I begged my mother not to take me there. Anywhere but that place, but my mother being my mother dragged my body which was now in shock because my last method of saving myself had failed me. I felt betrayed, betrayed my by own mother. How could she be so cruel? What did I do to her that she had to punish me like this?

Soon the car was parked and my mother and I were in an elevator heading towards the terrace with a huge loads of gifts in hand. I was standing quietly but inside I was crying. And then the moment of truth came, the elevator doors opened and we were greeted by a bunch of kids all trying to play with the elevator (You know when you call an elevator and run away, it used to be fun when I was a kid).

We went inside and the mother of the birthday boy greeted us. A very cunning looking woman with a very stiff posture. She and my mother hugged each other and exchanged a few words about how hard it was to find the place and how I was dying to come to this party. Then we went through a hall that had ‘Happy Birthday’ written all over it. And then came the moment of dread. The hall of awkward as I like to call it.

A magician was standing there and performing a few lousy tricks which made all the kids wonder if he had supernatural powers. I came and sat down at a table full of children I had probably seen once. A boy called my name and slapped my back. I turned my face and I could only see my sad face in his eyes (Which represented mischief). I laughed and played it off.

Next came the cake cutting ceremony and I waited till everyone had gathered around the cake. I didn’t want to stand near the cake because I didn’t want to be in any photograph that these kids upload on Facebook and tag me. I was slowly but surely removing my existence from the party. I went to the bathroom often to pass the time and just hung around and observed the kids eat the cake like apes. I could hear the laughter of the women sitting behind me, comparing what they had gifted with others.

But it all soon went away and there I was looking out the window of my mom’s car with a smile on my face until mother asked me if I had fun, I lied and said I liked it. (Big mistake) because before you know it, my mother said..

THEN YOU’LL LOVE THE MARRIAGE WE HAVE TO GO TO NEXT WEEK!

Stay tuned for the marriage….