Birthdays

Birthdays!! Truly, I realize it calls for party-gatherings-festivities and many more! Yet, I state that some people are not that excessively meant for it. I am possibly sounding ‘weirdo’ however I met a person while my stay in Europe and I kind of discovered his ideology special at any rate to me!

He’s a start-up founder and always enrolled energetically for parties, social gatherings, and rave parties a ton- Someone like a star made for such waves I presume! In the beginning of my interaction with him, I never wished to meet him or even see his face for instance but just to kill my time for a day, I said ‘fine, lets catch up for a coffee’. Let me take you in a bit back time - I came across this guy in my college, he came for talent hunt and I got dismissed by this super human because of my soon-ending-visa and French language barriers- a polite humble rejection on face and then over emails! That squeezed me actually and was the reason of my ‘i-don’t-prefer-you’!

But he was a pretty good guy coherently- he never disrespected anyone and went to charity committees frequently in the early morning at least a week to help the needy and promoting them for free. He even marked this onto his calendar with a red shading highlight- I was contemplating hard now on this insensitive French guy! The day we met was his birthday and he was pleased enough over a cup of coffee. I was fine with his choices so far! So we meet in the restaurant just outside my apartment and here’s the part as beneath:

He: Much obliged to you for meeting me! I was worried that I would be late because you gave me a short timeframe to plan the meeting and that too at a spot simply outside your place and long-way from mine! But thanks, I feel like honoured on my birthday making so much efforts…< senseless laugh follows>

Me: Birthday? Whose? Yours? Today?

He: Hmmm.. Well, I have my DL in case you heavily doubt my words!

Me: Oh no, I mean I do trust you but still can I see the ID proof... < ‘not-trusting-you’ look with round the corner smile>

He: I figured that in my mind. Here you go... <hands me over his ID>

Me: Umm...yes, happy birthday Frenchie!! Party!! What you doing here on your birthday at this hour? Shouldn’t you be out for some craziness like getting high than the Empire State building or challenging up some tipsy drunkiesss??

He: Yes, I was supposed to technically as per the French much trusted notions however I am inverse to this on just my birthdays. I had some different plans booked.

Me: What are they, if I may ask?

He: Okay, I am working in my free time as a financial support and organizer for a Charity firm for disabled children & never miss a chance to spend my morning and evenings with them on my birthday. It’s one of the rarest days when I stay in my senses! Actually we live here and are very much engrossed with work during day and stay alone, many of us prefer to be single till late age, so to beat against boredom in evening, French usually spend their hours in pubs drinking or partying. That’s how even I operate as I don’t wish to be sitting at home Netflix-ing like a loner! But I don’t feel like the same person on my birthdays – no accompanied logic but just happens naturally!

Me: And what do you say to your family friends? Don’t they ever ask you out for dinner or something on this day?

He: They do! Closed ones know where I go but formals ones are informed that I am out of city on this day, so that they don’t perceive me as “Out-of-birthday-order” person! I am part of this society where sometimes even I have to hide things knowing that nobody usually cares about the others but still you know…

His words left me bewildered. We perceive France or any city in Europe as the one where people have no clue about anyone’s life except theirs! The ones who are devotee of liquor, brew-beer, late night parties and extended drinks shared on exceptional occasions. But just like us, there are few who have a mystery hidden persona and don’t wish to unveil to their surroundings in dread of being ‘out-of-order’.