Meena Barot

Meena: I met Meena on “tickle dot com” and almost immediately after the Madhulika disaster. Almost intuitively we settled to a “clean friendship minus romance” as early as in the first month of virtual friendship. She was then new to China and initial months of correspondence had us more getting our sides of the story and in search for an empathetic reader. We also resolved: that this nascent virtual relation was beginning to give so much solace that it would be wise to remain that way; no telephone calls or face-to-face meetings on her express wishes.  

She would write all about her office hassles; a tyrant boss, a country so different that even a vegetarian food was impossible, managing a Chinese team with abysmal English or even workings of a corporate. Meena was heading the Chinese branch of an Indian pharma and the initial days had her in knots. But such is her perseverance, Meena has made that place a home and three years later prefers “Guangzhou” more than hometown Mumbai. It was a pleasure and a privilege to see the transformation. Even the medical facilities don’t resemble anything like at home; she was afflicted with thyroid and battle increasing weight issues. She never panicked and had the same grit; consulted doctors in Mumbai, paid through online, and had medicines couriered through her office. Soon enough the branch started to generate new businesses, new suppliers were sourced that resulted in huge cost savings and she grew in stature in the company.

Her mails are always in near flawless English, lots of good cheer, friendly, and concerned. When she learned that I searching for a job, she called up her consultant-friends in Mumbai and pushed my case. The first time we spoke, she said,” My flat in Mumbai is vacant at the moment and you can use it if once you find a job there”.  That is something even my own 2 bloated sisters would never even contemplate.   

She used to send me snaps of her sightseeing tours in China and she stands tall at 5’8”, typical Gujarati profile of a fair skin, plumb cheeks, light eyes, and a forlorn face that shows a lot of endurance. She left home early against a domineering father hell-bent on marrying his daughters even in their teen years. She did her graduation working as a part-time receptionist and support of a NGO. It is a hard grind to be cut off from one’s folks and still retain one’s sanity. She grew professionally and inside of a decade, heading a branch in China. Her monetary success got her parents back on fold though there was little affection left. She did see many prospective grooms but nothing seemed to materialize as if destined.

            Meena combines highest sense of morality and values. She is not the kind to date or promiscuous. She sleeps in a bedroom with glowing lamps in the adjoining room as a measure of self-assurance. As a friend, she is fabulous; she will jump to help on the merest information. She learnt of my arthritis and couriered medicated bandages from China. When PM went visiting China, the Chinese authorities paraded her for an audience and even then she did not forget to enquire for media openings from the press corps. BTW, she also won an online contest to carry the Olympic torch.

            Meena in her mid-30s is a kind of a soul the heart intuitively blesses with prosperity and happiness. She has got into piano classes, plays badminton for fitness, goes to sleep reading a Bhagawat Gita in bed. I have met so many wonderful people in my life but my best friend is this unknown person whom I have never met. What started as a casual virtual friendship brought so much of happiness.

Post Script: She gifted me a glass display piece and some Chinese currency with her signature which I still preserve. 

Verdict: Sattwic

Lesson to be learnt: There is a lot of decency and grit that can be learnt from Meena. She looks a female version of Balakanth!!!!!