I turned 33 this year, on the 22nd day of August. It was a weekday, and Ulhaas and my sister both happily took the day off from work. This was the first birthday I celebrated after stepping into my role as a mother, and also the first birthday I spent in Calcutta in eight years! Needless to say, this birthday felt special. And though I was eager to create lasting memories with Ira on this day, I was also keen on spending one-on-one time with others I love. Ever since Ira arrived, all our time has been spent in collective adoration of our dear little girl — as it should be! Babies have a way of filling out your whole world with their glorious, messy, larger-than-life presence! My birthday felt like the most perfect time to make time for those I love. So through the week, I made careful plans to slip away, at different times, with Ulhaas, my mother, my sister, and my best friend — so we could build new memories together: memories that didn’t necessarily feature the baby, sw