The STAR

     She was a wellspring of talent, a beacon of excellence and there was little she wasn't good at.. We went to the same school, and we learned Veena from the same Guru, A.S. Padma, and unsurprisingly, she was the Guru’s favourite. She was a Veena virtuoso; she played the instrument with the dexterity and ease of an established artiste. She sang like a nightingale; whisper a tune, and she’d name the Raagam in a heartbeat. Her mastery of Carnatic music was breathtaking, her sense of gamakam, raagam, and taalam, flawless. 

     She was also a culinary wizard. Her skills spanned South Indian delicacies to Mexican, Italian, and traditional Indian dishes. She was a perfect blend of modernity and tradition, seamlessly navigating between both worlds.

     On the court, she was an athlete par excellence. As the captain of the university basketball team, she played with unmatched skill and passion, moving like a gazelle, scoring generously and instilling fear in her rivals. Her prowess extended to the track, where she held the national record for the 100 meters for several years, a testimony to her incredible speed and resolve.

     Her proficiency didn’t end there. With magic fingers, she crafted beautiful handicrafts and embroidery, her eye for design so keen that she could have well been a professional designer.

     Her home was a reflection of her soul—beautiful, warm, and filled with love. Every corner bore a stamp of her signature, an affirmation of her aesthetic sense and zeal for creativity. 

     She was Asha, my dear friend, who left us a year ago, now immortalized among the stars in the sky, yet close to my heart. I miss her dearly, and her memory will remain a guiding light in my life.