Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!!

Su. Thats what I call her...well, I know the whole world calls her that, but I'm different...why?? Coz, after every Su, comes "kar, mere man ko, kiya tune, kya isaada", and I know she loves that... :-) Ok, jokes apart, I am talking about Sudha, one of my closest friends, who's different, trust me, really different from others. She's one lady who always, yes, always, no matter what, maintains that beautiful smile on her face...and a twinkle in her eyes...and thats what makes her different from others... :)

I met her at work once, well, not really met her, just....had her glimpse, on the 24th of April 2006, when we had all gone for a company lunch at the Leela Palace. She was a new joinee...and I must mention that she joined us as the HR of our Bangalore Center. Now, I must accept one thing. I have this thing for HRs...I mean...I generally try to stay away from them...coz they have this amazing capability of seeing through your self...man!!! That's really scary...I wouldn't want any stranger...any XYZ to actually know everything about me, without even talking to me!! So that's how I decided to keep things with her...distance...was the one word I wanted to have with her...EVER.

She used to sit in the first floor of our office, and I was right above her, on the second floor. On one particular afternoon, I had been to the first floor for some work, and was about to leave...when, much to my amazement, I heard a squeakly little voice call out to me and say, "Hellooooo".

"Hi", I said (A very sheepish smile).

"I thought you would surely take the initiative and talk to me" (Contrary to mine, this smile was a very jubiliant and cheerful one).

I shrugged. I didn't really have anything to say. This was really the first time someone was approaching me for a conversation. Not that other people didn't, but something like this, coming from an HR, it shouldnt have been surprising.

"Well, I didn't really get time".

"Oh, thats ok, now you do". Pat came the answer!!! So I instantly kinda realised that this lady's not gonna be all that easy to deal with....Hmmm....now I had another word in my mind other than distance...CAUTION. Yes, CAUTION it was...I dint want her to know me so transparently...

Well, that was a year ago...and today, when I look back at those times, I realise what a fool I had been, and also thank myself, that I did let go of "distance" and "caution" for Su. We are great friends today, and if there is really somebody who'se gonna miss me when I leave India, I'm sure its gonna be her...I never realized how we beacme such great friends...we gel so well!!! touchwood!!! We've had our good and bad times together...yes, in the one year I got to know her, we have fought quite many times...and you know how girls fight...its only a bow-n-arrow game of words...but yet, we've just left it behind, and gone back to our same old time pass of gossipping :). Yes, there have been people who have tried to manipulate our relationship...but between Su n me, things are really very clear...crystal clear. NO ONE can try to come between us...period. Well, of course sometimes I have felt bad that she had hidden some things from me, and that I got to know about it from a third person, but that really doesnt change the way I feel for her...she's is and will always remain one of my closest friends...someone with whom I can easily confide...

Tell you what, my opinion about HRs, finally seems to have changed...thanks to Su. She is really not the typical "HR" kind. She's different...yes, very very different from all the friends I have...she's unique in her own way. I keep telling her to bring that attitude thing of hers down...and all that she has to say is, "I know I have an attitude da...I have it big time...but then, who cares!!!! :D" Well, I really appreciate that in her...at least she accepts she has an attitude...doing something about it might not really be a concern for her. Thats how she is...simple, and straightforward...wouldn't ever take nonsense...just like me...no wonder we always have lots to gossip...

She is a wonderful human being...she's this short and bubbly girl, with a very big heart. I pray to God to fulfill all that she ever dreams of. I always keep telling people that friends come in your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime...this girl surely crept into my life slowly...for a very specific reason...she was my pillar of strength...she was my support during all those times when I wanted someone by my side. She was the one who always gave a shoulder to cry on...Trust me Su...a few months from now, when I'll not be here...yet, where ever I would be, just remember that, someone, somewhere, is very very happy to have a great friend like you, and that someone, is really gonna miss you di!!! Love you loads Su....

Thanks a lot Su...for always always always ALWAYS being there for me...for understanding what others never understood...for listening, caring, loving...for everything...

And today, I wanna really tell you this...

"Choo kar, mere man ko, kiya tune, kya ishaara...
Badla ye mausam...lage pyaara jag saara......" Love you Lots Su... :) God Bless!!!