Happy Birthday, Nalini

From marking on the yearly planner bought from Archies, the precious few moved to the little black book of birthdays. Cards were no longer fancy, E-cards were so swish!You could design and do whatever you pleased.

You waited for days for that thrilling email that the card was lovely. And, of course, the thank you. Such were the joys of birthday greetings.The animation, the glitter, the music and the works.A birthday e-greeting means you’ve arrived.

Birthdays meant a meal out, a zodiac mug from Archies, a Hallmark card or maybe, a flower. Then, the internet took over when birthdays became reminders, and it was all about FB posts and tweets, Insta-happiness and WhatsApp wishes. The whole day is about how many likes and hits, and if so and so has wished and why not.

But some birthdays remain with you lodged in the deep recesses. Of your family, your best friend, your neighbour, your teacher and your first love. From compatibility to consensus, birthdays are such a funny species of dates.And also, that birthday that you noted from a summer camp or a train journey.

Today, BirthdayGreetings.com sent me a reminder to wish Nalini. She turns 51.But little does my digital assistant know she is among the stars now.How do you wish her? Cannot call her, cannot email her. Except for a quiet remembrance of a brief acquaintance.

Nalini was a young researcher so full of life. She said hello to me at the Theory workshop.Her paisley cotton kurtas, her gently streaked hair, and that attractive nose pin.Many years later, just an Orkut update that she was gone. More than a decade now.I still wish her Happy birthday, like I do today. Nalini, keep smiling, wherever you are.