It was a strange birthday !!

Fetus to Me: Why are you so excited about your birthday? You are counting weeks, days and now few hours to go. Waiting for your friends to wish you your birthday! How could you be so mean? 

Me to Fetus: By the way, who are you? Why are you upset with me? I don't even know you. I don't understand you (surprised); I can see those yet developing but angry eyes. You are so tiny and weird (giggled). You still look soft but cute. I haven't seen you ever in my world (wondering). You don't even look like one of us. Your body is similar to us though. Looks like you are a bud yet to blossom into a flower. (imagining). Later, (looking around, confused) is this some joke or am I dreaming? (Inquiring to herself)

Fetus to Me: What are you talking about girl? (Irritated). I am angry at you because you’re excited about your birthday and you started describing my body. As if I am so unaware about my looks? How dumb of you?

Me to Fetus: Listen, (irritated) you are crossing your limits (pointing out her index finger towards fetus). First and foremost I don't know you, on top of that calling me a dumb is little too much (angry). It's my birthday and of course it’s my free will to be excited about it (very clear in her tone). What is your problem is yet not clear to me? (With an attitude) You look some disfigured thing to me. (Disgusted)

Fetus to Me: Of course, from cute to disfigure is quiet a quick journey miss! (Sarcastically). Listen, I am a part of you if you want to believe in me.

Me to Fetus: What?? What rubbish? (Bugged)

Fetus to Me: Yes, it is rubbish for you. Don't open your mouth anymore (threatening). If I disappear, you will not be able to stop thinking about me and remember, your so called excitement will go away. Stay calm and listen to what I am saying.

Me to Fetus: (Scared, confused and shocked) softly, who are you?

Fetus to Me: I will explain everything. Stay calm! "I am YOU". Relax please.

Me to Fetus: Is this some kind of a joke? (She yells). Get lost from here. You’ve lost your mind, little one (with ridicule)

Fetus to Me: Believe me if I get lost then you won’t be able to stop thinking about me.

Me to Fetus: Ok, tell me what do you want? (Pretending to be relaxed)

Fetus: Great! That makes me feel better. So you already believe that I am you. That’s why you’re asking me another question. What do I want? (Pause) Well, I know you’re pretending.

Me: (With a soft voice) how do you know I am pretending? (Breathing heavily out of fear)

Fetus: Because I am a part of you, of course I will know (Confidently). I am the fetus. You were me (fetus) in the mother’s womb. You don't accept me because you disowned me.

Me: Surprised! (Eyes widened)

Fetus: It took you few seconds to call me from cute to disfigure. I am your disowned part and so I look disfigured to you, believe me I am called the purest form, the most amazing, beautiful being in this Universe. If you notice then everyone is more than happy when I enter their world. They have all kinds of celebrations in the world. A wife becomes a mother as soon as I come into their lives; I am born in her womb. She is called a mother because of me.

Me: At ease a little bit, but still keen to listen. (Makes sense)

Fetus: I know you are feeling better. You will also realize that I am your part. It’s your 26th birthday and I am oozing out to tell you all these things. It’s been so many years but I could not express, I didn't have the language like you dear. 13th September is your birthday? Is it? Who told you? Parents? I was born 9 months back when not even mom came to know that she has me in her womb. On the 26th day of my birth, my heart started beating, lungs formed to breathe. I am living since then, even before 13th Sept. Where are those 9 months gone when I/you were a fetus? Omitted? Why? No one knows their birth dates because we don’t know when we are born? Not even the mother herself knows until the first month. So wouldn’t you consider those 9 months?

Fetus to All: (confidently challenging) I am you and no matter if you disown me or the world continues this fashion of birth dates, we all know that we were once a fetus and those 9 months were also are our part of life and we can never deny that. At least not this lifetime!

Me: Lights switched on! I am looking here and there don’t know what’s happening! (Suddenly loud noise in my room) Happy birthday song!! All my friends are here. Of course, it’s a surprise but I don’t know whether a pleasant one or not. Zero reaction on my face. Eventually the voices turn soft. One of my friends (with concern) asked me, hey what happened? Nothing, I replied quickly (pretending to be fine). Thank God it was a DREAM!! I just knew one thing in my heart, I will never forget that fetus was me, the small me and will remain a part of me forever. Still don’t know how to react? The dream seemed as real as me. Unforgettable one!!

Kshiti Shah :)