#178 …when you engrave your initials on a tree.

We were on Sentosa islands, the famous tourism spot in Singapore. It was our last day in the city and we have had a great time covering its every corner and street. As we walked through ‘imbiah lookout’, the nature walk 1.5km wide, it was all bushes and waterfalls, rocks and trees, insects and birds. At intervals we would pass by other walkers, as amazed at the beauty of nature as us. It had been kept totally natural, only a few seats here and there for taking rest and road signs directing us on various crossroads. We had covered more than half the distance when suddenly Girish stopped.

“What?” I asked.

He had been staring at a tree trunk.

“Lets engrave our names as well.” He said not looking at me.

I noticed many names were engraved on it already.

“They have immortalized their relationship. I wanna do it too,” he added as he bent to pick up a sharp stone and began scratching on the trunk.

I was spellbound at his thought. The love expressed herein was more than any word he was ever to speak portraying the same.”

  

#177 …when you let him be the greedy one.

“Not again!”

I couldn’t help but suppress a smile at her comment.

“Why do you let him do that?” Shreya asked.

I didn’t answer.

We were dining out – 8 of us – in that dimly lit restaurant. It was Rita’s birthday and we had a chance to be together after a fairly long time. Sitting on a table that was rectangular, avoided a direct contact amongst all. Since the waiter had been apprised of the Birthday girl sitting at one end, he served our meals in front of her, perhaps expecting a goodness tip at the end of it. It was Jay’s idea that we serve ourselves. We didn’t mind. Being at the other end from the Birthday girl, the plates reached me last, and that Jay had to pass on to me. Shreya had been noticing this for quite some time. Jay wasn’t particularly attentive about passing me every bowl, let alone serving me. Either I had to ask for it, or go without it. Many a times he would fill his plate without leaving some for me, the last to get the serving.

“He isn’t the chivalrous kind. He never was.”  Shreya said finding me not replying.

“You know he is a glutton, when it comes to food. I let him be that. I can’t even think of him without his greediness for food. And thank god its just for that.” I finally replied.

Jay was already engrossed in his food, unaware of what had been exchanged on him.

#176 …when you give each other nicknames.

“Quto, Shona, Jaanu, Sweety… Grrrrrrr.”

“What’s wrong Baabu?” I asked Smayan. “What are you so pissed at?”

“This name calling game! Why can’t you call me SMAYAN? Don’t you like it?”

“Ofcourse I do. But everyone else calls you by that name.”

“So?”

“So… there should be something special about my calling you out. Don’t you call me Rashu at times instead of RASHMI?”

“Hmm.. Okay got it madam. Now lets get ready or we’ll be late for the dinner. 

Rashu rush.” 

#175 ...when you feel somebody is watching you from heaven.

A lot of people pass away too early ... without a reason ... without the season. So did you. I looked up at the sky that night missing you to my wits end. I felt you were looking back at me. I remember you often ... in the morning, at night, when I look at stars, when I cook up tarts ... a date ... a song ... a place ... a smell ... I know you miss me too. And I know you are watching me from heaven... So here's to you, with lots of love - 

#174... when someone breaks your heart and you think for the person with each broken piece.

I was shocked.  Was that actually her? Did she actually spoke to me that way? Was it her own words? Did she mean what she said?

I had many questions playing zigzag in my mind. Each one clamoring for an answer that would give a negative reply. Alas! I knew what the truth was.

It was her, the words were her, and the idea was hers. Yes! It was her.  

After listening to that crap from her, the first thought that crossed my mind was –“you go your way, I’ll go mine”.

But that doesn’t happen when you feel so much for someone, whether or not that someone feels the same for you.

I couldn’t stop worrying about her, the mess she was in, and the means to bail her out. I couldn’t stop thinking of how she would be handling the situation back home, why was she behaving the way she was, and ways in which I could be of help to her if any.

I may not speak to her for the times to come, but I’ll definitely carry her in my heart for the years to follow.

#173 ...when it takes over.

It's complicated, it always is, that's just the way it goes
Feels like I've waited so long for this, I wonder if it shows?
Head under water now I can breath, it never felt so good.
Cause I can feel it coming over me I wouldn't stop it if I could

When love takes over, yeah
You know you can't deny
When love takes over, yeah
Cause something's here tonight

Give me a reason I gotta know, do you feel it too ?
Can't you see me here on overload, and this time I blame you...
Ohhh... Looking out for U to hold my hand, it feels like I could fall
Now love me right like I know you can, we could loose it all

When love takes over, yeah
You know you can't deny
When love takes over, yeah 

Cause something's here tonight

#172 …when you take those extra steps to help somebody.

Dear friends and loved ones: My birthday's coming up soon. If I were home, I'd be planning a stupid, expensive birthday party and you'd all be buying me gifts and bottles of wine. A cheaper, lovelier way to celebrate would be to make a donation to help a healer named Wayan Nuriyasih buy a house in Indonesia. She's a single mother. In Bali, after a divorce, a woman gets nothing, not even her children. To gain custody of her daughter, Tutti, Wayan had to sell everything, even her bath mat, to pay for a lawyer. For years, they've moved from place to place. Each time, Wayan loses clientele and Tutti has to change schools. This little group of people in Bali has become my family. And we must take care of our families, wherever we find them. Today I saw Tutti playing with a blue tile she'd found on the road near a hotel construction site. She told me: Maybe if we have a house someday, it can have a pretty blue floor like this. When I was in Italy, I learned a word - It's "tutti" with double T, which in italian means "everybody." So that's the lesson, isn't it? When you set out in the world to help yourself, sometimes you end up helping Tutti.