I still recall that morning, I think it was Assam (Northeastern state of India); I was around 9 that time, when teacher of my school nearly sent me back home because I offered same kind of chocolate to her as I did to all the other kids at the school. “Mujhe bhi yahi dega kya”—meaning “Same thing for me too?” Next thing I remember that she was one of those noisy women, who pounce on every opportunity to hit you like a stray dog pounces on a lone biker in the night.

From 9 to 9^th grade, birthdays used to be nothing less than an occasion—“this is my day”. Parents won’t frown on you, teachers as I told you, you can go late, you can eat whatever you like, you can look down upon your sister/brother as if they are some stewards in the house, gifts, I see the same sense of excitement in kids now, they wait for a year for this special day, I can say it is nothing less than a feeling one gets when one meets his/her girlfriend/boyfriend after a year of long distance whatever.

I have turned 24 today, but I want to live for at least 500 years, I have been told such a scientific advancement might not be possible in the next few years, so chances are that my birthday wish would never be redeemed. Yeah, but there are few more “wishes” that would want to see the light of the day, one being to live for another 300 years, and again chances seem to be grim.

Yeah, I have to be more un-natural today; I will have to smile without any reason when people say happy-birthday; “happy birthday” isn’t funny to the ears, I am sorry. Ok, damn my logic and skepticism, but looking at the brighter side, birthday’s can be used to boost egos, give the long gone self esteem a real kick (if…), feel like you are on a drugs without doing them, and f**king yeah, you might do something crazy and just give an excuse “It’s my birthday, I thought I am allowed to behave like a dick today”.

Last three years already feel like 30 years, courtesy lot of things. I still feel like a kid inside, though I have to put up an air of “grown up” around me, because that is what is appropriate, really? And yes, I have been told by many that I look older than what I actually am, so I score a bit there and that makes my job more effortless. F*** I can just go on and on, lets cut the crap. Thank you sister for a surprise at twelve, and as I get ready to eat what you have prepared, I turn on my favorite jazz number from Mark Murphy—“Empty faces” and next is “tu mere pass bhi hai…” from the film satya, thanks for tuning in….