Happy Birthday to me..

Birthday is an occasion we all wait for. It is the time when you realized that you have just turned one year older (wiser) and the occasion is celebrated by your friends singing Happy Birthday for you, you cutting the cake and then getting gifts (kisses ?) from them. What more can one wish for ?

Unfortunately, the world of reality is not that good. In a college like the one I am in, birthdays are dreaded by one and all. The expression of love by friends in my college is unconventional to say the least.

I was downloaded on this planet on the 25th of December 1980 and hence I celebrated (??) my 25th birthday about 40 hours ago. In the run up to the occasion the electronic notice board (also known as the blue board) was filled with messages from my friends inviting the whole campus community for the rites. The objective of such messages is not only to ensure maximum participation but also to have a pick on the subject (me in this case).

At last, the fateful hour arrived. My friends took me to the quad of my hostel where a small (??) gathering was waiting for me. The ceremony began with bumps given to my sidey, Puneet and then another neighbor Nishant.

Then, came my turn. One of my more caring friends Raju, had put on leather shoes for the occasion. For what seemed like eternity my buttocks were continuously showered with love from my friends in form of kicks and chappal hits. Even now I can feel the result of their love whenever I sit.

If you think the worst was over, think again. At half hour past midnight on Christmas, out in the open my friends started pouring Sprite on me. I thought, it is acceptable and all I need is a small bath. Then, out came the cake.


Though, cake is among the tastiest things ever thought of, birthday cakes in my college are not meant to be eaten. Instead, the birthday boy (girl) is supposed to cut the cake with his nose. Then the remaining cake is applied to his body, hair etc. and trust me this is not the greatest feeling in the world.

After you get your horror movie look, you get ready for the next round. This time around, pots of sweets are taken out and for a change they are meant to be eaten. In this case, in order to show there love, everyone offers the birthday boy, at least one sweet and this goes on until the subject chokes up. The remaining sweets are eaten by friends and we come to the last part of the ceremony.

The remaining juice from the sweets is then poured over the subject’s head and inside his clothes until he feels all sticky. Then he poses with his friends for a few photos and the ceremony ends.

The worst part begins now. Taking bath on a chilly night with cream and sugar syrup all over and hot water in short supply is not my idea of fun. It took 40 minutes of struggle and half a bottle of shampoo to come out clean,

On the same night, the campus rock band JBS-Baro C was playing at the old hostel and I went for the show. At close to three in the night, those friend who had missed my birthday celebrations got their act together I enjoyed another painful round of bumps.

It might seem too wild, brutal or uncultured, but these kinds of celebrations have become a part of our lives. Our expression of affection is unconventional, but it leaves us with really happy memories which stay with us long after the pain is gone. It might seem really weird to some, but I am thankful to all those friends who took out their time and were present there to wish me turning 25 even though their wishes were communicated by their boots. I am not a masochist by any set of imagination but all those who were their to kick me did made me feel special.