Well this post is not a book review, this is something which is more special to me. This is about my best friend Nisha.Most people at the age of 27 stop using the term "best friend", but even when I'm 72 (if I'm alive that long) I'll still call her my best friend.
I can still clearly remember her first day at school. I see this pretty girl in class all trying to figure out what is to be done, and unlike me, I go up to her , all the time in my heart thinking wish I could be her friend. Well now when I look back, I know God send her to be my special friend.We connected soon, and before I knew our friendship was becoming more stronger. The fact that our names rhymed, made my belief stronger. I shared my innermost secrets with her, my first love, and the cherry on the cake was when my teacher told my parents during a PTA that "Nisha is the best influence on your daughter."
We passed out school, joined the same college, and our circle of friends grew. We were now 5 in the group, and Nisha very lovingly called the group "Nisha & Friends". I simply loved it. College was fun, with more friends, but at the same time our friendship was entering a new phase. College ended and soon we all 5 went in different directions. I moved out to new city to pursue PG, while Nisha stayed on to do her MBA. The first picture that I packed with my stuff was a group picture of all 5 of us. Adjusting to a new place, new people, I truly missed her. I never told her this, but every night I just wanted to call her and just tell her how scared I was, and wanted to feel good with her chirpy voice and some good advise.
A lot of things changed during those 2 years, but one thing which remained constant was our friendship. We both made new friends, but in my heart of heart no one could match up to her. There was always a benchmark which people had to achieve to be called my friend. Yes, they were my friends, but never my best friend.
Life was moving at its own pace, me getting a job, Nisha was in Lucknow, and never in all those years did our friendship loose its shine. It was as shiny as ever. Soon it was time when I heard that she was getting married and there was nothing in the world that could stop me from attending my best friend's wedding. Seeing her walking down the aisle, I had tears in my eyes. My mind raced back to that pretty girl in pigtails, to the young girl at college, and now this beautiful bride all set to enter a new world. It was just too an emotional moment for me, and I prayed for her happiness more than I ever did.
When distance could not falter our friendship, I hoped it would not be marriage. Even after she was now married with all new responsibilities, and in a new country, our friendship evolved. It was fun talking to her about new life, how does it feel to be married and the usual girl stuff. A year later I was to get married and I got the shock of my life that she will not be able to make it for my wedding. Truly speaking I was devastated, and hoped against hope that she would surprise me, knowing how much she too wanted to be present on my special day. But I knew one thing, that even though she physically would be absent, emotionally she and her good wishes will be with me all the while.
There are very few time in our lives we come across true friends. Many come and many go, but its only the true friendships that survive the test of time. Friendship's Day, Birthdays, advice on bf's, or just the silly things meant so much to me all because of Nisha. My life is blessed with a true friend and very few people can proclaim that. No matter our calls are not as frequent as they used to be, you still hold a very special place in my heart. No matter how many friends we make in future, you'll still be My Best Friend.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Holy Cow ! An Indian Adventure - Sarah MacDonald
Finally a post after a very long time. My marriage kept me occupied, and hence the delay in writing about my new book. While I was on my honeymoon to Kerala, I saw this lady in a cafe reading a book "Holy Cow!".. What struck me was the cover of the book. It had the Hindu God Shiva on the cover, and the title too was definitely intriguing. Once back from Kerala, on my visit to the Book store, I saw this book, and I picked it up.
Holy Cow! by Sarah MacDonald is all about an Indian adventure. I like the books about India specially written by foreigners. It tells us how they perceive this land. India does not fail to surprise anyone, and specially people who visit India from a foreign land. You either love it or hate it.. Nothing in between.
This book tells us about the writer's visit to India, and in this first trip, she knows exactly how she feels about the country. She hates it. There is nothing that goes right for her, and this point she decides never to return back. But on the airport a beggar reads her palm and tells her that she will return to India, and for love. With no inclination to believe she heads back. His prophecy comes true after 11 years and Sarah, quits her job as a DJ in Australia, and returns to India to be with her boyfriend who works in New Delhi, and her romance with India soon begins.
