Happy Friday. And it’s a special one indeed. Because it’s my Bhaiya’s birthday. The best brother. The best papa. The best surgeon. The best hiking companion. And, fine, I’ll say it. He’s a pretty good joke-teller too [Bhaiya, don’t hold this over my head].

Five fun facts about my brother?

1) He’s more of a caffeine fiend than me. And, like me, he gets a high off collecting bonus stars at Starbucks. Sometimes we strategize about how we are going to buy all the breakfast sandwiches and win all the stars.

2) He HAS a kid. But he IS a kid himself. He has a level of curiosity that you don’t see in most adults. He has the urge to stop and smell the roses. The desire to climb trees, stop and stare at the roly-polies, and get excited about almost anything.

 

3) He can start up a conversation with anyone and everyone. And, within seconds, people immediately love and trust him. He’s so calm in his demeanor and such an incredible listener. It’s no wonder that people at the deli or the grocery store want to be his BFF.

4) He’s the leader of our pack. The older one. The level-headed one. The one to follow.

 

5) He’s the kind of parent that I would like to be when I have my own kids. He sets an example for Veer every second of the day – how to talk to people, how to ask questions, how to be a curious human. He teaches him life lessons while also instilling in him a love for playing and being silly. He sets boundaries but has unconditional love. He is the perfect papa and I am so fortunate to watch him in action as Veer grows and develops over time.

Happy birthday to the best older brother I could ever ask for.

I love you so very, very much!