The Gift

My last few days in Chennai (just like the earlier ones) were filled with an eager enthusiasm to get back home. I just couldn't wait to be back in Delhi, amongst people i know, i care for, and who care for me. (But most importantly, whose language I understand. Monosyllabic conversations don’t suit my system)

On one hand, time had almost come to a stand still with every day, every hour, every moment taking forever to pass and on the other, there was a race against time.

My stipend cheque had still not arrived in Chennai from Mumbai. It was due to come two days before i had to leave, but then i got to know they had forgotten to courier it and it would reach only a day before.

On the expected day, I must have checked with the Franchise Support Officer for LifeScan-Chennai and the guards atleast a dozen times for any courier, but none arrived. They said, it must arrive by the morning mail the following day. The day I had to leave. Another day of feigning work. :D Sigh!

I had an evening flight back to Delhi, so i was there the next day, and waited for the courier which did not come.

Chennai did it again!

X-(

Actually, it wasn't just the stipend cheque I was waiting for, the mail from the HO had also promised a 'Gift Box'. 'What could it be?' was what i wondered. I wrote down my Delhi address so that they could send the cheque and the mysterious gift box to me, bade adieu to Chennai…for good.

An e-mail the following day told me that my cheque and my gift had been sent to the Delhi Office and i must collect the same. On my birthday(9th Jun), I decided to collect the cheque and the 'gift' thinking it would be an appropriate day to do so. A metro and an overcharged rickshaw ride later, I reached the JnJ Office and called up the guy who had my stuff.

He asked me to wait at the reception as he came down with the things.

This shall be worth the trouble, worth the wait, worth dragging myself for, on my birthday, on a June afternoon.

It shall be all that I’d hoped for,everything I’d always wanted.(at least something close)

He arrived.

The cheque looked awesome and the gift, well a handy enough cardboard box always looks enticing. On my way back to the metro station, I tore open the three layers of packing paper it was wrapped in. With each layer, I was thinking of different treasures that may lay inside it. I was hoping that there will be something electronic in it. Anything, but something nice. I just pulled at the duct tape which concealed the box now, as hard as i could. I could barely wait to see what gift had JnJ sent me.

I held my breath, and opened it.

Inside, lay things that would have made me jump with glee. Had I been a 2 month old.

Baby powder, baby oil, baby soap, baby shampoo, baby talk. (well..okay..I made the last one up!)

X-(

But nothing, not even ONE of those things said “Happy Birthday”.

Instead, they laughed at my face, poked fun and seemed to be say “Grow up..kiddo!!”

I took the ride back home…to the people i know, i care for, and who care for me….

I had the best birthday ever :-)