Happy Birthday Sheetal!

10 th January comes in every year with a lot of excitement and fun. It’s my best friend’s birthday. The girl I have known since I was 3 years old. And it’s her first birthday since she moved to the USA.

I miss her. She has been everything I ever needed. There’s no one who understands me better,and with all the cracks in me,still loves me just the way I love her! She has been my partner in crime and my savior in crisis.All the shenanigans we plan, and all the unplanned craziness that follows us whenever we are together,wherever we go…there’s never a dull moment with her! This is probably the best day to tell her how much I love her, and how much I wish to see her : be happy, laugh enough, be healthy, go crazy, love unconditionally, dare to dream, and work hard to realise those dreams, travel a lot, take splendid photographs, let go of grudges, be insightful, be sensitive, and well of course,at some point come back to India  😉

Sheetal, you are the best thing that happened to me,the best friend I could have ever asked for! Love you to bits.

Wishing You A Very Happy 27th (sorry,I’ll join you soon) Birthday!!!

A friend in need…

How young were you when you first heard the line : ‘A friend in need is a friend indeed’.Throughout our childhood,we have been taught in school,at home to choose friends wisely,to read a person.And during that discourse we more than often were bombarded with the ‘in need indeed’ saying. Did we really understand at that time what it meant?What did we take from it?

I definitely learnt something from it,to help your friends and be with them no matter what the situation.Was it because of this that it got imbibed or that I met such great friends over the years that it came naturally I do not know.But over the years friends became most important part of my life.But only recently did I realise that this line has a different lesson altogether.It does not (only) guide you how to be a good friend,but guides you how to identify your true friends.

Because there comes a time in your life,when all you need is a true friend by your side,to tell you that everything will be ok..and you find yourself starving for friendship.This is the time when you realise that a friend in need is a friend indeed.And like a reinforcement to what you already knew,comes the truth…that your friends  sitting across the seven seas are closer to you than the ones that you rub your shoulders with.It’s amazing that with their own set of problems, issues and umpteen amount of work,they still think of you,sense your needs and care enough to make you feel less lonely.

So how much do the others matter really? The ones that don’t care about anything but getting together, having a good time.Or when they are in need.Are they not good friends?May be they are,just not close enough.May be not friends in the real,deeper sense.May be they are better friends to someone else.All you can do is hope, that they indeed are,and treasure your own close ones!

P.A.R.A.D.I.S.E.

In memory of one in a lifetime trip…these 2 days shall always be close to my heart…no worries,no tensions…no hard feelings,no fear of being judged…only love! With the people I love the most…and who love me the most!

(hand done sketch+Photoshop effects)

Happiness At Last

You stood tall through all the rain,

You smiled even in pain…

You deserve all the peace and calm

And all the happiness at last…

I pray you never have to shed a tear again

And let the happily ever after begin

For my dearest R…love you!!