The Day came with a small party and celebration. It obviously cannot be a grand function due to the nature of their work. But happiness and celebration become grand when it evolves from the mind and spread as an infectious smile . The birthday party was family, friends and cake - simple, sweet and destined to take its place in the album of good memories. Suddenly an uninvited guest entered.

Rahul: Surprise yaar

Everyone turned to see him.

Daya: tum yeham.

Rahul: socha tume eek surprise de dhoo.

Daya smiled and invited him into the party.

Daya 's one friend ,who earned a good fortune abroad ,has arrived here for the function. And when it came to the gift giving ceremony he was the first one to reveal the gift. It was something so beautiful ,a watch chain. It looks so worthy and beautiful . Everyone admired it expect one. Not because he was envied. But because a trail of thoughts was passing through his mind.

Abhijeet was at the back of the small crowd. He looked at his own present, the one he wrapped in beautiful gift paper with great care and then at the gift given by Daya's friend. That is perhaps three times worth than this, he estimated in his mind. He felt himself small seeing it. While every other person gave their gift, he stood at the back just smiling but burdened by a dilemma . Daya was watching him frequently and his sad smile. He couldn't understand his silence at once. It is rightly said that silence is a fine tailor when your thoughts are silken thread. The party ended in great smile.

Abhijeet was sitting alone in the cafeteria, thinking about the incident . Daya arrived from somehere and sat beside him. He didn't felt the presence as he was so immersed in his thoughts.

Daya: Abhi, mera gift kaham hai.

Abhijeet looked at him with a sudden jerk.

Abhi: Gift, vo Daya mai. Vo... Bhool gaya.

Daya: Tum mazak kar raha hai Boss, mai janta hoon. Mere gift lao. Tum kabhi mere bithday bhool nahi sakta. Koi surprise plan kiya hai kya.

Abhijeet looked at him with painful eyes. Expectation is a gift not a burden. When people expect something from you, it means you have given them reasons to believe in you. And the worst thing is to see it broken.

Abhi: Vo Daya sorry, poore din kam mai phas gaya dha na. Isliye kuch sochne ki time bhi nahi mila. Is baar maaf karo Daya.

Daya's excitement drained away.

Daya: ye kya batha rahe ho Abhi. Isme maafi mangne ki koi baat bhi nahi hoon.

Daya's face fell. Not because he have not received the gift, but because he felt something fishy with Abhijeet's behavior today. He jerked away his thoughts

Daya: Chodo ye sab. Aaj sham hume Rahul ke sath dinner ke liye jana hai. Tum aaoge na.

Abhijeet: nahi vo mujhe kuch kaam hai. Tum jao.

Daya: Abhi sach batao tume kya hua. Tum aise kyom behave kar raha ho, subah se dekh raha hoon.

Abhijeet felt that Daya is getting suspicious. So he stood up with a smiling face and patted his shoulders

Abhijeet: Kuch nahi hai Daya. Tum jao aur Dinner enjoy karo. Mai sach bata raha hoon. Aaj kuch important kaam hai. Isliye mai nahi aa sakta.

He walked past saying it. Daya looked at him going

IN THE HOUSE.

Abhijeet: is gift se koi fayada nahi hua maa. Mai Daya ko ye nahi de paya. Mujhe nahi pata kyom. Par mujhe bilkul ye dene ka man nahi hua. Daya ko isse bahut keemti gift mila hai maa. Ab iski zarrorat nahi hai. Mai ye gift yeham apke pass rakhta hoon.

The day ended as the night wrapped everyone in the blanket of sleep.

In the next morning everyone was busy in their work in the bureau. It was a busy morning so that no one get a chance even to lift their eyes from the files. The bureau door flung open. Rahul entered with a broad smile.

Rahul: Yaar, bye bolne aya hoon. Jaa raha hoon aaj.

Everyone looked at him with a nice smile. Daya give him a hug . He suddenly asked the question.

Rahul: Daya tum mere gift kyom nahi pahana ? . Vo bahut keemti dhi. Tumare liye special laya dha mai.

Everyone noticed Daya's wrist which was adorned by a beautiful golden chain. Abhijeet recognized it instantly. An element of surprise appeared in his eyes.

Daya looked at Abhijeet once.

Daya: Sorry Rahul. Tumare gift mere liye bahut important hai. Parantu is gift sabse zyada keemati hai mere liye.

Rahul laughed at the statement.

Rahul: isse kai guna adhik mahanka hai mera gift Daya. Aur tum keh raha hai ye tumare liye zyada mayna rakhta hai.

Daya: The person who gifted me this chain was their for me even when I was nothing. And now he sacrificed his most valuable possession for gifting me this watch chain . But you are trying to surprise me with your gift now when you have become rich, and when I am well off .

Abhijeet eyes filled with tears.

Rahul realized the point . He accepted the fact and retrieved from the scene.

Everyone went back to their seat except Abhijeet. He was continuously staring at Daya. But Daya didn't pay attention to him and went back to his seat.

In the noon Abhijeet dragged him to the rest room.

Abhijeet: Tume ye kaham se mila.

Daya simply said: Maaji ne diya.

Abhijeet: Daya sach batao.

Daya: (Said without any emotions) Kal raat mei tumare ghar aaya dha dinner ke baad. Mujhe tumare behavior pe doudt dha isliye. Tum so raha dha. Mai vaham Maaji ke photo ke pass ye dekha. Uske saamne se ek receipt bhi mila. Tum maaji ke necklace pledge kiya dha na uski receipt . Ye lo.

He took the necklace from his pocket and give it back to Daya.

Abhijeet looked at him confusingly.

Daya: Maaji ke necklace hai. Mai vo wapas le liya

He walked from their without uttering anything further. Abhijeet ran behind him after a second"s stillness.

Abhijeet: Daya vo mai. Tum mujhse naraz mat ho. Mujhe

Daya: Abhijeet tum mujhe apna dost kehta hoon na. phir itne paaya kyom bana diya. Tume kya laga tgift nahi milne se mai tumse gussa hoga? Ya phir ye dosti chod denga.

Abhijeet: Aisa nahi hai Daya. Mai janta dha tum bahut samachdar hai. Phir bhi..

Daya : Phir bhi kya.

Abhi: Daya naaraz mat ho. Acha mai maafi mangta hoon.

Daya: iska koi zaroorat nahi hai.

Daya turned to go from there.

Abhijeet hold his hands and hugged him tightly.

Abhi: Daya please na. Mai sirf tume khush dekhne chahta hoon. Tumare chehre par ye muskaan dekhne ke liye mai kuch bhi kar sakta hoon.

Daya: Your gift is so very important to me because it came from you, because you gave me something that you love and I know I will love it too.

In that moment the arms squeezed a fraction tighter and his body melting into he Daya's as every muscle lost its tension to the spring air. This was life, real life.