To Rajashree Balaram

Kooshmandam,

Everyone should have people like you they can joke around with and giggle through it all- a home team of people that sees them. But everyone should also have at least one person in their life who they can reach out towards when they’re in conflict. By conflict, I don’t mean breakups or career confusion. I mean the kind of thoughts we don’t always put out that easily.

Let me try to explain this with an overthought scenario in my head. I have been thinking of actor Sai Pallavi, whose conviction was strong enough to say no to a ₹2 crore fairness cream advertisement deal. I was imagining what people close to her would’ve advised her to do when it came her way. Many might have suggested taking it up because they see the perks that would come along- financial security, more visibility, the surge of her brand value- all because they mean well. But, I was just wondering who must have seen her heart if luxury has never appealed to her. Could she be taking the same decision happily if she saw different opinions coming from the people she wished would understand her mind well? I don’t think so.

It is when I thought she has people like you in her life. I know that you never ask others to look beyond what their core tells them to do. I know that you encourage others to stay by their value system. When loving people and wanting the best for them, what most of us forget, though we don’t mean to, is to look at their core and inspire them to stay rooted in their truths.

I know there are chances for us to fail with all of that, but there is no better feeling than knowing that someone loves us enough to let us go and is ready to catch us if we fall. And I’ve realised that it is the best kind of love we can ever offer anyone in our lives- the kind of love you have shown me as the way through it all, always.

There are a hundred thousand and more reasons why I love you, all of which I will write for the world to read and know there is a lot to learn from the people like you. But today, I choose this before all of that because this is something many of us might miss along our journey in relationships.

Thank you for always looking out for me when I do things that my heart says. For helping me hold up my universe. For being my guiding light. For making me want to do better as a person. You set the standards so high.

Always love,

Pringles