Happy Birthday To Me!

Whenever I get a new calender, I always see what is the Day of 25th is ...is it a Sunday? I will say wow! once again!..coz it was a Sunday when originally it took place...if not, fine then...

Every year this day brings something new, either joy or pain...don’t know what it is in hold for today! 

Coz for last few years, especially after losing father, this day doesn't mean a very special for me...just like another day..only a bit more walking through the memory lane...

So this year just to make it different, start arranging my birthday memories..as I fear with the rising symptoms of dementia may be one day I will completely forget all of these…

Since childhood, they have always made me feel myself special..they means, maa baba bon and off course some very near ones , who without any invitations used to come our home and that always made me happy and excited...one was Chotomama..with his high specs (high means really high minus 10 , I suppose), would always brought a special book, duly covered , written my name in his own hand writing ,mostly in red and signed in as CHOTOMAMA ( my maa’s youngest brother)..He was like a hidden Santa for me..One day I loved a book most probably "upendrakishore Ranchanaboli" in my relatives place, some way or the day other they were reluctant to give it to me..I passed the sadness to him, and yes , a brand new one was there on my birthday!

In our times, the two famous gifts we used to receive in Birthday is Tiffin box (the steel one, which we have to struggle to open and sometimes the food used to spill out); the most attractive one used to carry a double decker, and Pencil box, here too, double deckers are the priceless one! But for my birthday, I used to get loads of story books, as I was quite famous in my childhood as a voracious reader! ( its better to give her a book, then she would stop her mischievous act ,like refraining from "what is there inside" kind of her inquisitiveness)!!

Then later, at around six - seven years age, I get to know that I actually share it with Geeta Mashi's Husband ( the most popular guy among our maternal side, for his amazing culinary skill and storytelling)..so once we were to their home..which used to be a big party itself and whenever you visit six seven members shouting in joy, ha ha hi hi stuffs. Once I had broken my head, had two three stitches and that day I was painting a Rainy day Scenery..my most favourite one..suddenly remembered it..

In our first home, my friends used to come bubu (sujaya, my first friend of nursery), jyango, mithudi and so on...

Then started my  school days..well, the last week of July was full of celebrations, 24th is Sukanya's, 25th Mine, 26th Swarupa's , 28th Poulomi and most probably 29th is Juins' birthday..so every day we used to get two candy and a baloon sometimes!! I remember Maa used to wear her famous sunglass and come to schoo,l she was quite popular among my friends as a very stylish woman , as Doyeli still says, wearing sleeveless blouse in those days late 80s! I still remember the smiling faces of my friends, even of the A sections' students;( oh! it was just like the Gryffindor-Slytherin  army all through my school days!, I was a proud B section Girl , and I still remember the big chaos when teachers strategically wanted to mix up some the A section girls to us and vice -verse, one famous inclusion was Doyeli to our section, the whole day crying and all..will tell you later that story)..As I used to give chocolates to their section too! My sister used to visit that day, a five year old kiddy, with keeping her hand on her wrist, I remember she threatened Anindita Gupta of A section saying, why you have beaten my didi? God knows, what happened when she grew old she become quiet and quite serious about studies! )..

Then I especially remember my birthday of class four, when Anasua actually brought a bunch of Roses (six , I remember) wrapped by her self and given a dramatic singing at class saying, Happy Birthday Paramita! oh! she was my best friend, and if there would have been any option that she would be a boy, I would have surely married her on that day ( no offense meant,Debanandada!).

Next saga should contain my coaching days in class nine or ten. One shy boy of my batch gifted me a Reynold jetter pen, my most favorite one, and suddenly become priceless as gifted by him, my boyfriend! 

Eventually as days goes on, that day become more ceremonial less of heartfelt wishes and all, in college a bunch of friends especially billadal, Tanusree, Kakoli, Sudeep, Anupam , Dibyendu, Tinku , Gopal the famous eight  ( some more were there can’t remember, of Bio hons ) used to be the gang of uttarpara to roar that day!..I guess Billa and Tanusree they made a hand-crafted greeting card and written inside in an amazing handwriting of billa some magical lines! He was a gem of that, the only guy who defeated me in debate, used to play the worst prank of keeping my specs at a higher rack in class room, I used to be blind , shouting !!...

At university it was with Simnatini, Krishnakali, Aniruddha I guess..mostly going somewhere sitting beneath the pantaloons our famous adda space...Last birthday at M.Sc final year were celebrated in Simantini's house..I remember koli smiling and gifting a very cute square pendent to me!! It was just before their departure to US..so a mixed feelings was there..but still I feel the same warmth and joy when we talk..and yes, sometimes social networking sites do help to keep connected with your old buddies sitting thousands of miles apart!!

In Ph.D. days I remember one birthday where Raju brought a chocolate (that diary milk multi chocolate box , a pen and a card may be) eventually gifting me one at each hour with Sanchalika and subha and sujayda...And I took a photograph!

In Post Doc days at Delhi, it was quite a celebration! cutting cakes, and then Sir wishing me in the morning and offcourse with Sushma, Maninder, Lima, Anshuman Swaroop, Prasad sir , sarda sir ..off the list will go on!!

Then?

Cant remember anything special at this moment anymore! I have almost tried to state my birthday’s bibliographically ..

In all these days, Baba used to be the first wishing me, when I was out of home, calling exactly at 12 o clock with utter surprise, now that job is replaced with Maa and off course my sister ( She set a birthday tune on my first mobile I remember, which of much surprise ranged exactly at 12 , quite a bit of celebration I feel)..and my N Jethi, ( my N uncles’ wife, Na means I guess the penultimate among the brother’s? ) who, is like my second Maa , my best friend and so on..call me always, to make the day special for me! And Subham , my brother, who used to come with a chocolate , every time I suppose..

The list has lessened now..as chotomama left me when I was in class nine, my fifteenth birthday…Subham left me at around my 26^th birthday..and baba in my 29^th)..

Now a days , Its only looking back to those colourful birthdays, watching old photographs , a sigh and yes, for a change this time writing a big Saga!…

Its difficult, you know, to cope with a changing world , loosing your dear ones with one un changed birth date! And in this post 30s, I feel, it’s a celebration of your experiences, a good log book to count your good old days and a sigh with a smile and thinking God knows where I would be on the next, same city or a different one? I am a bit surprised with my use of words, like" those days" and on, which itself warns me that you are old enough to talk like that! But yes now, after reading the whole write up again, with counting so many times the world “surprise”, is giving me one final thought, still birthday means a surprise, be happy with whom you are, with the ability to write, to remember and get counted among your friends!

Still getting a lot of phone calls exactly at 12 feels me special..Getting a call from a good old friend in the morning after 4-5 years is special and off course to write a blog to make the day special in my own way, is special!! Thanks for all who called, messaged or mailed to make this day again another special Birthday for me!

 P.S. A special note of thanks to my new found lady love in Krittika, who, with her words, with her  messages often made a simple day so special and a special day simply brilliant! Again, at this post 30. I am in love with a girl and thinking why she is not a guy!! Am I meant to be getting only sensitive girls and insensitive or over-sensitive Guys ! God Knows:)