ISHA'S 13TH BIRTHDAY

Isha was really enraptured about her birthday because it was her 13th birthday! And the 13th birthday is really special as we turn into teenagers! Isha's mother was a school teacher and her father was in the Indian Army. Isha was obviously really proud of her father but was really sad that her father cannot visit her on her "13th" birthday, but on every birthday her father would always send a letter to Isha along with a gift. She woke up early morning at 6:00 am and told Patti "Patti did any letter come for me?" Patti replied, " No Kanna, don't worry your birthday is after 3 days, a letter will surely come". Isha's mother comes back home from school and Isha notices few letters in her hands! Isha asks "Amma are those letters for Me? Are any of those of Appas?" Amma replies "No Kanna , these are not for you, these letters are for me. The headmaster has assigned me some important work".Isha in an upset voice "Oh ok Amma ".

After having lunch Isha sits in her veranda with her Patti, she notices her friend Shakuntala coming running towards her breathing heavily. Isha asks Shakuntala "What happened Shaku? why are you running and coming?" Shakuntala replies "You leave that and listen about the good news I have brought for you!" Isha asks "What? what is the good news?" Shakuntala replies "You have been selected for the basketball match! In the girls team" Isha could not be believe what she heard! she was totally blank for a moment and was already imagining herself in that jersey! She was eventually in her dreams! Just in between her dreams her Patti shouted at her " You are not going anywhere! Girls are not suppose to do such things, what will others say? Girls should only work in the kitchen! Be thankful to your Appa that he is sending you to a proper school" Isha asks her Patti" But Patti even Amma is a teacher and even she goes for teaching children in the school" Patti replies " You idiot ! how many questions do you ask?" Isha feels terrible and goes back into her room when her Amma stands up for her and told Isha "Kanna I go to teach because we need some thing to fill up our stomachs and for day to day things"

Isha surprisingly asks Amma "But Amma even Appa works, even he sends us money through post card right? Amma replies in a sad voice " Kanna, it takes a lot of time for Appa to send money to us, and the money he sends is very less, that's the reason" Isha wonders " why cant I play for my team? It was my dream team!". The next day Isha goes to school and finds out that the basketball match is on her birthday! She gets really very happy for a second but then realizes what Patti told. Days passes and Isha's birthday finally arrives! But Isha was not at all happy on her birthday as she did not receive any letters or gift from her Appa and could not play for the Basketball match. Isha wakes up early morning at 5 : 00 am and gets ready for school, she goes to the temple with her Patti with a sloth face. Isha told herself " I wish I was a boy! that way I could do everything I wanted! Girls don't have any freedom in this country! " She reaches school and notices somebody's shadow with the following characteristics = really tall with a cap on their head , a muscular figure who was holding something in their hand. Isha wondered "Why does he look like my Appa?". And that is the time when Shakuntala wished Isha, Happy Birthday Isha! Isha ignored that person and asked Shakuntala " Shaku, did the Basketball match jerseys arrive ?" 

Shakuntala replies "No Isha, they will arrive in the afternoon as the match will start in the afternoon" Isha was still upset. The school got over and it was time for the match. Isha was going to return home when the school headmaster calls out the names of the players who are going to play for the match. The Headmaster calls out the names "Rukmini , Savitri , Isha . Isha pinched herself to recheck that was she in any dream! But she wondered "who must have given my name? I did not give my name! " Shakuntala told Isha " But Isha you were selected right? " Isha replied "Yes I know but I did not give my name! who must have given my name! " Isha saw that same figure standing just in front of her. Isha looked up and scream with joy " Appa !!!!!!!!!!!" Isha hugged her father tightly! It was a beautiful moment! It was a memorable moment for Isha and her Appa. "Appa I did not know that you will come!" Appa replied " You leave all that and tell me why you did not give your name for the basketball match? It was your dream right? Isha replied " That Patti told...." Appa replied " Kanna this world will always defend you, but you should never fall down. Go and full fill your dreams" This was Ishas best birthday ever! Isha's team won the basketball match with flying colors!