Hi reader,

A disclaimer (or an apology), that I may get carried away while writing this blog.

Birthdays are special days, period. And before you say anything, yes I also have had many of my birthdays with no parties or surprises, maybe for a decade, though it can’t change the fact that they are not special. Today, I was blessed to celebrate my 27th Birthday (oh yes, I am listening Shaadi Karlo every now and then).

A birthday is a day, where when you have the expectations or wish for something surprising to happen, they always fail. And, when you think that yes they are going to be worst of all days, then also there’s an anomaly. Thank you, Nivedita (sweetest sister in the world), that you saved this birthday after plenty of spoilers, with the beautiful surprises and the best of all, your vibrant presence.

There are two things about the birthday, which have the most importance. Wishes and Presents.

What you wish to others, God wishes to you.

T. B. Joshua

In the world of social media, nothing is a secret, including your birthday. And one thing, that social media has made easy is to wish someone. However, getting a wish is yet so beautiful, and getting it on the stroke of the midnight hour, without any social media reminder or a post, is like a cherry on the top. Even though it has become so easy to wish, still it is a big thing, especially in the world of ignorance where people will see that very birthday notification, and ignore. These folks are everywhere, but just as not every stone is a diamond, every friend is not a well-wisher either. And here, I want to share the wishes of my diamonds.

Next, is this beautiful message from my father, with probably the most candid picture of us in recent times.

A birthday without a greeting card from my mother is always an incomplete birthday. Thank you, Mommy!

Next, is the funniest wish, and from the funniest person of my life, Akshay Babbar.

Everyone dreams of someone making an extra effort to make their birthday extra-special, someone who makes them feel special. Thank you Prabhu!

Few wishes are out of expectation, and they somehow make it really beautiful. Thank you my music playlist partner, Saumya, for this beautiful message:

Happy Birthday, my sweet and talented friend! Thanks for making my life so filled with music, laughter and beautiful fomo-stuff. 😂
May all your wishes come true. And may the music in you always stay alive. The world needs it. 🎶💗 Stay happy always, hero.
Sending hugs.

And there are many more, who stayed up late and wished. Thank you for your wishes Akshay, Karan, Aashima, Dirgha, Himanshu (getting a call from you at 12 midnight for a birthday wish was nearly impossible 😂). A big thanks for everyone’s wishes.

“A wonderful gift may not be wrapped as you expect.”

Jonathan Lockwood Huie

It took me 27 years to understand, that a gift might not just be an object. Even the simplest thing can have a much bigger significance when gifted. This day, I received gifts, which might appear small but sometimes small things make bigger things happen.

My parents gifted me a bunch of cute Laughing Baby Buddha, (which are such a great source of laughter, that it will always remind, times can be tough but HAPPINESS prevails), a wallet and a bamboo tree (to embrace and care your PROSPERITY).

My sister gifted me a wristwatch with a stopwatch in it (to remind, that life is not just to work, but to also make TIME to live that life. To make time for your family, to make time for your love, to make time for your passion, and most importantly to make time for yourself).

Some people might think of why this post. I could have easily cherished all this, said thanks to people personally and avoided this emotional (or dramatic) post. Yes I could have, but I didn’t, to remind my future self, that No, Birthdays are special. So what if it got spoiled, maybe next one will bring double happiness!

Thank you so much, to each of you.. to each of you I have mentioned or not mentioned. Thanks!

Take Care!
– Navneet