Anil's invitation accepted - visiting India Jul. 09 - Aug. 06, 2008

Anil - its done deal - see attached itinerary - just now (7.10pmToronto Time) Jaishree was talking to Aruna and she was just so much surprised (b'coz we were with Jaishree in Niagara Casino over the weekend and there was no such program) that we got our booking done just in a few hours after speaking with Anil - wow...my dream of India (you are my India) has already started...will speak to you tonight. Love -Anil

P.S. Anil called this morning and spoke with Aruna and I. Asked if we can come - and Aruna said "if you want us to come - we will come" - he said "please come" - we made the booking and will be visitng India from Jul. 09, 2008 - return on Aug. 06, 2008.

Anil's email July 05, 2008

-----Email I received from Anil July 05, 2008-----------

I have found the personal time, which is my own time and I am not ready to sell it. Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you; Please come, I am waiting for you.

A question from a Friend to a Friend

I recently wrote an email to my friend Anil - I am keeping it here for my own sake:

---------Email text ----------
Anil,

Open and read attached letter ONLY when you have about 10-15 minutes to yourself and YOUR OWN time; (without stealing a client's time from an appointment or time from profession's schedule). It's personal stuff - needs personal time.

Love,
Anil
-----------text of letter------

I owned a shirt in my teens patterned with black-and-white stripes, suggestive of a zebra. It was the sort of thing that I loved back then. It was given to me by a Raman Gupta, a rich relative of our extended family. It was a very expensive shirt, and not the sort of luxury that my parents could afford them. I’m sure Raman gave it to me as it seemed to be made for the youth of the day (Raman was in his 30s at the time, I guess). He was right. I really loved his shirt – it was hip and I thought it made me– a scrawny, young, oily-haired guy – looked great. I wore that shirt so often that my fragrance was embedded into its fabric. I wore it to all the important events in my life. It felt like another layer of skin on top of my epidermis.

Then, one day, it was sent out in the laundry to the local dhobi (the washer man) and never returned with the rest of the bundle of clothing. I was very upset. I cried, and my mother went to the dhobi, and even fought with him, in an attempt to relocate my favorite shirt. But from that day forward, no one and nothing, not the dhobi, and not his wife, and no amount of my mum’s pleading and yelling, was able to procure the shirt. It was gone forever, lost amongst the hundreds of colorful clothes, one special shirt of black-and-white stripes. Loved and lost by a teenaged boy. When I realized that it was lost forever, never to be found, something in me plummeted and broke. And soon, I was to understand that this was just the beginning.

The years passed, and I grew older. And as is the case in every life, there were many more losses to incur. A succession of jobs gained and lost. Entire cities gained and lost as I moved from Moga to Ludhiana to Bombay (now Mumbai). Then entire countries found and lost as I moved from India to Egypt, to the UK, to Dubai, to Nigeria, back to India, and then onto Canada. So much gained; so much lost. My daughter Anchal, gained. Her first baby walker, lost at the beach. Another daughter Aiysha, gained. A successful business gained. Shipments lost to thievery. My very first video camera gained - and lost to a break-in at home. If everything that I’ve lost were to be magically reassembled chronologically, it would be an apt reflection of all the various stages of my life.

Others see me as a very organized, collected person, but some of my losses, and the manner in which I incurred them, show my inner chaos. Recently, with visions of a sizeable wholesale business deal in my head, I took several trips to Eastern Asia to purchase expensive, high quality products. This time I incurred the loss of my vision along with my investment when the business didn’t do as well as I expected. Sometimes you lose your dreams. Sometimes your dreams are the cause for your loss.

When it comes to lost deals, shirt, suitcase, watch, camera, some few hundred thousand dollars in losses, I found them to be pretty manageable. A few years ago I lost my father, my mother and younger brother, all of them in a short period of time – a loss that I have not been able to come to terms with. Soon after the loss of my family members – my recent losses of significant amount of money seems worthless. I have been noticing a change in my view point when it comes to a lot of aspects of my life and the way I am affected with the losses. I remember how I reacted when my containers were lost and when my things were stolen – even when I lost my shirt to a DHOBI.

Isn’t it that loosing is so much sound like human, and everything that we consider lost like our shirts, notebooks, money etc. etc.; it all kind of looks so replaceable, but you never know. One memorable day was when Arpan, my son was perhaps four, five or six, and we went to Appu Ghar in New Delhi and he lost his “KAKAJI” (he used to call sun glasses KAKAJI) – his mum had to walk all the way outside to buy another one before he will stop crying for KAKAJI. Today Arpan hardly remembers KAKAJI.

In short I am who has lost a number of businesses, his father, mother and a brother but not their gentle spirit. To lose and go on is the story of every life, in the deepest sense – so it is for me too. So, I’ve come to see the loss of possessions as a kind of dress rehearsal for the harder losses: businesses, health, people you love. Now that I have lost both of my parents, my younger brother and a couple of more people around me whom I met during my life journey, I have a heightened gratitude for the things that surround me. I’ve bought them because they made me smile, received them because someone cared about me or chosen to keep them through the years, each in its accustomed place, because they create a sense of rootedness that is the next best thing to permanence.

I could buy a black and white zebra stripped shirt somewhat just like the one I lost to our DHOBI. A lot of things may not have changed over time, but I’ve changed for sure, and part of that change has been learning to remember lost things with affection instead of trying to recapture them. I’m not quite there yet, of course. But at the rate things slip through my fingers, I know I’ll get plenty of practice.

A dear friend of mine from my childhood is another thing that is trying to give a whole lot of practice to me these days. I owe him thanks for helping me to learn the art of loosing – even though I am holding him with both my hand and my teeth are deep into his shirt’s collar - let me see what he does to make me let him loose...what would you do to me if you were him?