36 today!!!
Most people mark milestones of age in decades at 20,30,40 years of age
But I would rather prefer doing it 16,26,36 years may be even add 6 to the list. The reason I prefer this is 6 years is when you start remembering things for life, at 16 you are physically old enough to start thinking in an adult oriented manner, then on 10 years seems a reasonable time span.
16 Years: With barely 9 months past moms death, 16th birthday was a mix of emotions, I was no longer a child but definitely not old enough to be thrust upon the responsibility of looking after dad (who was absolutely heartbroken after mom) and then carving out an identity for myself, defining the set of ethics which will last me a lifetime, trying to find a soulmate!!!
The late teens were full turmoil, pain and realization that whatever happens the sky never falls on your head.
26 Years: The 26th birthday was spent with Swati in Hotel Sheraton Sea Rock, Mumbai. I had already proposed marriage to her and she had agreed BUT it was on this very day that we made concrete plans as to how we were going to about it. The day was spent luxuriating in each others company. I took some photos of Swati one of which has been on our bedroom wall right since day 1 of our marriage. The evening dinner was a sampling of the fabulous Dum Pukth cuisine served there.
Getting married took almost 2 years, by that time I knew my potential, both of us were earning huge amounts by norms of the day, but 2 years into the marriage life was in a rut and a rat race. God listened (he always does whenever the situation is desperate – thanks God) and we were conferred with Parenthood, Aasim was born 5th Nov 97. Parenthood changed our perspective, we wanted out of the race. SANIsoft was conceptualized and conceived in Jan 98, since then we have not looked back and certainly never had a dull day – there is always something to worry or celebrate every day!!! Most of my dreams have come true.
36 Years: Aasim, our precious son, gave me a gift, a gift which he for the first time choose himself with full understanding of the act. It is a ground glass show piece with three porpoises which he says represent our family swimming the seas (of the world), don’t know wether the boy is precocious or every child is this perceptive.
The next ten years I intend to grow up along with him … …