Welcome to the August edition. It is the last summer month before the kids are packed off to school and college fall semesters begin.
Enjoy the road trips, reunions and jaunts to the beach or the mountains. Don’t forget to take your copy of Saathee along when sitting by the poolside or lounging on the sand at the beach. This issue is packed with original writing and essays.
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We welcome comments and suggestions. Just drop us a note.
Some highlights in this issue:
♦ “Choosing Where to Grow Old” series continues on page 24.
♦ Find new movies coming up in our “Film Clips” section on page 34.
♦ Read the review for the American Dance Festival on page 30.
♦ Looking for a job or new business? See latest Classifieds on page 108.
We would be happy to add anyone in the Carolinas to the Saathee Magazine mailing list at no charge, visit saathee.com/subscription and also sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter.
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"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." - James Baldwin
Cover: Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh
Kalpa is a small village in Himachal Pradesh, North India. The region is inhabited by the Kinnauri people and is known for its apple orchards. The Kinnauri follow a blend of Hinduism and Buddhism, and many temples in Kalpa are dedicated to both Hindu and Buddhist gods and goddesses.
Photo by Saiko3p / Adobe Stock
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When a particularly good guitar riff hits the air, time freezes for a moment. It may be few notes or an easy chord progression, but the idea is simple. It’s about a guitar in the right hands. A killer guitar riff can part dark clouds, cause stiff neck muscles to loosen, and dormant brain cells to awaken, ready to sing along to the rest of the song. You don’t even need lyrics. Just listen to the Surfaris’ instrumental classic “Wipeout” which opens with a drum roll and within few three seconds of the guitar jumping in, your toes will want to dance in the hot sand.
There are other musical alleys that have a similar effect. A familiar piano refrain immediately creates a mood, channeling memories, creating new ones. An opening percussion beat can bring a song to mind. But today, it’s all about guitars. And guitar riffs. They are the hot, sour, salty, and sweet sauces of life all rolled into one.
All the riffs through all the music through all the years swirling around my brain, at this moment, today, I’m listening to a new album where guitars are the stars. In this one, Keith Richards and Ron Woods’ fingers bend the guitar strings in the opening salvo of the new Rolling Stones album, Foreign Tongues. Their 25th studio album. The blazing opening track, “Rough and Twisted” is classic, boozy, bluesy Stones. It’s a rocker that will be added to their myriad classics that are part of the band’s catalog stretching back to 1962.
The sound is unmistakably Rolling Stones. At once familiar and new. There’s no need to fuss over who plays what. It’s about plugging in and getting to work, gathering a lifetime of twists and turns and writing them into songs that become songs for the ages.
The album dropped a day before my birthday this year, a gift from the old blokes to a graying fan. An appreciative fan who has been listening to the band for nearly five decades beginning as a skinny young immigrant kid slowly diving into musical realms while living in the blocks of high rises in Queens, NYC. It began in the mid-70s on AM stations on crappy radios and continues now on formats, equipment, and level of sound unimagined in those days.
Upcoming Events
Gujarati Natak: Morrisville, NC (August 5, 2026)
The Triangle Gujarati Association presents the Gujarati Natak “Gujju Bhai Exchange Offer,” directed and starring Siddharth Randeria and featuring Tejal Vyas. This comedy play will be held at the Hindu Society of North Carolina in Morrisville, NC in Wednesday, August 5, 2026, starting at 7pm. Tickets begin at $30. Contact 919-353-0550, 706-691-9897 or visit Nctga.org for more information.
TAHTS Health Fair: Morrisville, NC (August 8, 20226)
The TAHTS Health Fair will take place on August 8, 2026, at HSNC Main Hall, 309 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC. Attendees can have their blood drawn on August 1, 2026, and speak to various physicians and specialists about results and health concerns on August 8. Details: Tahts.org.
Hasya
Kavi Sammelan: Charlotte, NC (August 8, 2026)
The International Hindi Samiti, Charlotte Chapter presents “Hasya Kavi Sammelan” featuring Sampat Saral, Chirag Jain and Govind Rathi on Saturday, August 8, 2026, starting at 4:30pm at the Hindu Center of Charlotte. For more details, call 919-995-2637.
Hindi Vikas Mandal and other RTP organizations will celebrate India's Independence Day on Saturday, August 15, 2026, along with America's 250th, beginning at 10:30am. Flag hoisting, parade, exhibition, and cultural performances. Info: call 919-2594825 or visit Hindivikasmandal.org.
Kiran Bazaar: Morrisville, NC (August 22, 2026)
Support South Asian survivors of domestic violence and shop an exclusive selection of local clothing, jewelry, services and food vendors. The first 100 attendees will receive complimentary tote bags. It takes place on August 22, 2026, at HSNC Main Hall, 309 Aviation Pkwy, Morrisville, NC. Info: Kiraninc.org.
Explore this topic through the wisdom of scriptures. The concept will be presented by speaker Dr. Kalika Uttarkar. It takes place at HSNC, 309 Aviation Pkwy, Morrisville, 12:30-2pm, on August 23, 2026. For more details write to ktrivedi@duke.edu.
