Birthdays are meant to feel special, pampered and above all celebrate with grandeur. This year’s birthday had all these fragments neatly intertwined in a day! ( I thank god for all the good things I have)
As a young girl, I would always look forward for the month of April for it always meant beginning of summer vacations! No School, No studies, No home work but only 2 full months of fun and frolic.
Nestled in the month of April is the day for which I would make big plans as child, young girl and now a lady, for It is time to celebrate and mark the presence of yet another passed year on the homely planet!.
The D- Day usually started with a warm hug from my sister and wishing from all my uncles and aunts in the family.
As a little child I wore the most prettiest dress which amma would carefully pick for the occasion and I would also decide the dress which I would wear to the temple, at home and for the party in the evening.
If somebody walked past the home in the early morning hours of the D- day, they would surely realize that celebrations in the family was round the corner for aroma from specially prepared mysore pak with lots of ghee, sugar and love would attract everyone right from the Tharkari amma ( Vegetable vendor) to helper at home. They would eagerly wish me with love and care for the little girl growing up in the neighbourhood. With the most brilliant smile I would reply" Thank you" while I adored the dress and showed them the intricate lace work or embroidery on the frocks and skirts they would delicately feel the lace work with nervous hands not to dirty the priced possession of the child!
The day would be packed with excitement right from visiting the temple, seeking the blessing of the almighty& elders, distributing the chocolates & sweets specially prepared for the occasion by amma, inviting extended family members to join the dinner party @ night, chatting with cousins and jabbering unlimitedly with friends on the phone always assured a sense of warmth and feeling of belonging. I secretly smiled in the heart of hearts for all the care they showered .
I would crash for a siesta with a great longing for the evening to arrive.
Before even I could realize it would be time to feel like a princess. Dressed in the best attires with amma's permission and direction I would step out to invite kids in the neighbourhood for the party @ 7.
While I felt like a princess, frisked and danced the whole day, amma would be busy in the kitchen preparing the mouth watering delicacies for the evening. While I always had a condition that every delicacy be different from the previous year, amma would have a tough time comprehending to these demands, she would convince me on some and agreed on the rest ensuring that they are the best and her guests always left a remark for such a good meal.
Appa would come early from work just to be in time for the party while he carried home the fresh cream cake from Nilgiris which I would long for, always keen to know the shape of the cake ,how it looked, the colour of it and number of cherries and gems it was adored with ! He would advise me to stay away. I cherish these moments, a total bliss in itself.
As the clock ticked 7, the air would be filled with bursting of balloons, screeching for whistles and Birthday song, every time somebody in the choir would miss a line and the whole bunch of kids would crackle with laughter!
Gifts were given and taken with gratitude. With utmost curiosity all the kids would sit around the gifts and me being the proud owner would command which gift to be opened next with the curiosity of what the pack contained. While I played LIDO, Snake and Ladder and more games with the family and friends it would be time for curtains down on the day!
..........and Days have passed by and now for random thoughts flashes yet again… For there are such beautiful and blissful memories I can cherish for all through my life, live the childhood every single day and every moment is special .
This birthday rekindled all these lovely memories from my childhood, with a feeling of being special, showered with love and care, I think back on all the happiness that is around and how as mortals we seem to miss these little sacred fragments of happiness in search of the "Unknown..........."
A note before you leave this page.
Enjoy everyday for it is blissful in its own way! Lets try to appreciate little happiness and thank all those who make a difference to add to this happiness.
A big "Thank You" to all of you who have been a reason behind this happiness in my life and for making it vibrant and blissful!
