Yesterday was Holi. Though, I am not as enthusiastic about playing Holi now, as I was a few years ago, nevertheless, I do go out and play Holi with family and friends. After playing Holi with neighbours and friends in our apartment complex, we hopped over to other friends’ pad. And there’s one family friends that we have to visit, no matter what!
Meet our friends, the R and B. R was KG’s first boss at his first job. KG shared a fab relationship with R and his family, from the very beginning. We were not in touch for many years as we kept moving from one place to another but the bond stayed strong and firm despite the distances. Now, that we are in the same city, our no celebration is complete without them.
I am yet to meet a family that is so warm and friendly as the R family. The husband-wife duo are the epitome of all goodness and grace and their 3 teenagers are closely following their parents’ footsteps.
All the festivals are celebrated with such enthusiasm, verve and aplomb, with all their relatives and friends joining them, at their place. The food is always awesome and in huge quantities and the smiles are always bright. A visit to their home guarantees overwork for the smile and laughter muscles. Yes, the fun and frolic quotient is super high at their place. In fact, meeting them always leaves a happy and warm-fuzzy feeling!
Yesterday, while I was munching on the goodies, I saw how the friends of the kids came and met R and B so warmly with a hug. I saw the cheerful banter and easy camaraderie the parents, kids and their friends shared with each other. They all had a kind and a cheery word for everybody they met.
A 5 year old kid among the guests was not happy to see the lunch menu which was an elaborate
Rajasthani fare. He wanted to eat only a Pizza and nothing else. The child’s mother tried her level best to calm him but to no avail. While others were ignoring the child’s tantrums, the eldest daughter opened the foodpanda.in app on her smart phone, which is an online food delivery website and placed an order for a Pizza from the Pizza Hut for the child. In the mean time, she distracted the child by acting goofy and dancing with him. When the pizza arrived 40 minutes later, the mother was stumped and truly overwhelmed. To her countless apologies and thanks, the family said they cant let a child cry especially on a festive occasion! And the happy smiles spread all around!
Last time, when they joined us for dinner at our place, I had one stuffed parantha left from the morning breakfast. Not wanting to waste it, I warmed it up too among other dinner dishes and told B that I’d have it. I was the last one to reach the dinner table and before I could grab the parantha, B had given a small bite of the parantha to everybody and then coolly went about serving the rest of the food. I looked at her and she smiled and said, ‘Love only grows by sharing’. That was such a thoughtful gesture and I was truly amazed!
I am in awe at the love and compassion this family sports in all their relations. This is one family that believes that as our families and circles of friendship become larger, so must our hearts. They truly don’t wait for extra-ordinary opportunities, they grab common occasions and make them great. Their small gestures of understanding and generosity not only make others happy but shine their inner light more brighter.
When I see and hear this family’s stories of warmth and compassion, I’m inspired to do the same. 
What kindnesses and generosity by others have blessed your life? Do share your experiences.
34 Responses
What a lovely group of people. It sounds like you had an amazing holiday! ♥
True, friends like R and B are indeed a blessing! And yes, we had a great time. 🙂 ♥
Now that’s what are friends like…. 🙂
You bet 🙂
So true Shilpa, love only grows by sharing and thoughtfulness cannot be taught or imposed… Life is beautiful because we are surrounded by such charming people 🙂 Happy Holi!!
True that, friends like R and B make life more beautiful. 🙂
Love only grows by sharing! That’s an amazing take away! SOunds like you had fun! Nice!
Oh yes, small gestures go a long way in adding smiles 🙂
I love reading such endearing posts, thank you shilpa for spreading cheer and joy through such positive posts. Glad you had a good time, you deserve such people in your life.
Yes, i too have such lovely people in my friends and family circle. Some of them cheerful despite adversities. I love being in company of such people. Will write and blog about them one day.
Wow! You must blog about the wonderful people in your life too!! It is so heartwarming to have such people in our lives. They truly know how to spread sunshine and smiles 🙂
What a warm post, this is ! Your friends are really a nice team of people 🙂 I loved the parantha incident. So thoughtful of her to share it with all, lest you should be eating the leftover from morning all by yourself ; this way she ensured that all of you had a piece, and you all could enjoy the fresh food to the maximum. That’s more of a good manager. 🙂
And the pizza incident. Life is never depressing with such people around.
Lovely writing , Shilpa ji 🙂
I was touched beyond words with that parantha incident! It was an eye opener for me and an important learning too! Thanks Sreeja, glad you enjoyed this post 🙂
Happy Holi, Shilpa and beautiful post on how Pizza can bring hearts together:)
Cheerz
Vishal
Happy Holi to you too Vishal… hope you had a great one too 🙂
such a warm post… you are lucky to know such people 🙂
I remember going for dinner to a friend’s place where I got up to server but the food was so less in quantity that I didn’t know who to serve and who not to…I have no idea why I’m telling about this incident for this post..!!
Oh, we have such friends too, who make ridiculously small quantities of food when they have guests over at their place!! It is so embarrassing and demeaning!! 😐
Excellent post. R and B are such wonderful people. They are role models.
That’s true, we need more friends like R and B 🙂
Friendship and the word friends are used very loosely that it often is outrageously offensive and incorrect.
It is of great fortune, luck that one have a circle of friends who are such as the ones you found .
Well said, in today’s times, blessed are those who have such genuine and kindhearted friends in their lives!!
Friends like these are rare but the good thing is once you have them they’re there for life. Lucky you.
Oh yes!! Lucky to have them in our lives 🙂
that’s indeed very generous and sweet 🙂 some people lead by examples 🙂
Indeed!! And they inspire others too 🙂
I am very warm and loving most of the times. But when things are out of my comfort zone… then, ummm, not so much. I think its the same with everyone now. We are nice when we want to be. At other times, we need space! Your friends are role models for our generation 🙂
I know what you mean, Nisha. It’s the same for me too. I have seen B cook for so many people at no notice at all. I mean, if I were in her place, I would have sulked for a few minutes and then got into the cooking mode. 😛 She is truly a role model!
Wow…what a beautiful post! I could feel the love all the way in Kentucky! We need to party together some day. 😉
Oh yes, party we must! So when are you coming to India, LuAnn?? 🙂
this is so nice….:) Just reading about them made me feel positive energy around me..:)…
I know this feeling too! We need more people like them! 🙂
Be it Rajasthani food,Be it Pizza,its all about celebrations with love.
Shilpa,Happy Holi to you,your family and your friends.
Take care
That’s true, celebrations should be done with love, always!
Thank you Mr Chowla, hope you had a great Holi too. 🙂
So true, Shilpa! Love does increase by sharing. And so nice to have spent time with them.
Oh yes, friends like these make life more beautiful and wonderful!