Still remember how I felt as I parked our car a year back at the apartment. Finding the spot , aligning the car to the lines , stopping at the right depth in the lot, turning off the engine - the set of motions were the same as when returning from any routine weekend shopping. The next step is to open the boot and collect the shopping bags except this time. This time, I need to open the back door and welcome our new child , our Amey, home. That was a year back and is now a routine as well.
A year back, he did not smile. He was serious , almost pensive. Now, he is the smile that runs the home. He is entrenched in the family in the hearts of his grandparents and his uncles and aunts and cousins who have never seen him back home in India.
Today, Amey cried a lot because we were celebrating his birthday party today. His parents were not smiling for him as much, they were not making eye contact with him with only him in their hearts. They were all over the place , leaving very little for him.
Balu chettan, our family friend from OaksVille, Tennessee were to arrive today directly to the party hall at Madras Chettinad at 6 PM and were planning to stay the night at our home. So we were working on cleaning the house up. Stephen, my close friend from Manhattan associates called me up around lunch time asking what name he needs to say to get into the party hall thinking that the party is at noon. I invited his family home and we had our usual open conversations.Time was flying while we were not watching. Around 4 PM, Stephen announced that they had another party in the evening which they need to attend and hence they would not be able to join us for dinner. Time was still flying but we were still blind to it for most.
Anupama, our neighbor called Divya and offered to help her with the decorations. That was the start. Anupama came home and went ahead and helped not only with the decorations but also helped Divya and Niya and Amey get ready for the party and offered just the help that we as a bunch of folks who don't know enough need.
Anil, another neighbor of ours had already committed to helping us with setting things up at the hall. Divya had learned how to make pretty looking balloon flowers with a set of seven balloons and had made six such flower balloon sets.By now, we had realized that time was already a few laps ahead and helter-skelter set in. So I drove up to publix with the balloons and other decorations to buy the helium balloons.
As I went into Madras chettinad, holding the helium balloons, it was pitch dark and most of the workers were taking naps while one was working hard on her blush. I just unloaded the supplies as Anil arrived. I was neither good at design nor at implementation with this one. So Anil essentially had to single-handedly form an arch with the balloon flowers , stuck A M E Y stickers within the arch , hung a few hanging decorations using a ladder, innovation and staples and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY banner on top.
Meanwhile, Sabeesh, Divya's college mate's husband had called up in regards to picking up the birthday cake from 'cake world' which was near his home. The cake had not fit into our fridge and hence had to be taken back to the shop previous night and hence had asked Sabeesh to pick it up for us. But then I had not remembered to inform 'cake world' that Sabeesh had the necessary authorization. While I realized that with a shock as Sabeesh called me, he passed the phone over and I authenticated myself as the person who returned the cake 'yesterday night'. Later when Sabeesh arrived with the cake at the door and called me, I told him that the hall is towards the interior of the restaurant, completely missing the point that he had just arrived with the cake and I need to carry it in. Stress was clouding execution big time. Paralysis had set in.
Kamlesh, a neighbor, whose photographs had won him several fans including myself called up and asked if it is fine that he takes photographs during the party. The only reason I had not approached him with this request was that I felt a little awkward requesting a guest to do that for us.
And yes, these photos in the blog were taken by Kamlesh.
Well ,it is another matter that every one of the guests had some role or the other in getting the party run. We are indeed lucky to have a nice set of neighbors here at our apartment,'Duck pond'.
Clock struck 6.
As soon as Sabeesh and Reshma came in, Balu chettan and Praveena chechi came in as well. Now, I could ask someone to help Anil and go home. And I left the hall at 6 to get Divya, Niya and Amey from home. The host was leaving the party just as it was the time for the party to start. The yellow of stress turned a little deeper as I realized that it is not that I have very little time left for the party. It is that I already need to pay interest on the time I had borrowed.
A few months back, Divya's parents and Divya's sister had gone shopping in the towns of Kannur and Thalassery to buy a saree for Divya, a shirt for me, a lehanga for Niya and a Kurta pajama for Amey. Then they had gone to Sajan's home and over a cup of tea and conversations had given those to Sajan to have them carried across the oceans. And so, we got into those and left for the party. On the way, we passed Kamlesh's car. Meanwhile, the stress had turned from yellow to orange and eager to take the first left to the hotel instead of the second left, I took a turn before the first left. Kamlesh reconfirmed with his wife about the venue and drove straight ahead without following us. We scrambled around, taking a few car honks and parked right in front of the hotel door. I left the car with hazards on and carried Amey in. Aju,my dad's friend's son and his wife Anu, Brijesh & Jimmy of Manhattan fame were the guests who had arrived into a host-less party hall on the 10th of January, 2015. Quick apologies before I left again to park the car. A little later, I took another break to get the return gifts in. Brijesh, who had made himself a name in Manhattan, with his ever-ready helpful attitude stepped in this time as well and carried the return gifts in along with me.
