My dear friend Jagan,
Before anything else, let me start with us —
with the years that shaped who we became.
When we were teens and in our twenties,
you were the only person — outside of my family —
to whom I shared so much of myself.
We used to correct each other
whenever one of us drifted in the wrong direction.
We stayed together during projects,
watched movies late into the night,
laughed, argued, learned,
and somehow grew into ourselves side by side.
You were particular about your outlook,
and I never cared much for mine.
You were dreamy,
and I was far from it.
Even now, I sometimes wonder
how different our paths might have looked
if we had travelled our younger years
with a little more wisdom.
But the past cannot be changed.
What we carry forward —
that part is still ours to shape.
And now, as another year arrives for you,
I want to begin with something true and positive:
your presence in my life
has been one of those rare gifts
that time cannot replace.
As I look back at our journey,
the moments when I wasn’t there for you
still feel like my own shadows.
The secrets left unshared —
I hold those as my shortcomings.
We have opened up to each other
in ways few friendships survive long enough to reach.
There were times
you might have felt you had some hold over me,
and times I felt the same over you.
We shared vulnerabilities,
shared laughter,
shared gossip,
shared the comfort of being truly known.
My view of you has changed over the years,
yet a few truths about you remain unshaken —
and I hope you’ve held the same for me.
Now, I’ve learned that very few people
stay close to the heart
even without constant connection.
Very few walk beside us long enough
to understand our values.
Very few remain
through the changing seasons of life.
Relationships are a two-way street —
when they lose that balance,
they become petty or painful.
But ours has kept its meaning,
its honesty,
its weight.
On your birthday,
I wish you a year full of the best parts of you —
your gentleness, your courage, your kindness.
May your family stay your greatest strength,
and may your health remain your deepest wealth.
I wish you a meaningful, joyful, peaceful,
and deeply fulfilling year ahead.
Happy Birthday, my friend.
