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

Orphaned at the age of four, I never had 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 caused trouble for Sister Mary.  

But she always comprehended it well with a smile. I miss those days! Routine and life there have 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. It has made me sad today. Yes, it’s my birthday. Only if I had a family did they make an effort to make my birthday special. Friends had called and wished me well. 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 would bake it or at least order 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, and their happy faces filled me with remorse. Anyway, the day was about to end; just a few more hours, and I would be in my usual spirit.

I was the only one left in the outlet. I am the first to come and the last to call it a day. No one awaited me when I reached 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 bigger than 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 my errands and was about to collect the keys. Just then, a man walked in. Before I could tell him that the outlet was not open now, his phone rang. He turned his back to me to start talking on the phone. The outlet was empty, which made me hear his conversation.

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

 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.

I was pleased to find immense peace within myself. I walked to his table and served him coffee. He thanked me.

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

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

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

Happy Reading!

Check out Nisha B Thakur's highly appreciated novel, The Unexpected Trail.