The dust had settled in by now. Quite dirty already but the dust had settled in. Green.
By now, guests started to arrive in steady stream. We welcomed every one in. The appetizers
were ready. Every one helped themselves , formed circles with other guests they knew. I made a few introductions to merge circles. The wheel of time was rolling really fast now and before we knew the clock struck eight. I called everyone over to the cake table and Divya, Niya, Amey and myself had our attention on the flame on the candle on the cake and Niya blew the candle earning the distinction of being one of the few smart kids who have blown two first birthday candles.
I sectioned the cake and cut the section into too many pieces causing our neighbor Remya to invite herself to the role of the cake cutter. Meanwhile, Amey was crying as he was hungry. Priya, another neighbor fed him with gerber as I carried him. As soon as the cake was done, the main course was opened and everyone started having their food. Divya and myself received quite a few appreciative comments on both the cake and the food.
Luckily,Shekki - Divya's classmate who is currently settled in Raleigh were incidently in Atlanta and made it to the party with her family. Her family's visit is unique in that they had also attended Niya's first birthday celebrations five years back while we were back in Bangalore and while they were back in Bangalore as well.Reshma,Shekki and Divya shared old memories with their teacher Sita miss at the party.
As representatives of our parents' generation, we had Shekki's parents and Sudeep's parents that made us feel fortunate.
Amol, again a neighbor, offered to carry the gifts back home in his honda odyssey car. As we had Balu chettan's car as well as our car going home, we had enough space. So we were fine. The return flow of the guests suddenly spiked up and we struggled a bit to get the right return gifts to the right people. Towards the end, the old Manhattan malayalee friends remained and I left off my guard and we had open close conversations that went on till later than 10 pm. Jacob gave his goodbye with a nice close hug and soon the Manhattan gang of Arun,Anoop,Siju dispersed.
I settled the bills and we carried the gifts home with our guest Balu chettan. Amey, who was having a real hard time all the while breathed some relief as he settled back into his pace at home. A few hours after the party, Kamlesh sent over his pictures as well while we were chatting on the sofa.
Still feeling very tired, we feel completely grateful to everyone who took the time to come in and grace the occasion and also for putting up with our inadequacies and helping us out proactively.
A year back, he did not smile. He was serious , almost pensive. Now, he is the smile that runs the home. He is entrenched in the family in the hearts of his grandparents and his uncles and aunts and cousins who have never seen him back home in India.
Today, Amey cried a lot because we were celebrating his birthday party today. His parents were not smiling for him as much, they were not making eye contact with him with only him in their hearts. They were all over the place , leaving very little for him.
Balu chettan, our family friend from OaksVille, Tennessee were to arrive today directly to the party hall at Madras Chettinad at 6 PM and were planning to stay the night at our home. So we were working on cleaning the house up. Stephen, my close friend from Manhattan associates called me up around lunch time asking what name he needs to say to get into the party hall thinking that the party is at noon. I invited his family home and we had our usual open conversations.Time was flying while we were not watching. Around 4 PM, Stephen announced that they had another party in the evening which they need to attend and hence they would not be able to join us for dinner. Time was still flying but we were still blind to it for most.
Anupama, our neighbor called Divya and offered to help her with the decorations. That was the start. Anupama came home and went ahead and helped not only with the decorations but also helped Divya and Niya and Amey get ready for the party and offered just the help that we as a bunch of folks who don't know enough need.
Anil, another neighbor of ours had already committed to helping us with setting things up at the hall. Divya had learned how to make pretty looking balloon flowers with a set of seven balloons and had made six such flower balloon sets.By now, we had realized that time was already a few laps ahead and helter-skelter set in. So I drove up to publix with the balloons and other decorations to buy the helium balloons.As I went into Madras chettinad, holding the helium balloons, it was pitch dark and most of the workers were taking naps while one was working hard on her blush. I just unloaded the supplies as Anil arrived. I was neither good at design nor at implementation with this one. So Anil essentially had to single-handedly form an arch with the balloon flowers , stuck A M E Y stickers within the arch , hung a few hanging decorations using a ladder, innovation and staples and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY banner on top.
