Behna,

I never thought we shared an intimate bond until the day I was at my most vulnerable. It was January 2012 and my 3.5 year long relationship, the first ever, had ended with my getting dumped for my good friend. It was excruciating. Embarrassing, too, enough to make me contemplate suicide. You'd just moved to Delhi for college and were merely 18. I could not think of anyone else to reach out to. Should I call you? You were a kid, I thought, while dialling your number. I just knew you wouldn't judge me. Hoping you'd take my side, I called you and sobbed my heart out. You didn't freak out. You didn't panic. Half an hour later, you were at my place. You stayed for a week, skipping classes, helping me heal, conversations and company slowly filling the void. Never for once, you took sides. Never for once you blamed the girl. You taught me, with your subtle maturity, that people fall out of love. It's natural. That I should be happy for her as now she's with a person she likes. In a week, you imparted my life's greatest lesson: how to let go with grace.

To the world, you are my younger sister. To me, you are the older, kinder and wiser sister. Happy birthday!

- हर्ष स्नेहांशु