Enjoyable Times!

Current Tune: Yeh Honsla - Dor

Thank you to everyone that wished me on my birthday on Friday. Thank you very much for those who called and SMSed also. This was my first time celebrating my birthday after being married, and yeh apne main hi ek mazza tha.

The mazza started a few days prior to my birthday as Neeraj and I sat in the office canteen during lunch discussing the fact that he hadn’t bought anything for my birthday. How did I know this? Because we had been going shopping together so I knew frankly that he hadn’t bought anything yet. He says to me that he doesn’t know how to shop, and I explained to him its not what you buy, its how you make that day special, extra-ordinary than the regular day. He just laughed it off.

Wednesday night we went shopping to this huge mall near our home. I told him that this was his perfect time to buy as I went to the salon. After 20 mins we were going to meet again, and when I was done I began to roam on the second floor of the mall thinking that he might still be on that floor. Guess what, I was right, he was still on that floor just looking aimlessly with nothing in his hands. Smiling I went towards him and said, “abhi tak kuch mila nahi? (haven’t found anything yet?), only to hear that “kuch samaj main nahi aaya Poonam (can’t think/find anything yet Poonam).

So then we went shopping together, and I picked out the things that I wanted. No surprises on my birthday. Even though Neeraj would have liked to give me a surprise, I know that he has learned from this experience…hopefully better preparing him for next year.

On Thursday night we bought a few more things, including a small cake, candles, wrapping paper, and tape for the festivities. The first SMS we received that night from Neeraj’s youngest sister, Lakshmi. At midnight, Neeraj had wrapped all of his gifts, and I immediately opened them. Three different sets of earrings, a new Giorgio Armani “The Code” perfume, and an automatic shredder/slicer (for cutting onions, tomatoes, etc…) was what I received. We cut the cake, as he sung Happy Birthday.

Next morning I woke up first to get ready to another day at the office. When Neeraj woke up, he gave me a beautiful rose and wished me again. We were off to the office. Later in the morning, Neeraj’s eldest brother, Satish Bhaiya sent him a missed call. Neeraj sent me a message that he had gotten the call and asked if we could meet to give them a call. We both were surprised that they all remembered but it was a great feeling. We couldn’t talk long as we both had our respective meetings to attend but told them we would call Saturday morning as usual to talk.

Later when we headed home for lunch, Neeraj’s middle brother, Manoj Bhaiya, sent us an SMS but we couldn’t understand (there were only symbols). We called them and spoke to him and bhabhiji for quite sometime. As we were speaking to them, Neeraj’s elder sister Rajani Didi was calling. We spoke to them after a while as well. Then it was time to hurry up with lunch and head back to the office.

There was a party that was off-site in my department so everyone was gone by 3pm. I decided to go home too and not to disturb Neeraj I told him that the weather being nice, I would walk home. A regular 2 minute drive in the car took me a good 25 minutes by foot to get home. Anyway, I reached and just sat down when Kaush dear called to wish me. We spoke for a good hour, then Neeraj reached home, and we headed out for Springfield to be with the parents.

My brother Suraj had said that he wouldn’t be able to make it up, but when we reached my parents’ place, he was there. It was a great surprise and got the wishes from everyone. There were more and more calls coming in during this time, and soon after I opened my gifts. Suraj gave basketball tickets to see the Chicago Bulls play on January 6th. So Neeraj, Suraj, and I are going to see a professional basketball game in Chicago. The parents gave me this beautiful Liberty Bell that my father got from Philadelphia on a recent trip, a beautiful sweater, and Adidas track pants.

We then went to this great Mexican restaurant for dinner where Neeraj’s eldest sister called us. Unfortunately the line wasn’t clear so we called her upon reaching home. Then we cut the yummy ice cream cake that the parents brought, and soon the night was almost over.

It was a great birthday — I enjoyed with all, and it was a great feeling that all of Neeraj’s brothers and sisters called to wish me. That meant a lot to both Neeraj and I — really great.

Alvida. Jai Mata Di.