Birthday Chocolates

There was only one day in a year in every kid's life when he was treated like a King, both at home and at school. That was the day when he was not beaten up, not given any work, not shouted at, no homework and all mistakes were ignored. Basically, all his sins were forgiven for that day and of course carried forward to the next day. That day was called Happy Birthday and not just a birthday. Because everything on that day was supposed to make the kid feel happy and special. I would get very excited to go to the school on all my birthdays as there would be chocolate distribution ceremony by me to all my classmates and all the teachers. This was the standard ritual every kid used to follow. I would get 2 full big packets of chocolates. One for my class and one for all the teachers and peun uncles. I would get Parle Kismi chocolates which had a red wrapper with white stripes on it. I would keep them in my school bag and walk to school with all the excitement. After reaching school I would go into some celebrity mode where I would not look at anyone and just sit on my bench. At the same time looking from the corner of my eyes to see if anyone was approaching to wish me. Too much drama I guess. Then our teacher would come for our first lecture. He would call me at the front and wish me. Then the whole class would sing/scream from the top of their lungs "Happy Birthday toooooo youuuuuuuuu........" I would start the chocolate distribution ceremony by giving the first one to the teacher and touching his feet. In our school girls and boys would sit separately. So I would start giving chocolates to the girl's side first. The best part of the birthday was all girls would look at you and wish you by giving a handshake. As a 14-year-old kid with rising hormones that would be no less than a heaven. You can judge me but that was fun, Okay! There was one cute girl in our class and I gave her extra chocolates. All the girls around her noticed that and started laughing & teasing her. She just blushed and looked down while I moved ahead with my distribution task. Then after giving chocolates to all the boys I went to each class to seek the blessing of my teachers and give them chocolates. Actually, seeking a blessing was just a reason to enter other classrooms and listen to whole class wishing me a happy birthday. I was one little attention freak.

In the evening there would be a party at my home. My birthdays were celebrated on a grand level. My mom was a perfect party event planner. Our house would be full of my friends in the evening. The living room would be decorated with colourful paper patakas and balloons tied everywhere. My favourite sponge cake would be ordered from the nearby Kerala bakery. There would be a number of candles lit up equivalent to my age pushed into that soft cake. While the stage would get prepared for my entry I would be sitting far looking at everything, waiting for my mom to call me to cut the cake. Then when mom would call me, I would walk like some VIP chief guest towards the cake while everyone would keep looking at me as if I was some celebrity. Kind of walking on the red carpet vibe. My friends would be looking at the cake like a bunch of hyenas. Then I would blow the candles and cut the cake with everyone's background singing/screaming at top of their lungs, "Happy birthday tooooo youuuuuuuuu............." Then I would give the first bite to my mom and then she would feed the same back to me. Then one by one I would give pieces of cake to all the hungry hyena friends. And my favourite part of the day would come then. Receiving gifts. One by one everyone would come to me, wish me and hand over the present. I would accept that with all the excitement and keeping it safe to open them after the guest had left. Soon after the gift ceremony, there would be a grand feast. My mom would cook a variety of things which would not fit on a single plate. She would be more enthusiastic about my birthday that I would be. After all the guest would leave I would start opening all the gifts. Those were the best moments to remember. Everyone would gift me wonderful and beautiful things.

The best gift of among those would be when my mom would bless me by saying, "You Get All My Happiness and All My Life"