Faith matters

Have you ever been in a situation where nothing else can save you but hope?
Where nothing seems like the right thing to do.
How something so important can turn into dust in a flash;
When the only salvation you draw is from the hope that there is someone greater than you
Who can bring you out of despair and make you believe again
And when you find that prayer that gets you through your lowest moment,
That’s when you know; you will never be alone, no matter where you go,
That the faith in you will pull you through

OSCAR Night - Slumdog Millionaire – 23rd Feb 2009

And the Oscar goes to………. The impact of those 5 words on the Danny Boyle and the cast of Slumdog millionaire must be quite awesome!!!! And hearing that 8 times in a row on the same night, should give anybody a run for their money. The movie itself is not a Hindi movie… it is a British movie cast in India about a section of Indian people. And yet all the Indians all over the world would be so happy today that this movie has won. After all we Indians feel joy at others success, make it our own, and sometimes get so carried away that we start believing that it is our own! Some might argue that the movie is way overrated - that it does not justify the amount of popularity it’s been given. I’d say yeah maybe it’s true if you compare it with movies of the Spielberg category with aliens invading the earth and special effects that have to be seen to be imagined. Others say that it has portrayed a very wrong aspect of Mumbai, and India at large and that now all of the world would consider India a place where you have to kill to survive. That I strongly disagree with. This is a movie at the end of the day. It is not what Mumbai is about. If anything the movie is about the spirit of Mumbai. To come out triumphant no matter how adverse the odds are against you, to fight it out till the end. It’s a movie that makes you feel sad, gives you hope but finally leaves you with a sense of calm. That in the end good will triumph over evil and all will be well in the world. So this movie then, is definitely not about Mumbai, Mumbai is much more than a movie can ever capture. And to be very honest a bollywood movie, which is truly Indian can never capture emotion like this one did. So slumdog, congratulations- you do deserve every bit of that Oscar - you do!

Thanksgiving Day 26th Nov

I was to begin writing about my experience being maid of honor to my sister, but till today didn’t feel that spark to start. This is thanks to a very special friend of mine, whom I hope I can show to one day!
Now its 8 days for me to board my flight back home and I am sitting here in my apartment, listening to the news of Mumbai being under attack “Warzone Mumbai” the breaking news on NDTV. And truly I feel broken. Life must have a little more importance than this. The media is doing an awesome job of reporting the news-I know it better since I’m sitting here in the U.S. and know more than my parents back in Mumbai.
I am really excited about my sis’ wedding cause I know they’ve been the best of friends who know each other enough to make each other happy for more than a lifetime. Life is about living, and what better way to spend life than with someone you love. We’ve had an awesome childhood, where mom and dad gave us all they could and taught us well, to be responsible, to look out for others, to make the most of what we had and to leave a mark. It wasn’t what you did but how you felt after you did it.
Blossom was always my role model. I cannot remember whom I have fought with more often than her, but that I think is something that was essential for me to find myself. Anthony too, has been a good friend to me, non-presumptuous and very ready to listen whenever you needed sound advice. That is what will make them perfect for each other ‘cause he can replace me better than anyone else I know.

Two days before departure - 2nd Dec

It feels very surreal at this moment, knowing that I’m goin home after such a long time. There is this huge excitement inside, for all those people I am going to meet after a long time, years it seems. There is also a tiny spec of fear, for going back to a place that may have become foreign to me, that may have changed so much that it may be difficult for me to adjust. But most intimidating is the untainted sense of happiness, to be reunited with my family, my doggies, my home, my life.
Life changes, it never leaves you behind. It takes you along and shows you new things but you carry the old with you always, with a hope to bring back that same joy that you once experienced with the simplest of things. Home to me equals no complications, where I can be myself, not have to wonder what anyone will think of some idiosyncrasies of mine.
So now I am ready to go home. To become part of what is my soul, to share in the joy of two very special people coming together for the rest of their lives. I thought for a very long time that marriage for my sister would mean a very sad thing for me. But now as it approaches, it seems like the most fantastic dream coming true, for a person to find in someone else the ultimate happiness, and the joy to make a lifetime of difference to the other. No one mature enough sees it as a lifetime of only happiness, but instead as an eternity of making another human feel unconditional love, and that is what truly amazes me.