Sisters & Friends

Today is my sister's birthday; she would have been a year older and many years wiser. She was my older sister; I say was as she passed away about 17 years ago. There was a void that she left behind as she was also my friend.

Sisters can be best friends, and we were. Today looking back at the years we spent together, there are so many moments with sunshine and laughter. Bicycle rides to school, then to friends houses, the annoyed face of my sister when being told by my mum " take her (pointing at me) with you." When I moved away from home to do my post graduation and then continue working in another city, she was my constant source of reassurance and reality. 

Always there to support me and a shoulder to cry on the perils of living away from home on a budget and trying to constantly make ends meet. In her short life she touched many lives and is still remembered, sometimes it is true that the best ones have a really short time on this planet. They walk amongst us as memories, every time I see a resident doctor at a hospital at any part of the world she is the 1^st thing that comes to mind.

Every night looking at the sky I think, oh thereshe is watching everything.  Dr Yasmin Thakur-Dave, what a pleasure it was to be a part of your existence.

You will always be in our thoughts.

The day I met Gulab

The day I met Gulab

Anyone who living in London, and either having Indian roots or then is Indian ( South Asian) would know Wembley and Ealing road. That’s the road you get saris, costume jewellery, and guess what cooking utensils.

So in my quest for buying a readymade blouse for the sari's I had been given as gifts, I found myself wandering down Ealing road. Post asking questions and various people pointing in various directions, I found a small shop with an even smaller shop front. 

The owner/ primary sales person who was at the counter was helpful: lo behold there were dozens and dozens of ready mad blouses. Finally matching the right blouse to the right sari, I need to try these on for any ale rations (yes the do that free of charge).I was asked to try this in a changing room; read: a cubical with a sewing machine, and just a peg, there was a curtain which you needed to draw.

That's when I met Gulab, she was sent to assist me. So I introduced myself and she introduced herself, helped me, and then asked where I worked. I said Leicester Sqaure central London, she said "huh” - So I said “Central London" she looked at me and shrugged and said “Huh" yet again. Then she said are you working today and I said I work only Monday to Friday and she looked at me “that’s good" she said. 

When I took my goods feeling triumphant that I managed to do all this in less than 2 hours and did not have to pay another £6 for 2 hrs of parking; Gulab made an appearance in my thoughts. How did she not know where central London was, how long was she here, is that what she did all day long, man the stall outside the shop, did she seem happy? And then thought switched to she must be, what you don't know you will not miss, is that not wait people say?

I will always remember that brief conversation in the most unlikely of places, and will always remember her.

For Gulab though I am sure I was an blip in her ordinary day and an amusement for a short while. Funny isn't it, I am sure I was the only customer who asked her name...

Neighbours and Friends

Neighbours and Friends 

It was many years ago when I was still studying; I meet a fiery Leo with tremendous spirit. She had guts and was willing to speak her mind; she still is the same person she was that many years ago. 

Anupama Mandloi one of the strongest people I know. We started out as room-mates and ended up as neighbours, we spent ages watching movies, going for a walk or just talking.

Now million miles away I miss the gesture of making that call and asking the question “so do you want to hang out?" Such a simple question but one that you can only ask when you have certain amount of comfort level within the relationship. 

There are very few relationships that last the test of time and people do sometimes come and go in your life as grand central station. But there are some that want to be there and the whole relationship is effortless.

Anu, have been there for so many of your Birthday celebrations and I missing being there once I have moved away. Wish you all the love, happiness and health for the next year. 

Keeping smiling; wish you everything you wanted in life... Thanks for being there.

Sometimes its all worthwhile

Sometimes people make you smile and in retrospect you feel happy you have meet them. 

Amit Wason is one such person. Having always believed that it is the small incidents that give an idea of the person you really are. 

When making our way back from the Nottingham carnival on a crowded London bus, Amit offered a lady his sit. In my head a voice was going crazy saying " What's up with you man, she is neither old nor pregnant!"  But for him it was natural. And that is just one incident, I can give many such more. 

Whether it is sitting in our garden and having a chat or in a posh restaurant it is so easy to communicate with Amit. It's interesting to hear what he has to say and he is always listening to what you have to say. He is an honest person and have to say in my many years of living; there are very few such people. A successful entrepreneur and fantastically generous man, its nice to share space and a universe with him.

This should have been written for his birthday last week, so I am unhappy that it is a week late. So Cheers Amit!!  Happy to have met you, great to know you and wishing you all the luck, health, happiness in the world

Oh Brother Dear Brother !

Siblings

Today I feel is a good day to look back at the past in comparison to the present. The only people who know you from the day you are born are your siblings. Your brothers and sisters know the child you are and the adolescent you were. Yes, the last sentence was meant to be written like that. 

My brother Sameer ( Sam) for short has known me from the day he was born. The younger of us two for many years I looked out for him; after a while got irritated with him; then did not want to be known as his elder sister; and I really don't know how this happened that now I like to have a conversation with him. And he is looking out for me. Amazing... 

I left home young to study and then to work in broadcasting media, he was studying when I left, we kept in touch. He then went abroad for a while, and called from there regularly. Life happened when he was growing up and as it does for all of us threw some challenges, from which he came out a winner. 

Today he has a family: a supportive wife and a young son. He has such a great understanding of the world at large. He has matured to be such a great guy that I would say “hey you know what I know that guy, yeah have known him for years" His son will benefit from all his wisdom.

On his birthday I would loved to have him sat on my table for me raise a toast “Hey Sam, Happy Birthday brother you are the best, you are my friend."

Little People All Around Us

Little People I love them !!

While riding on the tube this morning, there was a 2 year girl said “Good Morning" and I smiled. In a crowded smelly train, where space is a constraint and the only people who are happy are lovers/couples going to work together. 

Little People that’s what I call them, they always make you smile. They are innocent, funny and speak their mind. Every time I see my nephew's pictures or hear speak to him he always makes me smile. It does not matter what he says as long as he says something. 

Little people inhabit this world with us and the adult world and the little people's world clash, in the supermarkets, in the shops, on the bus, on the tube. Little people do not care that they have interrupted our journey to work or our routine they are still living the illusion that life is an adventure and to live life to the fullest.

We were all little people once and inhabited a world in which a new adventure was around every corner, where living life to the fullest was priority number 1. 

To preserve a part of yourself which keeps the little person in you alive, that I say is the only way to happiness. Life is an adventure and when we are little it’s so clear to see, as we grow older the vision of the world becomes hazy and unclear.

Flying High

There have been many people who have come and disappeared without a trace in my life. Some still remain in the periphery of my larger universe. Assem Bajaj Cinematographer, and extraordinary friend was never one of them.

The thing is that if Assem wanted to be a part of your life there is no way he would settle for being a satellite. He is strong with amazing ability to keep things moving. He has been the Director of Photography for many of my television ventures and has always raised the bar.

Today he is a celebrity in his own right; the winner of a filmfare and many other Indian and International Film Industry recognitions.So proud I am to know him. Over and about all this and his international footprints that he is making in the world at large. The best is that he has kept a very dear friend of mine very happy. Leena his wife and my dear friend has blossomed creatively and spiritually since they have been together.

He has encouraged her to be herself , reach for the stars and always been there. Assem I am so proud to know you as the man you are and the ability that you have had to enrich everyone s life that you have touched.

Happy Birthday dear friend-- Have a great 2013 -- Great Cinematographer and a Fantastic Friend -- Will definitely toast to that!!!