This period of lockdown can be quite challenging. But at the same time, it is also a period of engaging oneself in creative activities and a time of enjoying nostalgia. I’m utilising this quality time by doing gardening, pranayama, reading and crafting with my daughter Jeeya. And I spend a lot of time reminiscing about my past, my precious memories.

Sometimes I see a scene in front of my eyes that I am sitting on a swing and someone sitting next to me is moving his hand lovingly on my shoulder and head. It is no one else but my daddy – Mr. Sudhir Desai, who has given me only one mantra in life. And that is the mantra of honesty and sincerity! One of Daddy’s lines always echoes in my ears, ‘Son, success is never received, it has to be achieved, with untiring efforts… with extreme hard work.’ My relationship with my dad was very unique. He was truly my best friend, with whom I discussed everything. Everything including…even if it was about a girl who had a crush on or if I had any crazy idea. In those days, I wanted to pursue a career in modelling and I had first discussed this with my daddy. And I remember Daddy saying then, if you have faith in yourself, do it! However, Daddy also said that when facing a difficult situation in life, one should accept reality and be ready to eat salt and bread but one should not tolerate anyone’s exploitation!   Those words of wisdom from Daddy was probably the main force in getting myself out of modelling. Why So? Let me tell you the story in detail. When I was modelling in the nineties, I used to take fees for various assignments. In a small city like Surat, earning money in modelling was not a small thing. I remember friend’s like Freddy Daruwala then starting their modelling career and who is now a famous Bollywood star. In fashion at that timea lot of struggle and influence was needed, specially for a person with no background and coming from smaller city. I also did few assignments at a very nominal fee in Mumbai. I started getting some offers from Mumbai and a well known Indipop band was all set to sign me for their music video. The way in which I was getting opportunities in the glamour world, I thought I would work in this field now and reach the top! But when destiny has set different plans for you, than in spite of all your efforts, you may not be able to do what you are expected. Maybe the same was happening to me because on one hand I was getting a lot of offers to work in Surat-Mumbai and on the other hand I started pursuing for my post graduation, preparing for the entrance tests. I struggled ad my mind kept balancing between the need to stay in a cool and calm environment and the heat of flashlights and spotlights! However, I did not know then that my luck was leading me to the coolness of the shade of the trees. And that’s why I suddenly moved away from the world of modelling and entered into the world of textiles and environment. Of course, it’s also a thrilling story about how I got attracted into that world. I will be happy to share about those memories here too.