How Words Connected Two Souls from Two Different Cities

My fangirl moment when I met the amazing Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles.

“Don’t ever diminish the power of words. Words move hearts and hearts move limbs.”

— Hamza Yusuf

Words connect souls. When we read a person’s story, it gives us a glimpse of their lives and what they firmly believe. Some stories seem as if they have been written inspired by the troubles you have been in and you wonder, how on earth does this author know exactly how I feel?

An author, now one of my closest friends on Medium, Vidya Sury has inspired me the moment I stepped on to Medium. Her stories felt like home. The simple moments of life captured in words and then shared with a touch of humour. No one can do it better than Vidya.

Thus, when an author has such a profound impact on your life, you try to reach out to them and tell them how much they have helped you navigate life. I did just that and that’s how Vidya and I became friends.

But as we shared our ups and downs in life, we live in two different cities. I live in Mumbai and she lives in Bangalore. I have been wanting to visit Bangalore for a long time as some of my closest friends live there. Therefore, it wasn’t just a coincidence that she would live there too and as my fate would have it, I decided to take a trip to Bangalore.

Mistakes, Moments and Memories

When you visit a new city, you are a stranger. And that makes it easier to make mistakes and eliminate the fear of being judged. You know that once you leave, your mistakes will disappear but what will remain with you are your learnings and memories.

As I made my way to meet Vidya, there was a flutter of excitement. Here I was going to my favourite author and a dear friend. It’s the moment where I felt my manifestation is coming true and it hit me that no manifestation is pointless. All our manifestations no matter how big or small are our truth. They are a wish that we hope to come true someday and that is something we must accept and rejoice rather than dismissing it thinking it is too far-fetched.

When my cab stopped, I spotted her waiting for me near the building gate. I jumped out of the cab and gave her a warm hug and it hit me that this is what fulfilling a manifestation feels like — happiness, overwhelming emotions, and tonnes of gratitude.

Vidya is as authentic and adorable in person as she is in her writing. She is every bit of herself in her writings and in her life. She embodies simplicity and kindness in every way. She welcomed me with open arms and gave me a big glass of her special filter coffee (that to be honest this is what I was most looking forward to — Vidya’s famous filter coffee). She then treated me to a mouth-watering lunch and together we explored the colourful streets of Bangalore.

If You Wish for It, Believe It

So, from my experience, let me tell you that if you have a wish, if you have a goal, if you have an intention that emerges from the purest space of your heart, hold on to it. Keep it locked in some corner of your mind and heart and when the time is right, it will come true. It will be effortless. It will happen when you least expect it and when it does, don’t belittle yourself. You deserved every moment of that happiness.

Thank you, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, for making me believe that words can connect people across the globe. Words have immense value and will continue to inspire and connect people. Some words and stories inspire people so much that you cannot help but meet them in person and then some of us get lucky and become best friends with an author you cherish.

Thank you so much for your time!