What a friend means

You know how sometimes you maybe friends, and I mean really great friends with someone for a really long time and I mean really long, say 7 odd years? And how you became friends in the first place thanks to your blog and hers? But you never get a chance to meet until recently when your friend comes by to town and you have her over for a sleepover and man you realise how and why you've been such good friends all this time.

It's like it is with my other best pal, my husband, more or less.

She was every bit as curious to see my home, all the little corners and nooks, my fridge was her own, she wondered where my books were kept, she came up and met my mom in law and pop in law, giggled with me at my ever late for work hubby, miraculously got my dog Maya to fall in utter desperate love with her, watched horror movies with me, drank several glasses of fruity Himachali wine with me, thoroughly relished the homemade pizzas I'd made for dinner, watched my wedding videos and poked fun when and where I would have, enjoyed watching me tell her who I liked and who I despised and I felt so free and unencumbered unlike how it usually is when entertaining.

She was here, my buddy, my soul sister and the only one other than my mom and Nikhil who love and accept me as I am and for all my gazillion flaws...see the best in me. What a refreshing change from people for whom no matter what you do or how lovingly or how much, nothings ever good enough, and you're always judged in the wrong way. 

We met through her blog and mine when I replied to one of her blog posts. We maybe different in a lot of ways as you can see from visiting her blog link and then mine but...the hearts are the same. Unapologetically crazy. She is extremely intelligent and sure to be a famous author one day not too far down the line. The extremely intelligent part of her is what drew me to for a friendship with her and it is part of what still continues to sustain it. However now it matters very little to me, I think if when we're old and she/I are senile, we will still be tight/

I gave her a nice batch of hazelnut chocolate truffles I'd whipped up while she slept, a book by Monica Ali that I wanted her to read and a silly pretty but useless (like she wanted) sand art souvenier from Dubai. Went to her place, met her mom in law, sis in law who insisted that my hubby come inside and have some coffee and bong sweets which were unlike anything I've ever had so far. She made us feel at home and welcome and showed us a Bong wedding tradition whereby a fish is dressed up like a bride and sent to the bride's home for good luck. There's Amrita posing with the fish :)
Something she doesn't know. The day after she left I was extremely grumpy and when my mom started asking me why I couldn't help but tell her I was just sad she left. :'( such is life.

Do you Believe in heaven?

"Do you believe in heaven honey?"

"Sure...Not sure what it is exactly though..."

"What's your idea of heaven?"

"Hmm...I think it's where we are at peace after we die you know? A place of justice, joy and rest after all this toil on earth. What about you sweety? I know You wouldn't ask unless your non stop working mind already had an answer ready..."

"Silly man. Silly but smart. Yeah...I've been thinking about it awhile...", I was lost in thought again...

"Lost world...tell me...", he said squeezing me gently.

"Well...I think heaven is moments..."

"Moments?"

"Yeah...like this moment...When we're in each other's arms, at peace with each other and talking about heaven."

"ok...and...go on...", he prodded.

"It's when I apologize to my father for yelling at him, tell him I love him and never ever meant to hurt him...and him saying it's ok...just think before you get angry or shout next time."

"You apologized? I'm so proud. Thank you. " He said kissing my cheek.

"Well it was easier over googletalk...", I grimaced, ashamed of myself.

"Still...it's always hard admitting one is wrong. I know you can't live without your parents talking to you. What else...heaven I mean..."

"Well...there's raindrops tapping on my window...or watching a stormy sea with the rain creating ripples in the green blue water..."

"Sounds heavenly..."

"Add some hot coffee and conversation to it..."

"Yum..."

"You eating so much, and so heartily...whatever I cook for you...that you have to undo your jean's button..."

"Well you rock the kitchen!"

"Only for you babe. And mom and my sister too...Dad doesn't notice so much..."

"Tell me more..."

"Well there's the times my sister talks to me like we used to before time, age, ego and people came between us. When she hugs me if I'm crying or takes my side because no one else is getting me... when we're sister's again...those moments."

Squeeze squeeze squeeze. "She'll come around...she loves you too..."

"It's when you say the right things at the right time...which is not often...but eventually you do...and those moments make me feel everything is going to be fine, instantly."

"I know...sometimes I don't get what to say when...I'm sorry hon."

"But when you do say something, later, you're right."

"You're just biased. You get angry and now you say you like it."

"Well you're real...you're not smooth, you're human."

"What else?"

"I think it's heavenly that there's someone on earth I actually trust. And I know...I've taken forever to...get down to it...Longer than most people do...but I trust you...and you've proved yourself...time and again..."

"You are a toughie..."

"I think it's heavenly that even if you don't understand my point of view about something, you listen, you try...as do I...I think it's amazing that we think alike on so many points...and I think we have enough difference to keep the relationship lively.'

"You must be referring to our fights!"

"Well yeah...and I think the part when we make up...that's heavenly too."

"Go on..."

"I think it's heaven when a patient comes in severe pain, in the middle of the night and I give them medication, and literally watch their pain disappear...and their amazement...that moment when they feel relief is heavenly..."

"Always the doctor...my chubby doc."

"I think it's heavenly when my dog greets me at the door every morning...or the way she looks into my eyes with pure love...and loyalty. I love how , when I'm around , she doesn't listen to anyone else...doesn't have eyes like anyone else..."

"Hey I do that too...but discreetly!"

"I know...those moments I catch you looking at me...heaven...You asking me to make you my perfect tea...heaven...you drinking it, looking at me, nodding to indicate it's good...heaven. Honey...my point is...heaven is right here...all around us...!! We just miss it..."

"I wish I was as good at expressing my thoughts as you. How did you end up with a lallu like me?"

"You may not be as good at words, but you are part of my heaven...You are my heaven."