Mumbai, Apr 24 (UNI) India's batting maestro Sachin Tednulkar obliged media persons gathered below his house here this evening on his 33rd birthday by making a rare public apperance and also cutting a cake in their presence.

The normally reticent Tendulkar, attired in a white and black T-shirt, finally shared a few moments with the media after ringing in his birthday with his family quietly earlier in the morning.

Tendulkar told the scribes that this day (birthday) for him has always been a quiet affair which ''I have enjoyed spending with family members and no one else.'' Speaking further, Tendulkar said that in a professional cricketer's life getting to spend these ''special days at home has become a luxury, and, therefore, it has been great that we (whole family) have got time to sit together and chat peacefully.'' Elaborating on the morning celebrations, the batting maestro, who had recently undergone a shoulder surgery in London, said his children--daughter Sara and son Arjun-- were very happy. ''They had planned an early morning surprise for me. They woke me up and took me to their room, which they had decorated. It was a pleasant surprise.'' UNI GS KD RL HT2114