Episode 3 Its My Birthdayyyyy...

Before you begin reading this..

Episode 1 http://vaasu10.blogspot.com/2012/06/episode-1-mixed-emotions.html

Episode 2 http://vaasu10.blogspot.com/2012/07/episode-2-first-look.html

Episode 3 Its My Birthdayyyyy…

One Evening, 1994/95, Peddapalli (My hometown).

       I was barely even 5 or 6 years old. I wish I could’ve known the year precisely. That’s a thing with me. Poor memory. We both, went out on a walk to meet your friend, Sultan. This was our conversation while going back home, as soon as I caught a glimpse of a store.

“Daddy, mee deggara twenty rupees unnaya.”

“Enduku raa..”

“Unnaya.. ??..”

“Unnayi…”, “Enduku..”

“Oka kotta Cassette konukkovaali daddy”…

 My glimpse was on a Music store. It kind of makes me happy, that I had this thing for ‘Music’ when I was 5. Or probably even younger.

        I don’t remember your answer, which is not the point here. But, such random faded memories are what I’m reminded off, out of no where. Many more memories of such sort, and I end up saying to myself, good old days.

*****

May 11th, 2012, Cleveland, USA.

        Amidst the preparations of my first time travel back to home for 45 days, I planned a dinner with my buddy boy yeshwanth at Indian Flames, where one of our ex-roommate worked. That restaurant was not my choice that day, yet I settled to go for it. I, obviously invited my friend Mani, but because of the reason that Laxmi Pujitha was visiting her the same evening, she had to refuse my invitation.

      Occupying our seats at the restaurant, which was a bit busy/crowded that day, my roomie handed me the menu. Whilst skimming the menu, I couldn’t help but to overhear Yeshwanth talk aloud over the phone.. All I could concentrate was he yelling “Ashish Bhai”. I went back to ordering, thinking as to what I should be eating, going back to my phone. Yet there was another call from “Ashish Bhai” to yeshwanth. Ignoring for the second time, third time left me no other option but to wonder, who’s “Ashish Bhai”. All I got was he is a friend of friend’s.

       Don’t remember what actually I ate that night. But was pretty much tired for that was a long day. As I reached home, I hear yeshwanth talking over phone again. But it wasn’t Ashish bhai this time, rather it was Mani, inviting us home to meet Pujitha(I call her Pooo-jitha which she can’t stand :D). Wondering what’s with it, I went down only to see myself surprised. An actual surprise, which I was never even expecting. Atleast, not a month in advance. I was so much delighted for the ‘Advanced-Birthday-Party’.

      Probably, ‘Birthday’ is the only day I feel I’m special. No matter what, people are going to  be nicer to you, just because He has thrown you in this world that day. I’m sorry for all those who say, I hate my birthdays. I don’t like to  celebrate or come up with something else. But, I can say this. Try to celebrate, feel the warmth of the day. The people who love you, are waiting to show you how special you are. With all that I said, one can easily expect me to say that I love my birthdays. Yes I do. And speak of surprises, I’m a sucker for them too.

      Shell-shocked by the surprise party, I step-in my friend’s apartment at a gaze. I could notice the decoration, the cake, and the Ashish Bhai alias Laxmi Pujitha. The cake deserves a special mention for Mani has made it for me. How Sweet!! A chocolate cake, dressed with M&M’s. It was yummy. And once I cut the cake. The surprise, this time came the other way around. The next 15 minutes I was robbed of the warmth of the moment. Tomato sauce, Eggs, Ranch, Dish-washing liquid, some foul smelling stuff which I don’t even know what it is till today and what not was dripping from my head to toe. It’s so weird to be surprised this way. But the way, they got on to me, only seemed like it was a part of the plan. The surprise reached a full-stop with me ending up in shower for more than 30 minutes.

         

I dint thank all of you guys until today for that. So here goes one for Nagamani, Laxmi Pujitha, Bhargavi, Shubangi  and Guru Yeshwanth. Thanks a lot guys. J J

With the fact that, Mani’s birthday is followed by mine, which falls on June 11th, I couldn’t think of something of such sort. How dumb of me!!

*****

June 9th 2012, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.

      With days passing by quickly, I kind off went offline with my buddies back in USA. First one was Nagamani. So, I was skype-ing with Nagamani on 9th of June, with clock showing 9.30PM. Mom making Chapati’s for dinner. I was sitting-by kitchen multi-tasking, watch mommy make dinner, our Sony Bravia shouting at a volume 12 whilst Sharapova was sweating out on clay courts trying to over come Errani. And My best buddy, Srikanth, calls to check on me. I went back to Mani, after hanging up with Srikanth. And in 15 minutes. I see srikanth’s name pop in my mobile again. To my amazement, I get a text, asking me to get the door. There you go. Srikanth at door. With a cake and a Present. The surprise begins with his visit. I always fantasized waist coats. And the one which Srikanth gifted me was so perfect. And it was a black one. Oh. How awesome I look in black. :D :D I loved it so much.

