Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Birthdays then and now

20th birthday

•Excitement builds up days in advance with much planning on how to blast the day
•On the day reach College early after attending morning calls from stinky relatives; thankfully not everyone had mobile those days so once out could easily escape
•Receive trendy gifts from trendy friends; Archies gallery was a famous stop those days to buy candy floss stuff, not sure if it still exists in Delhi
•Feels nice when close friends wish; feels nicer when someone wishes with a kiss
•Head out for day celebrations to nearby joints. Nirula’s used to be my favorite over McD and other vilayati invaders, loved the taste of chicken there
•How can I forget loads of daaru in hostel before returning home; if not anything atleast daaru made girls sneak into boys hostel
•In evening have a family affair with cutting of cake and evening dinner

30th birthday

•Till few days before I do not even remember my day is approaching as I have to shift to a new house which forces me to prepone my shifting by a day
•On the D day or rather B day, I wake up by the smell of dirt all around in my new flat as unpacking is yet to be completed. Sometime later I start receiving calls from India
•Later in the day I am confused when someone congratulates me, new house has taken much of my thought to think of anything else
•Since I have been forced to do something special, I head to a nearby quiet, elegant place for lunch with office folks. During lunch a bit of stoic silence follows since everyone is engrossed in their office politics thoughts
•Some people wishing ask me how old I have turned and when they hear 30 some reply “its high time”. Now birthdays are days to get high but perhaps my single status is a real bother for others
•I also receive calls from India and when they learn I am 30, next question is when coming back to India and settling down. I guess being 30 and single is punishable under Indian penal code
•Again few drinks in evening but without thrill; of course hiding and drinking in hostel gives a different high
•Before switching off for the day my thoughts again wander - no not planning for future but on how to set my new place…

14 comments:

  1. He he..love the phrase 'I guess being 30 and single is punishable under Indian penal code'. So when u r settling down? ;) :P

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  2. Enjoy every moment, every birthday, every wish. For if we stop doing that, we'll totally let go of that childhood innocence. Birthdays take me back to childhood.. and thats why I love them so much.
    P.S. I'll be hitting 29 this year :)

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  3. Yeah,30 is very much the new 20 :) Loved the post.

    P.S. : Happy belated birthday !

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  4. well... I have no idea about how it would be turning 30, but it was really bad to know how you began the day :(
    However.. All i can say is enjoy your life to the fullest and get married soon ;)

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  5. My dear friend,hiding and drinking alone at home is a red flag that you are an alcoholic,and if you do not face the truth you cannot begin to recover from it,which usually is a long process,although I was cured instantly of it.There is no shame in being an alcoholic it's a disease that is inherited.I think you are so brave to tell us the truth,although there is no reason for you to hang your head for what you are going through.

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  6. The last time i remember getting excited for my bday was when i was in 8th class.. After that every bday has been the same..in fact i dont even like birthdays anymore..
    "I guess being 30 and single is punishable under Indian penal code" - LOL! Make that 25 for a girl!

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  7. Congrats..and age is just a number...liked your description of Europe trip...and glad you had a good time...just do what you feel like :)

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  8. Very true dude. Birthdays are the one I detest. Anyways mine is fast approaching . Let's stop.grumbling and age gracefully

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  9. Happy thirtieth. I so identify with what you posted!

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  10. It's funny that I read this today because I am in college now and have a friend's birthday party to attend, the theme being, a strip club :|

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  11. ohh age is just a number...or so we should keep telling ourselves ;)

    cheers and belated birthday wishes!

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  12. Belated happy b'day..such a short post from u.

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  13. //I head to a nearby quiet, elegant place for lunch with office folks. During lunch a bit of stoic silence follows since everyone is engrossed in their office politics thoughts//

    lol.. absolutely bang on! and Happy Birthday!

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