One year older ...

My birthday tops my list of celebrations in the year. It is above any Diwali or Christmas and any vacation I may take and therefore September is the best month of them all for me. I am one of those who loves my birthday and more often than not, I begin planning for it myself. It starts with what I would wear = what i need to shop, where i will celebrate, who is going to be there and even sometimes whether I am going to celebrate it at all. Needless to say I love surprises, and I am the easiest one to surprise. I do not go into detective mode when one friend says lets just do dinner, nice and simple; I do not ask extra questions when friends inquire if I have plans with family on the day. Better to tell them my plans, don't you think otherwise how will plan the surprise :D

Age is usually a fact that puts off people from celebrating their birthdays. They do not want to be called one year older. "OLD" is an abuse almost - most still want to be 16. Me.. I do not want to go back to being 16. Why ??? Do you know what I was like when I was 16; not fun really. Fresh out of school and no idea about the world and what I want of it; that was the plain, stupid 16 year old me. Now who wants to go back being the clueless, goal lacking and also importantly penniless me .. Nooo thank you !!!

While I occasionally crib about getting old, age does not bother me. Hell yeah, I am 28 and I am lovin' it. I love every birthday I celebrate and that's my chance to reflect on the year gone by and see all the wonderful things come my way. Fine, so some years bring a few more downs  than ups but the ups do come around. Some things like to stick around year on year - a wavering bank account, a new ( and .. umm failed) diet plan with all the green tea and steamed veggies, a new (and eventually conquered by laziness) exercise regime, a new favourite genre of music, a different style of fashion. Heart breaks or new love adds a spark to the flash back on certain birthdays - then again what would life be with out them right ! Discovering a new place, an fun filled weekend trip, celebrations through the year add so much colour to my year.

My birthday flashback shows me all this and soo much more. However apart from all this, it teaches me one new thing about myself; and this revelation excites me the most. To borrow from my little left knowledge of Psychology, this revelation helps expand the "open" area and narrow down the "blind" as well as the "unknown" quadrants of my Johari Window. This, ladies and gentlemen, is usually the best birthday gift I get and they stick with me. So tell me why wouldn't I be excited about turning one year older !!!

and what a wedding it was ...

The last couple of days have been the most fun i have had in a while now. One of my girlies was set to walk down the aisle with her beau of 8 years. 8 years.. wowwiiee.. and thus the string of celebrations began. This was the 2nd wedding of my girlie gang. While we missed 2 girlies who couldnt make it, the other 3 made sure we soak in every moment and give bit by bit updates to the others. BBM, whatsapp and FB helped us transfer a wedding happening in Mumbai to London and New York.

The bachelorette party happened two days prior to the wedding and i, for one missed most part of it owing to a delayed flight. But i caught of the events' happenings inspite of my very late arrival. The stories were non stop from my other girlies, the cousins and i think even her little niece. My usually coy and very lady like bride to be friend revealed an all new avataar of wildness and happily accepted a few shots of alcohol too. Bring on the madness i say....

The next day was her Rocce ceremony. In this ceremony a ritual hot water bath with anointing of oil and application of pure coconut juice is taken by the groom/the bride. This signifies the last bath that the bride or the groom will be taking in their bachelorhood/spinsterhood. The bride and her bridesmaids sat pretty while the application of coconut milk started. The fun started off when all relatives and friends aimed at drenching the bride and her entourage in the coconut milk. At some point in time someone brought out a tube of toothpaste :P. My friend has selected a theme for this ceremony and that required all of us ladies to wear 'Navari' sarees. For all those ignorant ones, you would see the navari style saree worn by Katrina Kaif in Chikni Chameli. "Bum divider" sarees as we usually call is probably the most uncomfortable and physically unappealing garment a girl can wear. Photos simply shows non existent layers of fat and no angle allows you to look good. But an experience none the less. I took my experience one level further when i decided not to change and drove back home in the saree. Yes, yes i got quite a few looks from the people in the building.

Finally the big day was here. My friend's excitement knew no bounds. The joy was spilling over and was infectious, affecting all those around. Never before had i seen a more beaming and happy bride. She greeted each one with a smile so wide, even as she posed for the photographer. There was a skip in her step and one could tell she was ready for this. The church mass was a beautiful solemn ceremony where the happiness of both families was evident. As the couple took their vows before their family friends and God, you could see a smile on the face of every person there.

As we headed out from the church and towards the reception, i realized the traffic police had left a surprise for me too. They towed my car away and left me the "clue" to help me find it. After roaming around two wrong police station, in what one of my girlies called outrageous outfits, we landed at the right place and got my car back. So after that little detour we headed back to that magical wedding. The celebrations were just starting off with all her well wishers, friends and extended family coming in to wish the couple. They joined in song and dance ( ohh so many dances). The super happy bride was seen running all over the place dragging everyone to floor to join in the celebrations. Half way through and i kicked off my heels and joined the dancing frenzy. We started with the regular club numbers, to Bollywood ones to some exciting jive numbers ( and yes i could do the jive; guided of course by someone who actually knew who to dance) and ending with some nice and slow numbers.

A beautiful ending to a beautiful wedding; with so much laughter, so much merriment and so much celebration. But we all know the celebrations have just begun for them. For all those who know them, we are so sure that this celebration will get bigger with every passing year.

Here's to you K & J... loads of love !!!!

Diwali vacation

I remember when i was in school vacation time was the best time we could ask for ( obviously duhh !!! ) Summer was a long ( and i always wished it never ended ) 2 months; Christmas was a quick 10 days and Diwali a beautiful 3 weeks.

Diwali was the time every one looked forward to; i can safely say that for my house. Dad always got this whole big stack of gift vouchers from places like Shoppers Stop and it was our time to go insane shopping even though our Diwali shopping would be over by then. Sweets would keep flowing into the house; weight watchers that we all were; where and how the boxes would disappear no one claimed to know. But most of all it was about the family and having your closest family over is the best way to spend Diwali.

It is indeed a very special time. My family is unlike many others. We are South Indians only by name; our roots lie in Mumbai and we celebrate very festival that comes our way... I remember having Iftar parties in my house, Diwali celebrations happen every year and Christmas is also a time to have fun.

This Diwali is gonna be extra special... First Diwali as the working girl going home with gifts for my family and not from the money i borrowed from my parents. Can you feel the pride :D

Then i get to see all my friends; some who have always been in Mumbai and some are have come down - all about timing ya !!! Most of all i get to see my city, where the roads are familiar and people are ohh sooo great.. I get to eat the food i love soooooooooo much; my Mithibai vada pav and open cheese mysore dosa; the cheese pav bhaji on juhu beach and the pasta & pizzas from alfredos, the kati & seekh rolls from outside my school and never the least the awesome food at home ( for all those laughing at that statement, when you are not an awesome cook i will understand what i am saying )...

What an awesome Diwali vacation it is going to be !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!