Happy Birthday !!!

Three months back I joined my friend Mr. M for celebrating his birthday.  The birthday celebrations consisted of a few drinks and food at the food court as both of us were  living as forced bachelors in an island where we were working and our families were back in the home country taking care of the children’s education etc. A couple of other friends – Mr. P and Mr. T also joined in.

‘How did you know it was your birthday? I do not know when my birthday is…’ Mr. P asked.

‘Oh, got a call from home… they keep track of everything, you know’ Mr. M replied. ‘My wife called me today and said that it is my birthday and ordered that I should go to the temple.’

‘Anyway, Happy Birthday to you..’ Mr. T said

‘The fact is I don’t believe birthdays are happy anymore for us who are on the wrong side of 60’ Mr. M said, ‘It  reminds us that we are getting closer by one more year to the end… isn’t it, Mr. N?’ The last question to me.

‘I am not so sure’ I replied, ‘ we can think that we have lived one more happy year – on a positive note’

‘True…. Be positive, man! Let us drink to that…’ Mr. P is ever the ‘get going’ man.

08. 10. 2012…….

Today I am in my native village - came here to visit my mother who has completed 95 years. Though failing in hearing and eyesight and moving in a wheel chair, she is still mentally very fit. She told me today is my birthday as per the Malayalam calendar and I should not rush back without having a birthday lunch. She had kept aside new clothes to wear on my birthday and looked forward to some payasam – the sweetdish.

She remembers everybody’s birthday – as per Malayalam calendar, of course – including that of my children and my grandson who is just 2 years old, born and being brought up in Scotland.

So, here is Happy Birthday to me !!!