1 I am happy that I’ve been in love.

2 I am happy that I am still not familiar with the Internet and I don’t know how to tweet. Otherwise all of this would take over my life.

3 I am happy that I don’t have to spend money on hair dye! I am happy that in spite of being in this cut-throat business, I still have hair on my head and enough of it. I am also happy that my beard is greying — and that it shares food with me!

4 I am happy that Kwality still produces Orange Stick.

5 I am happy that the teachers in my school still remember my name and what I did in school. I am happy that I still continue to do business with a lot of old friends.

6 I am happy that I still have a 32-inch waist. It was going north pretty fast at one point of time.

7 I am happy that I still don’t have chokher power. Though I love spectacles and I think they would sit heavy on my nose.

8 I am happy when I spend quality time with myself.

9 I am happy that I am born a man, so I don’t have to invest in so many clothes. I can wear a white shirt every day and look good!

10 I am happy I have started paying attention to things that men are supposed to, like fountain pens and good ol’ watches. Sometimes I wonder if I’m turning into a granddad!

11 I am happy that I still manage to fill up my shows. And that people still like my clothes. I am happy that I am still criticised.

12 I am happy that I saw The Reluctant Fundamentalist.

13 I am happy that as I grow older, I fall more in love with Calcutta. I am happy I was born a Bengali. I am happy that the Calcutta police recognise me! I love going on night rides across the city, taking in all the architecture. I am happy that the Maidan is still infested with picnics. It’s the spirit of Calcutta. I am happy that Calcutta’s new airport has a few functional chargers to charge my always-dying phone.

14 I am amused that my mother steals borders from my factory and makes her own blouses along with baby clothes for all the kids in the neighbourhood. I am happy that I still annoy my mother.

15 I am happy that my father is far hipper than I will ever be! I am happy that my parents live a good life.

16 I am happy I still don’t have diabetes, so I can eat as much sweets as I want to! I want a candyfloss vendor right below my house. (I am unhappy that I haven’t found a good dentist!)

17 I am happy when I tuck in an egg mutton roll at Nizam’s. Snack on street food whenever possible. Eat Chinese at Pao Chien (Gariahat), a non-pretentious meal at Kasturi with their polyester curtains and formica tables. They also provide tissue paper on request.

18 I am happy that I don’t smoke and don’t drink. And don’t watch too much television.

19 I am happy I don’t judge polyester and sequins anymore. I am happy that the (Sabyasachi) brand has become far more inclusive than what it was. As you grow older, you learn to strip your ego and accept a lot of things that you wouldn’t accept when you were younger. I am happy I am going through a reverse flexibility motion where I am getting more flexible as I get older!

20 I am grateful that I have made my mistakes and have had my heartaches. I am happy that I have made this journey on my own terms. I have made a few compromises and anyone who says they haven’t is either lying or in denial. I am happy I survived.

21I am happy that I realised that less with quality is truly more.

22 I am happy that I sleep in peace every night, unperturbed, undisturbed and without any fears. That’s my biggest achievement. I am not indebted to anyone, I haven’t been malicious and hence I think people can only do me good. I am happy I no longer have a sense of paranoia.

23 I am happy that the copy market is making money because of our efforts. And they are also creating employment — God bless them.

24 I am happy that I am finally learning how to sing Tagore songs. I want to learn how to cook and how to drive a car. I want to be the best ethnic menswear designer in the country. It’s a personal ambition, nothing to do with the business and numbers.

25 I am happy that I got a letter of merit from the income tax department saying that I am one of the highest taxpayers. I don’t display any of my awards, they are lying in the HR room collecting dust but this one I am proud of. I am happy that I built a business by going the long way and without taking short cuts.

26 I am happy when I giggle.

27 I am happy when I have popcorn. The kind that comes out of a polythene bag with a pinch of turmeric. Popcorn out of the microwave is no good. Roasted peanuts with kaalaa namak is heaven!

28 I am happy that I still play pranks with my staff. I am happy that my assistants are buying their own cars. That some of my tailors’ children are going to English-medium schools.

29I am happy I am learning to cut bullshit and appreciate what really matters. The last seven years have been a very steep ride to the top. Along the journey, you cross people who have been your enemies. You cross people who have been friends. You cross people who you wanted to cross, and people you never thought you’d cross. You cross people who matter to you and people who don’t. In the end, you are just happy to reach there.

30 I am happy that the hilsa species is not yet extinct.

31 I am happy Bollywood is making great cinema and Tollywood is right on top.

32 I am happy that I spent New Year’s Eve with two of my closest friends. I wasn’t invited to any fancy parties but we hung out at CC&FC. It was the best New Year’s Eve!

33 I am happy that I never learnt to play golf, so I will never miss it!

34 I am happy that I am growing my business organically in 2014.

35 I am happy when I make other people happy. I love being Santa Claus. It’s cruel when you want to do something for someone and don’t have the means to.

36 I am happy I can still make new friends all the time. But now when I make a friend, I know who’s true. I don’t suffer fools anymore.

37 I am happy I discovered track pants. They are my new-found love — the closest thing to being naked. I am happy that I have rediscovered talcum powder.

38 I am happy that my favourite pyjamas don’t have large holes (I would wear them irrespective of that).

39 I am happy that I am 40. I truly believe that this decade is going to be the best of my life. There will be no pressures to perform. I am blessed. My entire success has been a combination of everyone’s beliefs and disbeliefs. I’m happy I will finally be able to enjoy the benefits of the hard work of the past 20 years. Not that I am going to slow down, I am only going to run faster!

40 I am happy that Calcutta still bothers to read my crap!

P.S. t2 is happy Sabyasachi still lives in Calcutta and remains a dear friend of t2!