Lighting The Candle

There were three persons in the room gathered to celebrate the birthday of the son of the house. Both mother and father were waiting on the side of the table for candles to be lit. The wife was quietly standing on the other side of the table.

A cake had been laid on the table. A few candles on the cake were waiting to be lit. Everything was ready for the birthday celebration. This is the ritual the family had followed for the last three years.

Just then a three-year old child ran into the room. He had been trained by his mother in lighting the candles. Still his hands were not stable when he tried to light the candles. Mother had to help him in lighting the candles. While helping the child in lighting the candles, she looked with sad eyes on the two persons standing at the other side of table. They were parents of Rajesh.

The birthday was being celebrated in absentia.

….

Suddenly the clanging of doorbell disturbed the quiet of house. Other than the small boy, all the three adults were surprised. They were not expecting anyone. It was a private ceremony. Only the little boy thought that finally his father had come back home.

The father went to the door and opened it. There was an emaciated man standing at the door. When the father looked at him quizzically, the man replied. “I am Rajesh.”

The recognition dawned on father. The mother and wife had heard the exchange. Both of them walked to the door.

‘Was it really Rajesh?’ 

The little boy stood quietly in the corner, not sure of what to do. Was it really his father who had been missing?

 

….

Rajesh was in the army. Although his body had not been found, he had been classified as dead by the authorities.

….

After a brief reunion, the birthday celebrations resumed. The Birthday Boy lit the remaining candles.