The Party

The party

Padma got out of bed one morning feeling very happy. She wondered what was special. She glanced at her bedside table and knew the reason. There were two beautiful cards on it. One from her parents and the other from Pi, her younger brother.
It was her thirteenth birthday today!

As she came out of her room, “Happy Birthday Princess”!! Shrieked her cousin, Sulekha (Su for short). “How come you are her?”, exclaimed Padi. “I wanted to give my favourite little cousin sister a surprise”, teased Su. “She came here early in the morning, as she wanted to be the first one to wish”, smiled Padma’s mother.
Sulekha was really a friend to Padma. She would discuss all her problems and Su was more than willing to lend a sympathetic ear.

As the day progressed, Padi received phone calls from her uncles, aunts, friends and cousins. “I’m surprised so many people remember my birthday”, exclaimed Padi enjoying all the attention. “Today is your day so don’t let anything spoil it”, said Su.
A little before lunch, Vandi called up to say, “why don’t to you come over? I’ve got some super stuff to show you”.
Padi was a little surprised that none of her friends from the building called. Even Vandi hadn’t wished her over the phone.

“That’s okay people have other things to do “, she told herself.
Feeling a little tired Padma told her her mother that she would go to Vandi’s house later that evening. Strangely her mother insisted that she should go as soon as possible.
“Okay baba, what is this fuss about going to Vandi’s house? I don’t under stand”, Padi asked irritably. “I’ll go after lunch”.
“Lunch will take a little longer, I think you should go right away”, insisted her mother.
“What’s the big deal Padi ? Why don’t you go? Are you upset because she didn’t wish you? Said Su jumping into the discussion.
“Su you stop teasing me and Mamma I don’t know what has happened to both of you but I’ll go now and get it over with”, said Padi, a little put out.
Mamma and Su chuckled secretly as they saw her leave.

Padi wondered why Vandi’s maid giggled when she opened the door.
As she stepped in, a bunch of streamers fell on her along with a loud Happy Birthday to You song. Before she knew it she was getting birthday bumps from her friends.
Vandi , G3, Sups and Rhea were there.
Padi had the time of her life.

It was late evening by the time she got back home from Vandi’s house. Su was waiting for her. “You knew it isn’t it”, asked Padma as soon as she entered. “You prankster, but it was great fun, I enjoyed myself like never before”.
“Tell Sulekha all about it at night. For now freshen up and get ready again for another party”, called out Mrs Patel.
Padma’s father asked her to cut the cake, “I think I’m too old for this”, protested Padma.
“Now come on Padi, in a couple of years and you will be done with your teens. Enjoy the phase while you can”, teased Saurabh Bhaiya, Padi’s cousin brother.
Kumar uncle and aunty, Ramesh uncle, Rekha aunty, Rinku masi (Mrs Patel’s distant cousin) and many more of Mr and Mrs Patels acquaintances had come.
Padma cut a cake for the second time that day. Everyone clapped and sang the Birthday song for her.

Feeding Pi a piece of cake and offering some to her cousins, Padi’s hands got covered with chocolate cream. As she was washing her hands in the bathroom, Padi felt a hand on her shoulder. “Happy Birthday dear”, it was Mr Gupta who wished her as squeezed her hand.
“Oh..oh, its you. Thank you uncle, thanks a lot, why don’t you come out?”
Mr Gupta was her father’s friend. He was a bachelor who stayed alone.

Gupta uncle used to visit the Patels even in Bhavnagar, where they stayed before shifting to Gurgaon. Padma was fond of Gupta uncle when she was small, but now she avoided him as far as possible.
Padi saw Sulekha coming. “Didi can you take Gupta uncle to Pappa”, she said. Relief was evident in her voice.
“Sure”, said Sulekha and led Mr Gupta to the party, which was in full swing by now.
As dinner was being served, Padi went out to the balcony to fetch the glasses. She heard that voice again.
“Come…come let me help you poor darling. You shouldn’t be working on your birthday”. It was Mr Gupta, holding a glass in his hand and looking a little unsteady on his feet. He moved to help Padi.
Padi was terrified. There was no one in the balcony or in the living room. The guests had moved towards the dining area. She was alone and Mr Gupta was inching closure. She felt like shouting for help, but wasn’t sure if anyone would understand.
As she stood there terrified, Mr Gupta , providentially lost his balance and came crashing down on the chair. Hearing the commotion every one ran out to the balcony.
“What happened? What was the noise?” asked Mrs Patel.
“Uncle was trying to help me and in the process lost his balance,” blurted Padma and ran to her room.

