Families are precious

Every year I goto Shirdi or Siddhivinayak on New Year's. It's either that or a nice dinner with family.

Been the case for the past decade or so.

This year, neither was possible and I had a strict "no spending on myself" policy.

What this meant was - everything I made was spent into procuring ration kits or medicines for people.

No shopping on my Birthday or Diwali.

No lunches/dinners (except the occassional tapri wali chai)

No going out pointlessly.

No luxury stays.

For my birthday, everyone who offered me a gift (even some big name people) were asked to procure ration kits instead.

I managed to collect 1830 ration kits on my birthday alone.

Uninstalled several apps to prevent trigger finger shopping.

No new gadgets.

So earlier today, I said rather than ordering in - we'll have a nice quite dinner.

But my family surprised me in two ways.

First they decided that the food is coming from outside. My dad placed the order, his first on @swiggy_in (using my phone, of course)

And second, they got chocolates for me.

Because of my dead appetite I couldn't enjoy everything to my heart's content. But it sure made me giddy with joy.

They said, they were proud of everything I've done and are actually hoping I continue on the condition I take care.

Here's to our own people.

Here's to a better 2021.

Here's to serving more and more people.

Here's to the hope for humanity.

Here's to the people we lost along the way. Here's to the people still here.

Here's to good health.

Here's to happiness.

Happy New Year!