Its exactly 12:00 am. Its the 1st day of April, 2008. My birthday has begun. I have completed 26 years on Planet Earth. Well, not really.
I was born at 01:13 pm on 1st April, 1982, so I have about 12 hours to go.
What have I done in this past year ? Have I donated to charity ? Have I supported the education of a poor child ? Given up eating meat ? Joined any welfare organization and done any free dental treatment ? Given even a minimum of 10 rs a week to beggars ?
No, I haven't done any of the above.
I have though , done other things. Ive seen a movie at a multiplex almost every weekend. Had lots of extravagant dinners at restaurants, ending up wasting food. Ive bought a cologne, Dunhil Red for Rs. 1400. Ive looked the other way when beggars have tapped on my car window. Hurriedly flipped through the advertisement urging people to donate to charity. Slept all through Sunday morning all year.
With all this bearing down heavily on my mind, I somehow just cant manage to celebrate my birthday. Celebration needs a reason. You pass an exam, or maybe come 1st, win a sports event, get a job, get promoted, get married, have children... etc etc.
All sound like valid reasons to me. But celebrate just because you spent an utterly selfish (another set of ) 365 days ??? Nope.. thats doesn't ring any bell anywhere for me.
I see my friends spending their fathers money like he has an unending supply of it. Their cigarette and booze bill every month easily runs up to more than Rs. 5000. They shop every 3-4 months, my entire wardrobe would fit into a tiny shelf in theirs.
Yet, every year, on that fateful(?) day they were born, they celebrate as if they have just accomplished something the should be proud of. Cakes, gifts, more cigarettes and even more booze.
I , on the other hand, feel sad that I have one year less to do something meaningful here. To summon up some courage for the year to come. Not just occupy a 1" by 6 " place on this planet.
Its a day of depression for me, and I cant wait for it to get over.When 2nd April 2008 will come, 24 hours from now Ill really be heaving a sigh of relief.
P.S.: In case you didn't know its my birthday and you are thinking of wishing me by sending me an email or something, I guess you now know what to do. (or not do !)
7 comments:
Cmon Rohit!I think you are being a little too harsh on yourself. Ok agreed that you might not have been able to do certain things which you think were more purposeful or worthwhile, agreed that what your freinds are doing is an utter waste of time, money etc.which probably they dont realise, but it really does not mean that you should review the year gone by in that sense. Its not at all wrong to always have a purpose or goal set ahead of you always, infact it is the biggest pre-requiste to acheiving excellence and perfection in whatever we do. I think at the same time it is equally important to be happy or atleast "feel good" about small joys and acheivements in our day to day lives.I am sure there would have been many such moments in the year gone by, though you may not remember them or they may not matter that much in the long run.I think we can just enjoy the feeling of completing a nice uneventful year in the greatest and most beautiful gift God has given us, our lives!So next time please dont deprive yourself of that pleasure. This is what I feel. Hope reading this has not been much of a lecture:-)
Hey.. ! I respect your opinion... although I dont subscribe to it !
I agree you were celebrating the wrong day.. your orkut profile says your birthday is Nov 2 !!
For Pranjali :
I change that deliberately, so that people i know dont get an upcoming birthday alert.
it will go back to April 1 in a weeks time or so..
i think u havent written for quite some time now or may be im not able to view it.....i dont know wats wrong.....but please write
i anyways for sure know vat to do....
happy birthday
ur bday is not yet over according to uk time
but according to india time i may be late..... sorry
have a lovely year ahead
all the best for ur future endaevours
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