Harikumar Edasseri
It was her 5th birthday. Waiting at the open door for her friends, who never came, she got tired and fell asleep. When her father came from office she was woken up. He took her in his arms and went to the decorated sitting room, where the birthday cake with her name inscribed on it was kept. The cone shaped caps she had bought for her friends to wear for the party were heaped on a table without any takers. The small carry home packets containing chocolates and balloons for the little guests lay slumbering on the table. He pulled a chair in front of the teapoy on which the cake was kept. The knife with a red ribbon tied on it was kept by the side of it. He took the knife and handed it over to Suji. Her mother Malathi switched on the tape recorder, and stood ready with the camera to click. The song Happy Birthday was heard from the tape recorder, like an obsolete message coming from a strange unknown world. Suji raised her head and asked her mother, ‘Mom, please stop that song.’ (Aa Paattu NIrthu...)
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