Birdy's and Buddies..Just what one needs when growing old...

A perfectly un-eventful day, Sunday, when my sister-in-law proposed that we should step out of the house and chill out for sometime. This was in an effort to escape a few uninvited guests who decided to barge into our house. We ran without wasting a nano-second, of course! : ) An hour of mindless window shopping and reading random books in Landmark, we decided to come home because not showing our faces at all would be outright rude.

We opened the door expecting to see three dropped faces and two happily talking relatives. All I could experience was 20-odd happy faces and one shocked face. Mine. And why wouldn’t I be? Who expects a surprise birthday party at 8 pm on the previous day, anyway?!

Bowls of food were passing by me. Beverages were flowing by in abundance. Cake, the delicious, yummy cake was lying on the table calling out to me to eat it up. Dessert was all well arranged-for. And all this planning happened right under my nose. I didn’t even get the slightest of hint! All planned by my sister and brother and supported by mom and dad. The planning had been on since a week and everybody had been surprisingly mum about it. My sister thought I would get a hint of it. Fortunately, I disappointed her. I was happily oblivious to all the activities happening around me. Benefits of being dumb, you see...

Over and above the obvious, I was so glad to come home to happiness, in the literal sense, that evening. Here I was, dreading another birthday, more memory lapses and more knee pains and here there were my people helping me forget all of that!

It was so overwhelming to see Sri and Saumil laughing all throughout the evening and handling all the work just so that I could enjoy my day with my friends. Sri co-ordinated everything right from the cake to the food to my friends. Though not explicitly, Saumil did everything to help Sri put everything in place. And yes, he was in charge of the pizzas (like Phoebe was in charge of the cups !!) Half an hour into the party, EVERYBODY was made aware of the fact! Mom and dad, I can’t thank them enough for everything.

Chirag took an early off from his work just to be there for me, with me. The fact that he did anything outside of the regular is more than what he can do for anybody. So I am thoroughly touched by the gesture. Thanks a ton, my dear one!

Ankit was, is and will always be a sweetheart. Never has he backed out on any plan since, dunno, can’t even count. I am sure getting that big fat gift for me must have been a tiresome chore for him. Thanks so much Ankit! : )

Kunal turned up for this! That’s reason enough to thank him. No, but seriously, you have always made it for all these random celebrations. Can’t believe I am actually calling you sweet!

Gauri, the love of my life and the photographer for the evening, has always been there for me. She’s family now. And not to forget, her umbrella has made its presence felt at every meeting. It has an identity of its own now. Thanks Gauru and Latika for travelling from another part of this world. Latika and Bishnu, so sweet of both of you to come for me with next day working. You people added to the evening’s charm. And I will never forget our little party post-party. The adventures with the bag and the balls, hilarious man!

Pranav, Anurag and Pooja were a surprise package of the evening. I least expected to see them. I guess this explains the shocked and surprised look on my face. Su aunty, uncle and Aarti were kind enough to be with us all through the evening providing us with food and chairs from time to time. Esha joined in later and hence, she got all the attention. Because by then we all were free and had nothing to do except force her to eat more. Sushma aunty and uncle came at half-time but they came. And that’s all that matters.

The icing on the cake was the maid. Seeing her at the end of the party was more like a birthday present to mom and Sri!

When all I could see, was people enjoying and chatting amongst themselves and the triumphant look on my family’s face, I just knew that I am the luckiest girl on earth. When I can confidently know that I have even 10 people whom I can count on at any time of the day, any day of the year to be by my side for whatever, whatsoever, I really feel bloated with joy. And in my mind, I let off a sneer to all those who have 1000 friends on Facebook! My army of 10 is enough.

The only problem I faced that evening was when I had to blow the candle on my cake. I didn’t have anything to wish for. Coz everything I ever would have wanted, needed or asked for was there in the room with me....