I could hear someone humming a song in the kitchen. I came downstairs and saw mom doing a tap dance along with singing while cooking breakfast. This was an unusual sight, I pinched myself just to confirm. I quietly entered the kitchen and sat down on the stool in the corner. Mom noticed me after a while and smiled, "there you are, my birthday boy!" She came towards me and kissed my forehead and rubbed my hair.
I hugged her tight and said, "thank you! And I love this version of yours". "What version! I am always this excited about your birthdays," mom said defensively. "I know there is something more than my birthday, what is it? ". "Guilty as charged," mom laughed raising her hands in the air. "Your Grana is coming, I'll be seeing her after 11 years, hence…. Anyway her presence is a cherry on the cake " and she swirled on one foot. I could just mouth a wow, just then the doorbell rang. She literally rushed to open the door, just like I do when I know she is at the door. I followed her.
It was Grana, mom just threw herself on her, I could feel the excitement built up, but then mom's excitement dropped like a ball thrown in the air. I couldn't decipher what happened. She just turned and asked me to help Grana with her luggage. The very first thing which she handed me over was my birthday gift. It looked like an instrument case. I gently thanked her. I was seeing her for the first time, and after what just happened, I wasn't sure how to welcome her. I carried her luggage in and then sat down with my gift.
Nana smiled and said, "aren't you excited to open your gift?". I hesitantly opened the gift, it was a ukulele. "Thanks Grana, but I don't know how to play it". "You'll rock at it son, it's in your blood", she brushed my hair, just like mom did this morning. I went into the kitchen to show it to mom and playfully strung it. Mom almost froze at the sight of it.
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I woke up dazzled by some rock music. I don't remember when I dozed off talking to Nana. I checked my side, she was missing from her bed. I listened closely, the sound seemed to be of the ukulele. Why is Nana playing the ukulele in the middle of the night? I went downstairs, only to notice Nana sneaking around at the doorway. I was intrigued that if Nana was here who was playing. I silently took the other side of the door and my jaw dropped, I saw mom's fingers dancing on the ukulele. The music was so enticing that I didn't realize that my shoulders were dancing. I looked at Nana, she had the same effect and was smiling brightly. The music stopped suddenly. Nana grabbed my hand and pulled me back, signalling me to stay quiet. Then I heard mom crying, I wanted to go and check on her, but Nana tightened her grip and dragged me upstairs.
"Your mom needs some time, we need to leave her alone", she said as soon as we entered the room. "But I don't understand, she never mentioned she could play the ukulele and then suddenly she is playing like a Rockstar"
Nana took a huge sigh and began, "Your mom is a gifted ukulele player. She didn't undergo any training and was just natural. I was afraid that she was spending too much time with music, so I took it away. She resisted but eventually gave in. I did not realize back then what else I was taking away from her along with her music. When I did, I tried to bring it back into her life on multiple occasions, but she refused. Then you guys moved abroad. I thought that at least you should have the gift of music on your birthday, just like we gave it to her on her 11th birthday". "Seems like your trick worked this time", I tried to cheer her up. She was short of words, she just hugged me and then we both laid down on our beds engrossed in our own thoughts.
The next morning everyone behaved as if nothing happened. Elders are very complex to understand. I left for my school. When I returned, I couldn't find anyone at home, "Mom! Dad! Nana! Where are you guys?". Then I heard the same music from last night, I walked to the backyard. Mom was playing the ukulele again, and everyone sat around her enticed by the magic of her music. Nana noticed me, she grabbed my hand and whispered to me, "I am sorry your mom hijacked your gift, I'll get you another one". "It's ok, I am happy with the other gift you brought for me", I whispered back. She looked puzzled. "Thank you for my Rockstar mom!", and I hugged her. Her eyes twinkled with tears.