Christmas Memoirs

As the chilly winter wind knocks at my window panes, it announces that December 25 is around the corner. The month of December is always very special for all Christ devotees as it is the birth month of Jesus. This month is always welcomed with innumerable joyous memoirs.

Winter breaks are common to most of us and after months of being roasted under a scorching sun, finally, a serene and soothing chilly breeze automatically brings a new twist as it sets off the monotonous daily routine life on a 3-month holiday. Christmas is a religiously significant day for all Christians, and many special stories always take birth in this 'pious' environment. Today, on the occasion of Christ's birthday, let's hear some untold tales, treasured in the hearts of all, who eagerly wait to cherish this special eve.

From myth to my bedroom
Nine-year old Niel was always very fond of meeting Santa Claus and take his gift from him. On the night of December 24, Niel would sit at the feet of his Christmas tree, overjoyed with enthusiasm, shivering in his night suit, waiting for his Santa. He would wait for hours and after hours and hours of waiting, when his eyes stayed no longer loyal to his wishes, his Christmas gift, wrapped in the most attractive box and sealed with a gorgeous glittering ribbon would be placed right next to him.

On Christmas, as his eyelids departed from each other, that bright attractive gift box would instantly catch his vision, but Niel was never happy with his gift. He would wander, irritated, deny to join his friends for singing jingles and carols, and with a long face, and a smile would not grace the corner of his cheeks.

His mother always knew the reason behind his sadness, but Niel was too immature yet to understand that Santa Claus is just a myth. "Where is Santa, Ma? Why does he never meet me?" Neil would often inquire with glistening eyes as tears would deposit around his eyelids. It was very obvious that his heart would have been broken into a thousand tiny pieces, and no one but only Santa could heal his grief, but his mother knew that Santa would never come. She deprived herself of breaking her son's heart with such a bitter truth and left all on time.

Last Christmas, while all were off to bed, Niel was again waiting for Santa with his undaunted belief. His eyes had just entwined after a long exhausting fight session against sleep, but was instantly awoken by a loud alarming call, "Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas Niel!"

"Santa, you finally came to meet me!" screamed Niel with unparalleled joy. Niels dream was transformed into reality. We all know that it was probably someone from his family dressed as Santa, but nevertheless, can the happiness felt by Niel be a lie? The priceless smile on his face will always be a treasure for his mom. Afterall, his faith was never a pretence!

Shattered dreams with broken Christmas tree
This Christmas, Sreoshi was very excited as she was eagerly waiting to decorate her Christmas tree. She had also saved up her tiffin money for four months. With much hardships and weeks of tiffin-less school days, she finally had enough to buy a tree.

On her way to school, she had to cross a seminarian shop and her stepping feet would often freeze there as her eyes would come across the display chamber of the store. It would be filled with sparkling Christmas trees, decorated with various dangling stars and crystal balls.

With all she had, she finally built up her courage and entered the store. "Do you have any tree within fifteen hundred takas?" she inquired. The shopkeeper showed her a small tew feet tree, decorated with blinking lights and other decors. She bought it and was returning home with the big box filled with her dreams, but within the blink of an eye, her dreams were flipped over on the road and as the box collided with the pitch black pavement, her dream was broken into two pieces.

She came back home with a box full of sorrow. All her friends and cousins would decorate their trees but she didn't have any to decorate as her tree was broken by accident. She would stare at their beautifully decorated trees and her heart would ache more each time she passed the store. After all, only three days were left before Christmas and by no means was it possible for her to get a tree this year.

"Knock knock! Is anybody home?" suddenly a voice was heard as the doorbell rang as she was sitting alone on Christmas Eve. Annoyed and raged, Sreoshi dragged herself to the door and opened the door. What she saw next left her completely awestruck. A huge Chrismas tree, prettier than ever was waiting for her. She looked around but could find no one. A small card was hanging on one of the branches of the tree. It said, "Sorry for my reckless driving the other day, and Merry Christmas!"

The birthday party
A tiny toddler was found by a rubbish heap by some neighbours. He was a witness to the cruelty of life before he even learned to walk.Unable to find his identity, they handed it over to an orphanage. The toddler grew with his newfound family with few resources and big hurdles waiting in his way.

He was very fond of writing and his immature scribbles were enough to prove his urge. But was his attempts enough? The world had not given him the liberty to even look at the stars as his fingers did not match the lengths of other children's fingers his age, forget aiming. With every passing day he grew and along with him his urge to read also grew but his wishes were never enough to transform his dreams into reality. He was a stranger to motherly affection, and happiness was never a part of his being.

But today, tears of joy are ascending from her eyes. His pearl-like tears are blinking like starts. Its happiness rolling down his cheeks today as he is sitting before the Christmas cake. A mirror image of the letters "Merry Christmas" can be seen in his eyes. He had never seen such a huge cake in his entire life. Just beneath these letters, a bunch of other letters has also managed to make a place on this special cake, as they read, "Happy Birthday Papon..."

The writer is a student and journalist