OS: Dear Diary (From the POV of Youngest Rishbala Munchkin, Maya)

Dear Diary,

I turned 6 today! I am a big girl now! Won't you wish me on my birthday? My mommy and daddy wished me dozens of times today. They hugged me and kissed me till I was covered in spit. Yuck! Dadi wished me too along with 100 mores. 100 more? But diary that would make me... 106! That's so... old! Just thinking about it makes me want to cry! Wrinkled skin like prunes, OMG toothless smile and double OMG a humped back? No Bappa please... PLEASE... don't listen to my dadi. I don't want to look... OLD! I want to always look pretty just like my mommy. Daddy is always saying she's beautiful. Hehehe... of course he secretly tells me that I am prettier. My daddy is the BEST! Ohh you mustn't share this with mommy and Vibha didu. They will be upset.

Today was the best day EVER! Daddy went against mommy's wishes and threw me the best party that any girl can ever ask for! All my friends are jealous. I rode a pony today! Daddy said he'll buy a pony for me and keep it at our farm house. And I can ride it every weekend. Mommy is not too happy about it. But daddy said I am his princess and he can't deny my request. Hehehe...my daddy is the best in the whole wide world!

Ohh Diary... but I have a confession to make. Yesterday I was so excited about my birthday but then I heard Arjun bhaiyya and Vibha didu talking. They said today is mommy and daddy's 15^th anniversary. But they stopped celebrating the day I was born. I don't know what is anniversary, but it must be awfully important, like a birthday. I felt really sad. I didn't want to be the reason that daddy and mommy stopped celebrating their anniversary. I had to do something! So I went to dadi and she and I made the best plan EVER!

After my awesome birthday party today, bhaiyya, didu and I convinced daddy and mommy to let us spend the night over with nan, nanu and bua nanu. Daddy and mommy were very shocked. They were so sure I would want to spend the WHOLE DAY with them for my birthday. Well I do, but then they wouldn't be able to celebrate their anniversary. I convinced didu and bhaiyya to play along that we want to spend a night over at the chawl. Dadi told them that she's leaving town to visit with friends.

Ohh diary! It was so funny! Hehehe...mommy and daddy looked so confused and even a bit suspicious. As soon as they left for home, I called Patil kaka to make sure everything is ready. Mommy and daddy must eat, so told him to have dinner ready for them at the entertainment room. Dinner alone is boring, yeah? I told Patil kaka to put Mr. India in the DVD player so they can eat and watch our favorite movie. Diary aren't you proud of me? I don't know if that's how one celebrate anniversary, but I left mommy and daddy alone!

Arjun bhaiyya and Vibha didu just rolled their eyes. You know how they are! Arjun bhaiyya is 13 and thinks he is all grown and didu is almost 11 and thinks she is grown too. I don't know why they groaned and complained that daddy and mommy will now bring another baby in the world. I mean...how do they know? I thought babies were sent down from heaven and put into mommy's belly, to crawl out when the time is right? I asked bhaiyya and didu how do they know and if they have connection to heaven. But they just laughed at me. I wouldn't mind a little brother or sister. They would be like my own little doll. Bappa, I hope you are hearing my prayers. I would like a little brother and sister to play with it. Amen.

Diary, I am still waiting for you to wish me on my birthday. When I wake up tomorrow, I expect a nice, big present from you.

Hugs and Kisses!

Yours Maya