A Birthday of Blessings
Chapter 29 – A Birthday of Blessings
25 December 1982| Lucknow
Bharat's Age: Completing 7 Years
The early December sun poured gold through the neem tree outside the Singh home in Alambagh, sprinkling delicate shadows across the polished red courtyard. Steam rose from freshly cleaned stone floors as if the earth itself were celebrating. Today was a tapestry of faith, family, and laughter—marking Bharat's eighth birthday, entwined with the Satyanarayan Puja.
> "अब हमारा बच्चा आठवें साल में चल रहा है," Dadi declared, her voice warm, fingers tracing the garland.
"देखो, जैसे ही रात आई—इतनी जल्दी!"
--
🌸 Morning: Scent and Song
Even before dawn, the Singh household buzzed with preparation. In the kitchen, vats of gulab jamun syrup simmered under bubbling steam, while golden jalebis hissed in hot oil. The sharp scent of ghee mixed with the sweet aroma of rice kheer, promising comfort in every spoonful.
Vandana, elegant in her home-spun saree of saffron and maroon, moved with gentle confidence. She rolled laddus made of jaggery and chickpea flour, studded with pistachios. Beside her, Nirmala—Raghav's wife—crafted crisp puris, her hands dusted with flour. Little Montu (2½) watched, wide-eyed, occasionally dipping his fingers into the halwa and grinning.
On a low stool, Pooja Bua and Kavita Bhabhi prepared poha and katori sambhars, pausing only to share laughter as the courtyard slowly filled with the soft chatter of preparing cousins and neighbors
---
🤱 A Home Full of Life
The courtyard was alive with color and commotion. Ajay and Raghav hung marigold garlands along the archways, ribbing each other good-naturedly.
Meanwhile, cousins played freely:
Rohan (4), Bharat's younger brother, clung to his mother's saree and peered around in delight.
Meena (4½), daughter of Chacha Arjun and Kavita Chachi, danced around, trumpeting imaginary wars with a stick.
Her younger sister, Pinky (2½), mimicked Meena's every move, laughter ringing out.
Priya (3), Pooja Bua's daughter, whispered make-believe secrets to Meena.
Anjali (1), daughter of Raghav and Nirmala, gurgled happily in her cradle.
Their innocent mischief blended with the steady preparations of the adults, painting a day rich with tradition and sweetness.
---
🕉️ Priest and Puja
As mid-morning arrived, Pandit Satyanarayan Ji entered, carrying a brass kalash, incense, and offerings. The family arranged the puja items carefully: the diya, haldi, chawal, and a modest offering of sweets.
Bharat, his face serious, placed things in order as he had seen previously—his attention shining.
The chanting began, echoing softly across the courtyard. The vendor in the distance called, "Samosa garam!", but the family's voices merged with the chants, becoming their own music. Smoke from incense spiraled skyward, mingling with the early afternoon sun filtering through neem leaves.
---
🙏 Blessings and Tradition
When the aarti ended, the courtyard hushed. Family members lined up: grandparents, aunts, uncles, all ready to give blessings.
Each child approached elders:
Dadi gently placed a hand on Bharat's head, smiling:
> "Jeete raho beta, aur jab shaadi mile, achhi ladki lena!"
Laughter followed, wrapping the moment in love.
Ajay, with quiet pride, spoke softly:
> "May your mind explore, and your heart stay kind."
Nirmala chachi fed him halwa:
> "Teri tasveer bhavishya ki chamak dikhayegi."
Kavita bhabhi blessed him:
> "Na sirf buddhi par, par sanskaro par vishwas."
Even little Priya, Rohan, Montu, and Meena tried feeding him mouthfuls of treats—some landing in his hair or on his forehead, each moment brimming with giggles.
---
🍛 Sundown Dinner Feast
As dusk colored the sky in soft hues, the family reunited for the celebratory dinner. The courtyard was glowing with lanterns, and everyone settled under the open sky.
Platters of kadhi pakora, tawa parathas, khichdi with ghee, and more sweets returned, and conversation bubbled.
> Ajay asked casually, "How was your day, beta?"
Bharat, full-cheeked, replied with a grin, "The best."
Children ran in to steal an extra piece of halwa or a bite of roti. Meena and Priya giggled as they chased stray chapatis. Montu sat on Bharat's lap, clamoring for more, while cousins trailed their hands across the food-laden mats.
---
🌙 The Birthday Ritual—Aina Virasat
There was no cake. Instead, they celebrated traditionally: each elder fed Bharat a morsel, one heartfelt blessing at a time.
> Dadi offered him kadhi:
"Zindagi me swaad aur samriddhi rahe aise."
> Ajay fed him roti dipped in sugar:
"Beta, dillon ko jeet lena par desh na bhoolna."
> Pooja Bua, teasing, said:
"Teri shaadi ki yaad rahe, toh halwa hum hi khilayenge!"
The little cousins, stuffing halwa into Bharat's cheeks, made everyone laugh, and the dazzling display of love felt richer than any cake.
---
🧠 A Quiet Moment Amid Joy
Later, as cooled ginger tea was passed, Bharat slipped away to his favorite corner by the tulsi plant. The birthday gifts had included a new notebook. He flipped to a fresh page and sketched—diagrams for a game where Rama's bow glowed with digital power, and Sita's strength unlocked new worlds.
Ajay found him there, leaning on the low stone ledge.
> Ajay: "Still plotting, beta?"
Bharat (softly): "Yes, Pitaji. I want Ramayan not only in TV—also in code and play."
Ajay, heart swelling, nodded:
"Let's start small—one idea at a time. But yes. Together."
They shared a quiet look of understanding and dreams unspoken.
---
🌌 Ending Under the Neem
Night had fully descended when the courtyard emptied. The neem branches rustled gently above. Bharat lay on a thin mattress nearby, the notebook resting on his chest, eyes half-closed.
Inside his mind, he rehearsed:
> "We eat with tradition. We dream in circuits. I will build culture inside games, software, stories that belong here."
In that hush, Dadi's whisper drifted across the night:
> "Raushan rahe beta, tere har sapne ka deep jalta rahe."
Bharat smiled, drifting into his eighth year with the weight of blessings, the clarity of purpose—and the spark of worlds yet to build.