Letter to Sana after EMBA

Dear Sana,

When I was going through this EMBA program, one moment I decided to write letters to all those who helped me stay on my path and who contributed to my degree. Needless to say, you are amongst one of them. This is not only a THANK YOU letter but also thought sharing letter as I felt that this is the right time to talk through certain lessons of life as you crossed age of 8. In our culture, we believe that kids are eligible to start the next level of studies after ‘Maujibandhan Sanskar’.
I want to THANK YOU for being such a wonderful daughter and my dearest friend who not only understands her Aai well but who can advise her on what she should do when she gets upset. I have seen your understanding nature right since your birth, when on the 12th day your ears were pierced you did not cry, when you used to wake up from your sleep you never cried but used to look around and give a smile when you used to look me or your Aaji (my Aai) around. On the day of your naming ceremony, Siddhu and you were kept in the same cradle and you behaved as if you were knowing that your tiny little brother should not get disturbed because of you.

Later, when daddy decided to take an overseas assignment at London, I talked to you looking in your eyes (you were age of 2-2.5) that baba will stay away from us for 1 year and you said - its ok we are friends and we will stay together. When you were of age 3 we started to think to have a sibling for you as we thought that a lonely child may get self-centered and it is important to have a sibling to share your joy and sorrow. You mentioned that you need to have a baby sister and we were happy to hear that. Daughters are the best friends of their parents. When we all visited Dr. Snehalata Deshmukh for the session on garbhasanskar for Swara, she mentioned that you are so well behaved girl and eager to welcome the baby. I felt satisfied hearing that as it was the acknowledgement that we were providing good value education to you. At the time of Swara’s birth you were upset that Aai will be in hospital and you had to stay away from me, but you let that period pass very gracefully.
When we decided to come here in Chicago on work opportunity I never thought of coming alone, rather I discussed with you that we will have to stay away from baba, Shubharambh, your school and school friends and you were good with all those sacrifices and was super excited to be with me and Swara in the new country. When we shifted here, initial months were tough to adjust due to change, extreme cold but you did not have any complaint getting adjusted here. It was a big change for you in terms of culture, language, surrounding, but you adjusted so well as if it was also your responsibility (like mine) to pursue your decision to the fullest and I am really proud of that. You regained confidence and mixed well in the students here and my worry about you are being removed from your roots passed by.

When I decided to pursue EMBA, things on visa front, baba’s job, my role on the project, situation around us etc. were extremely shaky but you saw me and baba discussing the details around it and concentrating our energy on the studies and work. I want you to always remember this, when you decide to achieve something but if you get hit by multiple obstacles then you have to believe that the things are happening to make you strong and more concentrate on the task at hand than leaving the task half-way. My parents did not ever ask me to do specific things but they provided me enough value education, based on which I could take my own decisions but also be responsible for those decisions once they are made than running away from them. Me and baba want you to also learn that through our behavior. You are smart enough to absorb this and behave in the same manner and lead by example so that Swara will also follow your path.

Once again THANK YOU for being such an amazing daughter!!! My Manu, Zamkudi and Saraswati J

Love you loads,
Aai.