Tuesday, March 30, 2010

My Birthday-29th March 2010

00.00:  My cell vibrates and I wake up to see Shrutika calling. I am surprised to receive her call. Shrutika( my blockmate from Ahmedabad) wishes me a very happy birthday and  also wishes that I get a husband soon. I laugh & thank her for her wishes. I didn't know that there was another surprise waiting for me.

As soon as I disconnect I see '1 new message'. I open it and see that Vijay(my friend form Architecture) has sent me a message at exactly 12 midnight. It read 'MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY!Happy BIRTHDAY!!!'

God I was shocked as I had never received his message at 12. But I was too happy and all smiles.

I wake up at 6 in the morning. Dad wishes me. Then Mom hugs me and wishes me a happy birthday. I get ready with my new top of Mom's choice. Must say that Mom's choice is very good. Before that I had missed Pratima's call. Again while leaving Mom hugs me and kisses my cheeks again wishing me. I am very happy. I go to the station at 8.40 to catch a local train to go to office. I try calling Pratima but she is not reachable. The train is crowded as usual. I get a place to sit after some 4 stations. I start reading my book. In sometime I receive Manish bhau's call - another surprise. He wishes me warmly. I thank him and crack a joke with him. Then he gives his cell to vahini(bhabhi). She also wishes me warmly, but then I am not able to hear her. I tell her that and say that I'll call her in the evening after going home.

9.35: I get down at Shivajinagar Station. I walk a little futher towards the stairs and find Nilesh smiling at me. As I had expected he was not knowing that it was my birthday and as expected he comments on my top 'kay ekdum hi-fi?' I ask him if it is looking good. He nods as we walk further where Vijay is standing. Vijay gives me a pretty smile( rare of him to smile this way) and wishes me 'Happy birthday' with a warm handshake. Then Nilesh says 'Oh I am sorry I didn't know' and then he too wishes me with a handshake. Then he says ok lets meet for your party in the evening or else we can have it now. Vijay says 'yes anyways she does not have time in the evening so let's party now'. I say I have no problem but then Nilesh says we will have it when we all are at leisure. I say fine and we leave in different directions to go to office. Vijay and me walk together till the bus stop. On the way I receive a call from Prasad(my school friend). As soon as I disconnect I get a call from Aditya(archi friend). He as usual asks me how old I have become. I ask him to shut up. He giggles. After some talk we hang up. And I realise that I have reached the bus stop. Vijay says bye and walks further towards his office in model colony. 

I don't have to wait much longer for the bus. I get my ticket and soon find a place to sit. Within few seconds I get a call from Amol. He wishes me and says that Dipti-his wife and my friend- remembers my birthday and is not wishing me one month late as  she always does. I say that 'I have not yet received a call from your wife'. He says that she will call soon and ends the call. After I get down from the bus I receive a call from Abhijit Deshmukh. He starts with 'Aaj tuza b'day aahe mhane?'(it seems that it's your birthday today?). It is his usual style. I say yes and you are late in calling me.(Always he is the first one to wish me). He says that he had slept early at night and then wishes me and asks for a party when he comes to Pune. I say ok and we hang up. Immediately I receive a call from Dipti. She says that she is wishing me on time. I thank her for that. She asks about party in the evening. I say let's see. She says that she'll call me in the afternoon.

10.05: I enter my office and Vijay  Bansode(our manager) wishes me. He had also sent me a message in the morning. Others don't know about my birthday. Ajay knew about it but he wishes me after sometime remembering about it. 