The guests waited for dinner to be served, Padi was nowhere to be found.
“Where has Padma disappeared now? asked her father impatiently. “Go and call her, Sulekha”.
Sulekha went inside looking for Padma.
“Padi, Padi come where are you? We are waiting for you for dinner. Hurry up and come out”, said Sulekha opening the door of her room.
Padma was sitting on the bed crying.
“What happened Padi? Why are you crying?” Sulekha held her hand and lifted her face towards her.
Padma hugged Su and began to cry uncontrollably, “It’s..it’s uncle Gupta”, she sobbed.

“What about him?”, asked Sulekha , quite shocked.
“I..I don’t know. Its just the way he acts…he looks….may be I am wrong…but I don’t like him….the way he squeezed my hand….I know I may be wrong but….”sniffed padma and started crying again.
Come my little sister, this is all a part of growing up and facing life. I know just how you feel”, said Sulekha stroking her hair. “Its difficult to tell such things to parents, in fact sometimes you start blaming yourself.”
“Yes exactly,” said Padma, “but what have I done?”

“Nothing..now listen, stop crying and wash your face. Everybody is waiting for you outside”, said Sulekha.
“And remember what I told you in case you are in trouble. Be a brave girl this is just the beginning. You might have to face situations which are worse and the best defence is to be prepared and never blame yourself for it”, said Sulekha comfortingly.
“Oh God, Padma! Where have you been?” It was her father. He was angry. “Half of us have already finished dinner. Come on and have your food.”
Everyone settled round the table. Either by coincidence or ON purpose, Mr Gupta sat next to Padma, who was sitting in the corner.

Suddenly, Padma dropped her spoon on the plate with a clatter and declared loudly, “Uncle, would you please take you hand off my lap?”
There was a stunned silence in the room. One could’ve heard a pin drop. Padma looked straight at Mr Gupta and Su, who returned her gaze.
Padma’s parents were shocked and Mr Gupta turned red with anger and embarrassment. He had been stripped of his self –respect.

That night after everyone left, Padma’s parents came to her room. “You have become a big girl haven’t you”? asked Mrs Patel.
“We want you to know that we are very proud of you. It was a brave thing to do”, said her father.
Wishing her good night they left the room.
“Whew! what a roller coaster birthday’, thought Padma.

Just as she was about to switch off the light, Su peeped in the room. There was a pink rose in her hand. “By the way I forgot to tell you. When you were at Vandi ‘s house, A boy called Bobby came to wish you and left this for you”. She winked and with a naughty smile said “you should have seen the look on his face when I asked him why he had got a pink rose and not a red one.”
“You horrible sister”, shrieked Padi and snatched the rose from her.
It was long before both of them finally went to sleep.

Jan 2008 – Sep 2008 Worked as a script writer at Miditech (tv production house) for a children’s program called “Galli Galli Sim Sim” (Season 3) . This is the Indian version of the Sesame Street . US

2006 - 2007 Completed a series of four books for children with BPI India Pvt Ltd

2000-2005 Wrote a set of six books titled “The Little Krishna
Series”, and “The Little Ganesha Series” (three each).
Published by BPI (India) Pvt Ltd.
Also did a book titled “Folktales for bedtime”, published by
Brightsparks, the children’s book division of the erstwhile Tata Donnelly.

1998-2000 Freelancing for websites like Pitara.com (a children’s website) and India Info.com

1997-1998 Freelancing, prepared a pilot newsletter for ICICI Bank

1997 Feb-1997Nov Times Of India, Response Editorial, Mumbai
Nature of work: Writing and editing features on various industries, soliciting articles, interviews, page making and layout

1995 Nov –1997 Feb Times Of India, Response Editorial, Chennai
Nature of work: Same as above

1993 – 1994 The Economic Times, Editorial, Mumbai
Nature of work: Sub editor; Editing and selecting articles and page making for ET. Contributed articles and worked with The Investor’s Guide.