My book of life turned another leaf a few weeks ago on my birthday. I had thought of writing about the day but then got lost in the daily rigours of life. I got reminded of it today and thought I will live up to my resolve of boring everyone a bit.
I am, by nature, an attention-seeking person. Hence the birthday is an important day for me as i get lots of attention that day from family and friends. While i seem most unpretentious about it, i wait for the day with a reasonable amount of excitement (Was going to say lot of excitement but then realised that i am going to be a father of a kid soon and hence will need to stop behaving like a kid).
This birthday was a good mix of surprise, pampering, routine, and some physical labour thrown in for good measure.
The birthday itself started a bit early as we went to Mahesh's place (for the uninitiated he is a friend from work) the previous evening, where I had a nice birthday cake awaiting me. My Scheming Sweet Surabhi had connived with them to plan the same. My dear friends had also, very thoughtfully, taken the trouble of getting my favorite snack i.e. samosa as well. All in all, it was a good prelude to the actual day.
The actual start to the day (or say night.. midnight) itself was rather simple and subdued. Surabhi tried very hard to stay awake to wish me at midnight, which she just about managed to do successfully. The next minute she promptly dozed off and her soporific, melodious snore was all i had for company.
As it turned out, i did not need that company for too long as I myself dozed off the next minute much to the chagrin of friends like Dhakkan who had made it an effort to remember my birthday and call me at night (twice in a row). Others were kinder and sent me smses and made it a point to underline their kindness.. "decided not to call you and disturb a....." Nevertheless, I was glad that they remembered and all wished me.
Papa was extraordinarily kind to me in waiting till 7 am or so before wishing me. I had half expected him to call at 4:45 am when he woke up. Thank you Papa. The series of phone calls, smses and emails (and orkut-ting) continued through the day and I got most of the expected greetings.
Surabhi did the most extra-ordinary thing thereafter by taking off from work post lunch (TATA-AIG stock would have most certainly hit the bottom circuit if it was a listed stock and the markets knew about this). She came to my office to pick me up and then she took me shopping. All the while she kept insisting that I buy this and that and the other. Got to buy some clothes and some books. Even had the offer of a new mobile being impressed upon me, but given my view of "uska paisa = mera paisa", I refrained from the offer. Anyways, it was the thought which was more important. Basically, I got majorly pampered.
In the evening we went for dinner to Dakshin at ITC Maratha Sheraton with my office junta - Mahesh, Ramya and Manish. Why Dakshin, I do not know really. It is usually good food but not my favorite. Actually, initially the idea was to go to Konkan Cafe at Taj President. Both Surabhi and I really like the place and the food. But then it was felt that it would be too far. Hence we settled at the suburbian cousin in terms of choice of cuisine.
I am, by nature, an attention-seeking person. Hence the birthday is an important day for me as i get lots of attention that day from family and friends. While i seem most unpretentious about it, i wait for the day with a reasonable amount of excitement (Was going to say lot of excitement but then realised that i am going to be a father of a kid soon and hence will need to stop behaving like a kid).
This birthday was a good mix of surprise, pampering, routine, and some physical labour thrown in for good measure.
The birthday itself started a bit early as we went to Mahesh's place (for the uninitiated he is a friend from work) the previous evening, where I had a nice birthday cake awaiting me. My Scheming Sweet Surabhi had connived with them to plan the same. My dear friends had also, very thoughtfully, taken the trouble of getting my favorite snack i.e. samosa as well. All in all, it was a good prelude to the actual day.
The actual start to the day (or say night.. midnight) itself was rather simple and subdued. Surabhi tried very hard to stay awake to wish me at midnight, which she just about managed to do successfully. The next minute she promptly dozed off and her soporific, melodious snore was all i had for company.
As it turned out, i did not need that company for too long as I myself dozed off the next minute much to the chagrin of friends like Dhakkan who had made it an effort to remember my birthday and call me at night (twice in a row). Others were kinder and sent me smses and made it a point to underline their kindness.. "decided not to call you and disturb a....." Nevertheless, I was glad that they remembered and all wished me.
Papa was extraordinarily kind to me in waiting till 7 am or so before wishing me. I had half expected him to call at 4:45 am when he woke up. Thank you Papa. The series of phone calls, smses and emails (and orkut-ting) continued through the day and I got most of the expected greetings.
Surabhi did the most extra-ordinary thing thereafter by taking off from work post lunch (TATA-AIG stock would have most certainly hit the bottom circuit if it was a listed stock and the markets knew about this). She came to my office to pick me up and then she took me shopping. All the while she kept insisting that I buy this and that and the other. Got to buy some clothes and some books. Even had the offer of a new mobile being impressed upon me, but given my view of "uska paisa = mera paisa", I refrained from the offer. Anyways, it was the thought which was more important. Basically, I got majorly pampered.
In the evening we went for dinner to Dakshin at ITC Maratha Sheraton with my office junta - Mahesh, Ramya and Manish. Why Dakshin, I do not know really. It is usually good food but not my favorite. Actually, initially the idea was to go to Konkan Cafe at Taj President. Both Surabhi and I really like the place and the food. But then it was felt that it would be too far. Hence we settled at the suburbian cousin in terms of choice of cuisine.
We had two cars and since I am the official guide to Mumbai roads, I was leading the way. Traffic turned out to be much worse than what we had anticipated and soon all of us were plagued by the "mice jumping in the tummy" phenomena.
As if the traffic was not bad enough a problem, at one of the intersections the other car refused to start. And it was a heavy intersection and like the thing in Mumbai, the traffic here refused to give us a moment of respite as we tried pushing the car to a side. Anyways, after a bit of heave-ho and traffic management, we got the car onto the petrol station n the side. We contemplated leaving the car there for the night and getting it fixed next morning. But a brief interaction with the tout convinced us that it was a bad idea.
Result - Some more pushing and as God helps those who help themselves, the car started and we again proceeded on our way to the hotel.
Dinner was a nice, quiet affair which ended off with two cakes - one that Surabhi got and the other which the hotel felt obliged to offer us. The slight damperner was that the food turned out to be a bit disappointing and resulted in a bit of badgering of the hotel staff. Anyways, it was too small an issue to spoil what had been a good birthdya overall.
And on this special occasion, I would like to thank God Almighty for sending me to this world, thank my parents for giving me birth and raising me, thank my wife for making it a special day for me, thank all my family and friends for remembering me and wishing me, thank the mobile and email networks for bringing all the good wishes to me, and thank the car for making me push it and completing my day!!!
And on this special occasion, I would like to thank God Almighty for sending me to this world, thank my parents for giving me birth and raising me, thank my wife for making it a special day for me, thank all my family and friends for remembering me and wishing me, thank the mobile and email networks for bringing all the good wishes to me, and thank the car for making me push it and completing my day!!!
PS: the pic is of the lovely plates that Surabhi got for the cake :)
2 comments:
Awesummm Budday... am sure you lost a few kilos as well with the pushing of the car :D
buddays are special-all the calls and all-the attention on that day sure makes it a special one-so u escaped happy feet on ur birthday?
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