It was 7 a.m. in the morning. Renuka walked into the bedroom to wake up Rhea who was fast asleep. She looked at her daughter adoringly and wondered how fast time had flown. Her child had turned four years old. She gently puts aside a strand of hair that had fallen on Rhea's face and tucks it to the back of her ears.
“Rhea! Wake up my dear. It’s time to get ready and go to school. “ Rhea slowly and reluctantly opened her eyes. Her eyes were a dark shade of brown. “Mummy I don't want to go to school,” she moaned. “I want to sleep for some more time.” Renuka smiled, and then she leaned forward and kissed her daughter on her forehead and softly uttered the words,
“Happy birthday my dear. Come on, wake up! Be a good girl. Daddy has bought you a new frock for your birthday!” Rhea was wide awake now.
She rubbed her eyes and gently crawled out of bed. Renuka said, “Say your morning prayers and Thank God for all that he has given you.”
Rhea said her morning prayer. Meanwhile Ashok walks into the room. “Happy birthday dear Rhea!” he said. Rhea gave a cheek to cheek smile.
The word ‘birthday’ excited her. Renuka had woken up at dawn and prepared breakfast and lunch. She then helped Rhea get ready for school. After bathing her, she brought the new dress that Ashok and she had picked up for their daughter. It was a frock with red velvet fabric till the waist and layers of net and lace from the waist to the knee."Hey Rhea, Look! This is your new frock. Come on…Let’s try it on!” Renuka helped her daughter put on her new dress. “She looks adorable,” she thought.
Rhea ran to the full sized mirror in the room and admired her new dress. She did a small dance in front of the mirror. She was happy.
Renuka was pleased to see that their daughter had liked the dress.
"Come on! It's getting late. Have breakfast." Renuka fed her daughter, packed her lunch and then she picked up Rhea's school bag and lunch basket.
Rhea looked at her mother confused. She said, “Mummy I can't go to school wearing this!” Renuka was taken aback. “What's the matter sweetheart? Don’t you like the dress?”
Rhea answered, “I like it Mummy. But I am supposed to wear the school uniform. Miss Chitra will scold me otherwise.”
“It's your birthday today sweetheart. You are allowed to wear your new dress today. Miss Chitra will not scold you.” Renuka said.
Rhea looked terrified. “No Mummy! Miss Chitra will scold me.” With that she started crying.
Ashok stepped in. Both husband and wife, tried their best to convince their daughter that it was Okay to wear the new dress. But in vain.
Rhea usually went to school by the school bus. But today Ashok decided that they would drop her at school themselves.
He quickly got ready and went out to call an autorickshaw. With the sound of the three wheeler vehicle arriving, Renuka picked up Rhea's bag and lunch basket, closed the door and they boarded the autorickshaw. Rhea usually enjoyed autorickshaw rides. But today she sat there silently, still looking terrified.
On reaching school, Ashok paid the auto driver the fare and then they went to meet Rhea's teacher, Miss Chitra.
“Hi! Miss Chitra, we are Rhea's parents.” Ashok said.
“I'm so pleased to meet you. Is there anything I can do for you?” said Miss Chitra.
“It's Rhea's birthday today. She was scared to come to school in her new dress. She is worried that she will be shouted at for not wearing the school uniform.”
Ms Chitra looked at Rhea and said, “Happy birthday dear Rhea! It's fine to wear your new dress on your birthday.” Rhea felt relieved to hear this.
Rhea looked up at her mother and father. They both gave her a reassuring look. Renuka gave Rhea a tight hug and planted a kiss on her forehead. “See, we told you it was Okay,” she said.
Ashok smiled and handed over a box of chocolates to Rhea and said, “Give Miss Chitra a chocolate.” Rhea did as her father told. Miss Chitra took a chocolate from the box and said.
“God bless you Rhea. Go on distribute it with your classmates. They are waiting.” Ashok and Renuka bid their daughter bye. They watched her turn around and run to her class to meet her friends.
She looked happy now. Ashok and Renuka looked at each other and smiled.
28 years later...
“Mamma, I like this one!” a little girl screamed with joy as she held on to a lacy frock.
Two ladies walked up to her. One of them said, “Ok dear, lets buy this one for your birthday!”
“Mamma, when is my birthday?” the little girl asked.
“It's day after tomorrow my dear. You can wear it to school!” the lady said.
“Really? Will you please ask the teacher permission to wear this dress?”
“That's alright sweetheart. You can wear it to school. Your teacher will not tell you anything. But I can come and drop you at school in case you are worried.”
“Yay! I can wear the new dress to school!”
“Yes dear.” “Ammamma(grandmother), will you come as well?” asked the little girl to the older among the ladies. “Yes sweetheart,” said the older lady.
"Yay!" shouted the little girl and danced around gleefully.
Renuka smiled as she looked at her grand-daughter's big brown eyes."So similar..."she thought and smiled to herself.
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