Relatives refused to believe it when news came in of Zaib Fathima's birth. “For instance, my aunt thought she was the target of a prank when my elder brother called to inform her about my birth,” says a smiling Zaib.
Born on April 1, Zaib's birthdays have always been more exciting than her friends'. “As usual, my younger sister taunted me yesterday; and, as usual, she got a terrible whack from me,” says the 16-year-old, who would take such taunts to heart when younger.
“But, since students have exams to worry about on April 1, the taunts at school have seldom been severe,” says Zaib, who has come to terms with the peculiar fact of her birthday. “Always within the top three ranks in my class, I tell myself I am brilliant because I'm born on April 1,” she adds.
Divine mandate?
As an April 1 baby, nine-year-old K.P. Santhanakrishnan thinks he has a divine mandate to play pranks on his brother. Even before anyone could sing him a birthday song yesterday, Santhanakrishnan was up to mischief. “I hid my elder brother's school bag,” says the boy with impish glee.
Asked if he is taunted on April 1, he nods and quickly adds, with an air that belies his age, “It does not bother me at all!”
Jerison Moses Raj is happy about his date of birth. “At my father's office, it is a special day when they brainstorm for new ideas and set targets for the new financial year,” says the 14-year-old boy. “My father goes out of the way to make me feel special. In addition to the customary birthday gifts, he buys new stuff for the house on this day. Our computer and refrigerator and many other appliances have come home on my birthday.”
Says Zaib: “Being born on April 1 is a privilege. You are reminded about your birthday all day long. Can people with other birth dates say this for themselves?”
