April 17th 2009- the story continues

Hello everyone,

Life of VnB has covered several more milestones, and I am really sorry that I couldn’t share those moments with you all.

What you witnessed last was her 2008 birthday. April 17^th 2009 was not something that adventurous, but it had its own taste of emotions. "The Planning" started way back in March and flight tickets were booked well in advance for Ammi and Abbu to reach Pune on April 16th.  No prizes for guessing that she was not told about it. "This was" the surprise for her, this time!

It was just a coincidence, which I was happy about, that my mummy came down to Pune. She came to see me but then coincidently her visit clashed with the day I was waiting for. What else could I have asked for!!!

The day was approaching… and a few minutes before midnight, April 16^th 2009, Pawan, Madhu, Babli, Fatima, Afroz, Prasun, Bunty and Azhar, all started coming over one by one, to celebrate yet another big day of her life…

12:00 AM April 17^th 2009… Birthday cake, candles, lights turned off, birthday song; blowing of candles and the cutting of cake… the day had come!

A small celebration started with the cake cutting followed by music, dance, and cake smashing.. everything being blessed with mummy’s presence. It was fun, and then suddenly, everyone wanted to go out… on a long drive!!!

Mummy didn’t want to interrupt the kid’s fun so she preferred staying back. Fatima had some work at home, so she opted out. Afroz came to the party straight from office, so he wanted to sleep.  And everyone else was game for it.

Around 4:00 AM, we all got ready, took out our bikes and hit the road. Bushra kept asking, where to...? but it was planned… to the road unknown, we just wanted to go wherever the road takes us to. All we knew was that the road was Pune – Banglore Highway!!!

Khed Shivapur. A place known for the Dargah of Baba Qamar Ali Darvesh. This Dargah has an unbelievable and unimaginable secret. I was told several time about it, but never believed, thought will go there once to witness the secret. Bushra had also heard about it and wanted to visit the Dargah.

There is a stone of almost like 70-80 kgs. They say that no one can lift this stone alone, but if 11 people together try to lift it with one finger, reciting “Qamar Ali Darvesh” loud and with true belief, the stone weighed nothing. Interestingly, once lifted, it will tilt towards the person whose voice is not as loud as others. This was the miracle I wanted her to witness on this birthday.

Though I tried to mislead her a lot but she was smart. She guessed it. She guessed it that the entire trip was not just a long drive, but a pre-planned trip to Khed Shivapur Dargah.

After all the mauj-masti on the way, small little tea breaks, we reached the Dargah around 08:00 AM. We parked our bikes and spent a lot of time buying flowers and chaadar for the Dargah. And then we took the huge stairs to reach the Dargah. With each step forward, I was worried... Are they ready or not? There were butterflies in my stomach, and the Sun hid no rays to make sure I sweat. Those few stairs turned into a huge tower that we were climbing. With each climbing step, I wanted to know if everything’s set. And there it was the last step and we would reach there. With my feet unsure, heart pounding and mind worried, I led her through the last step of the Dargah. We reached. And yes, everything was in place, no doubts, these guys had a perfect timing. Everything was in place, and the only thing missing now was her attention. How badly, now, I wanted her to look towards "the place" but she couldn’t take her eyes off the Dargah. And couldn’t wait for her eyes to look that side. Azhar was along but his eyes too were busy wandering the Dargah. I couldn’t wait, so, I showed her the door of the Dargah and with the slightest hint; I showed her what I wanted her to see…

Bunty, Afroz, and Pawan were standing there, holding a stretched banner that shouted aloud, “Happy Birthday, Sweetheart”. She was surprised to see the Banner, it was the same that was used last year, rem?

What she realized a little later, were a few pair of feet behind the banner, she started walking towards it, Azhar and I followed, she knew something more was coming up, she walked fast, she recognized the feet, wanted to be sure, she ran.

And she snatched the banner from their hands... behind the banner, they were sitting. Ammi-Abbu along with Mummy. Bushra loosened herself in their arms feeling the warmth of her parents on her birthday, while Azhar was standing shocked. I was happy it worked out well. It took few moment for the excitement to settle down as Fatima and Afroz joined us too.

Ammi and Abbu landed in Pune on the eve of April 16^th, we had taken them to Prasun’s house and made them stay there for a day, so that all this can be worked out. Early morning, when we left for the long drive, Mummy, Afroz and Fatima left for Prasun’s house (in an already booked cab), to pick up Ammi and Abbu and bring them to Khed Shivapur.

And then we visited the Dargah, the story about the stone was true. Pawan tried picking it up alone, but couldn’t and then we all lifted it up, reciting “Qamar Ali Darwesh” and we could raise it more than our heights. We had to believe it today, coz WE did it today!

After spending some more time there, knowing more about Qamar Ali Darvesh, we started to leave and that’s when Babli and Azhar came running to us. They spotted Pooja Chopra, reigning Miss India. Ok, this wasn’t planned. She was sweet enough to talk to us.. we also wished her all the best for the Miss World Paegent... and then zapped the road back to Pune.In the same order that we had come... Mummy, Ammi, Abbu Afroz, Fatima in the cab and rest all of us on our bikes.

Reaching Pune, we had our Biryani delivered and with the Champagne we placed a brief halt to the celebration. We still had the evening to celebrate.

We faced a lot of hiccups while planning for the event. Starting with the huge flight bills, and then, the cab not reporting on time, getting a new cab and so many other things stopped us but today, when I look back, I am happy that we were able to do this, I am happy I brought Ammi-Abbu to Pune for her birthday. Coz this was the last birthday, she could celebrate with her Abbu.

Abbu was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome in February, earlier this year, some sort of Cancer where formation of blood reduces and slowly stops. We lost him on 9^th August, same year.

Though this was another birthday that I could bring lot of happiness and surprises in her life, this was the last celebration we had with Abbu.

All I want now is, to let Abbu know, that all my life, I will try my best to keep his daughter happy…!!!

And this blog cannot be completed without my sincere regards to everyone who helped me, Pawan who helped me plan, Prasun, Afroz, Bunty, Madhu, Babli, Fatima, they all played their own role and planning & executing this wonderful surprise and long lasting memories. We may be out of sight now, but definitely not, out of mind, they’ll always be in my prayers, for being there when I needed them. Thanks Guys, you are the special ones for me… Thanks a ton…!!!