Budday hai ji

Its my dearest buddie's birthday today.And just as i was wishing her today, i just got transported back in time, aeons ago, to when birthdays used to be so much fun. A gala event to look forward to. The preparations for the same would start days in advance. With mummy first taking us to the new clothes store to buy us new clothes, a sparkling new style frock for my sister and a brand new pair of those jeans shorts ( oh were they in vogue then) and a t-shirt. The two-three days before the d-day would be spent, crafting all the invitation letters. I still remember the trademark cards. A coupe of baloons with the bunny in between. Then going all around the colony inviting all your freinds. Papa would be busy decorating the house with baloons and those red and blue and yellow and green colored paper strips. and a lot of other things. of course with our bhaiyas help. In fact when i was in roorkee, we had Phoolchand and suresh bhaiya, who were experts at conjuring all sorts of baloons. and then papa would chalk out all different sorts of games to be played and prizes to be given to the winning children. and of course there was the return gifts to be given. Celebrating a birthday was a project in itself, and the deadlines had to be met. The repurcussions could be disastrous you see.


On my eigth birthday mummy did something special. One, we celebrated my birthday and my sister's birthday together. and mummy learnt some new recipes for cakes from Rashmi aunty. in fact they together baked two cakes, a bunny rabbit shaped one for my sister and a long train shaped one for me. the train had one engine and three wagons attached to it. It looked beautiful but the bunny was even cuter. and i remember getting jealous at my sister.


Anyways, so thats how it used to be. on the day, you would go to school wearing one of those new dresses. Teacher would make you stand in front of the class while everyone sang happy birthday to you. and then you would go ahead and distribute toffees to everyone. Evenings would be great too. the party, all the kids partying around. you the center of attraction. everyone giving you all those presents you could not wait to open. and dare if anyone not come without a present. boy i was so devilish, that once a couple of my freinds they came to the party, but they did not get the present. and i went up straight to them and gave them that look before asking " where is my present"...........i still remember the scolding i had got later from papa. and it was lesson in manners too for me. That was papa for me, loving always, but quick to set me right if i did things wrong. and of course so was mummy.

Well, to end it all, birthdays were always that much fun. Of course, as we grew up these things seemed kinda arcane. The home parties gave way to outings,the toffees to a treat for freinds at the school canteen ( the wearing of civil dress to school had been done away with much earlier), and when we came to college, to more elaborate katao the budday boy/girl plans.

Yet those early birthday parties remain my sweetest memories.

Anyways, this post is actually dedicated to my dearest buddy. dunno why today suddenly brought back all those memories. :)). A very very happy budday to you once again buds.

Chaos.