Wishing all of my readers a very Happy New Year! Have a wonderful 2019!

In the spirit of Christmas and New Year, here is my next story. Hope you like it.

SANTA CLAUS

Rhea had just gotten over with all her projects and exams in college. Being a morning person, she used to get up early to work and was looking forward to a good, long sleep, without the annoying sounds of alarms.

“Finally, I can sleep as much as I want” Rhea said, getting into bed.

 “Not that there is ever going to be a time, when you don’t want to sleep”, her mother said laughing.

“Whatever mom…now let me sleep”. Rhea said as she switched off the lights and curled up in her cosy blanket.

It was a cold, winter morning. Mrs Dsouza sat with her cup of coffee, reading the newspaper.

“Same old, murder, robbery, rape…”, she mumbled to herself as she flipped the pages looking for some better news. Suddenly she caught sight of the date on the newspaper. It read 23^rd December 2018. “Today is 23^rd?”, she checked her mobile phone to be sure and indeed, it was. “Oh my God! How did I lose track of the date?”.

“Rhea…Rhea…wake up”.

An hour later…in the car.

“Rhea please stop sulking now. I said I am sorry. Besides I am sure, you will enjoy yourself a lot more than you would just sleeping, and infact, I am sure you will thank me later on.”

Rhea’s mother, Mrs Dsouza, a music teacher by profession, organised carol recitals by her pupils around Christmas, every year. Today she had to conduct the recitals in an orphanage. Her best friend, Mary, who helped her every year, could not make it this year and hence she had decided that Rhea would help her this year. However, Rhea had been so busy with her college work that there had been no chance to tell her about this plan earlier.

Outside the ‘Little Stars Orphanage’, all the pupils had already arrived with their parents. Soon after they arrived, Rhea noticed the excitement of the little kids aged between five and twelve. She remembered those years when she used to be part of these groups and how she really used to look forward to these recitals, right from the beginning of the month.

She gathered all the children around her and invited all the parents inside to watch their children perform. Meanwhile, her mother was busy in a discussion with the caretakers at the orphanage.

 Mrs Dsouza had been giving music lessons since Rhea was a kid, and hence growing up in that environment, Rhea had also developed an interest in music. She had learnt to play various musical instruments.

Mother, daughter and the pupils put up an excellent show with carols like, ‘Jingle Bells’, ‘Joy to the World’, ‘Silent Night’. The hall was filled with the sound of applause and cheers. The orphanage children were thrilled by the recital of the carols, and even more, when Rhea distributed chocolates and gifts among them, after the show. Rhea was pleased to see the excitement of all the children, the proud faces of the parents, and the look of satisfaction on her mother’s face.

On 1^st of January 2019

“Mom, I am leaving. I’ll be back in the evening, bye.”

“Wait, you are up already on New Year’s Day…and, where are you going…Rhea?”

Rhea had already left. She was super excited. Every New Years Eve, she would be out, partying with her friends till late and would spend her New Year’s Day sleeping till almost noon. This year, she planned to do something more meaningful.

She stood outside ‘Little Stars Orphanage’ and smiled to herself, already getting the good vibes.

Rhea came back home at five and showed her mother a card. It was a thank you card from one of the children at the orphanage.

It read, ‘Thank you Santa Claus’.

Rhea had spent the entire day playing games, singing and dancing with the children of the orphanage. When she was leaving, one of the kids gave her the card and ran away to play with her friends. Rhea was left puzzled after she read the card. The caretaker said that, for these small children Santa Claus was anyone who brought them gifts, and spreads joy and happiness among them.

Rhea took a new year resolution, one that she knew, for once she would be able to keep. She decided to visit the children at the orphanage at least once every month, irrespective of her college work.

She had one more thing to do that day, “Mom, Thank you so much.”

Mrs Dsouza gave a look as if to say, “I knew it.”