"Two Birthdays, One Goodbye"

We shared the day the world gave us birth, Two souls tied by love, not just by earth. You were more than just my guide— You were my dada, my heart, my pride. I was your laadli, your shining star, And no matter where you are, I still feel your warmth so near, In every silence, every tear. My birthday lost its light that year, When yours no longer found you here. For four long years, I couldn’t smile, Each candle felt too heavy, too vile. Even in dreams, you’d softly appear, And for a moment, it felt so clear— You were still here, just as before... But truth would knock on my heart’s door. You left, and my world fell apart, Like broken glass inside my heart. But dada, today I light a flame, Not just for me — I whisper your name. You live in every breath I take, In every sunrise that I wake. This birthday, I’ll try to smile for two— One for me, and one for you. -prarthi