The Only Birthday I Have Ever Celebrated

Semester exam for Condensed Matter Theory will be held tomorrow. This is the last night before the exam. I have to revise the whole paper tonight itself! I called Balaji. We started with band structure calculation methods and the applications in the evening itself. Study progressed in a rapid pace. An extra energy was driving us, may be the Gold Flake Kings was the hero! Before the end of twilight, Balaji came into the full mood. Then we came out of the department and had tea and bajji at the AC Tech canteen. They are providing excellent tea. Per day we friends used to have three or four tea at AC Tech canteen. My professors are also addicted to the canteen tea.

“We should study well atleast tonight yar” Balaji told. I thought: 'what you are going to do overnight bloody!' But there was a determination obvious in his voice. “We will go to Kotturpuram and get some more cigarettes. I will sponsor them.” Balaji said showing a fifty rupees note from his pocket. This is the first instant I see Balaji spending money in his own interest! I also got excited. We walked towards Kotturpuram and bought a packet of cigarette and came back smoking one each. Had the dinner in the hostel canteen and came back to the department again.

Study started together with smoking. We were able to cover the topics very fast. I was surprised to see that it was one o clock when I took my head from the book. All cigarettes were burnt to ashes. “Let us have a tea” I told. Tea in the midnight is available only in Sriram Nagar. We went there and had two cups of tea. Road was still not empty. This is the life in a city, there is no difference between day and night. Balaji again paid the cash. We jumped the AC Tech front gate to enter the campus as usual while coming in and going out. Watch man is there but he just sleeps forgetting his surrounding. It was a routine of our university students who go to Sri Ram Nagar to jump over the AC Tech gate in the late nights.

Another surprise was going on side by side. My cell phone has been making noise from twelve o clock onwards. All my class mates wished happy birthday to me. Yes, I turned twenty six today. Surya, Hema, Pal and Satish called me too. What had not been happening in the last twenty five years happened in the twenty sixth year. This was the first time people wished me happy birth day! I really felt happy too.

We finished the portions and slept in the classroom itself. Woke up early in the morning and went to hostel for taking bath.

Exam was over by noon. I went to my room downstairs and saw that Viji and Surya were waiting there. I asked what happened. Viji took a plastic bag from her bag and opened it. It was a T-shirt, a gift. It was the first birthday gift I ever received! They wanted me to wear that. I did so. Then we all went to their department and saw that everyone was there. There was cake and on the blackboard, it was written 'Happy Birthday to Dear Kutty'. In the evening we all had a tea together at the Anna University Canteen. Thus ended the only birthday I have ever celebrated.