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 26th
birthday..and baba in my 29th)..
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:)