The birth day that came immediately after marriage <br />We were married in the first fortnight of September <br />It was an arranged marriage <br />My mother’s elder sister came out with this alliance <br />As she was related to them through her husband <br />A distance of about 1100 kilometers separated us <br />He did not mind his being absent in our engagement too <br />As he believed his parents would not select <br />An un-matching life partner for him <br />He made his presence in the engagement after persuasion <br />I chose my husband from a range of proposals <br />I preferred him for his simplicity and unassuming traits <br />As the rest others were imposing a number of things <br />Which were beyond our affordability and acceptance <br />In an attempt to get to know the other <br />We spent a lot time talking about each other <br />Events in the childhood <br />College days <br />Friends <br />Office, the work therein <br />Eating habits and similar a lot <br />I did not know that <br />He did not care to note my birth day <br />Though these details were available to my in-laws <br />My birthday came <br />My expectation of a greeting from him went a waste <br />He was getting prepared to go office as usual <br />Minding not my awaiting <br />He left for office bidding me bye <br />None at home took a note of my birthday <br />I was not of course used to great celebrations <br />But, there would be some kind of wishing <br />Nothing like that from any corner <br />Came evening and came he from office <br />I minced words to convey to him that <br />It was my birthday <br />No excitation, no greet <br />But a silent reception of the information <br />I went further to say <br />That I needed some hairpins <br />He enquired as to from where I may get them <br />I detailed him the way and the shop from where he may get <br />He followed my suggestions <br />Came back with the hairpins <br />But, yes he got the right ones <br />I thanked him for this birthday gift <br />Which, according to him was bought for ten paise <br />One tenth of an Indian Rupee <br />What a gift <br />What a birthday<br /><br />Bashyam Narayanan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-birth-day-that-came-mmediately-after-marriage/
