a massive cake
with candles. The people present in the room included all his father's
friends, his mother's fellow doctors, his sister's ten friends and of
course all his little playmates. As the singing started he now knew
what day it was today. Of course&;#8230;his tenth birthday. Happy
birthday to you Andy.