Christmas Tree Wish

Janet was singing and decorating her Christmas tree with stockings and metallic coloured balls. She was excited, tonight the carol group will be coming to her home to dance and sing the Xmas songs. Her heart was craving for it for so many years. She had even worked on a Christmas day when she worked with a Design Journalism magazine in Mumbai. She was workaholic and never denied work when her boss Mr. Ram Manohar, often asked her to come for magazine closure. Her family would ask her to quit the job where she was not allowed family time.

"She was the only one in her office belonging from a minority community so she did not have a voice and she adjusted her day and at times buried her joys. At the end of the day, all work for money and money is synonymous with daily bread and butter."

Since last year, she was sitting at home and cursed by her family everyday for not getting a job. Her company had shut down due to some government rules and regulations implemented. She was now not interested to do menial jobs below her designation. She did not have anything to do and to kill depression, she would sing and dance. She joined a dance class and there she had met Jerry.

"Jerry and she became friends but she started liking him a lot. She was not confident to propose him. She had a dusky skin. Jerry was friendly with another star of the class Mimi."

“Mimi is graceful; I am not and maybe my Mr. Right is somewhere else.” She would console her sad mind.

Janet was a dream girl. She would look at the moon as her celestial lover and talk.

"The crescent moon was her smiley hero at times. The full moon became her happy hero and the crimson moons her angry man. Talking to moon gave her solace and once she was doing some full moon rituals as suggested by a Tarot card reader and healer Priyamvada, she had asked her sky lover for a handsome friend. She was happy to get Jerry added in her life."

The present-day, she was told by her school friend Poppo to do a wish.

Poppo asked Janet to make a wish looking at the Bethlehem star on her Christmas tree. She asked for a handsome boyfriend who will also turn to be her husband and give her a bright life ahead.

Like said by Poppo, Janet made a wish for Jerry. She did not think of Mimi now…

 She finished the decorations and made a chocolate cake for her guests. She was singing the late Divya Bharti song from ‘Dil ka kya kasoor’ and dancing alone in her bedroom.

"She was getting ready to go to Carol and was decked up with her artificial jewellery, eye makeup and lip gloss. She was looking good and fair with the tint of BB cream and foundation. She knew now any man will woo her but she was not interested in guys in the Carol group. She enjoyed singing with them and every year she enjoyed the Carol night."

Janet happily went to the first home and they had quick practice. The Santa Claus was ready to walk with his stick and balloons, his goody bag of toys and chocolates on the road.

Janet looked at the face of all the families present. No one was missing.

" This Santa was too cute," She thought and smiled.

She could not guess who he was but he had always pulled her by his side to dance in 14 homes they played the Carol. She was at times angry and at times happy with this touch. They reached the last home and it was her home. Her parents and family were outing and she had not joined them for her peace. She had made some snacks with her cake and the head of the unit had ordered some food. She was keen to see Santa’s face. He wanted to use her bathroom. She helped him with the same and gave him her face wash to clean his face. He told her in his husky voice that he won’t use a female face wash.

"His voice too familiar and now seemed as if she had heard it before. She was not having any clue that it was Jerry. He cleaned his makeup and took a shower."

Jerry walked into the kitchen and he saw Janet was standing near the kitchen sink washing the plates. He slowly touched on her shoulders and she turned. She was shocked. She felt she was dreaming.

“Can’t you recognise me it?” He asked her touching her lips.

Sarah aunt, the secretary of the Church Unit walked inside the Kitchen and Janet was panic. 

“Hi Janet, he is my son and I want you to offer you a proposal. He likes you, admires you and 24x7 speaks of you. He is my elder son who stayed with his dad Joseph in New York when we separated. Last year Joseph passed away and he is now reunited with me.” Sarah said with tears.

Janet hugged Sarah and smiled looking at Jerry.

“The wish from her Christmas tree had come true. She believed in myths and today her fairy tale dream had come true. That was the best Christmas for her and the New Year added a lot of cheers and happiness with Jerry as her husband and her loving partner. They have promised to be together forever and ever.”