Finding Light in a Season of Celebration

December carries a certain magic.

Soft lights glow in the evenings, familiar songs play in the background, and the air feels lighter somehow. Christmas reminds us of warmth, kindness, and the joy of being together.

And yet, there are moments when the heart feels a little distant from the celebration.

Sometimes, I find myself sitting alone, not by choice but by circumstance. It’s not the act itself that matters—it’s the pause that comes with it. That gentle realization that you’re standing slightly on the edge of the moment, looking in.

Still, Christmas has a way of teaching us something beautiful—even in quiet spaces.

Loneliness doesn’t always shout.

Often, it whispers.

And in those whispers, we learn to listen more closely—to ourselves and to others.

What keeps me grounded is the reminder that joy isn’t always loud either. Sometimes, joy is subtle. It’s in the twinkle of lights, the warmth of a familiar song, the comfort of knowing that tomorrow can feel kinder than today.

This season invites reflection as much as celebration. It nudges us to slow down, to notice, to care a little more deeply. Inclusion doesn’t need grand gestures. Often, it lives in small moments—awareness, a smile, a simple check-in.

I choose to believe that hearts are softer during Christmas. That kindness finds its way, even if slowly. That feeling unseen today doesn’t mean being unseen forever.

If you’ve ever felt this quiet contrast—being surrounded by celebration while carrying a tender ache—know that you’re not alone. And more importantly, know that your presence matters.

As the lights shine brighter this Christmas, I hope they remind us that there’s room for everyone in the circle. That joy grows when it’s shared. And that sometimes, the most meaningful celebrations begin with empathy.

Merry Christmas—to hope, to warmth, and to the gentle joy we give and receive along the way. 🎄✨

Maybe Someday We’ll Meet Again, Not As Strangers

Maybe someday we’ll meet again.

Not in a rush, not in a crowd, not with a thousand thoughts running in our heads.

Maybe it’ll be somewhere quiet — a small café, a railway station, or under the same sky we once shared.

We might not even recognise each other at first. Time changes faces, but not eyes. Eyes remember — the laughter, the pain, the late-night talks that faded with distance.

Maybe we’ll just smile politely, unsure if it’s really us.

Or maybe the silence between us will speak louder than any words ever could.

I don’t know if we’ll talk about the past — about the moments that slipped away before we could hold them tight. Maybe we won’t need to. Maybe the air will carry enough of our old warmth to say it all.

You’ll tell me about your life — the people, the places, the dreams you chased.

And I’ll tell you how I learned to live without needing to explain myself anymore.

There won’t be any blame, no “what ifs,” no trying to fix what was never broken — just two souls who once crossed paths and left gentle fingerprints on each other’s lives.

And when we part again, it won’t hurt this time.

Because we’ll finally know —

some people aren’t meant to stay,

they’re meant to teach us how to love, how to lose,

and how to find ourselves somewhere in between.

Maybe someday we’ll meet again,

not as strangers,

but as two people who once meant something…

and still do.

Solo travel

I have been asked several time: Don't you get lonely taking solo tours? Didn't you wish you had someone by your side during the tours? And my answer remains the same: No!

Solo travels can get lonely and there are moments where I wished I had someone special to share these moments with. Yet, I can't help but think about how these trip I took alone were my most favorite experiences, over the ones I have traveled with others or a group of friends.

The first time I decided to travel solo was not something I wanted, but because I couldn't find anyone who was willing to commit the time or money to travel with me. It then struck me that if I kept waiting for someone to travel with, then I would be missing out on so many great opportunities and experiences.

The things is if you find yourself without a travel companion, for whatever reason, don’t be afraid to take that dream trip by yourself.  There are many joys and advantages to travelling solo.

YOU SET THE ITINERARY
When you travel alone, the only person you must be worried about is YOU! You set the plan.