There are many things that shock her, disgust her, from the very common sight of filth, people picking noses in public, or the even common very loud way of people clearing their throats, early morning , noon and night. People constantly are concerned about her marital status, and keep reminding her that soon she will be out of marriage market if she delays it further. She finds it difficult to understand why a girl from a different caste can't marry in another caste, the pressure from parents and consequences of marrying inter caste.
Its these visits that take her to Rishikesh, Amritsar, the Taj Mahal, Delhi, a little insight into the people, the place and the religion, along with its ancient history associated with all the places, makes it an interesting read. She attends a Vipassana meditation in Dharamkot, a small town in Dharamshala. She learns about the various cultures, a trademark of India, and in the process she understands herself and a goal-less life that she was living back in Australia. She sees herself in a new light, the customs and the people. After living all the experiences - good , bad and ugly - she finally understands herself and her soul is reborn.
Sarah MacDonald's book is like a travel across India. The diversity as seen by a foreigner, the way people live, and live contentedly in such chaos, baffles her and finally leads her to her destiny. As she travels to different parts of the country, she gives a brief history of the place and religion, which gives us a good background. The book is funny, and the writer sees the lighter side of serious things, which makes it hilarious. The book at some places does seem to drag, but on the whole is worth reading. All in all - I like the book. Interesting at most times, a little less, for the rest. Sarah's writing style is very simple,and funny at right places.The way she creates an image of the new place she visits,or about a person, herself included is simply amazing.
I have read a lot of books, with lots of writers writing the routine acknowledgments. But Sarah in her unique way has written it in such a way, that I think its the best I've read, and somehow is difficult to get out of my head. It says
" To my mum and dad for having me,
To Jonathan for taking me
and
To India for making me."
Simply amazing.
Holy Cow! by Sarah MacDonald is all about an Indian adventure. I like the books about India specially written by foreigners. It tells us how they perceive this land. India does not fail to surprise anyone, and specially people who visit India from a foreign land. You either love it or hate it.. Nothing in between.
This book tells us about the writer's visit to India, and in this first trip, she knows exactly how she feels about the country. She hates it. There is nothing that goes right for her, and this point she decides never to return back. But on the airport a beggar reads her palm and tells her that she will return to India, and for love. With no inclination to believe she heads back. His prophecy comes true after 11 years and Sarah, quits her job as a DJ in Australia, and returns to India to be with her boyfriend who works in New Delhi, and her romance with India soon begins.
There are many things that shock her, disgust her, from the very common sight of filth, people picking noses in public, or the even common very loud way of people clearing their throats, early morning , noon and night. People constantly are concerned about her marital status, and keep reminding her that soon she will be out of marriage market if she delays it further. She finds it difficult to understand why a girl from a different caste can't marry in another caste, the pressure from parents and consequences of marrying inter caste.
Its these visits that take her to Rishikesh, Amritsar, the Taj Mahal, Delhi, a little insight into the people, the place and the religion, along with its ancient history associated with all the places, makes it an interesting read. She attends a Vipassana meditation in Dharamkot, a small town in Dharamshala. She learns about the various cultures, a trademark of India, and in the process she understands herself and a goal-less life that she was living back in Australia. She sees herself in a new light, the customs and the people. After living all the experiences - good , bad and ugly - she finally understands herself and her soul is reborn.
Sarah MacDonald's book is like a travel across India. The diversity as seen by a foreigner, the way people live, and live contentedly in such chaos, baffles her and finally leads her to her destiny. As she travels to different parts of the country, she gives a brief history of the place and religion, which gives us a good background. The book is funny, and the writer sees the lighter side of serious things, which makes it hilarious. The book at some places does seem to drag, but on the whole is worth reading. All in all - I like the book. Interesting at most times, a little less, for the rest. Sarah's writing style is very simple,and funny at right places.The way she creates an image of the new place she visits,or about a person, herself included is simply amazing.
I have read a lot of books, with lots of writers writing the routine acknowledgments. But Sarah in her unique way has written it in such a way, that I think its the best I've read, and somehow is difficult to get out of my head. It says
" To my mum and dad for having me,
To Jonathan for taking me
and
To India for making me."
Simply amazing.
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