Dear Crystal Lodge

Dear Crystal Lodge Thank you for sending me reassuring reminders that you would be opening soon. As much as I want to get into my airport look, I believe I would be shopping for extra pair of pyjamas (at a discount, ofcourse) instead.Trust me, I occasionally scroll through our last year’s pictures. The happy days by the tranquil lakes and trails in the woods. Impromptu jumps in the pristine waters.I was secretly thrilled as my very adventurous husband was rather squeamish through the daily gondola rides. Nothing was empowering as telling him to take it easy on the Sasquatch zipline.Those dangerous cliffs were also a testament to our fitness. Hardly, a mountain goat! More of those grazers, who get lured by greener pastures(or burgers).Speaking of which, there are days when I contemplate that I should have moved to Vancouver in first place, seven years ago. I bet our Megan Soonbai feels the same way considering, it was her first choice as well.But, believe I would have still suffered the familiarity fatigue.Maybe, another lifetime. Deal?Until, then I hope to have a quick tete-a-te whenever time permits. No, we won’t be returning this Winter. We are Indians, not ski people.Yours longing customerJP (Sorry no, Xo Xo) P.S: I am attaching my picture post a dip in the lost lake. We will leave the ‘Rising out of water’ images to Bollywood heroines.

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The climb unto personal Everest

People often ask me what I miss about India. ‘Family and friends’, pat comes my reply. Colours, petrichor and a walk into a delightful tropical forest with its moist soil. “Ah…the smell which welcomes you into the greenhouses at Kew Gardens”, I promptly provide an explanation.With five years of learning accountancy, I thought I quickly learned about the debits and […]

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Dil Chahta Hai:Love and Hope

This is still a special story. Four school friends. Three girls and a boy. Living across different continents over different periods of time. Most importantly at different stages in their lives. The only time the four of them have been together are the couple of carefree odd years they spent in Mumbai in their early twenties. Then? Well, adulting is a serious business.They all got caught up in their lives. Their priorities shifted.The phone calls became infrequent and the messages said they were having time of their lives. Ofcourse, there were moments of ” Tell me I will buy that next ticket and be right there”.You know what the other person at the end of the phone will say to that statement, right?They did have their share of holidays together. Amsterdam, Spain, Paris. But each time, there was a person or two missing from the plan. But in November 2018, I had a rare smile on my face as tepid waters washed my feet. The foursome were finally together.It was only a three day trip. What felt like years of waiting had finally come true.A Goa trip with friends.Isn’t that a coming of age thing for every Indian millenial child ever? So, what if it was a decade too late.It is still what these silly people kept alive in their hearts. Love and Hope.After all these years.

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Magic called Friendship

Yes, I believe in magic. Yes, I believe there are genies, wizards, pixies and fairies. They live with us or sometimes even far, far away from us. But they will make sure you are dazzling on your first date. Sometimes they will be upto no good and make you drunk till you puke.They will hold you high on your carpet to make sure you dont fall. Their one look is as good as a dose of vertaserium, you will spit out the truth quickly.For me my two best friends are magical creatures, with me since good two decades. Miles apart, sometimes paused with silences between us. But always being there when I need them. If this is not magic, then don’t know what is? 4 August 2019

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