Part A:

Dad was holding my hand, holding it really tight and taking me towards the hall. I knew he was shivering more than me and I could feel his nervousness too. I pressed his palms and said “Dad, this was meant to be”, and saying this I suddenly remembered the famous song “Meant to be” and started smiling. Meanwhile, the kids around seeing the loud smile on my face got amused and one of them ran to me saying “Di, you look beautiful with this smile.” There was a grandiose chair decorated right at the center of the hall. I walked over the flowers on the floor on to the beautiful chair. I felt like a queen in the her queendom. I was happy and so was my dad. There were lots of people heavily attired and there were colors all around. A lady came to me with a rose wrapped box and complemented me saying “Your jewelleries are really beautiful. From where did you get them?” I smiled at her and thanked her but was still unsure of answering to her question, since I was supposed to remain quite. To my rescue came into the picture another beautiful lady, my mother-in-law, and replied her "From BJWELZ.” My mother-in-law and I then exchanged an assuring look and I just moved my lips saying her “Thanks Maa.” I was thankful to God for gifting me with such a nice and understanding Mother-in-Law. The number of guests were increasing gradually and the event was gaining momentum. Amidst all I found my bubbly Sister-in-Law Sneha holding her newly-wed brother’s arms and coming towards me onto the stage. Hesitantly I took my eyes off them and was confused as to why the groom was coming to the stage after me. But then I heard someone saying “Your lucky feet should touch the stage first”, and I obviously felt honoured. Sneha started twirling in front of us and asked me “Bhabi, how am I looking today?”. Before I could answer my new found soulmate, Samar replied “Whether you wear a Lehenga or a jute bag you will always look the same. Just like a donkey.” I couldn't stop laughing and Sneha got angry. I controlled my laughter and assured her ”It’s really awesome. Where did you get them from?” Bringing back the spark on her face again she replied “Pantaloons.” Suddenly everything flashed in front of my eyes, the disastrous event that happened 12 years back and changed my life. In a span of seconds I felt dizzy. My vision became blurred. Samar could feel my uneasiness and suddenly held my hand. I felt relieved. He whispered and asked me to stay strong. I felt happy and proud with the thought that this gentleman till then had become mine, my partner for life and someone who belonged to me and understood me just like my dad.

That night after the reception party, I came to the room and waited for Samar to come. He was talking to his dad, or rather by now my dad as well. That night we had a deep conversation about how I lost my mother in that accident which happened in front of the Pantaloons mall in my city and what kind of financial crisis we went through. The most painful phase in my whole life after my mom's death was my dad's bedridden state after the accident. I had to fight mentally. I somehow managed to get good marks in 8^th grade. But I thought of parting my ways with studies as the financial condition of my family was gradually turning worse. But then one fine day, my father came home after his paramedic session, with a form in hand. It was “Aditya Birla World Academy Scholarship for class IX candidates”. Seeing the paper I jumped out of anxiety. It was a ray of hope for my further studies and an opportunity to fulfill my dream and the dream of my mother as well. She always wanted me to be a civil engineer and build myself a dream home. That piece of scholarship proved a weapon to me and paved my way towards my goal. Finally after 12^th I got admission into Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani in Hyderabad through BITSAT and started the journey anew with a smile exactly the way my mother had taught me. After completion of civil engineering and working for about four years I finally met you, Mr. Malhotra. Who had a good fit as my colleague but seemed best to fit in as my better-half. Through all these thick and thin here I am finally sharing a cup of coffee with you, not as your colleague but as your wife Mrs. Sharanya Malhotra. All thanks to ABG. It’s been a support, the biggest one in fact in designing my career and my life.

Part B:

My Grandmother, IIM Raipur

It was a sunny day. Everyone around me was running here and there trying to escape the scorching sun. And I was there standing on the edge of a shop, still under sun requesting rickshaw driver to take me to the hospital. Rather I should say that I was begging them to take me to my grandmother. My grandmother was in hospital fighting with death. I somehow reached the hospital to see the most precious person and the only best friend my life. I didn’t want to lose her. My parents got shocked as soon as they saw me. They inquired about how I reached there. I just ignored them and asked them about the well-being of granny. They said that she will be fine soon. But I could smell something fishy. I could sense the fear in their eyes. I decided to stop the question-answer session. Just then Doctor came and informed that granny was in critical condition and chance of survival is almost zero. I felt like breaking down. After a heated fight with the boss, nineteen hours of train journey in general class, four hours of bus journey and finally almost two hours of auto journey this is what I got. It was both physical and mental pain. Suddenly doctor came up with a solution that required a surgery and the cost was around 12 lakhs. Then my father went somewhere to talk to someone and I thought of spending as much time as possible with granny only.I had no idea about how to arrange so much money. My mother was praying in front of the small temple (She is just like any other typical Indian women).

Suddenly the nurse asked me to wait outside. I was shocked and in rage I asked her as to why she was not letting me spend some time with granny. Probably granny was counting her last breadth. She was taken to the OT room the red light of OT was switched on. I was not able to process what was going on. Then my father informed me regarding the money arrangement. It was the actually the money he had invested in the form of insurance i.e. “Birla Sun Life Insurance Co Ltd.”. She was all fine after the operation. I thanked my god for blessing me with such an awesome father who was still the best son in this world. Thank you ABG for saving my best friend and again making me have a belief in my role model and the best son, my father, son of “My Grandmother”.

#IIMRaipur #ABGLPWooMe

SWETA RANI PRADHAN

WITH A SMILE, IIM Raipur