Twenty-something

Anil kept staring at the monitor in front of him.

He liked to think of it as his favourite past-time when there is nothing else to do. Staring languidly at the coloured dots on the screen, while his mind wandered in his thoughtscape.

Slouched in his chair, he gradually realised the effect it had on his back. Straightening, he inhaled deeply and slowly patted the beginning of a paunch.

'I must start going to the gym before it gets any bigger', he told himself.

But he knew this too would pass like the resolutions he made every New Year's Day.

Time had passed by so quickly. Another year had passed. He recalled an incident that happened one day a few years ago.

He had wandered into the kitchen looking for a glass of water. Depressed after being in between jobs for over 6 months, he felt lost and helpless. The last interview had left him feeling miserable and completely demoralised.

Anil's mother looked up at him from her cooking and asked,`So what do you want for lunch tomorrow?'

He was surprised at the question. Surely what he had yesterday, what he will have later today, can be prepared for tomorrow's lunch too?

'Why, what is special tomorrow?'

His mother paused for a moment.

'It is your birthday tomorrow.'

'Oh... just make something.'

Saying so, he left the kitchen. The glass of water stayed untouched on the counter.

He considered that year as the most miserable one in his life.

He was not sure of this year. It did not seem demoralising, neither did it promise him anything.

'Only a few days more', he told himself, 'and that day will return. For better or for worse.'

To mark the ending of the twenties. And the onset of the thirties.

The rule at the workplace was simple. The birthday boy, or girl for that matter, is given a present by a senior colleague. While the rest clap madly.

He was able to avoid it the previous year; he went on a holiday. This year, in spite of the day falling on a holiday, he knew he would not be able to celebrate it all by himself.

A private birthday, a day that felt like any other day.

How possible is that?