Some friendships begin with chance encounters that seem insignificant at the time, yet bloom into lifelong connections. Such is the story of Bhavana and my friendship with Ram and Nirmala.
It started in March 1998 during a vacation to the United States. Bhavana and I were at Universal Studios in Los Angeles when we struck up a conversation with an Indian couple living in America. We spent the entire day together—visiting Muscle Beach, taking photos for each other at the Hollywood sign overlook, and sitting side by side during the evening laser show. As the day concluded, we parted ways, though we exchanged contacts.
What seemed like a one-time encounter surprisingly evolved into correspondence when Ram sent a Diwali greeting email just months later. Then came the truly serendipitous moment—after my Sify deal made headlines in late 1999, Ram sent congratulations. He mentioned he would be traveling to India on December 31st, 1999. By remarkable coincidence, we spotted each other at Mumbai airport that very night—Ram on a late-night transit from Lufthansa to a morning Jet Airways flight to Chennai, and me also headed to Chennai on business. Our chance reunion in the airport sparked a friendship that has endured through the decades.
Though our meetings are infrequent, each reunion dissolves the intervening time, allowing us to continue our conversation as if we’d never been apart.
I was at their home in the US when I learned Bhavana was pregnant in August 2004, following years of IVF treatment. It was one of the happiest moments of my life and I had them to share it with me.
Recently, while in Chennai for a SaaSBoomi presentation, I spent an evening with Ram and Nirmala (though Bhavana couldn’t join us). Those three hours were precious—reminiscing about shared experiences, updating each other on our now-grown children, and savouring Nirmala’s exceptional Pongal, a dish whose distinctive flavour has remained consistent through the years.
As I returned to my Chennai hotel that night, I realised I had neglected this cherished relationship. What separates us now is merely a few hours of travel. There was no justifiable reason for allowing several years to pass between our meetings. Life grants us only a handful of truly meaningful connections, and it’s our responsibility to nurture them with intention and care.
In our increasingly disconnected world, these authentic friendships—especially those formed through chance and sustained through choice—become even more valuable. They remind us that human connection transcends distance and time, providing continuity and comfort in our ever-changing lives.
