ARTI KATHOTIA

Arti is my best friend, my chosen family. She is the godmother to my children, a daughter to my parents and a sister to me. She is special to so many people because she is a unique mix of carefree and caring.

She belongs to a small village, Bhimnagar on the border of Nepal. Everyday she would brave through adventurous journeys to reach school, wade through water on rainy days, encounter poisonous snakes and natural disasters.

She is the bravest & strongest woman I know. She lifts more than any man at our gym, leaving everyone in absolute awe of her fitness. She’s feisty & fearless with amazing resilience.

Metaphorically and physically, she has been on top of the world after long and strenuous climbs. Her willpower has guided her through Mansarovar twice. Whenever we’re travelling, she insists on leading treks. I feel so proud as she confidently marches ahead, exploring difficult paths & navigating through the wild. Yet, she is so compassionate, turning back to make sure everyone is comfortable, guiding everyone through the easier paths.

I used to be terrified of water. Whenever I refused to enter the pool, Arti would swim to me so effortlessly & support me – physically & verbally! She is the only person I trust in water, not even a lifeguard or my own family makes me feel as secure swimming as she does! Arti has magic on her feet & her hands. Her cooking is phenomenal. Arti tastes food around the world, understands its flavours & adds unexpected twists to make it way better than the original. We’re blessed to have a MasterChef living right above us!

She has so much patience in teaching everyone (especially me) what comes to her so naturally.

She has the energy of a young child, yet the maturity of a wise learned woman. She adjusts happily to every difficult circumstance. Her positivity makes me hopeful. Sometimes when I am in a dilemma & in the rare situation that I don’t have my best friend right next to me, I wonder “What would Arti do? How would she have handled this?” This mere thought about her illuminates new solutions for me. This is why I consider myself privileged to know her – there is nothing she can’t do!

written by Ritu Jain