Connect Matters - Happy Birthday Sonali

 I still remember 4th Aug, when I had my first interaction with you . The reason was Bookoholics Club. I don't know but I felt I connected with you in some way. Probably that was the reason I sent you the request. 

We exchanged a few formal pleasantries and you handed me a form to fill and submit. I had been a member of few stupid clubs and filling out a form was a surprise to me. I filled it out straight away and submitted. I remember you taking a long time to approve it as an admin :) I thought the process must be pretty strict and so should be Sonali, the admin. Finally, I got an entry to Bookoholics Club. Since Corona was at its peak offline meetings were rare. You seem to be a happy-go-lucky character ,and I felt good whenever you indulged in any discussion. You read fiction, which I don't. So, we were poles apart in that sense, but sometimes a person unknowingly gives you some positive vibrations. That is what was happening, I believe.

Our first meeting was in a café shop in Wakad, and it was fun. It was a cute cafe, and I got to know a few friends like Jigna, Avanti, and Aman during that meeting. I even met you for the first time over there. I have some vivid memories of that meeting which brings an instant smile now. That time, I was utterly embarrassed. What I like the most was the Jovial nature of you. You rarely feel depressed. You have an unimaginable appetite for getting yourself clicked, and there is a high probability of you discarding 90% of those pictures. I realised it later and I dont share pictures with you now :)

Book Launch near Pune station was the next I attended. There were a couple of book launches that happened in between by I think Sonali ignored me :) 

Our friendship was further cemented when we interacted during the book launch and discussed how boring it was. I think I started making my niche circle of Bollywood gangs after that. Her signature word "Bhak" was new to me at that time. Now, I am accustomed to it. Meera from Mumbai organized lovely tea and I still have memories of that tea session in railway quarters. I am a person who finds happiness in extremely small things, maybe that's why I am mentioning it, but just writing my heart out.

Our friendship gradually grew through interactions and the seamless connection which got established thereafter. Sonali, I wish you a happy birthday & I think you are one of the most important friends in my life. Every person has ups and downs in his life. No life is perfect, that’s only in a Bollywood movie. But I see that friend in you with whom I can discuss simple things, smaller things. What I like most in you is you are ground to earth and humble. I have never visited Dewas, but one day I will go and visit the place 😊 .There seems to be some magic in that place. I am an extrovert and I get energy when i meet people. Sonali is that one friend whom i like meeting and interacting. Time flies when we indulge in a discussion. I can go one and one but I will conclude wishing you a happy birthday and a healthy life. I recollect a song from Gulzar who is your Fav poet. 

वो शाम कुछ अजीब थी, ये शाम भी अजीब है

वो कल भी पास पास थी, वो आज भी करीब है

I am sure we will stay together as friends and end up creating memories for lifetime, which we can cherish.