I’m from Mumbai and recently completed TYBA.  
Due to a complicated educational journey (stream changes, gap years, depression, dropping out of a previous course, etc.), I’m older than most people in my class.  
When I first joined college, my parents advised me not to discuss my age. At first I followed that advice temporarily, but then I noticed some people making judgmental comments about students who had gap years. That made me hesitant to reveal my actual age.  
Over time, I simply stopped correcting people’s assumptions. Eventually almost everyone in my batch assumed I was around the same age as them.  
Now, after nearly 3 years, one of my classmates has suddenly started asking about my real age in a group chat and is also asking why I never celebrate my birthday with classmates.  
The thing is, I’m not ashamed of my life journey itself. What bothers me is feeling like I’m being pushed into revealing something personal on someone else’s terms rather than my own.  
At the same time, I also realize that continuing to dodge the question forever may not be realistic.  
Has anyone else been significantly older than their classmates because of gap years, career changes, depression, dropping out, etc.?  
If you were in my position, would you:  
Continue treating your age as a private matter?  
Give a vague answer and move on?  
Just tell everyone the truth and get it over with?  
I’m especially interested in hearing from people who had non-traditional educational paths.

I hid my real age from my college classmates for 3 years and now someone is starting to ask questions. What would you do?