Short Story with Moral Lesson | Happy Birthday, Stranger!!

Orphaned at the age of four, I never got the privilege of enjoying family love. Growing up in an orphanage in Nashik, along with children of different ages, was sheer fun. I loved my stay there. Our mischief often offered trouble to Sister Mary.  

But she always comprehended it well with a smile. I miss those days! Though routine and life there has always been fun, but only on other days, not on my birthdays. On my birthdays, I missed my non-existent family a lot. I don’t know if they ever existed. I don’t know where I came from; Sister Mary found me outside the orphanage. Someone had kept me there, homeless.

My birthday became a random date given by Sister Mary. I embraced that arbitrary date given by Sister Mary as mine. Alas, only I accepted that random date; it never got me. That date always left me sad. Till now, that date can sadden otherwise jovial me. Just like it has made me sad today. Yes, it’s my birthday. Only if I had a family, they would have taken efforts to make my birthday special. Friends had called and wished me. But celebrating a birthday with a family surely must be an extraordinary experience.

Anyway, years have passed since I left the orphanage to join a bakery outlet in Delhi. To date, I have baked many cakes. But today, each time I baked a birthday cake, I prayed a silent wish that someone bakes it or at least orders it for me; someday, somewhere, someone.

The day at the bakery started and was about to end just like any other day. Customers who came to the counter to collect the birthday cake order appeared extra happy to me. Their happy faces filled me with remorse. Anyway, the day was about to end; just a few more hours and I will be in my usual spirit.

I was the only one left in the outlet. I am the first one to come and the last one to call it a day. I had no one waiting for me when I reach home, but my lucky colleagues had. I always offered them an opportunity to leave early, thus making myself the last to close the shutter.

This outlet was a bigger one as compared to our franchise in other cities. This one had a nicely done wooden interior, sofa-chairs area for customers, we served delicious coffee and snack menu, it's aroma filled the outlet, glass panel wall to view the sky, city life, cakes, and more.

I was done with the last of errands and was about to collect keys. Just then, a man walked in. Before I could tell him that the outlet is not open now, his phone rang. He turned his back to me to start talking on the phone. The outlet was empty; this made me hear his conversation.

He said, ‘They don’t have time for my birthday. Everyone is busy; mom, dad, and the whole family are busy.’

He finished the call and turned his face to me. This time I was able to see him clearly. His face had the same lines of regret as mine. He ordered a coffee. I didn’t have the heart to tell him no and quickly made a cup for him. This stranger made me learn about my life’s biggest lesson. He made me understand that having a family or not doesn’t make your birthday any unique. It’s your day; own it without any expectation. I realized how stupid I was, expecting too much from a date. I vouched never to become sad for not having a family. Some people are unhappy, despite having a family. Happiness should come from within and not from external circumstances.

Pleased about finding immense peace within me, I walked to his table and served him coffee. He thanked me.

I smiled and kept a small pastry on his table and said, ‘Happy Birthday.’

He looked at me in a particular way and said, ‘Thanks.’

Short Story Moral – Don’t expect too much. Let everything flow.

Happy Reading!

About the writer: Nisha B Thakur is the author of a highly appreciated novel, The Blue Jinx.