Ever since I was a kid, I always, always wondered what it would be like to have brothers. Or just one brother. I could never explain that yearning I always had, to have brothers in the family.
As I grew older, that yearning or need slowly faded into the background. Nevertheless it remained, somewhere there in my mind.

Swami, being that sweet, thoughtful and lovable Swami that He is, has blessed me with an abundance of brothers now. Sometimes I'm asked, how on earth do you feel, everywhere you turn, there's one of your Sai brothers. And all I can do is smile...because I know, this is one blessing that is too precious to be questioned. Through these brothers, I have been given a chance to experience a bond that I never had before, and to learn so many valuable lessons from the brothers in my life.



Sai G anne. You know, sometimes I wonder how he tolerates me. In every situation where I've had no answers, Sai G anne is the first person I turn to. He's given me so much of insight into leadership, understanding why things happen the way they do, and just simply, being there when I need to talk about issues way beyond my capability of handling.

I had to make one of the most difficult decisions of my life recently. Sai G anne saw me through it, step by step. Of all the phone calls, messages and emails, even when he was travelling overseas for work. All the tears I shed, the pain, the difficulty I had in understanding..all the time he spent listening, comforting, and caring. The words he's said to me have been the very words that have uplifted me, given me strength to move on and see things from a different perspective. Every time he sees me for tea, lunch, dinner, just being with anne gives me a whole new understanding on what life is all about.

Learning how to lead from him is another journey beyond words. Each one of them, the brothers in my life, each natural leaders in their own ways. Sai G has taught me how to lead by example, by putting others before him, not taking credit for success, and accepting all failures as his responsibility. He has pushed me to do better, guided me to strive for excellence, and always reminded me that the Ultimate Boss is the Big Boss Himself.

The best advice Sai G anne has given me, that I will never forget ever - "Plan your future with Swami."

Suresh Banana. The Environmentalist. The Jaafars patron. The gifted photographer ;) I first met Suresh anne when I was 19, fresh from college, waiting to join university. So happened that I started Monash the year after, in 2004. Subang Center was just around the corner, and Suresh anne used to pick me up after college and take me to bhajans.

There have been countless number of times when he has taken me out for lunch, for tea, for dinner. All I had to do was call and ask, "Anne, lets go eat." And he'd just say yes :)

This year for his birthday, after I sent him a message in the morning, I got a lengthy reply that somewhat went along the lines of how happy he was that so many people cared. I was surprised! I didn't expect Suresh anne to be all emotional. I was only expecting two letters as a reply - 'Tq'. I'm glad he liked the present I got him. You should have seen the shock on his face when I handed over the gift!

The things I have learned from Suresh anne are things that I simply cannot disregard. All those times he's talked to me about Swami, about bhajans, about spirituality. And all those times we've talked about movies, clothes, Sunway College! The days he was in college, I can remember one story where he was tied to a tree on his birthday. HAHAHAHAHA. I learned about love, and life. All from this brother of mine. Anne has never said no to me. Always ready to help. And that's something he's taught me to do. To always help, whenever I can.

Jaidev anne, I've known for a while. Its only been recently that he's become someone that I find myself constantly around because of the state youth meetings we are having. Okay, one thing Jaidev anne ALWAYS does.. he bullies me big time. BIG TIME. Sometimes to the extent where I feel the need to strangle him.

But after that, he always smiles and brushes it off. Another leader in his own unique way, Jaidev anne always has been one to speak his mind. Everytime he does or says something, he brings it back to the values that we must remember to uphold. He is another example of just giving, and not expecting anything in return.

Yea, he kids around alot, but when its down to business, he's dead serious about work. That's another thing he's taught me..work comes first.Responsibilities given to us shouldn't be taken lightly, and its our responsibility to ensure we do it the best we can. Yup, textbook translation of one of those things we learnt in Moral Studies..but you know what? Its actually applicable in real life too :D

So yea...I can go on with the list of anne's that I have in my life. Each special and unique in their own way. I read somewhere in the book Many Lives, Many Masters that souls are born again into lifetimes collectively. The people that we are with today , are those that we have been with for many, many lifetimes before. I guess my brothers were with me in those lifetimes before..and to know that they will be in lifetimes to come, is indeed a feeling that is beyond bliss, beyond joy and beyond love.