Cake, Candles and Gossips

 To be a child is to look at the world with starry eyes

To be a teenager is to hate the world and

To be an adult is to fall in love with the same world

 - Miss Ravenclaw, 2026

I have no qualms in sharing that Iam one of the most anti-social animals you will find out there. Though it largely depends on my mood and settings, Iam a fun person only around my friends. Rest of them get my Maleficent version, polished through the years. My friends know that beneath all those layers of ice, lies another ocean of fire and then there’s a river of thorns and then finally when you think you have reached the destination, there’s an active volcano ready to burst at any moment. But there are few adventurers I have met who have not only managed to cross all those roads to hell but also had fun along and are now chilling at my happy place, giving me tips and advices to improve the security measures. And to all these idiot adventurers, Iam grateful from the bottom of my heart. Because not only did you all manage to tame this dragon but also made it dance on your friendship tunes, getting addicted to its soft melody.

What made me write this post, was as you all might have already guessed, my recent birthday. 27 glorious chaotically funny years sailed by while I judged everything and everyone around me with my skeptical eyes. Passed so many judgments and taunts that would put even a well-trained mohalle wali aunty to shame. Now, entering the 28^th year feels all more serious, there’s a wind of anxiety rumbling across the mountains, as age to be matured and normal is approaching faster than acche din. Through it all, there are few days that make living all worth it.

My esteemed friends and people already know me and my less than enthusiastic attitude towards birthday. Yes, not liking being called at midnight to not making a big deal out it. Iam as picky and moody as you can be. But over the years, I have realized one thing, albeit late, that it’s not the day that makes it special, rather it’s the people around. Me completing 27 years round the sun would not have sounded so cheerful and only left me blazing in its heat had it not been for my friends to catch hold of umbrellas to shield me from the heat and some of them making sure I have cold drinks to go along. This year, was truly one of the perception changing moments, when I saw and realized how much loved and cared for Iam. Wishes from my parents, bestest of friends, close friends, seniors and juniors, old friends that I have lost touch with, all brought the biggest of smiles on my face.

It made me realize how fortunate and blessed Iam to be surrounded by people who take efforts to bring a smile on my face. This particular post is dedicated to those people, my friends, who know me for the antisocial animal that Iam and yet see my real untamed side, full of nonsense and chaos. Over the years, I have not been the best of friends and may not have supported people as much as I would have wanted to. But these people never made me feel that, accepting my need to self-isolate when things get heavy to living like a hermit, they are always around, knowing that I will be out of hibernation soon and being the same old goofy clumsy self around them. This is what Iam the most grateful for.

People say that as adults, life gets much busier and you need to choose who you are in touch with. In my case, it’s my near and dear ones who have chosen me, keep me sane and yet dance alongwith me on the most insane tunes. Crazy maniac laughter and stupid therapy sessions are the real definition of happiness here.

And this post would be like a chocolate cake without the chocolate in it if I don’t mention the efforts taken by my friends here in Nagpur. Iam not sure whether you people are reading the blog or not, but I would like to thank you guys from the bottom of my heart for making my day special, right from the previous day of dinner and shenanigans and the morning events and evening celebrations.

To be honest, entering the 28^th year is scary and real, it makes me think of anti-aging creams after 2 years and the apparent absence of a lover. But that rant is for yet another blog. So cheers, till then.