Life@25

So I may have spent the time leading up to my birthday cribbing and whining, but one thing I was sure of, by the time it was 23:30 the night before. I wasn’t planning on spending my birthday like that.

As it turned out, I needn’t have decided that. My family was hell bent on making it a good day. What I lacked in enthusiasm, they more than made up for with theirs. When they saw me low, they cheered and laughed and made me forget my troubles. As the clock hit midnight, I was smiling. And I continued to for the rest of the day.

It isn’t every day that you get gifts from the ones you love. It isn’t every day that your sister, brother-in-law and nephew dedicate their full day to what you want to do. It isn’t every day you step out in absolute heat and enjoy momos and fruit beer at dilli haat. It isn’t every day that your mum slogs all day to make a yummy meal, and all relatives join in. And it isn’t every day that your dad offers you wine before dinner.

Contrary to most jokes from friends about being too old to party now, I absolutely loved my day. If there’s one thing Mumbai made me realize, it’s how much my family meant to me, and how much I missed them over the last few years. Sure, I’ve spent my life pseudo-rebelling and fighting over my rights with my parents. That’ll probably always continue. But nothing can ever compare to the security you feel at the end of a bad day, when you go home, and you know your family’s going to be there, that you’re not alone.

And then there were friends. Friends I haven’t talked to for months or even years, who took the effort of finding out my number and giving me a call. It’s a feeling I can’t really describe. It’s a realization, about the number of people you either forget about or take for granted, and yet, who are still there. It’s a good feeling, to know, that people still care.

All in all, the day ended on a much more positive note than the week leading up to it. For one thing, I realized, that I’m finally of legal age to actually drink in this city. Finally.

P.S. I still find it weird to know that I could contribute to the fate of my country, could get married, could sleep with whoever I wanted for the last seven years of my life, and only now am I old enough to responsibly drink. You gotta applaud this country sometimes, really.

P.P.S. Work is finally starting, and I know this isn’t one of my best posts. But I thought it’s about time I put one non-whiny one up, don’tcha think?