Sisters...

Aarushi - our family's latest addition:-) The second apple of my eye! And little sister tomy first apple of my eye:-) Both, daughters of my elder sister.

As the excitement settles, and the feeling sinks in that the new one is born, I sit and reflect on the past week. Images and pieces of conversation rush through my head - 'The doctor said wait till 4th March', 'We're going to the hospital now', 'God help me with thisterror while her mom is in the hospital' pleads my dad...'Its a little sister for Anoushka'!Thats the call I recieved at 10:00 AM IST on 3rd March! That it was a little girl...a sister!

Just like me and my sister :-)I was so excited and so happy! I couldn't wait for the first pics...and I cried again on hearingthe little one's cry over the phone...and I feel closer than ever to my own sister...As I see the first pics of my little angels, it dawns on me, that they'll have a bond as beautiful as the one I share with my sister...

Its funny you know...there was a time, and I'm sure most of you will agree, where I prizedfriends over everyone else, definitely over family! I moved out of home to study, when I was 17. My sister had a constant complain that I would rarely call / mail her, and there I was, happy in my ownworld. A year after I left, she got married. And that's when it slowly started to dawn on me...she wasmy sister, someone I spent so many years with and unwittingly shared so much with. She was someone I wasvery protective of, and someone who I suddenly realized how much I cared about!

Ya, we yelled at each other, both of us standing as we do at opposite ends of the spectrum! She always whacked my stuff, I always put her in trouble, we never wanted to do the same things at the same time!But it didnt matter, because she would understand what I was thinking before I thought it, she was my sister!

And then she was expecting her first child and I was going through the works of friend to fiance to wedding plans. I don't think I've ever looked back after that. Finally, we reached a stage where we could talk to each other of our dreams,our fears, our troubles, our plans for the future, our day to day lives. I don't think we ever did that so much before...and since then its been that way. Distance, time zones...they don't matter anymore. Each converstation starts off when the previous one ended.And before I realize, she's reached a plane of her own...where I don't think any friend can. I mean, my friends are my friends,they're the ones who know the nitty gritty of my life and will continue to do so...but in all this, there's a bond with my sister that I don't think I'll ever share with anyone else ever! And I finally understand what my mother meant when she usedto say 'You have only 1 sister, stop fighting and learn to share'!

And I'm just so happy that the tiny tots in our lives will get to do that again!

When Lipi got married…

Inspired by a friend’s blog on my wedding titled “My godmother’s wedding”, I wanted to title this as “Our Agony Aunt’s wedding”. Then I drew inspiration from her nickname and wanted to name this “Lips gets married”. But then, presuming that “Agony Aunt” / “Lips” would have clubbed me on the head if I did, I stuck to the humble and next-door-girl title “When Lipi got married…” so that it reflects on exactly what “Lips” is :-)

After loads of confusion and a zillion changes in plan, I finally boarded the flight to my sasuraal (i.e. Bhubaneshwar a.k.a. BBSR) on the morning of Lipi’s wedding (my tryst with jinxed travels continues…more on that in another post though). I’ve known Lipi since BITS, and we probably grew close as friends once I moved in with her & Shwets.
Landed @ BBSR at around 10:30 am, almost 2 hrs after I was to reach for the 11:00 am wedding. Thank God the baraatis decided to shake a leg to Oriya and Sambalpuri songs a little longer, else I would have missed most of the ceremony! Changed into a wedding attire n ran to the hotel. By then Lipi was all ready n striking a pose for the camera…and wasn’t she looking lovely! She was a mix of shy, demure, nervous, radiant, joy…everything. One look at her and even without any bridal stuff on, you could have said “Yes, this is the bride”.

The wedding went well, though with a few stressful outbursts from the bride (kinda like me in my wedding:-)!!!! I'm sure you also remember). Shilpa was actually scared to approach Lipi and said to me “Brides scare me after your wedding”! I think I’ve scarred her for life!

Asit and Lipi make a great pair and the joy and expectations as they move towards their new life together, was there for all to see. There’s something about weddings that make you feel so fiercely protective of the person getting married and at the same time, so wholly happy for them. I think it’s just the massive significance of the moment and the new chapter it writes…

Their reception was held on Friday evening, and totally negating all associations with the phrase “Friday the 13th”, the bride and the groom looked resplendent and lovely. Seeing Lipi in that red saree on her reception, and the dupatta and the way it was tied, reminded me so strongly of Giddy’s wedding almost 2 yrs ago. Its like coming around full circle to where it all started :-)

Its finally happened Lipi…after all these months of frenzied planning and shopping and running around…you are finally married:-)
Here’s to an amazing future!

Goa Calling!

For a lot of people (almost all who love to travel and a lot of those who abhor travel), the 'must do in life' wish list features a common entry - a trip to GOA. I'm no different when it comes to that, and after my first visit to the place, I can say I know what the hype is all about...and isn't it worth it!

Beaches, sun, sand, food, wine...in short, heaven!

I don't think I've ever laughed as loud as I did in the past three days! I'm no swimmer, yet the thrill of the water was too much to resist...and with Mrutyu and my friends insisting that I come into deeper waters, I gave in to the temptation! I watched with all the glee of a 10 year old, as the waves came closer and shrieked with delight every time one engulfed me! I lost my balance like a zillion times in the water, probably drank half the salt water in Calungute's waters and just never wanted to leave Goa.

We enjoyed and chilled on the beach...loved the food...visited anjuna, dhona paula, aguada fort and also chased dolphins! and I mean literally chased them! 3 boats full of people who were just dying to get a glimpse of a dolphin:-)

I spotted around 7-8 of them (can't vouch for the fact that I saw 7-8 different dolphins, maybe I saw the same dolphins multiple times!) I found the fact that they roamed in pairs extremely cute if I may say so...and I almost fell out of the boat when I saw this house by the rocky shores, with a canopy n chairs all set out for a meal! Wow...that is heaven!

And I think that this was the only time when ALL photos n I repeat ALL photos, were perfect...wow, icing on the cake:-)

Yet, 3 days was too short. Mrutyu n I decided that we shall come back...this time for a week-10 days, rent a bike n explore all the inner roads and areas for hidden Goa treasures - their local bars, eateries, shops…and a lovely, even tan!

We’ll be back!

Till then its Goa calling...