Back to Trivandrum : Its fun to be three

February 2020, was the last time we had visited our home at Trivandrum. What followed was a lockdown series and then a spurt in the number of Covid cases at the capital city of Kerala kept us away from Trivandrum for a very long time. Finally, we decided to visit home during December first week as it was going to be my little nephew Ayaan’s 3rd birthday. Zavi was as excited as going on a trip since it had been ages since he had seen his grandparents and little brother. 

We started out early on Saturday morning, and as usual Zavi slept through the trip. He woke up just as we reached the junction before our home and the first thing he said was “ Happy Birthday Ayaan”, I could already sense Zavi’s excitement to celebrate the day with his little brother. We reached home, and I was just plain relaxed to get back to my room and just to lie on my bed. 

Our small get together with just our nearest family members was arranged at home and the cake cutting was scheduled for 7 pm in the evening. Ayaan’s mommy, Aparna had the whole get together planned out and the theme of the evening was going to be “ Construction ” as Ayaan loved his JCBs, trucks and earth movers. Aparna and my cousin Aravind set about decorating our hall by afternoon itself. Aparna had bought a lot of DIY decor which were totally cute and apt for the theme. The colours used were yellow and black as most construction related vehicles come in these colours. A half balloon arch, some construction themed banners and hangings and lots of trucks did the trick and tadaa, our backdrop for the cake cutting was all set. 

Now everything was a blur, it was almost 7 pm, everyone had to get dressed up, dinner was getting set and a whole lot of hulabola. The cake, cupcakes, cakesicles, popsicles and macaroons were all ordered from our all time favourite, Cake Bliss, Sasthamangalam. Anju aunty, owner and the chief pastry chef at Cake Bliss delivered the cake at home and all of us were eagerly waiting to see Anju aunty’s masterpiece. While Ayaan and Zavi were playing and running about, the table arrangement was taken up by Anju aunty herself. The construction themed cake with a JCB and a truck was perfect. The chocolate cupcakes with yellow frosting, yellow couloured cakesicles, macaroons and dark brown coloured popsicles perfectly matched the theme. Aparna also added a bowl of rumballs and yellow coloured almond candies and some mango juice to complement the entire decor. While the table decor was happening I went about clicking pictures of Ayaan, Zavi and their brotherhood.

The final setting was just perfect. And there was also a surprise from Cake Bliss. A yellow football shaped Pinata Cake. This was the first time I was seeing a Pinata cake. Pinatas are commonly associated with Mexico where a container often made of papier-mache, pottery or clothes is decorated and filled with candies and then broken as a part of celebration. But Pinata Cake was a novelty for me. I was totally curious to see what was inside the Pinata cake. Finally it was time for cake cutting and more pictures. The cake was yummy as usual. And as all of us started devouring the cake, it was time for breaking the Pinata cake. Anju aunty had also bought a small hammer for breaking the Pinata cake. Ayaan and his daddy started hitting the Pinata cake and started breaking open. The shell of the Pinata cake was made from white chocolate. I peeked inside the Pinata cake and it was filled with candies and cakes. I continued to take pictures of and tasted the macaroons that melted into my mouth. 

Cake Bliss Special Piñata Delight..!
Entirely edible Piñata comes in themed or plain designs of hardened yummy chocolate filled with Kit-Kats, Ferrero Rochers and a lot more.

We quickly cleared the table and set the table for dinner. As the night set in and all of us sat about catching up, I started feeling really tired. With loads of fun filled memories all bid goodbye for the day.

Cake : Cake Bliss, Sasthamangalam, Thiruvananthapuram. Contact: +91 9447429366
Photography : RD Creative Media Studio ( email: contact@rahuldevakumar.com, Contact: +91 8089284080 )

*All the pictures were taken using Sony A7M3, ZEISS Batis 25mm f/2 lens and flash used were Godox AD200 with Magmod.

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Rahul Devakumar

Creative Media Studio

We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone.