Bday was fun in childhood...i used to wake my sis up from bed and wish her Bday and the next day she would wake me up and wish me...and we used to take our snaps on our bdays...but once sis moved out for her studies, the photosessions came to an end...coming to celebrations, we were very fond of celebrating each others bday in our own sweet ways...yeah..sweet...chocolate ways....i would get her chocolates and the next day she would get me...but all with papa's money :) he was our common banker..he used to say..."you both celebrate each other's bday..but each time its my pocket that gets emptied"...once sis moved out for studies and then later me too, the wishes were restricted to calls and greeting cards. She never missed sending it...this time also she send it all the way to US ...and i did something different this time...i send her a cake...though the cake was lot different from what i saw online, she was happy with my gesture...i believe she never celebrated a bday like this..came as a total surprise for her...
ok..back to my bday...this one was quiet different from previous B'Days....my 1st one in US, 1st one with the new set of friends here..and it was different indeed...it was more of "Bath"-Day for me than a "Birth"day or "BAR"-th-day, the way people generally expect a guy of my age to celebrate bday...it was around 11:50 at night and the friends staying near to my apartments..all with a bag in hand...gifts???? no way....those contained the substances for the holy abhishekam on me...its was my bday and a Friday...what else do they want..no one was in any hurry to finish the bash and return....so around 12,it started with me cutting the icecream-cake..was yummy i must admit...i could taste only a bit and rest was on my face and head...since our floors are carpeted, i suggested going to the bath tub, so as to avoid the later cleaning up process..which i have to do the next day...
so there i was stading in bath tub, awaiting the inevitable....i closed my eyes...wow..it was icy cold...beer...on my head, down my body...i would have preferred that in my mouth rather than on head..i did try to dart my tongue out and sip few..like a snake would do....ok ok..i agree..even dogs do.....instinct u know..the taste of beer!!!..anyway i enjoyed the beer bath.have heard it smooths hair..next was coke...though i dont have the have lice or dandruff on my hair, i liked the pesticide treatment...ice cold coke...next was the worst...i almost felt like an idli sitting in a plate in some rural SouthIndian hotel...yeah..a week old sambar...yuk...the smell was horrible and i almost puked...but in photos it looked like someone puked on me...i immediately opened the shower as it was too stinky...i thought that was it...but soon came egg..smashing on my head one by one..i wanted to look up and see if some hen was sitting over my head, who is hurriedly laying eggs and lessen its weight...these days even animals can be beauty conscious..you never know!!! Have always heard that egg white is good for hair. even though i didnt have the time or opportunity to remove the yoke, i felt that helped. Party was not over yet, then came the chocolate shake. I would have gladly opened my mouth if not for the egg and the sambar that was still on me. Finally they said with a sad face.."everything is over. we didnt have a good collection for him"...if this wasnt a GOOD collection then what was??? they left the bathroom and i was busy cleaning myself of all the mess, partially relieved that the ordeal is over.
Once i was out of the bath, everyone was standing there, rubbing hands and saying....dress up and come..its exercise time...
little did i know that the worst was still to come...and like an icing on the cake, i was lifted in the air(effortlessly i must say) and thrashed...none wanted to miss out and each was taking turn and beating me...few from left side like a Maradonna kick...and from the right like Jackie Chan...and i was like a Bollywood villain...getting thrashed and never getting a chance to retaliate..but the ordeal doesnt end there..the worst thing was yet to come...cleaning the bath tub next day....yuk...i really appreciate the people working in municipalities in India..i understand that they are doing a tough job. Cleaning my bath tub, i suddenly started giving respect to the job they do.. and finally it was by afternoon that i finished everything..took shower and become a BDay boy...
so it was all Bath-Day and Bash-Day for me ..rather than Birth-Day !!! and now am eagerly waiting for the Bdays of my friends...yes PayBack time..
