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Celebration of Life
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Spice of Life
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Variety is the spice of life and in my life my friends are the spice.
They keep things interesting and exciting. They are my saviors, my security, and my life. They are the people who get me in
and out of trouble and who make life worth living. Some of them I've known for months. Some I've known for years. Some I worked with for a long
time. Some I met online or through common friends. It doesn't matter where we met or how long we've known each other; what matters is that we care for each other. I've found that I tend to put as much energy into a good friendship as most people put into their marriage; that's how important my friends are to me.
The people on this page are all very special to me, and I'm sure
words won't do justice to them, but I hope they know who they are, and how grateful I am to them for being in my life. You're all wonderful!
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Shiv
This is Sivaram, my bestest friend. He is truly one of the strongest and greatest people I know. He has had a big impact on my life in the last few years. To say that he has taught me a great deal about myself and about life might be an understatement. Shiv, has a strength of character to be admired. His sense of direction and ability to get himself there is often staggering, especially considering that he always sets himself on a path without regard to what he might get from it.
We already have so many memories, and I can't wait for another year to make a million more. He
beats anybody by sheer confidence. I am amazed at his energy and enthusiasm He is never tired of correcting his erroneous zones and becoming a better person. I owe him so much and one day I'll
manage to pay back half of what he's done for me. But until then he'll just have to deal with me trying. Shiv works for DHL in Bangalore. I have known him for over a decade now and each new
day gets better. He knows me better than I know myself. He belongs to
a rare species of Indians who hate Cricket. He is fond of BMW, camping and trekking, discos, partying, latest gadgets,
and of course me
Shiv, You and I are two peas in a pod, and it's great to have a friend who I have so much in common with and enjoy spending time with. Congratulations on everything you've accomplished this year...I feel like a proud parent!
Rohini One of my teenage cronies, my best buddy since the good
oldays. Since then I think we've done just about everything together. Shopping, gossiping, dressing up, cooking, studying
and what not. In our friendship she
was the calm, sweet girl, while I was the bold, outgoing type. She has taught me gentleness, compassion, and generosity. I
met her recently after almost 3 years and I was amazed to see that she hasnt changed at all. She is still as sweet as before
and I admire her immense patience in dealing with the difficulties life has sprung at her. Her husband is sure lucky
to have a wife who is so caring and giving. I always envied her amazing skills
at home making. She could read me like a book. I owe all my soft spoken ness(there ain't much of it) to her. Some times it
saddens me to know that we cant meet each other or talk to each other often but I have learned to accept it coz I want her
to be happy wherever she is. She now lives in Jackson, USA, happily married and blessed with a cute daughter, Neha. Neha is a real darling, bubbly and chirpy,
taken after her mother
Srinivas, famous as Ganti (his surname) is quite a character. Whilst often appearing as something of an enigma who could never
(just as with anyone) be summed up in a few paragraphs, at other times Ganti seems to be a really uncomplicated guy, in a
very good way - clear about objectives and trying not to confuse things or introduce complications into thoughts or actions
that need not be present. The fact of the matter, most likely, is that he is something in between. I know for a fact, though,
that he is a very special person to me - genuine and kind, but never simplistic enough to ignore thoughts or emotions, or
to fail to understand how I'm feeling and try to help. He has always been the friend in need. He always has a good piece of advice for me and
offers that firm shoulder to cry on whenever I need to. I enjoy talking to him about just about anything but hate him when
he gets into the argumentative mode. Another reason why I like Ganti is he is one of those people who constantly believes
in my abilities and makes me realize them too. He himself is very unstable though. Unstable about everything: Relationships,
career, marriage, and family. I dont have a word to describe how unstable he is. He always manages to surprise (the right
word is SHOCK) people. After being jobless for months he calls up to tell me he landed a job and the next day he calls me
to say he is getting married in two days!!! Now as if that is not surprise enough, he says he met the girl the previous evening!!!
A
relationship that has frequently been intense - in closeness and animosity at different times. Sagar means a great deal to
me. He is the most energetic and downright funnest person I know.
