What a Day!

Well, today happens to be the day when I saw the world for the first time about 25 years ago. Birthday used to be a very eventful day till last year, after which I left IIM Ahmedabad.
During schooling days, it was an opportunity to break the shackles of uniform and just for one day be a bit different from the others. There used to be a huge buildup for the birthdays then. A lot had to be arranged a day before like chocolates, new clothes, return gifts etc. The one advantage of the birthday was that I wasn't punished that day in school, otherwise which was a common phenomenon :-) I was kinda trouble child for my teachers. The day usually began with going to Mandir and taking blessings from all the Gods possible. And I am sure that I needed that very much :-)
As the years passed by, birthday became more of a family affair when my relatives would come to my home. There would be a big celebration and a family dinner. Till then friends were never a part of my birthday other than in the school. The best part of having many relatives in a birthday is that one gets good number of gifts which I did enjoy then.
After class X, the whole idea of college life grilled into me. Birthdays then became a friends affair. Treats, cakes and bumps became an integral part of the birthday. The times changed very fast till I completed engineering. The birthday was then celebrated at 2 levels. Once at the level of friends and other at home. At home it was the usual affair with family and friends. Only difference was that more of my relatives had shifted from other cities into Mumbai, so more gifts that's it [:-D] Due to time constraints at the college, the Mandir visits were shifted to afternoon when I used to return from college back home.
During the stay at IIM Ahmedabad, the birthdays were painful. But the whole idea of bum bashing, cakes, GOH(s), dunking, Top 5 and lotsa photos was a different experience. And form D23, the Devils Den there used to be additional fire crackers in the menu. The idea of treats was limited in IIMA to groupies who by then became integral part of your existence at IIMA. I actually had one single group for the first year and if I find a chance we still meet for those "Group treats". In IIMA the nearest temple was that of Hanuman. So from taking blessings of many Gods, I had zeroed down to one, not because of choice, but by chance and the lack of will to travel beyond 1 km of the campus for anything.
Today again is my birthday, the first one post IIMA. The day began as usual. Was up late night watching Heroes. So woke up a bit late. Being my birthday got my favorite breakfast of Ajwain waali puri. Since it was too late, decided to head to the Gods in the Mandir in the evening, when the day would have ended almost. The peril of traveling in trains and being late is that you get free body massage even if you don't intend to. In the morning fought my way into the fast train and waited till Dadar in a heavily crowded compartment. Somehow got down at Byculla and reached office. Luckily there are few other good friends who remembered my birthday and wished me in the morning itself. I promised them a treat, but unfortunately I am heading for Delhi tomorrow to the most hectic week of mine till date! Another year passes by and we move closer to the light!

I don't know how the next year will turn out, but the corporate life is turning once the best day of my year into "just another day". :(