She had very patiently waited for over 40 minutes for me to come out of the "toilet", sitting in the lobby of The Woodrose. As soon as I came back wiping my hands in a handkerchief, I announced I had met a friend at a function in one of the halls here. Speaking to him, I didn't realise the time. Obviously, she became super furious. Fury went further up when I told her he and his family has invited us (you) to just pay a visit to the function. I requested her to take off Sihi's jacket (she wears these days for saving herself from the cold) to look more presentable. "Am uninvited, Why should I be presentable" came back a razor sharp response. Lift to first floor got delayed. I told, stairs are this way, would you be OK? She came behind as furious as the furiest (bhavanaaon ko samjho) most, staring at an empty room with a big door. For a moment, she was confused. That helped.
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For weeks before her birthday Sihi and I had been asking her where does she want to take the families out for lunch or dinner. She finally agreed to go to ಜೋಳದ ರೊಟ್ಟಿ ಊಟ - Jolada Rotti Ooota at Kamat Bugle Rock. I booked a table for dinner, which she got me to change to lunch at 1.
Our plan was to take her to The Woodrose somehow. It started with an idea of buying a dress she could wear for ಜೋಳದ ರೊಟ್ಟಿ ಊಟ. I was thinking she has a clue/is aware/has a hint of our plan. Casually, we got ready and the place we had to shop (for the dress) was a little further from the venue. When we were near our venue, I started complaining of a bad tummy needing a toilet visit urgently. I parked the bike in the basement, got her to wait in the lobby and hurriedly headed towards the toilet (for her) venue (for self). There I understand that her father was taken out to buy a decent footwear. Without him, we couldn't achieve what we had planned. So we had to wait, plan, re-plan, make calls and what not to get him to be at the venue. This took 40 minutes!
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As soon as she entered, there were people on both sides wishing her on her birthday and showering flower petals. Her father, mother, brother and his two daughters who had travelled without a hint to Sandhya the previous night. Her aunt, uncle and their families. My parents (she knew they had come) and two of her schoolmates to this Suvarna (50) Sandhya SURPRISE Party.
She immediately burst out into tears (happy ones of course), within no time all eyes in the entire room were wet. Including men's (yes we do cry).
My daughter Sihi was the one who felt relieved of holding onto THE SURPRISE for over 6 months. This relief came out in tears for the longest (in the venue).
Our surprise included arranging Sandhya to dress-up for the party. To be dressed-up by the best (her younger sister). She got draped in her gift, a Silk Seere (Saree) Painted with Madhubani Art from Madhubani in Bihar.
The party and the long preparation by the super enthusiastic young buddies in the next blogs...
Ciao!
Pramod
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