Ben Forgotten Birthday

Ben had completely forgotten that it was his birthday.

As usual, like most men, he only remembered two birthdays: his wife’s and his children’s. His own birthday had disappeared from his memory somewhere between paying bills and pretending that everything was under control.

That morning, Ben went to work as usual. At lunchtime, he looked at his budget, sighed deeply, and decided to eat beans and chapati.

“Let me save money,” he told himself. “My wife’s birthday is next month.”

The beans, however, had their own agenda.

By afternoon, something strange had started happening in Ben’s stomach. His intestines were holding a private meeting, and judging by the noises, the agenda was urgent.

Ben couldn't wait to get home.

The moment he arrived at the doorstep, his wife appeared with a blindfold.

“Surprise!” she shouted.

Ben was confused.

“Surprise for what?” he almost asked, but decided to remain quiet. Maybe this was a new way of welcoming husbands home.

She blindfolded him and led him into the house. Just before she could remove the blindfold, her phone rang.

“Let me take this call in the kitchen,” she said.

That was the moment Ben had been waiting for.

He quickly released the pressure.

Silently.

But the smell came out with the confidence of a government announcement.

Ben immediately blocked his nose.

“Hmm,” he thought. “Maybe nobody will notice.”

A few minutes later, his wife returned.

“Surprise!”

She removed the blindfold.

Ben opened his eyes and almost fainted.

There was a birthday cake in front of him. His workmates were there. His mother-in-law was there. His sisters-in-law were there.

Everyone was ready to sing.

And then they began:

“Happy birthday to you…”

But nobody was singing properly.

They were all singing with their noses blocked.

Ben looked around the room in horror.

His wife was blocking her nose.

His mother-in-law was blocking her nose.

His sisters-in-law were blocking their noses.

Even his workmates were singing like people trapped in a chemical laboratory.

That was when Ben finally understood.

The birthday surprise was not the cake.

The birthday surprise was the fact that the beans had arrived before the birthday song.

Ben had forgotten his own birthday—but his stomach had remembered it perfectly.

And judging by the faces of the guests, the beans had also decided to give everyone a birthday present they would never forget.