MEET NEW PEOPLE
If you're an Introvert, like me, travelling can force you to come out of your shell. When you don't have a travel companion to focus your attention on, you are more open to meeting new people. Starting a talk with other travelers can lead to a very enriching vacation, as they always love to make recommendation of places and it always ends up that you're planning your next vacation there.

DISCOVER NEW CONFIDENCE
Travelling alone is a great way to boost your self esteem.  You, and you alone, are responsible for navigating a new country, culture and language.  There will most likely be a few bumps in the road.  You will have to be the one who solves problem and overcomes those obstacles.  By doing so, you will see just how capable you are!

So you see that traveling solo is always a win win situation for all. Reach out, follow your dreams and make a difference.

The curious case of John titor - Episode 1

Day 1 : The sun was soaking at its highest during the month of April. Dehra had never seen such a summer in its past 53 years. It was a Sunday and most people of Dehra preferred to stay at home and watch their weekly dose of Ramayana, Mahabharata and The Jungle book. The streets of Dehra were almost deserted as the schools also were closed for summer break and most kids had returned home or were at home trying to cool themselves.

While most the kids were at their home enjoying their summer break by watch The jungle book or Shaktiman, there were 3 little brats Ankur, Jia and Madhav who were as usual at their favorite hangout Utopia cyber cafe.

Ankur's dad was a high profile businessman of Dehra. Who apparently also was the president of the Paltan bazaar shopkeeper committee . His name and fame were wide spread, not only due to his business deals but mainly "his offers made were never refused". Ankur was in his eleventh grade, but the cops of Dehra always feared charging him of anything. So you see, Ankur was a big shot in himself.

Jia belonged to a very subtle middle class family, which was more like a lower income group family. Jia's house was on a long term loan from the bank and Ankur's dad had promised to help Jia's family repay the debts over the years for their service which he would ask for when required. Jia was a very attractive girl. She belonged to a middle class family, but she had boys always around her. And one of the boy was Ankur. This made Ankur and Jia very good and close friends.

Madhav's father owned a dairy shop and the shop was now run for generations. Madhav was to join his father at the dairy as a family ritual but Madhav was a stubborn kid so insisted that he could run a cyber cafe. So his father made him the owner of a cyber cafe which they named as Utopia.

Utopia became a immediate success as this cyber cafe was the only cyber cafe in the locality. This cyber cafe was always flocked by many. Few came to the cafe to take print outs of study material, some came to the cafe to access their Orkut account or Facebook account, but mostly people came to the cafe to hangout. Utopia cyber cafe over the years became a youth hangout. Madhav was always a wonderful host. He always welcomed people to the cafe, as his business instinct always said that more the people, more the sale.

It was just another day when Ankur and Jia were at Utopia to meet Madhav.

Ankur : Hey Madhav! How are you? All good with the oldie dairy owner? (Jia punches Ankur's stomach with her elbow for being so rude)

Madhav : Yes all fine. And hey Jia, you're looking so gorgeous today.

Jia: Thanks Madhav, hope Ankur can also see this and compliment me each time he see's me.

**all laugh**

Madhav - You both can occupy the last cabin of the cafe, that's free for you and no disturbance too. (Madhav giggles).
Jia : Thanks Madhav, you're the best for always keeping out our favorite system and place.

Ankur and Jia were at their system and the only work they did was to hold hands and write testimonials for each other on Orkut or change their profile picture. Jia was the one who wrote good testimonials which were poetic and also made sense. Where as Ankur was always writing stupid testimonial and scraps for Jia. His all time favorite testimonial would have been " Roses are red, lets get to bed, else I'll be dead and you'll be my favorite bud" They were always laughing and giving puppy kisses to each other at the cafe and Madhav silently always watched and envied them. Cyber cafe for Ankur and Jia was only for social networking between themselves or maybe for Jia to prove to Ankur that she's the better one here.

Outside the air conditioned cyber cafe the sun was soaking up everything. Fumes of heat were rising from the ground.

