Being human is like a huge tide. Some days it’s beautiful, and others it’s terrible. The brain is crazy and so complicated, and I love it. Life is a journey. No amount of work or distractions can actually interrupt this beautiful and well desired journey….have you ever searched for a friend?
As I sit with my friend on the stone bench waiting for the last of the musketeer to come, I watch lots of colors, girls giggling, and a gush of sand rising. We have to get to our first period, but she hasn’t come yet. With the cutest of smile and bubbly personality, she strides in and I am absolutely thrilled. We rush to our first class. If it was the accounts lecturer, class was easy: smile and get away with anything. We were inseparable in college. We laughed for no reason and made jokes about the most weird things. We sneaked out to see movies and didn’t tell a soul. She listened to all my complaints and made me feel better all the time. The teachers would be the laughing stock. We both were the foodies of the group. We ate so much and teased the one who ate the least. She was the smart one among us. Exams came, and we were buried in books and stress just a week before the finals. Some of the fun times in our lives was our three yrs of Graduation.
Things fall apart or let’s just say that a long bridge was formed between the two of us, not for any particular reason. I came to SF, and she went on to pursue her dreams remaining in India. We moved on in different directions. She was always in the back of my mind, but all the activities around both of us, I guess, pulled us apart.
There were days when I was so fueled with the desire to track her down and catch hold of this lady and shake her up: ask her a million things while bringing together wild and golden moments of Love, Laughter and Life, spread over years, precious years of growing up together. Had to rewind time to relive every frame of the beautifully scented times we missed being together. Yes, it is so complicated yet so simple if you get your heart and mind to hold hands together in unison.
Fast forward almost 18 years and I get a mail asking if I remembered her. Remembered, who is she kidding? I had tears in my eyes and responded immediately. We exchanged numbers, and we have been non-stop chatting with each other like there was never a bridge, a break. Like old times. Cheers to social media, this blog, and to my dearest Best Friend who celebrates her birthday this month. I’m so glad I can call and wish her instead of thinking about where she is and what is she doing.
How sweet and tangy the memories, so like this new creation. Hope you can hear our wine glasses clinking, to the toast of the discovery.
- ½ cup pulp from 2 sweet Mangoes
- 1 cup fresh orange juice
- 10 mint leaves
- 3 whole green cardamom
- ½ lemon thinly sliced
- Lemon soda/Carbonated drink
- Vodka(optional)
- Mint leaves
- orange peel
- lot of ice cubes
- Use a cocktail bottle, add the mint, cardamom, lemon, the mango pulp and orange juice. Muddle very well with a muddler or a spoon or the backside of a ladle.
- Add some ice to glasses, pour in some of the mango-orange mix and top it with some soda.
- You can spike it up and add half a shot of vodka to this.
- Garnish and serve.
I love this story, Ash. There is nothing like rekindling an old friendship – especially one that was as special as yours! This drink is beautiful and I can imagine how delicious!
Left me teary eyed T.T Such a beatiful recipe to go with it. Master storyteller and chef extraordinaire-Ash ?
Asha this is such a beautiful story. Old and dear friends who hold our history and our past are everything. It’s that universal feeling that we as women know that when get back together with an old friend it’s like the years melt away and we are right back there. True friendship is the best ! Thanks for sharing that beautiful story. Is there a picture you have of the both of you back then ? It would be fun to see !
Ash that’s the most gorgeous story! I loved this recipe but I loved your story telling even more if that were possible.
What a sweet story! And this drink looks very tasty and refreshing!
such a heartwarming story..social media seriously is amazing..and these photos and recipes are beautiful. i could go for vodka 😛
That is such a sweet story, and this looks delicious. Really refreshing and I like that it has cardamom in it too.
Thank you Asha, every word of the post means the world to me. Its so beautiful, how our mind or is it the heart, cannot point out which….can rush back and forth in time. Love you.
Wow… Love everything about this refreshing tropical drink as well as the composition of the photo and the shape of the glasses giving the idea of movement … so fun! It gives the idea the glasses are dancing!
I am glad that you met your friend again and had a much deserved girls’ time. xx
So, so beautiful…and I don’t just mean this drink. I think I *do* hear your wineglasses clinking… : )
I think we all have one or two people from our past like that and when we do somehow reconnect, it is a wonder. This drink looks beautiful, and it’s all the more special with the story that goes with it. Cheers to you and to friends.
