Dark skies over a Government building with the Tricolor flying away. The BSE can be seen in the background. 

THe corner of an old building in Mumbai City. The entire building is built with magnificent design and is awesome to look at. The building currently is the Institute of Science, Colaba. 

The Gateway of India, one of the most marvellous works of Art in Mumbai. 

Friendship across the seven seas

Many people have heard about this, read about this and spoken about it too. Today I am joining the class of people who have written about it. Today I am writing about my friendship with someone whom I have not met yet in person, but yet share a special relationship. The bond of friendship that strengthens everyday!

I met her some time back on the internet when she approached me to help her out with one project in her education program. I did what I could and slowly we started speaking more and more and more. All over the internet. Almost a twelve hour time difference meant that we always spoke when she was in light and I was in darkness. I would be doing my work of research and study in the night while she would be on her job. But still we both managed to speak.

Steadily I got to know her better. I saw her photographs. I saw her innocence. I saw her attitude to life. She was a free soul, but one who had to struggle, like most victorious people. She knows the value of the education she has, she knows the value of the job she has got. She knows the price you pay by staying away from parents. She knows how to grow up staying alone. She knows.

She has got a heart as light as air. She is easy to speak to. She is frank in her words. She smiles most of the time. She loves movies and jokes. She can spend all her time watching movies. She loves to travel too. She in enjoying life, obviously at many costs, but she is happy and I am happy for her.

She stays in the west but she still keeps her eastern traditions with her. She prays, she respects others, she celebrates Indian festivals and she misses her parents and friends. I am sure her parents and friends miss her too.

My eyes welled up one day (she doesn’t know of this yet) while talking to her. We celebrate Diwali (one of the most famous Indian festivals) with a lot of activity, prayers and excitement. But over there, across the seven seas, the picture is a bit different. People are more in their own world and they probably don’t even realize that one of the most widely celebrated Indian festivals is going on. She said she just prayed to a silver coin that her mom had given her. I suddenly felt a knot in my stomach. I realized how lucky I was to just enjoy myself in Diwali. I understood the price she pays by staying away from friends and family. I understood sacrifice can take people places. But you just need to adapt to life. I truly admire her for this aspect.

Not many people can mould themselves so easily. But then they are the ones who succeed. And I am sure she is one of them. She is sure to touch the sky. I am just waiting for the day. Hope it comes by soon.

Here’s wishing her all the very best in life. There is usually a story of struggle behind every story of success. I have seen her story of struggle. Now I want to see her story of success. I am sure it’s round the corner; just want her corner to come across soon!