The Unknown Gift

“Hello, you have a delivery from Swiggy (or Dunzo, I don’t remember now) waiting at the gate. Press 1 to approve, 2 to disapprove and 3 to collect at the gate,” the security app call came.

It was well past ten in the evening. I was wondering who could have placed this order? Is it food or something else? While I was thinking all this, I gave permission. I thought either hubby or my son would have ordered something, and it will take at least five minutes for the delivery person to reach my door.

“Who ordered food? I cooked the dinner for everyone”? I asked a bit loudly.

Both of them denied it.

Finally, the delivery man arrived, handed over the big packet and went away in hurry.

“What is it? who has sent it” I asked from the kitchen.

“There is no mention of any name- neither sender nor receiver. I asked the delivery person about it, but he left without any reply. It is a small but heavy cloth bag, could be a pack of sweets from my new office. They might have sent a gift for our anniversary tomorrow,” replied my spouse.

I came to the living room and looked at the pack. There was not even a single letter on the cloth bag. Curiously we opened the pack. Inside there were a pack of sweets from a renowned shop, makhana, chips, chocolates, and a closed stainless steel container. We did not open any of the packs, but from the smell it felt like carrot halwa. I thought for a moment, whether my sis who lives on the other side of the city has sent this. No anyway, she would have informed definitely.

Our curiosity grew we peeped into the bag. There was a small box of dry fruits and above that there was a , there was a piece of paper. We pulled it out, it was a handmade birthday card. It read “Happy birthday, Papa” with a colour sketch pen and glitters, It was obvious that the writer will not be more than four or five, maybe a KG student. We looked at each other for a while. The packet was not for us, for sure. Some child has sent it for his/her father, and may be guided by an elder or the mother.

My hubby searched for the delivery boy’s phone number from the security app and called him. He informed him that he had delivered it at the wrong address. He requested him to come and collect the bag and deliver at the correct address. But the delivery man showed reluctance to come back. “Please send it through your watchman to the main gate. I’ll collect from there,” he rued.

But my hubby was firm and told him “No, it’s your duty, you have to come and collect and deliver at the proper address.” He said he would reach within 5 minutes. But he did not arrive even almost after half an hour. My hubby rang him again. This time I was annoyed, as we were waiting to hand over that and then have our dinner. Finally, the boy came. I insisted him to show me the address. It was supposed to be delivered, at the next housing society, but the flat number was same as ours.

When I pointed at his carelessness, the boy apologised.

“Don’t think you are delivering just an ordinary parcel, many a time you are delivering the sender’s emotion also. And this parcel carries the birthday wishes of a small child to the father and many food items from other family members. We would have delivered the packet to security, but then we would never know whether the right person got it. Maybe, it will be consumed by other people.” I told in one breath to the deliveryman.

The boy left, and our dining time was buzzing with discussion,

How a hand-made card and homecooked food were placed with readymade food for a special occasion? Why there was no name or address on the bag? How badly the little sender of that card must be missing his or her dad on his birthday! Even if the spouses are separated, as human beings, they could have spent some time together by meeting on his birthday. Nevertheless, we were nobody to judge the situation. But the lovingly made card definitely indicated the child’s longing for the father.

We were just wondering where we all are heading as a society.

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