Meanwhile, Sabeesh, Divya's college mate's husband had called up in regards to picking up the birthday cake from 'cake world' which was near his home. The cake had not fit into our fridge and hence had to be taken back to the shop previous night and hence had asked Sabeesh to pick it up for us. But then I had not remembered to inform 'cake world' that Sabeesh had the necessary authorization. While I realized that with a shock as Sabeesh called me, he passed the phone over and I authenticated myself as the person who returned the cake 'yesterday night'. Later when Sabeesh arrived with the cake at the door and called me, I told him that the hall is towards the interior of the restaurant, completely missing the point that he had just arrived with the cake and I need to carry it in. Stress was clouding execution big time. Paralysis had set in.Kamlesh, a neighbor, whose photographs had won him several fans including myself called up and asked if it is fine that he takes photographs during the party. The only reason I had not approached him with this request was that I felt a little awkward requesting a guest to do that for us.
And yes, these photos in the blog were taken by Kamlesh.
Well ,it is another matter that every one of the guests had some role or the other in getting the party run. We are indeed lucky to have a nice set of neighbors here at our apartment,'Duck pond'.
Clock struck 6.
As soon as Sabeesh and Reshma came in, Balu chettan and Praveena chechi came in as well. Now, I could ask someone to help Anil and go home. And I left the hall at 6 to get Divya, Niya and Amey from home. The host was leaving the party just as it was the time for the party to start. The yellow of stress turned a little deeper as I realized that it is not that I have very little time left for the party. It is that I already need to pay interest on the time I had borrowed.
A few months back, Divya's parents and Divya's sister had gone shopping in the towns of Kannur and Thalassery to buy a saree for Divya, a shirt for me, a lehanga for Niya and a Kurta pajama for Amey. Then they had gone to Sajan's home and over a cup of tea and conversations had given those to Sajan to have them carried across the oceans. And so, we got into those and left for the party. On the way, we passed Kamlesh's car. Meanwhile, the stress had turned from yellow to orange and eager to take the first left to the hotel instead of the second left, I took a turn before the first left. Kamlesh reconfirmed with his wife about the venue and drove straight ahead without following us. We scrambled around, taking a few car honks and parked right in front of the hotel door. I left the car with hazards on and carried Amey in. Aju,my dad's friend's son and his wife Anu, Brijesh & Jimmy of Manhattan fame were the guests who had arrived into a host-less party hall on the 10th of January, 2015. Quick apologies before I left again to park the car. A little later, I took another break to get the return gifts in. Brijesh, who had made himself a name in Manhattan, with his ever-ready helpful attitude stepped in this time as well and carried the return gifts in along with me.The dust had settled in by now. Quite dirty already but the dust had settled in. Green.
By now, guests started to arrive in steady stream. We welcomed every one in. The appetizers
I sectioned the cake and cut the section into too many pieces causing our neighbor Remya to invite herself to the role of the cake cutter. Meanwhile, Amey was crying as he was hungry. Priya, another neighbor fed him with gerber as I carried him. As soon as the cake was done, the main course was opened and everyone started having their food. Divya and myself received quite a few appreciative comments on both the cake and the food.
Luckily,Shekki - Divya's classmate who is currently settled in Raleigh were incidently in Atlanta and made it to the party with her family. Her family's visit is unique in that they had also attended Niya's first birthday celebrations five years back while we were back in Bangalore and while they were back in Bangalore as well.Reshma,Shekki and Divya shared old memories with their teacher Sita miss at the party.
As representatives of our parents' generation, we had Shekki's parents and Sudeep's parents that made us feel fortunate.
Amol, again a neighbor, offered to carry the gifts back home in his honda odyssey car. As we had Balu chettan's car as well as our car going home, we had enough space. So we were fine. The return flow of the guests suddenly spiked up and we struggled a bit to get the right return gifts to the right people. Towards the end, the old Manhattan malayalee friends remained and I left off my guard and we had open close conversations that went on till later than 10 pm. Jacob gave his goodbye with a nice close hug and soon the Manhattan gang of Arun,Anoop,Siju dispersed.
I settled the bills and we carried the gifts home with our guest Balu chettan. Amey, who was having a real hard time all the while breathed some relief as he settled back into his pace at home. A few hours after the party, Kamlesh sent over his pictures as well while we were chatting on the sofa.
No comments:
Post a Comment