There was always something intoxicating about the birthday parties at the plantations. The innovative cakes particularly were a major attraction for the excited children. Way back then, we would depend on recipe books, it's detailed pictures and we even exchanged recipes scribbled on chits. Cooking and baking was an art which we tea ladies tried to master and oftentimes by unconventional means. We would lay our hands on the ingredients from all over and at times we would even get some of the ingredients when we returned from our annual leaves- all the way back from our ancestral homes.
At this particular birthday party, a cake in the shape of a train with a Yule log as its engine, complete with a Victorian sponge cake as the compartment filled with colourful gems, toffee, jellies and chocolates was displayed. For all the children, this was a fantasy turned into reality!
Amongst us friends, if anyone knew how to bake a cake, it was the birthday girls’ Mumma. She baked the most awe-inspiring cakes for her daughters and also for the club caterings.
My daughters and I entered into the Tillabari bungalow of Baradigi, which was well decorated with colourful streamers and balloons. My friend Vinita stood there smartly dressed in a pair of trousers, a cotton hipster jacket and a neck scarf. Her daughter - the birthday girl, strode towards us smiling and reached us for a birthday hug.
Amidst the birthday celebration, the thrilled children bounced, pounced, squealed and were running, playing musical chairs, passing the parcel, treasure hunt and many other such games, thoughtfully planned by the hostess. She still is the perfect hostess. After enjoying the celebration, the kids hovered around the hostess, thanking her and at the same time keenly waiting for their turn to get hold of their "return gifts".
Gifts are after all an integral part of a celebration and at that time- in the mid-nineties, our choice was limited to Kedar and Abhinandan stores at Malbazar. These two stores were the heart of the planters' community and were far longer than wide, almost a corridor with shelves spanning on both sides. They had everything a planter would want. They were row upon row of boxed shelves piled with a vast array of goods. These warm shopkeepers knew each planter by their name. They even had a subscriber trunk dialling (STD). We would queue up for our turn while the others chatted with their families. Sometimes we would just drive down along with the kids for ice cream, fruit juices, soft drinks and run into our friends from the other sub-districts.Â
We entered one of these shops to procure the gifts. The store owner knew exactly why we were there. I wanted to get the birthday girl something worthwhile which she would enjoy and pointed towards one of the toy sets but Aloke, the storekeeper replied that “ye toh Kilkott ka memsaab le gaya hai"... Browsing through the shelf, I selected another book and a set of crayons to be presented. Once again Aloke replied that "ye toh Chauloni ka.." Before the conversation could continue, he arranged an assortment of items on the counter that could be chosen from so that the birthday girl would have no similar toys or books! He even revealed what was in store for the return gifts making sure that it remained a surprise for my kindergarten girls. Many such episodes of tea life are treasured memories of the comforting love that remains in my heart. Looking back, I realize that the warmth radiated by people, even in little and unexpected ways gave us a sense of community and camaraderie.