Incredible India: Part 2- People

I love meeting new people because it reminds me that there is still so much more to discover in this world.

A Nervous Start

This journey started quite some time ago when I met my friend, Ritika. I had just started a new job and the second day I had to head out to a large conference and spend all day with her. I wasn't sure what to think. I had only had one all day meeting with everyone and I was new to the city itself. The first day of the conference started with another chance meeting and put my nervous mind and heart at ease. A man helped me figure out how to get on the BART, which line to take and where to get off. He went out of his way to help an obviously anxious person do something that may have been so routine to him without judgement or pause and henceforth, made a lifelong friend. Thank you Brian.

As I arrived in the middle of San Francisco, looking around and taking it all in, it was a mad rush to make sure that I went to the correct place and picked up my badge. I hoped for the best. Once Ritika and I convened, I was met with a warm smile and an open demeanor. In that first, very long day spent trouncing around at Dreamforce, I had made another lifelong friend. That week we spent more time together than either of us had probably anticipated and going forward, we became each other's partner-in-crime, soundboard and shoulder to lean on. The first day I met her, she said that I needed to visit India because she would love to show me where she is from and from that moment on, I knew that we would make it happen.

Welcome to My Home

Traveling to India was not just about crossing another destination off of the bucket list, it was more about self-discovery. There were many things going on in my life that drew me to want to get away for a bit and to honestly go somewhere that I had never been before and meet people that I hadn't yet heard their story. It is said that, "Strangers are just friends you haven't met," and how true that was in this case. From the moment I left the airport to the moment I returned, I experienced a kindness that I needed desperately to reassure myself of the goodness that still exists in this world.

The first half of my trip, I stayed with Sahil, Ritika's husband's family. They welcomed me with open arms and I couldn't be more grateful. His brother, aunt and uncle, parents and grandparents all treated me as part of the family and were genuinely excited that I was experiencing their country and culture for the first time. While visiting her store, Sahil's amazing mother, Sabina even gave me an amazing lehenga to wear to an upcoming wedding. Not only did she give me this amazing and intricately designed outfit, but she altered it for me significantly in a very short time frame. She didn't have to do this. I would have still thought that she was amazing without this grand gesture, but she didn't even hesitate or think twice and this was the theme across my trip to New Delhi... People being wonderful and going out of their way to make me feel loved and accepted.

Sabina's beautiful store, LY2. Make sure to visit while you are in Gurgaon.

It was a great feeling, being able to stay in their home, share meals with them and learn something new about their culture everyday. They let me into their lives in a way that I didn't expect, but will treasure forever. It was a bit of a whirlwind... preparing for the wedding, throwing parties and dealing with grief when the family dog suddenly passed away. Snoopy was a good old soul that clearly had a large part to play in the happiness of a family that got him as a puppy. He passed away from old age, but the pain of losing a family member that brought nothing but pure joy was palpable. A lot happened in just a few days. It wasn't just Sahil's family that embraced me, it was also his and Ritika's friends that let me in. I got to party with them and dance, sing and have deep conversations, all while having more fun than I have had in a long time.

One thing that I really wanted to experience while in Delhi was an Indian wedding. Although, I didn't go to all five days, I was able to attend the last day, or reception of Sahil's college friends Karan and Soni. It was definitely one of the most beautiful events that I had ever been to and even though they didn't have to, they welcomed me while crashing their wedding and also struck a friendship. Even the day after their wedding, they were still going strong at Ritika and Sahil's party, which only leads me to believe that Indians truly know not only how to party, but how to rally.

The happy couple taking pictures with friends on the last of a five-day wedding extravaganza

The party the next day showed me another side. It was amazing how Ritika and Sahil's friends and families can come together for a great party. You would never know which side of the family anyone belonged to without asking. It made for a relaxed, but fun atmosphere. Not so relaxed when it came to our famed bartender, however. Don't you dare try to go five minutes without a drink in your hand. It's INCONCEIVABLE!! Too much fun was had by all and as the night wound down, it turned to deep, serious conversations on light subjects. With as much fun as I had staying there, I still wasn't prepared for the next part of my trip.

Welcome to the Family

The second half of my trip was spent staying with Ritika's family in the heart of New Delhi. It's been difficult for me to finish this particular post because of how hard it has been for me to put into words how they made me feel. In short, I was family. Her parents became my parents, her sister was my sister and her grandfather was mine too. From the moment that I met them, they treated me as though I had been there the whole time. I was a daughter, sister and granddaughter without question or hesitation. We went on family outings, they took me to the market, and made me feel as comfortable there as I do in my own parent's house. They even took me to places like Taj Mahal Hotel for dinner, a place that has deeply-seeded importance to them as a family. They spoke of the many memories that they had made there and why they were drawn to have me experience it with them as a family. I'm forever grateful.

I found myself getting rather emotional several times during this portion of my trip. I was quietly choked up as her mother spoke of her and her husband's favorite date locations and something as simple as their favorite songs. Even though I look at Ritika as sister, more than a friend, I wasn't expecting her family, whom I had never met to treat me as such. My stay there was filled with slumber parties, Guru teachings, and an introduction to some downright delicious food.

It was great to spend time with Ritika's aunts and cousins, letting me in on fun stories and also introducing me to new foods. Her parents showed me around New Delhi and Old Delhi, shopping and dancing to songs on the radio. For these reasons, I chose to have this post be about the people that I stayed with and their friends and family. I realized that even though I expected to be writing about the people of Delhi in general, I made a larger connection on this trip than I had ever anticipated.

I saw intense joy and pain and I am grateful to have been a part of it all. I dedicate this post to Sahil and Ritika with a resounding thank you! Thank you for letting me be a part of your worlds and experience my first trip to India in a way that I could have never imagined, as a part of your families and immersed in your culture.