Evolving and Energising Octet.

How I met each member of this group  and  how much I have learnt from them and how they have  impressed me.

Hemalatha ,  in 1992 when she was promoted and  had come to Chennai, seeking transfer back to Chennai from Pondicherry . She was a very  beautiful  young mother wearing​ danglers ,shaking her head  and talking with her gestures and her face  expressing all emotions ,  while communicating.  My friend Jayalakshmi introduced me to her at first , then she was  Geetha's  colleague and  then my own. A wonderful lady , highly diplomatic, very confidential person and  sincere beyond requirement.  I like Jayanthi s  nick name  given to her
" vandhorai vaazhavaikum hema.."  which correctly depicts her generous heart .  She is  unassuming and  innocent  and I am extremely happy to be considered  her friend.

L.Jayanthi ,  I remember seeing her  as a an young girl of my age ,in office, two decades ago a picture of  demure ,  sweet  beauty  sitting in a corner with a book, unperturbed by the  noisy crowd in her office. My first  thought was ,
" this is a girl  like me who needs rescuing from this office crowd.   Why don't I approach her ? " And  what a wonderful soul mate I found. It was love at first sight and instant combustion,  though guarded initially, it was  laughter filled moments from the time we became free with each other, probably her love of palghat lingo and food or subconsciously  I thought she resembled my friend Geetha, I don't know the exact reason.  It was fun thereafter.  My good friend  Raman  made us comfortable with each other.   There are times when intuitively I know what she will do in a particular situation.  For all her hilarious repartee,she is a sensitive person, highly intelligent,well read, informed  about literature and music ,linguist all under the smiling countenance with not an iota of arrogance, pride, in her. Her handwriting and thoughts so clear as is her practicality.  With her intelligence and knowledge and quick grasp of issues it would not be out of place to be slightly proud,  but she has not a bit of pride in her . Every time I come across hypocrisy in office or a problematic boss I picturise her  with  one of her   ex boss, how she managed  situations without showing even a little irritation  in her face or demeanour. Tough to find another like her.

Anita - she is one whom I have seen in staff  association meetings, best known as a friend of a friend.  To me she was the most hyper active individual with  varying interests and abilities. She was also  Geeta's  colleague,  but I was very wary of her when I used to watch her from a distance.  But now I have come to know her better, I find she is a girl  with a  "never say die quality", very helpful, always springing to rescue at cost of self health and wants to do lots and lots and lots of service even when she has trying situations at home front.

Chitra Ravichandran, I knew  as Personal Secretary . I was scared of her, inspite of finding her very pretty. My fear had nothing to do with her personally but her  post and my interactions with people in that position. Once again , it was Geeta who  kept telling me ," talk to her you will realise she is not as you think" and as always she was proved right. I am working with her for last 5 years  and I find that I was foolish in my fears.   Our  trip to Green Meadows made me realise  what an understanding, responsible, wonderful , and simple person,she is. She   is not fully appreciated for just being her.

Prameela Ramesh -  Initially she  was a girl who was  in a  place so high &  unattainable . A personification of looks, education, carriage,talent, art, grooming and appeal. I have admired her from afar, have been afraid to approach her as I felt I was not upto her level - I had my own doubts and prejudices and felt insecure and reluctant to interact with her. I had heard about her mom  from my mother in law . She kept saying how well prameela and siblings were brought up... and then I did not know it Prameela she  was talking about .  Once I knew she was   the girl being spoken about , I thought best thing  to  do is stay away. There is  no way I could match her ,  thanks to jayanthi  and geeta once again,slowly and carefully I warmed up to her. I  found her to be a sweet  person who  crumpled  all my prejudices and pierced my inhibition and made me understand that she is just another loving girl ,  a bit like me.  We share a lot of similar thoughts ,though often not shared personally but in WhatsApp, Facebook . Highly unassuming, very adjusting, taking people at face value and slightly innocent to boot. She is a true example for the adage " appearance s are deceptive"
A deep thinker with lot more hidden talents,like organisation and 
co-ordination, appreciated by one and all for her composure and carriage.

Ramaa  Shivakumar-  my first impression of her was " What is a school girl doing at office". Very much like Santoor advertisement, she was  introduced to me by none other than Geeta as a mother of 8 year old. From that day till date I have been left open mouthed. What a woman,  she can laugh, love and cry for you, with you at the drop of a hat.  She does so much - talks well, laughs loud but basically a soft hearted one. And a big heart that is. She is a person who declares a  lot but follows the only principle " adjustment" both at home and office. Wonderful wonderful lady she is.

T K Geeta -to me she was introduced with nickname  "dadha".and I took it  literally. As usual my prejudice was broken  when we  worked together for an year and she helped me understand  that she was  a younger version of another close friend of mine. Too sincere, too good in maths, silently helpful, very sensitive, exuberant laugh, deeply sensitive has  a very fine line between what angers her or amuses her.  She has so many facets, be it in cooking, purchasing, competition participation, attachment to siblings, her nature to consider others problems as her own .. but for her I would not have been able to approach officers for my posting when I was very much in need . She is always encouraging ,no  one to match her in spirit.

These six girls with my close friend Geeta and myself are a group of eight women who came together around 3 years back. During the last three years,we might have not met often, not spoken with each other for weeks together but whenever situation demands we got together and did what little we could . Our enthusiasm, mutual encouragement, understanding of everyone' a situation, managing of priorities is something which is very energising. Each one of us have our own close friends within  and without . That does not in anyway hamper our bonding. A meet with even 50% of this group helps us to carry on the oncoming days with a smile in our face. Our bond helps us to improve at the same time share troubles in  complete confidence.  One person started the Chennai Rain Relief Work impulsively in 2015 and all of us joined hands with no questions asked, doing work assigned , no egos, no complaints , no squabble nothing. Our trust in each other gives us confidence on the fact that we will have this team for support- be it planning a lunch, trip,  act of contribution to public good. Each one of us are different in personalities ,beliefs ,likes and dislikes. But our bond is one of absolute mutual encouragement and enrichment.

We share a common interest in learning new things, widening our horizons and being there for each other. We are talkers and listeners and  concentrate more on keeping alive the humor in life.

We are the evolving and energising octet..
Love you dears ..Love you all.