ANOTHER BIRTHDAY

Yesterday was my birthday. Another one, sigh! More grey hairs, more wrinkles and more creaking joints. I was not sure I was looking forward to it.

The day however, began with a lovely surprise. My mother had arranged for a bunch of flowers to be delivered first thing in the morning. She had quietly sent a note via our helper to the florists next door with the request! A bunch of golden yellow gerberas – grown by tissue culture.

As the day progressed, family and friends, including my teacher from our Pondicherry days, called to wish me, and the morning whizzed by with e-cards and e mails with wishes. It did feel nice to be remembered and a warm feeling enveloped me.

The first call was from Sriram. We got round to discussing the last birthday when we were with him, and the one before that here in Chennai, for which he had arranged an elaborate get-together of family(including one brother, one sister, and the other’s family) and close friends. A 60th birthday I suppose, justified the celebration. The surprise was when Sankar, Jaisri and Arundati, who were supposed not to have been able to make it, turned up quietly. It was great fun, and there was so much happiness! The previous two birthdays, as Sriram reminded me, had been spent at Sankar’s place. And always there was a cake, if not ale.

This year the birthday was low key, as we had not planned anything, bar ordering food. Or so I thought. At about 7 pm, the group of youngsters with whom I share the interest of quizzing (mostly online) trooped in. I was pleasantly surprised, for I was not expecting them. There was more - they had brought a delectable looking cake with my name on it and a single candle. They lit the candle and made me blow it, and even sang Happy birthday. I was overwhelmed.
They stayed on to have tea and snacks, and brightened up the day considerably. Before leaving, they gave me some gifts as well. My regret was that I did not have anything to offer them but the snacks and tea.

One of the gifts was a copy of the Indian edition of Rolling Stone, because it had my niece Parvati and her band, Emperor Minge, featured in it – and just because they had heard me mention it!

Thank you, dear young friends – Ananth, Hantan, Karthik, Subasri, Achu and Samba, (standing). You gave me a memorable day.