The Silent Language of Companionship

It was early evening when Indu sent me an image and said, “I want you to write on this.”

When I saw it, the only word that came to my mind was Companionship.

She messaged, “The couple holding each other - probably one is taking care of another.”

I replied, “I shall definitely write , anything for you!”

And while she had merely planted a thought, it grew roots in my mind.
All evening, I found myself lost in it.

Perhaps that couple didn’t even know someone was watching them.
They didn’t know that amidst the rush of a bustling city, their quiet togetherness was radiating something so beautiful - something rare.
They were unaware that a stranger somewhere had captured them from behind, and that another stranger would sit down to give that moment a meaning.

There was something about that image - a quiet message, unspoken yet powerful.

When I think of relationships, I often see two words hiding inside - relation and ship.
But not every relation becomes a ship, does it?
Not every connection finds the courage to travel together through storms and seasons.

To me, a relationship is more than just proximity or promises. It’s companionship in its truest sense - walking together through life’s changing seasons, being each other’s calm, the silent assurance that says, “Come what may, I’m here.”

Among all bonds, friendship and love stand apart - because we choose them.
They’re not inherited, they’re built.
Brick by brick. Day by day.
Of course, paradise has its thorns - love isn’t always a red carpet, it’s a garden that blooms, withers, and blooms again with time.

And in that cycle lies the beauty of companionship
Serving each other coffee in silence.
Holding hands when words fail.
Listening more, talking less.
Travelling together - not to see places, but to stay connected in motion.
Sharing life’s load, without measuring who carried more.

I often find myself smiling when I see couples like that - quietly growing old together.
They remind me that love doesn’t always need to be loud or grand.
Sometimes, it’s in the gentle back rub, the shared laughter, the unspoken understanding.

What binds such souls?
I’ve seen love, fights, cold wars, compromises, laughter after tears, and silences that heal more than words ever could.
And I’ve realized - the real glue isn’t perfection.
It’s trust, respect, and love - three threads, twisted together, forming a rope strong enough to hold two hearts across time.

Sometimes, I wish I could capture that beauty exactly as it is - not through words, but through feeling.
Because language often falls short of the heart’s vocabulary.
And yet, here I am - trying to wrap the infinite in syllables.

Then, as always, my rational mind peeks in - reminding me that feelings are subjective, that not everyone experiences life the same way.
And my creative self smiles back, whispering, “Still… isn’t it beautiful that you try?”

One thing most people don’t know about me - I have a fantasy-filled heart.
I live half in reality, half in wonder.
Like Alice in Wonderland, I love imagining the impossible - miracles, moments, emotions untouched by logic.

Perhaps that’s why I see romantic relationships as my favourite fantasy.
Not because they’re unreal - but because they hold the possibility of everything we long for: care, belonging, and warmth.
Sometimes, a single touch on the back says more than a hundred promises ever could.

And maybe… that’s what companionship truly is-
not about holding someone because they need you,
but holding them because you can’t imagine walking alone.

It’s not about being seen together,
but being known - deeply, quietly & endlessly.

And somewhere in that ordinary moment 
of two people, unknown to the world, yet everything to each other.

I wish to find my own little miracle.
The kind of love that doesn’t flaunt, doesn’t fade - just simply that stays with me. 

When Life Brings You to a Halt!

 
There are certain years in life that feel unbearably heavy — where challenges seem to pile up, and every day feels like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Such times leave scars, yes, but also carve lessons so deep that they never quite leave you.

I had one such year, a few years ago. A major surgery forced me into stillness. Suddenly, I had time — time I never asked for, but desperately needed. As I lay recovering, thoughts began layering themselves in my mind, one after another. Some were sharp realisations. Others were whispers that grew louder with every passing day.

Here are the ones that stayed with me:

Realisation #1 - The Body Always Warns Us.
Every ailment starts with small signs — a sneeze, a headache, unexplained fatigue. For women, it often intertwines with stress, cycles, and silent pressures that compound over time. As a single mother with a business to run and an ambitious entrepreneur, I brushed them aside until my body gave up on me. And then, it demanded to be heard. The truth is simple: if you don’t listen to your body, one day it will make you listen.

Realisation #2 - Pain Redefines Priorities.
When the body is in pain, nothing else matters. To-do lists, deadlines, plans — they all dissolve. All you crave is relief. Pain, in any form, has the power to humble us, to strip away illusions, and to remind us of the most basic desire: to simply be okay again.

