Saffron is the world’s most expensive spice by weight. It is powerful – you just need one of those tiny-hard-to-see threads and within seconds your preparation has a different color, flavor and fragrance. The little tiny thing dissolves in whatever you put it into and it just vanishes - never again to be seen. But its effect is quite pronounced. It is definitely one of my favorite spices and a must have in my kitchen.
But why do I talk about it today? Give me a moment to explain. Two days back I had my first meeting with a friend whom I have known for good 3 years now. 3 years of conversations, exchanges, laughs, smiles, encouragements, scoldings - but never met, never saw each other. But we met two days back, as if we have known each other forever. There was a wonderful excitement of finally putting a face to a name, a voice, a chat window that has been on and off a part of my life since the last three years. Someone who has been invisible to me all these years – but has definitely left his mark, his color on my take on life. Our interaction has been limited in quantity due to distance, time zones and other possible road blocks, but I rate it any day higher in quality than most people that I have spoken face-to-face for hours.
So what? What is the big deal about it? These days, people are connecting everyday with thousands of people through the magical world of internet and make and break infinite friendships like these. Aint that true? True! It is! But I think there is something more to this observation of mine, atleast in my story. And here I start rambling now 
5 years back, there was a reset in my life. Times changed for the worse and so did people around me. I went into my own cocoon and hibernated – resolving never to open up again – atleast to anyone from my past. Shut old closets and was not willing to open new ones. There was therapy, meditation and a lot of other things, life started to move on again but my inability to trust people never vaned. Books, music and internet took the space of friends and peers. I blogged to take my ire on the world and wrote like words were my weapon (For the betterment of the world that blog doesnt exist anymore). Managed a few visitors and then came the ‘fortunate” comment on my blog from a person who just randomly ended up there – and thats where I got initiated to Trust 2.0 and Online Friendship 1.0. 
and it has never stopped since then – my collection of really good friendships are mostly the ones that started as “pen friendships”. There are five of those fantastic jewels that I have collected over past 5 years and they have redefined ‘Akanksha’ as the world knows me now.
The Entrepreneur: Around 6 years and counting. Met just twice so far.
My first “pen friend” – my own harbinger of good times. Then – a technological nerd, care-free bird. Today – a super smart, super stud entrepreneur. Always – a super caring friend. In my difficult days of recovery, he came in as a wonderful surprise, counseled me, distracted me from all the wrongs in the world and most importantly made me laugh. Definitely one of the most interesting and intelligent people that I have met in my life – yet so down to earth. Love his ways of making time for friends…he can stop time for you if he knows you need him. He makes me proud.
The Joker: 5 years and counting. Met only once, after 2 years of friendship.
Then – an IIM C student, a funny blogger. Now – an entrepreneur. Always – a joker, a loafer, a clown. I remember his blog used to be one of the most sought after blogs for having a laugh, thousands of visitors, millions of smiles and that’s how we connected. He managed to submit all his assignments on time at IIM C, and finally graduate despite being posing as a clown (ofcourse online) to me for many hours every day and making virtually everything possible to make me laugh. He makes me giggle.
The Chiquitita (Spanish for Little Girl): 3 years and counting. Met only once – just last year.
Then – a dreamer. Now – an achiever. Always – an inspiration. Literally, the saying big things come in small packets was written for her. High on energy, high on life! She loves to put life in everything around her and it showed through even with the limitations of the virtual connection. She is intellect and beauty personified. We connected through common ambitions, took different directions but never lost touch. We share similar stories and outlook in life. The only difference so far is that she is married to a very handsome prince and I am still enjoying my single party days . Her energy inspires me and her focus in life makes me jealous.
The Geek: 3 years and counting. Met him two days back for the very first time.
Then – a nerd. Now – an easy going chap. Always – a guide. Loved meeting him, got a chance to refresh all my knowledge of Kashmiri traditions and language. A very small mail with a question about a scholarship led us to 3 long years of conversations and support and his being Kashmiri definitely helped. Our worlds are so different, there is no way I would have met him except how we did. He is all giving to me, but yet the only thing he talks to me about is how I should focus on living for myself. Irony J ? He makes me believe in me.
The Writer: Never met.
Do not know yet if he is a reality or an illusion, but he has quite an effect. He says, he is the regular guy next planet. He reminds me of me – of someone that I was before the crash and I always aspire to be again. Trying to find words to describe him, but he is both real and unreal like his words and very hard to describe. He believes in creating and modifying reality using words and looks like he is pretty good at it ….I am still getting used to his art of changing reality. He brings me home like never before.
Finally coming to the point that I wanted to make –
All these wonderful people are the special gifts that I received when I was expecting none. In times when I gave up on so called ‘real’ people around me, I tapped in to these invisible forces and kept myself going strong. I have connected with some because of similar likes/dislikes, ambitions, madness and sometimes similar miseries. I have grown with them and seen them grow into wonderful people. I learn from them how to expect nothing and give a lot, how to bring people in your life and make them special, how to trust when you are too scared of doing that, how to give life another chance and make it spicy all over again. I get the kick of life from them, they complete me in all different ways.
I am an introvert, but my life and work makes me talk to hundreds of people virtually and in real world. Not everyone has the spark that I found in these special ones. Daily, I pat my back for being able to read the signs when it felt just ‘right’ and ‘positive’ about these fantastic fives. I surrendered to those positive hunches and struck a fortune. Yes- Surrender is the word that I have been looking for – A tough word for the control-freak people around me to digest – but you never know what it can do to you – till you try it. Do not over think the situation and just follow your heart. If you are thinking what will happen five days from now, you are thinking too much. Surrender when you feel right (like I did with these friends), surrender to the present moment and seek every bit of happiness that it brings with it.
Like I did to my fantastic fives – you cannot see them around me – but yet they are the dissolved and invisible saffron in my life making it brighter and tastier every day.
And to those special fives -you know who you all are, and although I might have never said this to you – my world is prettier and happier because of you.