And suddenly the phone inside the cyber cafe rings and Madhav knew it was from one of his customer Mr Verma ji who had recently taken the internet connection from him. Madhav answers the phone and before he could say a word, a voice from the other side says "Check you mail" and the phone disconnects.

Madhav was wonder-struck for a minute and as he sees outside the window, the climate starts to change. There are black rain clouds which are slowly covering the sky. In a fraction of minute there was a thunderstorm with lightening.

Ankur and Jia stand up from their cabin to discover what was happening. They see the black clouds outside the window and are simply confused. They are even more confused because their friend Madhav was just lost in his own world.

Jia shouts out to Madhav and asks where's he lost and the confused boy Madhav just has his mouth open.

Jia walks up to Madhav to see what he has been up to. Madhav's e-mail is displayed on the screen. The subject of the mail says " I am John titor from the year 2036"

********************************Episode 1 ends*************************************

Friendship

Living in a city you barely know, or one where barely anyone knows you - can give you a sense of freedom - where you can do a thing as simple as walking with a girl at half past eleven in the night. Its not like you are doing something totally insane, neither is it that you are acting careless or being impulsive. Its just that you wouldn't do that in your hometown. And I thanked god each day for putting me up in Wellington.

It was one of those starry night when I was walking down an almost deserted road with my best buddy I had managed to make in the past 2 months of my stay. I was frankly just beginning to learn and like this new city.

I kept asking her, where are we going, but she kept on talking and walking.

"You think so much Aakash!" she exclaimed and I turned back to look at her and kept looking back and walking.

"You'll fall" she said.

No I won't, and almost the next minute I landed square on my butt.

Jess burst out laughing and gave me a hand to get up.

"Oouww", I moaned and slowly got up. I looked at Jess and immediately added - "I know you told me, don't go and say it again."

"Don't wanna walk?" Jess asked.

"Nah" I replied.

"Where are we going anyways?" I asked.

“Well, there is this kind of a playground close-by that kids in the neighborhood use as a soccer-field. It’s just an open area actually, nothing great. But there are not too many trees and all, so the sky really looks beautiful from there. We could have gone and just sat for a while and…”

"And what?" I asked.

Jess reached inside her bag and pulled out a bottle of wine.

"Oh come on! I can't be sitting here after what you have just showed me. And moreover the playground should not be so far now, can it? We've been walking almost twenty minutes now". I exclaimed.

"Okay okay! We're almost there. And did anyone ever tell you - you are such a big CRACKPOT?" Jess said.

"I finally figured out why you call me that" I said.

"Pray! Do enlighten me," Jess teased.

I stepped closer. She leaned in till my mouth was right next to her ears and then I answered - "It's because I intoxicate you as much as one."

Jess kept looking at me. And suddenly  burst out laughing.

"But you are not far from the truth,” Jess said.

I walked up to her and took her hand in mine.  And we had now reached the gates of the playground. The ground was usually left unguarded at night, because the people of Wellington have better work to do than be at the soccer ground.

"Look at use! We are crazy!" I said.

“No, I am totally sane – but yes; if not you, your madness sure is intoxicating!” Jess replied.

"Now what?" I asked.

“What, did you think there was gonna be champagne and red carpet to welcome you?”Jess said. We walked in and I by then was already tired.

"I cannot walk further! Can't we just sit here" I asked.

No ! Let’s go to the center of the playground! Trust me, you will love it,” Jess said.

I turned to look at the vast ground and heaved a sigh. "I am so tired ya.... please!"

"Fat ass you have become. What tired?" Jess teased. "Come on!" and before I could say another word in protest, Jess had already started walking towards the center.

You girl! You're calling me fat, you freako! Wait now I'll show you who's fat. I took off my jacket and tied it around my waist and started running towards Jess.

Here I come! as I approached Jess.

And the next moment I was racing towards Jess. Jess saw me coming and started running herself. She huffed and puffed as she saw me come from behind , and before we knew it, we had reached the center of the ground!

“So who’s the fatso, eh?” I asked.

