Find ur tribe!

Swagata,Aditya n Poonam looked at me with all compassion n told all would be fine...they even stuffed some food in my mouth and cracked some silly jokes to make  me laugh.

Bindu n Roli called before I boarded  from Bangalore...n assured that nothing would ever change our equation.

Buckets of tears were shed in front of Rahul n Adit who had come to drop at airport and hugs exchanged...

Mom n Dad called and said good byes ...again with a promise that all will turn out good.

..I was to leave Bangalore and go to a new place...how would i survive .I will miss Bangalore n miss India n miss everything n everyone....Shantiji and my friends with whom chai everyday was a must...i would miss my help Sabina who always cheerfully made that chai at home...i would miss friends whom I hardly met but were just a call away...would miss Sufi..Anvi's bestie...My parents n in-laws who would rush to Bangalore on a call and whom I could run to in the hour of need. Would miss the Christmas trips with the close clan..basically everything we knew was to change ...I was to leave Bangalore n go to Sheffield.

Present Day:
Tears were shed ...Claire gifted a hand made painting on back of it was written - she would miss me but she hoped all would be well in Canada.
..Simi in my stiffling hug told me she will miss me more but is hoping for my best ....

Team members who had now become a family, in past 2 years brought gifts n cards... arranged for lunches, n teas ...and cheerfully reminded me of my crazy episodes in past. Bosses gave a warm farewell and made sure my transfer was smooth.

There were few whom I had missed to inform about the move but they called to wish and dropped by to pack and called my move to another country a crazy step while helping with the packing.

I was going to miss my home for more than 2 years now...All the fun we had, books we had read, parks we had visited, cities we had explored, the office, school everything but what I would miss the most is the people...

The people who had rushed to see me when I broke my foot, friends who stood up for me in an argument , friends who could see my face and tell i needed a tea, friends who loved my daughter like their own...friends who came home early to apply make up on me for the evening party, friends who would hate to see me go but would still want me to do best for my family,

Again Roli n Bindu were called n asked for assurance... .No matter where I go..U will b my constants.

Mom, Dad Rahul were called n wishes were taken...admist the realization that I am moving farther away...

But then when I sat in my flight and in between the dozing on n off sessions..i realised how lucky i have been ...I was crying to leave Bangalore n come to Sheffield and now I m crying while leaving Sheffield.

What had changed is...I had luckily found  people worth crying for...the most amazing and kind souls who would root for me wherever I go...who will have my back..In 2 years I had found dance partners and chat partners...girls who hated cooking and boys whom I could gang up with, my daughter found her best friend here..she made friends who told her how much she meant to them and teachers who actually shed tears when she said good bye...We had found our clan..our tribe in a foreign land..N that's how we had not just survived but had a most memorable n meaningful stay.

I wish for myself and all of us to have the will n courage to put ourselves out in the world and find our tribe ..Give and receive love and move on if we have to ...with the hope of better tomorrow and the promise to foster the bonds created.

Just draw the curtain!!

So I was asked to attend this business meeting in Paris ofcourse on a short notice...It was to be a short 3 day trip! Short - 3 day?? Without my husband n daughter...No sir...It's not short for me...i cannot go to the "city of love " without my love...What will they do without me...Daughter hasn't been without me for more than a night in all of her 8 n a half years...How cud i travel like this...I can't! But I have to b there I am the presenter...So the night before travel while putting daughter to sleep ...I hugged n cried...When she could not take it anymore - "Mom...U r just going for 3 days...N u love the Eiffel...Last time when we went u didn't want to come back...So go...See Eiffel again n bring me a gift!" ..Those two left for their respective stuff next morning n i made some basundi for them...Wrote hand made cards...Kissed their pictures(talk about being over dramatic) n left.

Reached the beautiful Paris at night...Arrived at one of the finest hotels i have been to...I was to stay on floor 9..the lift had button that read ' Eiffel tower view' on 25...I wished I was on 25... Sigh! However...i checked my room and it was huge..Why am I here alone.. How would have my kid loved this room...It has everything she likes...Oh there is a huge tv too...Husband would have loved it....sigh sigh again ..There was a huge window...Length of my room ...With sheer curtains...I drew the curtains very little to peep outside....Looked at the rain...Saw the traffic moving on road....Sighed ...N called the two...Who were all fine. Next day went very well...Got good feedback... meetings till 7 in evening...I still had hopes of stepping out n getting a view of tower...But apparently Paris is facing tough times with its traffic scene...I would not have been able to go to Eiffel n b back in safe hours...So I joined others for a drink n chat...N reached hotel at 9.30...Drained...came back to my room....Called the family...Who were all fine still. I got up next morning....Got ready...I had to check out today...I was ready...There was poster of Eiffel in my room...I clicked a selfie with it....If I cud fool my daughter that mumma actually saw Eiffel...sigh again...I still had 5 mins to kill...Went to the window....Drew the curtains wider..All open...On my right...I spotted something...i squinted....What!!.Am i seeing the Eiffel...right in front of me...from my room.. was so thrilled...I started laughing...On my own, loudly...i took a selfie immediately...Appreciated the tower some more...I had to leave...Time was up....But I couldn't thank God enough that I atleast now i got to see it...The rest of the day was well spent and I returned home...To the two were happy to see me and were all fine.

 The whole trip back home...I could not get over this thought-- I could have seen Eiffel tower all I wanted for 3 days.... I could have seen the tower whole 2 nights lying in my bed..It's diamond lights go on n off! ...I just had to draw the curtain ...One bloody curtain...N i dint!! Why !! Cos i was so absorbed in my problems...My sadness of being alone that I shut out everything. This episode made me realise...i do this a lot....Focus too much on my little problems..that I might not see a big opportunity placed in my way...have seen most of my friends do same....Agree as women we have many issues n all seem very big at that moment..A child with fever...An angry email from boss..An unhappy mother in law...Husband's missing sock that we misplaced ...But we have to learn to look beyond it...We have to move that curtain ...We have the room with a view of Eiffel tower...We just have to draw the curtain...We have to learn to lock our problems away when required and focus on something that we dream of!