Realisation #3 - True Friends Are Rare.
In crisis, less than 5% of the people you know will actually stand by you. Those who do, they’re not just friends — they’re your life companions. The rest? They’re characters passing through your story. I came across a line that captures this beautifully: “Give it and see, leave it and see. If it comes back, it’s yours. If not, it never was.”

Realisation #4 - Actions Speak Louder Than Words.
Not everyone who says they care, truly does. Real concern doesn’t always look like grand gestures; sometimes it’s a small, quiet presence that proves more powerful than words. Life’s hardest moments reveal the gap between intention and action.

Realisation #5 - The World Moves On.
This one stings the most. No matter your suffering, life outside doesn’t pause. People continue with their routines, and the world spins at its own pace. The sooner we accept this truth, the lighter our hearts become. Acceptance doesn’t make pain vanish, but it does make it easier to carry.

That year left its marks, but also its gifts. Today, I carry these lessons not as scars, but as reminders.

If there’s one thing I’d leave you with, it’s this:

Listen to your body, cherish the rare few who truly stand by you, and remember — pain is temporary, but the wisdom it brings can shape you for a lifetime.

When a Conversation Becomes a Connection!

We, the people, rush.

We rush through our days. We rush through our decisions. We rush past moments that matter.
We overlook the magic hidden in ordinary interactions.
We forget to see - really see - the people we meet.
Even if we do – We just browse through or brush away

I’ve done that too. Afterall, I’m part of “those people.”

But every now and then, life taps you on the shoulder.
And in one such unexpected moment, someone walked in, stayed for just two hours - and stayed in my life forever.

Isn’t that life’s strange paradox?
Some people are in your life for years yet leave no impression.
Others appear for a fleeting moment - and leave a mark that time cannot fade.

A Coffee, a Conversation, and Something More 

It was a bright morning in Bangalore - the kind where the sun filters gently through chaos. I was heading Human Resources at First American, and we were on the lookout for a Head of Learning & Development.

My colleague Toufiq, who led Talent Acquisition and was one of the blue-eyed boys in the team, forwarded me a profile. The resume looked promising. I decided to meet the candidate for an informal chat. No boardroom, no formality - just a conversation.

We chose Café Coffee Day at Wilson Garden. That CCD had a certain charm - tucked in just off a traffic - clogged road, yet oddly calm, like a quiet corner in a crowded mind.

She walked in, poised yet warm. We ordered our coffees, settled in - and dove into a conversation that flowed effortlessly. We spoke of work, leadership, vision, challenges, possibilities… but more than that, we simply connected. It didn’t feel like an interview. It felt like talking to someone you somehow already knew.

I’ve always believed that the best interviews aren’t really interviews.
They’re conversations without agendas. Meetings without masks.

And by the time I exited CCD that morning, I knew. She was the one. I wanted her to be part of our journey.

When Destiny Has Other Plans

But just when everything seemed aligned - resume, conversation, intention - life added its twist. After all, Mr. Destiny needs to play his superiority Right!!

She had to move out of Bangalore due to personal constraints.

And just like that, it ended before it began.

She politely informed us. We wished her well. And that was that.

Now, in most cases, you forget and move on. It’s just “an interview,” right?
But this one lingered. Not in a professional sense, but in a deeply human one.

We never worked together.
But we never lost each other either.

One Coffee. One Connection. One Constant.

A decade has passed. She’s still in Learning & Development. I’m still in the people business.
We live in different cities - Bangalore and Pune. Yet every time we speak, time disappears.

Our conversations have no agendas, no ticking clocks, no filters.

It’s rare, isn’t it? To meet someone who reflects your thoughts without mirroring them, who listens without judgement, who energizes you simply by being herself.

That’s what happened with Sunitha.

One meeting. One spontaneous coffee. And a friendship that outlasted job titles, companies, and cities.

Life’s Quiet Reminders

Sometimes, life doesn’t shout.
It whispers. Through people. Through moments we almost ignore.
It nudges us to slow down, to observe, to feel.
And once in a while, it gives you a gift - wrapped in nothing but conversation.

No fireworks. No declarations. Just two people who met as professionals and left as something far more enduring.

Have you ever met someone like that?
A passing connection that turned into a lifelong friendship?

If yes, maybe it’s time to call them.
And if not—maybe the next coffee you have with a stranger could be the beginning of something beautiful.

Happy Friendship Day!