Chintu Ka Birthday -

That night, as Chintu fell asleep hugging the blue remote-control car, he smiled. Birthdays weren't about the cake or the gifts, really. They were about the noise, the mess, and the people who loved you anyway.

After the friends left, Chintu sat on the floor, exhausted but happy. He looked at his gifts: the car, a new cricket bat, a coloring book, and a shiny red bicycle from Dadi.

Finally, the morning arrived. Chintu woke up before the sun, before the crows, and even before the milkman. He ran to his parents’ room and shouted, “Aaj Mera Birthday hai!” (It’s my birthday today!)

He opened his eyes, took a deep breath, and blew. Poof. All five candles went out in one go. Chintu Ka Birthday

His mother laughed and kissed his forehead. “Okay, Chintu. But first, let’s clean this jungle up.”

As Chintu cut the cake, he smashed a big piece onto Rohan’s face. A food fight broke out. By the end, Chintu’s white shirt looked like a chocolate factory had exploded on it. His hair was sticky with jam, and his cheeks were smeared with cream.

His mother, still sleepy, pulled him into a hug. “Happy Birthday, my little Sher Khan.” She had already decorated the living room with green and yellow balloons, cutouts of Mowgli and Baloo, and a large banner that read: That night, as Chintu fell asleep hugging the

Chintu closed his eyes. He thought really hard. What should I wish for? A video game? A bicycle? A pet dog?

Chintu Ka Birthday

Chintu had been waiting for this day for exactly 365 days. Ever since his last birthday, when he had blown the candles off a small vanilla cake, he had been planning the next one. After the friends left, Chintu sat on the

“Make a wish!” everyone screamed.

“Yay!” clapped Meera.

The first gift came from Papa. It was a big, wrapped box. Chintu tore the paper open with his teeth. It was the blue remote-control car! He zoomed it across the sofa, under the table, and over his sleeping grandmother’s foot.

Chintu nodded. But then he looked up at her. “Mummy, next year, I want a Space theme. And a real telescope.”