“Anyhow,come on now. You shouldn't keep a guy waiting for so long for a drink! All that walking and running’s made me thirsty!”

Jess laughed as she let me pull her bag off her back. A couple of big gulps later I realized the oddness of the whole thing. “Why do you have a wine bottle on you anyway?”

“Because we were going to meet at your place initially? And because it is good manners to take a bottle of wine when someone calls you over for dinner.”

“Since when did ‘manners’ become so important to you?”

“Since now,” she said and pulled her bag out of my hand. She pulled out a small gift neatly wrapped in plain blue paper with an ink blue colored ribbon on it. She held the gift out to me and said “Happy birthday sweetheart.”

I looked at my watch. It was mid-night. I kept staring at my watch. "How did you know?" I asked without looking up.

"I had asked you, you had told me a long time back!" Jess exclaimed.

“No I meant – how did you think of doing all this? Mid-night, wine, new-moon, blue wrapping…”

“Well, that’s what friends are for, isn't it?”

I just kept staring at the watch and refused to look up. Jess moved closer to me and held up my face. She saw a tear trickle down my cheek.

"Aakash"

"No! Its OK. I'm alright" I said, readily rubbing my cheeks clean. Jess handed me the gift and untied the ink blue ribbon and the paper unfolded. She took out a silver chain off it.

I loved it.

This is just so perfect Jess, I said.

Are you kidding me? The bottle is not even half empty. Lets get a bit more drunk, said Jess.

I looked at Jess for a moment, and then lay down on my back. "Lie down" I urged. "You've got to check out this view".

“This is lunatically beautiful!” Jess laughed.

We both laid there for a while, not saying a word. The summer air was not cold, but was far from hot too. We laid there for a while and were talking about myriad things – our first birthdays, our latest crushes, the last movie we had seen together, the worst New Year’s Eve we had had, the one time in their lives when they felt nothing was impossible… after a while they were just staring at the sky… the clear, moonless, starry sky.

“That,” Jess said, pointing out to a star, “is the Orion.”

“Hmmm.”

“I've always loved that name, ‘Orion’. If I have a daughter someday, I’m gonna name her Orion.”

“Orion. But you know Orion is ‘The Hunter’, right?”

“Is it?” Jess asked, quite surprised. “I didn't know that!”

I laughed. “Funny you want to christen your girl with a name you do not even know the meaning of!” I remarked.

“Aye! It’s still a beautiful name! And I will name my daughter that someday…”

“I hope you do also know that to have a daughter you need to be married; to a man no less…” I remarked again. Jess gave me a strong punch on me stomach. “Ooouww!” I exclaimed.

“Come on! It’s not like I am never going to get married!”

“I know babe, I am only teasing…”

Jess suddenly put her arm around me and hugged me.

“Ha! You cry and I want to hug you, and you verbally push me away. And now you hug me. Why can’t I push you away?”

“Who said no? Of course you can. But do you really want to?” Jess challenged, and I only put an arm around Jess in response. We stayed like that for a moment, and then Jess got up and sat, leaning against my legs.

“You know Aakash, I was really grateful when we became friends. There’s a certain age that we all cross in life, after which there’s hardly ever a guy who approaches you because he wants to be nothing more than just a friend. They all are always attracted to you, and so want to become your friend in the hope of becoming a lover sometime down the line. What makes it ugly is when they realize it’s not gonna work out. Then they cut you off like you never existed. Whatever happened to friendship? Sometimes I hate this whole ‘love’ funda. It’s like, there’s a guy and a girl, they are best friends, till they become teenagers, and then they get attracted to each other. In the beginning its all weird cos, they are like best buddies till then. And then they get all infatuated, and start to think it’s ‘love’, and then they start dating, going out, till one of them finally grows up or – luckily – both of them do. But then it’s even weirder, cos now every time they meet each other as friends, they think about the times when they were sweethearts… and then they just, kind of, let it die.”

Jess paused. I waited for her to continue, but she didn't. Finally I prompted her –

“What was his name?”

