It is my birth day tomorrow!!!!
March 19- 1977
22 Coral Merchant Street
930pm..........
I am so excited tonight
and I can’t go to sleep. I am thinking
of Amma; waking me up early in the morning, and giving me a hot water bath. She would then dry my hair with a piece of
towel, when I also smell her sweaty fragrance.
Appa possibly would have woken up by this time and given me a big hug and wished me
“Happy Birth day.” Appa is an early
morning bird and I would be surprised only, if he was not ready by six in the
morning. Appa starts at 6.30 in the
morning, every day, except Sundays, to ride on his bicycle to Tiruvotriyoor and
that’s where he works. It is possibly a
10-15km trip from our home in Mannadi, according to Amma.
At 630 am, he might have
already had his usual Dosais with “Poondu Milaka podi.” The smell of fresh Garlic would kill my
nostril, and me, longing for early morning Dosais. Amma would always say no, as I would have not
even brushed by teeth at that time. Well,
it’s my Birthday tomorrow and Amma might make an exception.
Appa would give me couple
of Rupees and few chocolates for my birthday tomorrow and would be gone for the
day. Well, Amma might be finished with my hair by that time and would have
taken me to the Pooja room for some vibuthi and for a special prayer to my favourite
God Pillayar.
Anna and Akka would have
woken up and have wished me “Happy Birthday, Suresh”! Well, that’s how I am called at home, whilst
my other pet (!) name being Suri. Amma always applies eye shadow to my eyes, on
my birth days. I would always say no,
but she would never listen. She would insist
that black eye shadow was meant for special occasions and also to lower other’s
“Thirusti.”
Well, that’s Amma’s
perspective and I am still excited and unable to sleep, lying next to Amma. I could hear Appa’s snoring and also my
Uncle’s, from his room, upstairs. Appa
and his not so good, younger brother snore so heavily, vying to out do each
other in the game. Well we are always at
the receiving end!
Amma would have prepared
me for school after the bath and breakfast.
I don’t have to touch my books tomorrow.
No need to study on your birth day, you know. She would have already bought a bag of sweets
to be distributed in my class, at school.
Well, I am in year 3 at “Maangadu Ellappa Chetty School Linghi Chetty Street , George Town
My first language at
school is Tamil and the second one is English.
Not surprising as Appa is against Hindi or Sanskrit totally at home or
anywhere, as he is a staunch DMK man and a local big shot in politics!
Any way I would be back at
home in the evening and be looking for few more gifts from my household, which would
be usually sweets. I am, sure; Amma
would make some special item for me in the evening, possibly with lots of Ghee
in it. I love Butter and Ghee!!!
Well, I may even collect
few more paise from Appa for a Masala Dosai treat from the local Udippi Bavan. You know, I simply adore this Udippi hotel, just
a few minutes away from our house. I
love the smell of Sambaar and Chutney and hot Dosais, wafting from the Hotel,
throughout the day, disturbing our mood and our tummy. The “Ragi Malt “drink from the hotel is an
absolute stuff and you have to drink the malt to believe me. It will be a special treat for me from Appa,
I hope. Or else, I may even get a packet
of “Bombay Bombay
I have been asking for a
rubber ball for a long time. I am not
sure, whether Appa would get me a ball tomorrow or will I get a rollicking? Any way I hate my birth day coming to an end
after tomorrow. I wish everyday is my
birth day.
Well, I am yet wide and
awake in the bed, next to Amma, excited!!
It is my Birth day
tomorrow.
March 19- 1977
22 Coral Merchant Street
Comments
Long live the prince!