      With my wall clock running quickly to strike 12AM, for even the clock couldn’t wait to celebrate my birthday. I was all set for the Cake One. It was my Mom, Dad, Srikanth with me and my cake. J My bro kind off arrived late in the night at 2AM I guess. Sadly, Hari Krishna was out of town. He was in his home-town Bombay, Sorry Mumbai now(I prefer Bombay over Mumbai though).  

11.50PM.

Yes. With just 10 minutes away. I don’t see any cake coming out of the refrigerator. I said to srikanth, let’s go get my cake ready to cut. Ahahahaha. He literally laughed at me for my desperation. Finally, I cut the cake. Calls poured in. Sometimes, you don’t anticipate somethings to happen. And when something really special happens. It clings on to you for a while. My mom, dad sat by me. I never planned for it. Neither did they. But it happened. Srikanth, being the only other person in our living room, clicked one of the best snaps of my life. Million thanks to you Srik.

Srikanth, who brought to my notice that we dint have a photograph together in our 10 years of friendship, finally, we made it possible on my birthday. J

      “Gundamma ante cinemallo chudatame kaani… Ippudu first time chusthunna…”, “karpuram…” are a couple of the many others we laughed at, that night. I literally rolled out of laughter with Srikanth that night. I still laugh to them now, Srikanth. You know.. J J We never stopped that night. Bro joined us for the cake. And as soon as it was 3AM. You were hungry as usual. Ha ha.

        I was really glad the following day, which was actually my birthday. My buddy, Karthik, whom I haven’t met for like 4 to 5 years stopped by for a chat. The only plan I had for the day, was my birthday shopping. Yes, that’s me. I always shop for my birthday the same day.  

      The only person who actually sung a perfect birthday song was my nephew, Agasthya. The minute my Sissy called me to convey her wishes, he grabbed the phone and sung it. How Sweet it was. Mind you. I was still fantasizing the waist coat the following day. *LOL moment*.

Well, I guess I had one of the best conversations that day with my 4 and a half year old nephew.

He calls back.

“Vasu, What present did you get from your dad?”

I was kind of tongue-tied for I still dint get any.. so, I just replied back “I dint get any.. I’m waiting for my presents..”

So, he replies back “don’t worry.. you’ll get nice presents”

I was like… Wow.. and thanked him for that.

I get a reply back again… “Ok, Have a nice day. Bye”

That was something I never heard before. Pulled back again in amazement. Thanked Sonu once again.. And the line goes off.

      My sis at the other was startled too. For she has never seen him speak so fluently without help.

And that is when I realized my 4 year old boy is growing up and how? Pretty well.

     Followed by a delicious lunch. Pretty much usual. My favorite “Fried rice, Potato Curry, some other stuff” prepared by Mommy for me. And exactly that is the stuff my dad and bro avoid the most. J

     In the confusion, if I was to go to a movie with bro, we reached home,later in the night from shopping. And it was the time for some more cake. Cake two from my US buddies and finally the Cake three from Agasthya, Akka-Bava.. The photoshoot later on was fun with my new waist coat. :D :D

     The day ended with carry out from a Punjabi restaurant, after we couldn’t tickets for a movie at Prasadz.

Cake Two

                               

Cake Three

     Summing up, turning 23 on such a special day was nice. Probably one of the nicer things happened to me. If I had also hung out with my buddies Srik and Hari, wouldn’t it have been even more nicer. Yes, it would’ve been.

     The fear was slowly building up in me. I was just 3 weeks away from going back to reality. I couldn’t get over the mere thought that my fairy tale was going to end very soon. The same countdown a month and a half ago gave me loads of excitement that I was going to be in my Home, but was horrified at the countdown which lay in front of me.

     The fear of farewell, still remember, like it happened a day-before, my first good bye to Mommy on Jan 11th 2011 at 2100 HRS IST. How would I handle it on July4th 2012?

     Well, I believe Episode 4, is going to be the end of this series of episodes of my ‘TRIP TO INDIA’.

Life is …. (Sigh)Beautiful.

Yours..

Dev..

(PS Really happy for all those who has been asking constantly when I’m going to write my next post.. Brings a Sweet Curve on my face.. At the same time.. I kind off promise you.. I wouldn’t keep you waiting longer from now on. Lets see how well I try to keep it.)