1.30: We get ready to have lunch and Prachi madam asks to wait to cut a cake for me. Another surprise, I had not expected. Umesh sir wishes me. I cut the cake with everyone singing the birthday song for me. Others also wish me.
After lunch I receive a call from Anagha(my senior and friend from architecture). She always remembers my birthday. She wishes me and asks about my plan for the evening. I say don't know yet. Let's see. 
Then I receive a sms from Shalasri( my classmate from Ahmedabad) another surprise that she remembered it. I reply back thanking her for her lovely wishes. Then I receive a call from Dipti as she had promised and works out a plan for the evening. It would be late for me to go home so I tell her that I'll ask my parents first if they are ok with me celebrating with friends and not at home. I call my mom and tell her about it. She says that give them party on some other day but dad says that today is the only day so they allow me go with friends. I immediately call up Dipti and tell her that yes it will work. I send messeages to everyone including those who did not wish me to meet at Surabhi - a restaurant on JM road at 6.30 in the evening.
Then Pratima calls me and wishes me. I ask her if she can come in the evening. But she says that it is impossible for her because of her baby. She asks me if Dipty(my childhood buddy who is in US with her husband) has called me or not. I saying feeling sad that 'no, she has not yet called me'. Then Pratima makes me understand that there is time difference and she may call me tomorrow. We both have a laugh and she hangs up. Soon after that I get a call from Dipty from US.


I am so happy to receive my best friend's call. We chat a lot and she reminds me of my birthday when we were in third year of architecture. That time they had got a water melon to cut instead of a cake and we had enjoyed it a lot. She feels delighted that we all are meeting in the evening and she will miss it. While talking to her I miss two calls one from Chetan and the other from Abhijit Shinde both my archi friends. It's almost 6 o'clock and I tell her that I have to go now. I try calling Chetan but he does not receive the call.


I call Dipti and ask her to leave immediately so that we don't get late and I leave from office While on my way to bus stop I call Abhijit Shinde and talk to him for some time. 


6.45: I walk towards Surabhi wondering if Vijay has reached as I had warned him to be there at 6.30 and not be late. I prepare myself to get from him as I was going late. Alas, after reaching there I find out that I am the first one to reach there. Then I call up Dipti and Vijay


Dipti and Amol come at 7.00. They give a bouquet and wish me. We find a table in Surabhi to sit. Amol as usual teases me about my non existing boyfriend. Vijay comes in 5 min and the discussion goes to Dipti and Vijay's professional meetings and then we all start pulling Dipti's leg for her bhurtegiri. After sometime Chetan comes and he is sorry that he didn't remember my b'day and wishes me and we to another table where we all can accomodate together.
Sagar had played a prank on Chetan telling him that I was giving a party bcoz I had got engaged and the most funny thing was that Chetan believed him. Sagar is known to be a liar. We all laugh at Chetan for believing in Sagar. Chetan says that he was very excited to hear that from Sagar and was curious to know about my would be husband. By the time Vishal and Nilesh join us. Chetan feels sad that his excitement was broken and we all laugh at him. 
Dipti and Amol have got a cake for me and we wait for Sagar for sometime. Then all decide that I should cut the cake now. Nobody has a camera. I give my mobile phone and Nilesh clicks photos while I cut the cake and others sing for me the birthday song. 


It was such a nice feeling. I was so happy that my day was going so nice.


Then we order Pav bhaji and finger chips while we again start pulling Dipti's leg. 


Poor Dipti, she always becomes our bakra. 


As we eat we remember our college days, the pranks we played, the time we enjoyed. We have lot of fun remembering old days and comparing with the present. It is getting close to 9.00 and I think of taking pastries for mom and dad. I pay the bill and tell the others that I'll come in sometime. I bring the pastries and then we call it a day. All are happy that we met after a long time and had great fun. Dipti wishes me again. I hug her and thank her a lot for arranging this.


Nilesh, Vijay and me walk towards the railway station. I ask Vijay to hold some stuff from my hand. He holds the pastries leaving the bouquet in my hand. We reach the station and before the train comes we bid good bye.


While I lie on my bed I think what a fun filled day it was. It was my most memorable birthday. I receive Vishal's message 'Thanks for the treat and Happy Birthday once again.' I reply back saying thanks and thanks for making my b'day memorable. I sms everyone, "Thanks for making  my b'day a memorable one. I will always cherish these moments." 


Remembering the day's events I close my eyes and fall off to sleep with a smile on my face and my heart filled with happiness.