What a wonderful, magical day this was!
First, we played Board games from 2 to 5 pm.
Then, I went for a concert hosted by Mike and Jyotsna ji. It was on Raj Kapoor, and who doesnt love Raj Kapoor!
There, I realised that I don't know anyone!
Suddenly, while trying to fit it in the pre concert chai pakoda session, I saw a gorgeous lady sitting in a chair. Her face was very, very familiar, and I asked, "Have I seen you at one of the gatherings at their house?"
She said, "You must have. I am always there."
We laughed about that, and then I asked her the way to the auditorium and confessed that I can't find anyone familiar. She was kind enough to say, "If you want, I can walk with you to the auditorium after finishing my chai." How wonderful of her to offer that!
So, I sat next to her as she finished her chai and we started talking generally. Ridgewood (the condo we live in) came up, and she said, "I used to live in Ridgewood too, A Block only. 10th floor."
That's when a light bulb went off in my head and I realised where I might have seen her earlier.
"Were you in Ridgewood in 2007?"
She thought back for a while and said, "Yes, we were. We were there till 2008."
My whole self changed in that moment.
Why?
The day I brought Ishaan home and got off the car, near the lift, were two very sweet ladies. They saw the swaddled up baby and asked, "Are you just coming back from the hospital? Did you just have that baby and are bringing him home for the first time?"
I said, "Yes"
And the LOVE that those two ladies showered on the baby and me in that brief lift ride from ground to fifth floor!
They gushed over the baby, congratulated me so sweetly, and there was just so much celebration on their face!
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I never saw those two ladies again, but in recent months, my thoughts would go to them very often, and I would sit and wonder, "I never met them again. I never could thank them and tell them how much their kindness meant to me that day. "
She was one of those two ladies!
And today again, she noticed that I was alone and just invited me to join her and her husband in the concert. That kind of kindness is all I want in life. When I grow old also, the one thing I want is to have this much love and kindness in the heart - to extend without even thinking.
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And then, as if that was not enough to completely fill my heart, there was another miracle waiting to happen on the same day!
Today was also a pooja at Upasana ji's house which i had to miss because I had committed to the concert a month ago and the times clashed completely!
However, as dinner started, Upasana ji told Charu that I had ditched the event. Charu messaged me to say, "Upasana ji is missing you. Come."
So, I went.
My friend, Upsana ji, was looking gorgeous in red!
There, Charu and I met Upasana ji and she kindly forgave me for coming late.
Then, Charu asked me to grab a bite. i was feeling strange about that, having missed the pooja and all, but she insisted.
As I got to the table, the second magic unfolded, "Are you.... aap.. Chitra ji ho na?"
The lady looked at me, no sign of memory on her face, but she acknowledged that she really was Chitra ji.
Chitra ji... I have been looking for you for so many years!!! Remember you gave me a tray when I was leaving for Bangalore? That tray is still in my house, and every day, I look at that tray and think, I have to find Chitra ji and thank her for taking care of me in that first year of work.
She then recognised me - from 22 years ago. And we had a super emotional reunion.
In that first year of work, my role required me to improve the employer ranking of HCL Tech at all top MBA campuses of India. Part of that work was internal co ordination with other HCL Tech offices spread all over the country. I had 110% independence and bosses who really, really indulged my absolutely idiotic, stoooopid ideas and allowed me to execute them.
And Chitra ji was my rock through it all. She was there to love, to feed, to guide, to gently handhold, to help with the right contacts, to open a few doors, and teach more than just a few lessons. I grew really close to her.
At the end of one year, I got a very good placement in the Bangalore office. Chitra ji was kind enough to gift me a tray and a lovely box as a parting gift.
Unfortuately, I lost her number and at least for the last 5-6 years, had been looking for her. My goodness! What a day! She tells me she is very active on Facebook. :) So am I.
