It was a Hap- Hap- Happy Birthday

For the last 23 years the nation has had a holiday on the day I was born (it being India’s Independence Day) and I’m sure for as long as I live in this country it will continue being a holiday on that day.

I’ve always got super excited about my birthday and this year was no different!

It started with a bunch of us sitting down and making birthday wish lists. That added to the excitement (did I mention I love getting presents) and diluted my resolve not to have a party. Boy! I’m so glad I did

Since I didn’t really have the time to make invitation cards I decided to send virtual ones instead.

Here’s a sample of the invite:

A lot of people promised to be there but I didn’t dare get my hopes too high because I have been badly disappointed in the past. But anyway arrangements had to be made and so the family sat down and put plans to paper. Ruth and Mum agreed to handle the games and Dad and Nani decided to look after the kitchen. I was left with the co-ordination, cake, logistics and decorations. (I think I should consider event management as a career option)

I decided to bake the cake on the 14th since it would be fresh and had this elaborate plan to ice in like the witch’s house in the fairytale “Hansel and Gretel”

The 15th came really quickly and the hours before it was a mad flurry of activity! I picked up my clothes from the tailors. Then Dad and I set up the hall and the verandah to fit in all the people and I still had the cake to bake, which I began only at around 10pm and by the time I put it into the oven it was 11pm!

I usually switch my phone off at 11:30 on the 14th night so that my family gets their night’s sleep but had no such luck this time. My nightly conversations with the techie resulted in my talking on the phone till the wee hours of the morning. Well since he was not going to be there on the 15th I thought might as well talk while I could;)

Ruth gave my the customary midnight present:) Thanx darling, the earrings were beautiful. Managed to get to bed by 2 a.m.

I had to go for 8:30 a.m. mass so was up by 7. The youth group was also having a cafetaria after each mass to raise funds for their activities so had to go help out a bit there too. Managed to do both. It’s a nice feeling to know that people remember my birthday and make it a point to wish me.

Lunch was an interrupted affair with the phone ringing off the hook. Thought I’d take a short nap but there was no hope of that as the cake still had to be iced.

Somewhere at around 3 p.m. I got the bestest present ever! (though I must say I did get an inkling of it when his roomies called earlier in the day with inconsistent stories …… these guys must pay more attention to the amount we speak on the phone) Ajay decided to surprise me by coming down from Pune. While I was hoping he would be able to make it, I decided not to get my hopes up. I think I was in a state of semi shock for quite a while (apparent in my inability to string words together into coherent sentences!) But he was here!!!!!!!! and I must add was an immense help ….. I’m sure if he was going to be in Mumbai for longer he would have helped clear up after the party (u know do the dishes and stuff!) (what say? )

Folk started streaming in by 6.30, with the Jesuits being very punctual. By the time it was 8 we were a house full:) I’ve never seen so many people in my house at one point in time! But like the saying goes, “The more the merrier.”

Th games were super fun and my sister and Mum did a funtastic job. Thank You.

This is what we had:

• A round of introductions with one good and one not so good quality about each one

• A miscellaneous Quiz

• Baby I love you, will you smile for me? ( to which the person approached had to reply “Baby I love you but I just can’t smile for you” without smiling)

• Queen of Sheba (with a wide variety of demands like a yoga aasan, a quiz, etc)

• Belly dancing (On this count I must say that Christopher, Crispin & Rixon caused a real riot ….. I hope their girlfriends didn’t mind or ended up seeing some of their fantasies being acted out:P)

  
  

• A Tag dance

  
  

We could not have too much of dancing because of space constraints but I managed to dance one jive number.

Dinner which followed was yummy. We ordered the biriyani from out but the rest of dinner was home cooked. Here is the menu:

Vegetable Biriyani

Pepper Pork

Cold chicken and potato salad

Corn Salad

Ice cream (for dessert)

It was post twelve by the time everyone left. It sure was a day of fun and I’d do it all again anytime any place! For those who could not make it …… u’ll missed an awesome party

Here are some pics from the party and a link to the rest

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