WOW. Your photos are stunning! And what a sweet story 🙂
This drink sounds mouthwatering good!!! This is such a great story and beautifully written! I love social media for that reason, I have also reconnected with friends from my past through it. I am happy for you and your friend! There are no other friendships that can compare! Clink clink! : )
Loved your story! Funny thing is, the exact same thing happened to me! Me and my friend lost touch just after elementary school actually, so we had no phones, no social media, no way to keep in touch. But two years ago, she tracked me down, and asked me if I remembered her, and it was such a wonderful surprise! Love that other friend couples are reconnecting too!!
Oh wow!! Isn’t it funny. It was so nice to read your comment. Glad your friend decided to track you down. I hear you, when there was no social media, it was almost impossible. I am glad for social media for so many things.
Cheers hun.
Vodka is NOT optional 😉
This is such a beautiful post, Asha! I love that you were able to reconnect with your dear friend. This drink is absolutely gorgeous and I can absolutely hear your wine glasses clinking 🙂 So stunning!
How wonderful that you two reconnected after all this time! That is such an uplifting story. People definitely drift apart for many reasons, but it’s always so great when you can come back together. This fizz sounds so refreshing and absolutely perfect for summer sips!
I LOVED the story. Like really LOVED IT. I loved the recipe too but the story, oh the story <3
Absolutely loved your college days story!! I too have one friend whom I am in hunt for in the social media, but not able to find her yet. Hope one day she will appear in the social media. You reminded me of those golden days.
The drink looks awesome and I liked the shape of the glass 🙂
Awww – Asha – I love love love this story! So glad you and your dear friend connected! Friendship that can catch up like that as if it never let out is something special – so so happy for you and her. So beautifully written, dear.
And – I don’t have to tell you how beautiful your pictures are of this delectable mango-orange fizz!
It is so hot and humid in NYC right now so what I need is a big cup of this lovely orange fizz drink! Beautiful color and I can just taste it in my dreams already!
Awww..I came to get the recipe for this lovely drink I saw on Instagram the other day and leaving with very touchy feelings. We all who has left childhood back home has those strings still attached somewhere somehow thats like magic when pulled from either side and we dance like puppets with bountiful joy and tears in eyes. Very wierd but true emotional feelings. Cheers to those cherished friendships and lovely friends far away yet close to heart. ❤️
Jinal, thank you so very much. Cheers and I’m glad it struck a chord. Hope you get to try this drink out sometime.
hugs hun.
Hi Asha. I am so glad to find your blog and WOW what stunning photos. I saw your comment on Kitchen Riffs blog and had to come over for a look. I’m a new follower. I’m a fan of cardamom and must give this beautiful drink a try in my own kitchen. Thanks for sharing.
You just got a new follow hun. Your cognac mushroom, the chicken and everything is so appetizing. I will be spending some time going through your posts. Thanks for taking the time visit and to comment.
Cardamom is just a small sweet special touch and none other can compensate. Love it too.
A beautiful story and I too have memories where my best buddies from school life have gone apart for years and its through social media it has brought us closer and I am sure many relate with your story…. And the pics have mesmerized me..Amazing photography Asha…
It’s so interesting to hear so many relate to this, it’s so wonderful.
Thanks so much for stopping by dear. Much appreciated.
Congratulations on getting back in touch with your bestest friend! Your happiness and joy is flooding all over this special post and pictures! Such beautiful words, such vibrant colors, decors! You’re artsy, warm and a lovely soul, my love <3
And thank you for making me thirsty. Thank you for killing me softly with those adorable drink-wares! Could you kindly fedex me a pitcher of that paradise-ydrink? 🙂
I love the orange-mango combination, and the mint and cardamom must make it so fresh and warming all at the same time. These drinks look so refreshing and perfect for a summer night!
Thanks so much Marcie. The combo just works, I agree it is a beautiful summer night drink
Have a lovely week hun.
Sold me with the cardamom.
Drink is gorgeous.
So glad you were able to find your friend, special friendships never die.
I have found many friends because of social media but one story stands out the most.
Maybe I’ll share it one day ?
Awww girl that is so amazing that you finally get to talk to your long lost best friend!! Best feeling ever! And your story telling and photography shots are stunning!!
Great story! Glad you reconnected with your friend. Lovely drink, too — fun flavors. Thank you.