Yes, funnest is a word. I guarantee it. He is like a flaming torch with seldom a dull moment to blur the sparkle. He is always
bursting with ideas and creative energy. The soul of generosiy, he gives his time, money, sympathy and posessions to friends
very cheerfully. But sometimes he is exasperatingly intolerant, impatient, thoughtless and demanding. His youthful aura and great voice is what I fell for. How can I ever begin to tell you all what a blessing Sagar has been
in my life....? But, I will try...I could write a book about the great times we had together. Having not always seen eye-to-eye,
I hope we have permanently put differences behind us, since he is a geniune and passionate person, who I respect for many
reasons. Even after all these years of not seeing and meeting each other we continue to remain very closely connected. Though
he frequently complains that I am very resigned and detached I am sure he knows I really view him as a great friend and couldn't
live without him injecting that little bit of sanity into my life, every now and then! He is happily married to Anubala. Dont know her too well but she manages to keep Sagar happy (Thats
what really counts !)
Keshu Keshu is my favorite colleague and a great friend. I am in awe of this man. He has a wonderful
outlook on life, voluminously knowledgeable and vividly talented. He has a stunning way of logical thinking. Its a pleasure
talking to him. He is well read and makes a great conversationist. He is someone who I consider to be genuinely wise,
and his response to the sort of deep questions I occasionally throw at him have been intelligent, thought-provoking, and pretty
accurate, as far as I could tell. Keshu has been a great boss to work with (I find it funny using the word boss 'coz he never behaved
like one). He is one of the best managers and sales men I have known. Very popular among colleagues and highly respected.
As a mentor he has made some invaluable contribution to my professional growth. Though we no longer work together, he continues
to inspire me with great advise. Keshu now lives in Germany. Whilst the most frequent contact I have with is by email, our few meetings
(lunches & dinners when he comes to India) have been both enlightening and eventful.
Anand Yasodhara is what we
call him at home. Yuppy extraordinaire !!! that is what all of us think about him. He is my favorite cousin . Very
few people are as confident as he is. He sticks to his chosen principles and
moral code no matter what. He radiates a lot of energy and is a fast learner. It's remarkable the way he turns every obstacle
into an opportunity. His trademark is his boyish grin (No wonder he has managed
to flip the hearts of so many girls). He is extremely courteous and has a way with people, especially with the older generation.
Need less to mention is very popular with people. Anand stands out with his creativity and vivacity. We have been great child
hood and teenage friends. He was my closest confidant and we formed a mutual admiration society. Though he loves talking and
manages to eat my ear off, he is a good listener (sometimes He is always ready with
an answer to whatever I say. I strongly believe that he is gonna make it real big some day. To get a taste of his creative
skills, check out some of his poetry here. Yasodhara, thanks for always listening to me vent about everything and just for being you. Love
you lots!
Khaleel What impresses me most about Khaleel is that he is always smiling and cheerful. His smile
is inescapably contagious. He remains the same person through all his fluctuating highs and lows. He is one those high energy
people who enjoy just about anything. He simply rocks man!!! I am amazed at his sensitive observations and unbiased
judgments. Khaleel loves the spotlight, likes to be liked and is crazy about getting photographed. He used to send me some
very nice pics of his when he was in UK (why did you stop? I miss getting those lovely pics). He is strikingly attractive.
I always thought he can never get attached to any one in life but I am pleasantly surprised when I saw him working really
hard on keeping a long distance relationship going. I love talking to Khaleel coz he is such a great listener. He simply gathers, absorbs and reflects.
He might be going through a very bad phase but he always manages to cover it with that boyish grin. He always had a great
piece of advice ready for me. Khaleel is a perfect balance between emotions and rationality. He is by far the most practical
of the guys I met. I know he blushes when I say all these things!! (every bit is true). He is a person to be with when you
want to enjoy and have fun. He now lives in Abu Dhabi. We do miss him a lot but that is how life is.
Priya Priya is my friend at work. A very determined, obstinate person. Never shies away from
responsibilities and always has a smile ready for me. I am amazed at the way she always manages to get thru whatever life
throws at her. She is a real fighter. I am always surprised at the level to which Priya understands me and always find her
company wonderful because she is interesting, perceptive and challenging. Priya is one of the few people I most trust to warn me when I'm out of line and she always
waits till we're in private to warn me about anything serious she might think I have done, rather than going for the amusement
at my expense. In some ways I would like to be her because she always knows how to and when to draw the line. You can always
trust her with a secret and can be assured that she will guard it safely, no matter what. We share so many silly jokes all day. She is my closest confidant at work If
it does not work, damn it, make it work!