“Chris.”

“Hmmm.”

There was another long pause.

“I am just so glad that’s never gonna happen between us,” Jess said finally. “Sometimes that’s all that you want – a best friend.”

“Correction,” I interrupted. “You may get tired of a brother, an aunt, your mother, even love for that matter – or love even more so. But no matter what, that’s something you will always want – a best friend.” Pause. “That was a good line!”

Jess applauded and held up the bottle.

“It was a mighty good one!” she exclaimed.

We mingled for a little longer and talked about some more random stuff after that. We then walked back to the restaurant, in front of which we had parked their bike. We held hands while walking, on their way back, and it wasn't weird at all. It was the most comfortable feeling in the whole world…




*Author’s Note: A lot of people wonder quite often how girls sometimes find it easier to talk to boys than other girls. A lot of people ridicule and even deny accepting friendship between a guy and a girl as just friendship and nothing else.

This piece is to celebrate exactly that – friendship. It is to celebrate the kind of comfort you have with your best friend that you don’t with any other person in the world. This piece is for all those who have – at least at some point of time, even as briefly as for a moment – valued friendship. This piece is for those unselfish people in your life who like you for what you are, not what you can be; for those people who you can call even only once in a year and still share the same warmth and connect as you used to in your hey-days… this one’s for you, my Friend. Even as cliché as it sounds, life’s truly is beautiful cos you’re a part of it.

Seventh heaven

'Oh come on, come on! Who is it!'

'Wait, wait.. slow down! I will tell you! I promise. But only when it is the right time...'

YES!

My mind was at rest and my doubts were finally confirmed...but somewhere deep within, I was still not sure. I mean, come on, it seemed highly improbable.... Jennifer and me? I mean... nothing wrong about it. But she would never fall in love with me... maybe, but MAYBE I would.. or yeah I could... but her? Fall in love with me? Nah !! Highly impossible.

But what was the fuss about? Why wouldn't she tell me the name of her new found love? I mean, she told me everything! I swear she did! So this was way weird of her. And what the hell was 'when it is the right time' supposed to me.

So as always, I met my friend, mentor, philosopher and most of all, my Et tu brute, Mr. X

What? Are you fucking kidding me?

'No! This is exactly what she said!' I said, as we sat across the bar.

Then this could mean only one thing; you are now officially going to be your best friend's boyfriend!

I smiled ! Up until that very moment, I wasn't sure if I was capable of smiling, after hearing a girls name.

Really? Could this be true? I said, as we gulped another peg.

I wasn't able to believe this.... But If I come to thinking of it... It seemed almost the right thing to happen. Or rather a logical thing to happen, if related to past events from over eleven months.  Within the first two months of our friendship we had exchanged numbers. And over a period of time, we had started calling each other up every night, as I have mentioned before. Yes, I did like her.

Talking to her made me forget the worst of college fights; it made me get over the worst of depressions; and more than any of this, it just made me very very happy. But as I considered the possibility… I can’t say how I felt about going around with Jennifer. But it brought a smile to my face.

These are the silly thing Love does to you.

Oh wait! What the hell was I talking about?

Where are you lost bro! Mr X asked (probably I was still lost in my dream world)

I told him what I was thinking about. He suddenly stands up and puts his hands up in the air, and acted like he was playing the piano, and sang in an ultimately off-key voice:

‘’Tis the season to be jolly Fra-la-la-la-la-lala-la-la!’

I quickly held his hands and yelled... whats wrong !!

‘That’s not true! And even if it is, the whole world need not know about it!’

‘Whats not true? I didn't even say anything! Did I say anything?’

That’s Mr X. There is no stopping him from going down hook, line and sinker once he decides to.

Oh fuck! Look at you. You're still smiling, You shameless pig.

I glanced at my watch. It was eight-forty five.

