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Not out of guilt or Obligation


Forgot to wish a friend on his birthday. It was on the 7th of January. Messed up the date and wished him at the end of the day. Being adults with very different lifestyles and a set of tedious societal commitments, this small wish doesn't weigh much on the conscious of most but not having wished him on one day made me self reflect. How much does one give significance to societal niceties and would having failed one such commitment been too much of a big deal? Well, he did say no. Said that writing a "paragraph" isn't necessary. It is because the conversations we had throughout the year mean much more to him and are genuine than some written niceties out of obligation. He had a point, but I have mine too. Here goes nothing.


He's been here throughout the year and the phrase 'one call away' is his nickname- he'd be there as soon as soon as he sees his texts. Makes one quite the angel in the times of 'busy' homies. He'd adjust his times and be there in person for his friends and listen to them whine about a very random series or how the education system is screwed up to its core. He'd provide a listening ear and chip in quirky remarks and have silly conversations and somberly advice all the same. Keeping to his point, I do agree that such a friend like him should be treasured not only on his birthday but on all days of the year. Not that we come around everyday and appreciate his existence and how much of a kindred soul he's been, nor do we vocalise our gratefulness on how we treasure all the times he's been with us and made our day brighter. We as social creatures bound by societal obligations choose one specific day to cherish this being, to shower him with affection and warmth and wishes. Birthdays are such. The day chosen and epecially crafted such that we get to do and get off all our compiled feelings and celebrate them. Now how does one feel when this chosen day to appreciate his endeavours become yet another day fillled with bleakness? Where do I stand when all the appreciation and affection gets misdirected because the chosen day wasn't quite kept on the phone reminder? This is where I rest my case.

If you're reading this, my friend, I wish to tell you that you are treasured and loved and your existence is appreciated. I might have chosen a very inconvinient way of spamming and compiling a paragraph of formalities but as a writer, I can vouch for the fact that none of it is out of obligation, I wrote what I felt, genuinely, exactly like the kind of person you are- real and genuine. This is a personal note of appreciation as a belated birthday wish and I am sure you have touched the lives of so many souls than you could count. I just wanted to make you see how much of a special day 7th of January is and wishing and celebrating is not conventional. Many happy returns of the day and I hope that I am able to wish you on your birthdays for many many years to come ON TIME.

WE AGE NOT BY YEARS, BUT BY STORIES, I'D PEN DOWN A FEW FOR YOU, 
COMMISSION ME.



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