Rungshing Rungshing Rung is the sort of person who is always able to make you smile, sending little happy notes at
just the right time. He has some very fine tastes in music and movies but he cant get over Tin Tin and Harry Potter.
I feel I don't know him as well as I should, which I hope to do something about, since he is a genuine, kind hearted, strong
and thoughtful person, who is always up for a laugh - and sticks around when the laughter stops! Whilst I certainly couldn't claim that we've never had our differences, hopefully these will now
be behind us, and we can continue to be friends. Rungshing is a curious guy Rung, Priya and I
make an awesome three some
Meena This is Meena, my colleague for one year and later my roommate for more than a year. She is bubbly,
frequently insane, caring, witty, sensitive, talented and driven, and I have nothing but praise (and neutral words) for
her. Our relationship has evolved from working together to giggling together. There's never a dull moment when Meena is in
the room. She's always cracking jokes or Hoho - Yessing someone She has been a great support while I lived in Chennai and as my roommate she took wonderful care
of me whenever I turned to her. With her around, my blues would just fly away. I cherish all our late night talks about our
dream men (want to know what my dream man is like? Ask her). I am very glad to have been introduced to her because in many
ways we see eye-to-eye, and it is always interesting to see the other perspective when we do not!
Sunder Sunder - is a real quiet guy
till you get to know him. Once you do though, he talks your ears off. He's hysterical about quite a few things but has
proved to be a good friend. I'm glad I have had the chance to get to know him better. He has got a great sense of humor hidden
deep inside. I still wonder why he keeps it locked up. We first met on the net but went on to strike a great relationship. He was my man Friday
in an unknown city, some one I could run to with all my problems and he was always there. He is intense, sweet and caring.
Sunder often underestimates his capacities but is one of the few people who really value my advice (Sunder, arent you glad
you listened to me?) I am glad he realized his potential and is doing well. He has changed so much
over the years and has grown immensely as a person. He has turned out to be a real fighter, incessantly fighting against all
odds and standing up for what he strongly believes. What is amazing is that, in spite of all the lows he still manages to
laugh at himself. My good wishes are always with him and I would like to see him happy always.
Rohit , my
virtual friend for 5 years. The real interesting thing is that we never met in person. He is my first net friend
and the closest one too. In the very first chat we had a big fight He is a very sensitive soul. He is emotional,
imaginative and often very creative. He is a dreamer and often appreas abstract!!! Rohit, you are a true treasure. You're
always an IM or an email away. Heck, you're even a phone call away :) Please always stay the kind, caring and generous person
you are. Damn we missed meeting the last time you were in India ( you too had to get married around the same time as me ..huh)
but we WILL meet someday, even if I have to drag you down here for a visit hehehe ... **HUGS** I'm surprised we made it through
our first meeting!! LOL
Rajesh Our friendship started as a Rakhi relationship, but we have become
more of great friends than a brother and sister. Rajesh is the typical Leo who displays proud dignity
and arrogant vanity. He is an out and out extrovert. Rajesh is the one who knows everyone. He is the one who has friends on
every continent. Well, Antarctica might not have enough people, but in the six civilized continents, he has friends. He has
a great sense of dressing. But the most striking of his personality is his impulsiveness and restlessness. He has been the imposing, protecting big brother in the beginning and later went on to be the
ever caring and enthusiastic friend. Thanks to his active social life, I got to meet a lot of my present day friends through
him. Rajesh has been a pillar of strength and helped me turn from the introvert I was to the complete extrovert I am today.
I dont get to see him or talk to him much these days but I cherish our time together.
Chaitanya It's funny the way life works out. I met Chaitanya through a matrimonial
site but we never talked about marriage. Why?? Well, that remains a mystery to me to this day. We instead ended up becoming
very good friends. He has a special knack of making people feel very special and wanted. From what I know about him, I think
he is womans man. He has a specially talent of charming the fairer sex. Chaitu is an enigma. Calm, unobtrusive, plaintive, mysterious and solitary person. A subtle sense
of humor, often slipping past unnoticed I suspect, surrounds the man with increasing mystery. With a poetic bent he provides
amazing insights into life. He is a very interesting combination of creativity, passion, nonchalance and dejection. Whenever
I talk to him I can sense an undercurrent of melancholy. After a year and a half of friendship & numerous calls I still
cant claim that I know him well.But I hope to ...some day!!! From whatever little I know about him, Chaitu is what I
call the perfect companion, some one who will walk with you on the path of life, hold your hand
if you fall down and would say: "Either I'll pull you up or we'll fall down
together.