'We must get going! It's dinner time!' I said. And thankful for once that it was time-up. Otherwise me and Mr X could sit at the bar and go on and on till the end of time.  and without getting bored… sometimes even without talking… that is what the thing is with best friends; it never gets uncomfortable even if you have nothing to say.

Back home, I waited for Jennifer to call. I waited for the call and at the same time I wished she doesn't call. I was getting this weird 'going-to-be-in-love' feeling, which I had read in novels and seen on screen. I was nervous. I actually took a pen and listed down the things I would talk about; in the fear that she would find my pauses too long, or would see I was distracted.

As the arms of the clock inched closer to ten, my anxiety grew.

'The phone rings'

Hi ! her voice sounded warm and weird at the same time.

Hey ... wassup? I said.

I can't hold myself back any longer. I have to tell you.

OMG! OMG! OMG!... No no, not so soon, not so soon!  Come on! Lets do it like in the films... First you talk, then I talk. Then we don't talk. Then you clear your throat and I get the signal. But Jennifer was on it already.

His name is A____

"Aakash" I thought.

'Ali'

What?

'Ali'

Hey! I thought it was me!

What? You are kidding right? Aren't you?

Within a minute… within a few seconds I was brought down to earth from my seventh, or seven hundredth heaven. Ali.

'Hello? Aakash, you there?'

‘What? Yes... of course! I was kidding…’ I said. Jennifer further went on to describe Ali; how they met, what he looked like… but I still kept thinking… ‘I thought it was me

The Proposal

So this is how Indian mothers’ brains functioned.

Although it wasn't surprising. I knew it already___ the functioning of individuals belonging to this dangerous and seemingly unrealistic category. So where’s the catch?

I didn't know my mother belonged to this category.

Yeah… what was I thinking?  Sigh…

I had just been talking to my friend S___ no no, hold it; at least I can save her the embarrassment, right? Let’s call her… ummm… ok, yes. Let’s call her Lily. So I had been just talking to my friend Lily, for over 20 minutes now. In case you are wondering, let me tell you, this isn't long. We had recently gotten into the nightly ritual of calling each other up, and talking till all the lights in the neighborhood went out one by one. (Yeah, even the one in the ‘newly-married-and-still-in-marital-bliss’ couple’s house.) I got off the phone and came out into the drawing room to have a glass of water before I went off to meet Katy Perry and do things… of course in my dreams, what did you think? And there was mom, playing solitaire on the computer; waiting for Gauri to come back home.

‘Who was it?’ she asked.

‘Lily,’ I replied nonchalantly.

‘How is she doing?’ she asked.

‘Fine,’ I said, and sat down on the sofa. Yes, it was eleven-thirty; and yes, I had to wake up for work next day morning at eight; but Mom looked like she could use some company.

Pause.

Long pause.

Maybe she didn't need the company after all. It was just a passing comment. I made to get up and leave.

‘How old is she you said?’

‘What?’ I asked, a bit lost.

‘Lily. How old is she?’

‘I don’t know… maybe 25-26.’ Ok yes. This girl was my best friend. But we never discussed trivial things like age… we had a lot of other worldly things to talk about, right? But just then I began wondering… really how old was she? I didn't know the age of a girl who was the only other person besides my old-world friends (that is, my friends from college) whom I’d told about my ex-girlfriend. And soon the questions just kept coming… What was her favorite color? What was her favorite food? What was her best-friends name? And they gave me enough substance to talk about the next time we talked, which is to say, tomorrow night.

‘What has she studied?’

‘Sorry?’

‘Honestly, are you awake, or have you walked till here in your sleep?’

‘No, I am awake. I was just thinking.’

‘About Lily?’

‘Yes. I mean no. I mean… anyway, what were you asking?’ I said, shaking my head, and looking at mom’s face in profile. And just then I saw something___ something that sent my sleep to the dogs

Mom was smiling.

Ok, she was smiling… again; so where is the catch?

She was smiling coy.

Oh God !

She was smiling in an ‘aw-look-at-my-son-all-grown-up-and-falling-in-love’ way. God! Help! SOS! Was I witnessing proof to the existence of the kind of dangerous and seemingly unrealistic category I previously talked about? Or more so proof to the fact that my Mom belonged to this category?

I imagined a thousand ways in which things could have proceeded after my phone call with Lily, had I not felt like my life depended on that glass of water I just had to have before I met Katy. (Oh, I told you, Katy Perry.)


a) I get off the phone and come to the drawing room to drink water. Mom is playing solitaire on the computer. I say ‘Good-night’, walk back to my room and sleep.
b) I get off the phone and come to the drawing room. Mom is fast asleep in her room. I hear her snore. I walk back to my room and sleep.
c) I get off the phone. I get into the bed and sleep.

But no. I had to come out. I had to come out; I had to sit to give Mom some company while she waited for dad to come, and I SIMPLY HAD TO get myself into this situation. Why couldn't Gauri be on time for once?

‘What has she studied?’ Mom repeated. But this time, I heard her alright. I was now red-alert; antennas going round in wild circles.

‘MBA Finance.’ I answered.

‘Where does she work?’

GOD NO! PLEASE HELP ME!

‘Citi Group.’

By now I was trying to remember the last time I had prayed. My mind went back to when I was in school. Suddenly I was chanting ‘Lead Kindly Light’ in my head.

‘Is she alone?’

‘No, he has a younger brother. He is doing Engineering, first year.’ I provided mom with all the details even before she asked me. That’s what happens to me when I panic. People freeze; people go weak in the knees; I resort to non-stop, and often nonsensical blabbering.

And then came the final blow.

‘Has she thought of marriage?’

OH NO ! God.. Send help now !!.

Suddenly the sky darkened. Ok ya, it was already almost mid-night now, but I want to make this dramatic. So; suddenly the sky darkened, and I saw myself seated on an over-sized throne. I was wearing a tuxedo. Aargh. Aargh! Me? tuxedo, over size throne.These words weren't supposed to go together in one sentence; maybe atleast till I turned thirty. But that’s what I saw; me seated on an over-sized throne, wearing a tuxedo. And next to me was Lily, dressed in a red sari and looking beautiful.

Wait.

Did I just say beautiful? Yes, I did! Oh my God! Mom was passing it onto me now! Let me just give you Lily’s character sketch in one line: she is not the kind of girl I’d actually get the hots for, ever! But if I were thirty and if someone suggested her name as a possible suitor for me, I wouldn't have a good solid reason to say no.

Yes, she was looking beautiful. And there was her younger brother, standing next to her. And there were her parents, looking onto me, their handsome boy. And there were her friends, giving her thumbs-up every time she looked at them and secretly envying her. And there were my old-world friends, wondering if it was really Lily sitting next to me. And there was my Mom, dabbing here eyes every once in a while. And there was Dad at the door, welcoming the guests and they came with bouquets. Lily was leaning in to say something. Whatever it was she said made me get those little butterflies fly in my stomach.

I closed my eyes and shook my head. I was back in the drawing room. Mom was still playing solitaire. ‘Mom, why are you doing this to me?’ I thought. But I could already see my doom. Career gone. Speed-dating plans ruined. And Katy! I just chose not to think about her.

‘I don’t know…’ I found myself saying. ‘we never talked about marriage!’

Pause.

‘But, why did you ask?’ I asked.

‘Your aunt Eva, she is looking for a match for David na… So I was just thinking. Maybe she could___’

But I wasn't listening anymore… Ah! There was still goodness in the world! God existed! I was alive! Hallelujah! Long live the King! Long live the Queen! Long live Mom!

I did a mini-jig inwardly. But I was careful enough not to show it. I got up, kissed mom goodnight, and walked back to my room. I went through my stuff and finally found my iPod. I switched it on, turned the volume full, scrolled through the playlist and pressed the play button.

My mom did NOT belong to the dangerous and seemingly unrealistic category...

It was time to celebrate.