Here is a smattering of names of people (you can see some of them here) who have been a part of my life at one time or another. It is by no means "complete", whatever that
means. Here is a list of some people who have touched my life some where or the other and enriched me with their special ways.
Prashanti: My best buddy for many years. She had the most beautiful face
and heart. She is no more. May her soul rest in peace. Swathi: Big freaks we both were. Loafing around and gossiping all
the time. She is married and has the cutest son on earth. Keerti: Friend, Philosopher and guide. The "always there" kind of
a friend. Chitti, Anil, Chaitanya : colleagues and friends in
need. I always have loads of fun when they are around Vishal: A great friend, always willing to help and always wishing
me well. Kiran: One of the most creative guys I know.
The time I spent with him was absolute fun. Though younger to me, there is a lot I learnt from him. He now lives in Canada
with wife Gene. She is the sweetest girl I ever met. Samuel Suresh: He is a simpleton. Religious and caring.
He is a great listener and completely non judgmental. You will love talking to him. Sashi Kiran: He is a bundle of energy. Life looks
so simple when he is around.His presence is electrifying and all you do when he is around is smile, smile and smile. Ramakrishna: Big bro and a true friend. Arvind: Great buddy a few years back. Lost touch now. Bhavani: She has got the best sense of humour in the world. Leaves
me rolling on the floor. Priya Darshini: A sweet girl with lots of creative energy. Lohita: I have spent the funnest of time
with her. She has been a part of every adventure in college days. Married now, she has landed in mommy land. Now lives in
Chicago. Sree Ram Murthy: A friend's friend but a good company many a times. Anand Bansal: One of my best net pals and my biggest admirer too. Prof. Umapathy: The wisest among the circle. Wow! am I thrilled to have
such a famous personality for a friend! Govindnath: A good brother and a very dear friend from college Mythili: My best buddy in pre-school. I wonder where she is now Janaki: My first best friend. As babies we played, ate, cried, laughed
and slept together. Some new
additions: These are some real cool friends I have. A little about them in their own words: Oh God,
I just know I've left out a million people here, but I think I'm going to have to stop for now. Those that I love know that
I love them. This is good. If you're here, you're in my heart. If you're not here, you're still in my heart. |
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He has been doing extremely
well at work and is busy creating a million more admirers for him apart from the ones he already has now.
She is like
a dainty rabbit you would want to hug. She's got the charm of manner and lazy good nature. She sees the world through rose
colored spectacles and prefers to live in her own gentle world.
Now gimme a word for a person like that :)
, we find a scape goat to make fun off and end of laughing late into the night
, and helps me keep my sanity through all the pressures.
We laugh and Grrrrrrrrr together. We have quite a few similar ideologies and personality dispositions and that makes us close
buddies. A common philosophy we both share is:
is one of the most generous, self-less, honest, thoughtful and (frankly) wise people I have ever met. He is
a jolly good fellow who's become one of my closest friends in a short time. He is kind and imaginative and always has
a way of pleasing people like giving me cute little gifts to make up for the fights we have. He is a big kid who blows
up loads of money on video games and war books. He is also extremely good at frittering away money at things he doesnt
need.
, and wants to know everything and anything
irrespective of whether it makes any sense to him. 
in check - not too bad for a quiet, chubby fellow! 
We create a riot with all
our mischief and jokes.
Rung some how
always ends up being the butt of our jokes but the way he handles us deserves a lot of praise. If I have to define both Priya
and Rungshing in one word then it would be "FANTABULOUS" (A combination of Fantastic
and Fabulous).
(often times me.. hoh yes). She is also the originator or perfector of most of the inside jokes that exist between
my friends, and so any discussion of their origins lead back to her.
, I hated every bit of it but managed to chat for
4 hours (now that is Rohit) He is great fun to talk to and has a very big heart. Rohit is a wonderful inspiration. He asks
nothing and gives much in return. I call him 
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