Charlotte Asian Film Festival: (August 29, 2026)
Celebrate Asian Stories at Charlotte Asian Film Festival which will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, from 10am to 8pm at the Independent Picture House in Charlotte. The festival will feature not only a selection of Asian Films but also media panels and merchants followed by an after party. Enjoy the diverse variety of films. The IPH is Charlotte’s premiere venue for independent cinema. You can learn more at Charlotteasianfilmfestival.org.
New Goloka Janmashtami:
Hillsborough, NC (September 4, 2026)
ISKCON New Goloka celebrates Sri Krishna Janmastami on September 4, 2026, from 4pm - midnight, at 1032 Dimmocks Mill Rd., Hillsborough, NC. Enjoy cultural programs, boat festival, food court, children's activities, kirtans and more. For more details, visit Newgoloka.org.
A youth writing, art, and debating contest. Organized by AABAJ (American Association of Bihar and Jharkhand), top performers will receive prizes. It takes place on September 5, 2026, at 9am, HSNC, 309 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC. Info: aabaj.org.
The Triad Hindu Temple presents Prana Prathishtapana, a once-in-ageneration spiritual event. Experience the sacred rituals performed by esteemed priests as they invoke divine grace and energize the spiritual power of their temple. September 10 & 13, 2026 at 7751 Alcorn Road in Greensboro, NC. To learn more, visit their Facebook page.
AIM for Seva presents a musical celebration of Lord Rama featuring vocalist Sooryagayathri and band on Friday, September 11, 2026, 6pm, at Parr Center, 1201 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte, NC. For more info, call 704-620-2775 or 704-904-3676 or Charlotte@aimforsevausa.org.
Upcoming Events
Jaipur Literature Festival: Raleigh, NC (September 11 - 13, 2026)
The third edition of JLF North Carolina, an international edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival, will take place in Raleigh, NC from September 11 to 13, 2026. This year, the festival celebrates literature and culture across sessions taking place at Meredith College and NC State Centennial Campus. More info at Jlflitfest.org/north-carolina.
Atul
Purohit
Garba:
Greensboro, NC (September 12, 2026)
The legendary Garba singer Atul Purohit will perform live with his band on September 12, 2026, 7pm, at 1921 W. Gate City Blvd., Greenboro, NC. Enjoy music, dancing, garba, and food. For more details, call 336-509-5875 or 732-208-3359.
India Day: Wilmington, NC (September 12, 2026)
The Cape Fear Cultural Association of India (CFCAI) presents a celebration of India’s rich heritage and culture. Experience the music, dance, art, and cuisine of India. Plus Henna painting, Rangoli making, learning the secrets of Indian spices, and Yoga among the interactive exhibits. On Sept 12, 2026. At the Harrelson Center, 20 N 4th St., Wilmington, NC. Admission is free. For details, visit Cfcai.org.
Celebrate the annual festival and embrace the blessings from September 14 – 25, 2026. It takes place at HSNC, 309 Aviation Pkwy, Morrisville, NC. For more details, visit Hsnctemple.org.
Enjoy a night of garba fun with Kirtidan Gadhvi and live band on September 18, 2026, 8pm, at Park Expo, 800 Briar Creek, Rd., Charlotte, NC. For more details, call 980-990-1118. Tickets at Sulekha.com.
Festival of India: Charlotte, NC (September 19 – 20, 2026)
The India Association of Charlotte (IAC) announces the 30th Annual Festival of India, taking place on September 19–20, 2026 in Uptown Charlotte. Celebrating three decades of culture, community, and diversity, this milestone edition will expand into a two-day “FolkFest” experience showcasing India’s rich heritage. Uptown Charlotte, including Tryon Street and the Belk Theater, will be transformed into a vibrant cultural celebration featuring music, dance, art, food, fashion, and interactive experiences. See details on Indiafestival.iacofcarolinas.org.
Kiran Annual Gala: Chapel Hill, NC (September 20, 2026)
The organization’s annual gala will take place on September 20, 2026, at Whistling Woods Farm, 2676 Farrington Point Rd., Chapel Hill, NC. Kiran works to support South Asian survivors of domestic violence. For more details, visit Kiraninc.org.
Violin Duo Concert: Charlotte, NC (September 20, 2026)
CMAC presents a concert featuring Mysore Nagaraj and Dr. Mysore Manjunath, accompanied by Sai Giridhar (Mridangam) and Giridhar Udupa (Ghatam). It takes place at Gandhi Bhavan, Hindu Center, 7400 City View Dr., Charlotte, NC. For more info, call 704-9049454, 704-840-5949.
The Triangle Gujarati Association presents Bollywood Garba singer Bhoomi Trivedi in concert as part of her “Bol Mari Ambe” World Tour. The concert will take place on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at the NC Expo Center in Raleigh, NC with doors opening at 7pm and Garba starting at 8pm. For more info, contact 919353-0550 or 859-312-9641.
Hindi Play: Jaane Pehchaane Anjane: Raleigh, NC (October 2, 2026)
Arvind Mahajan presents a Hindi play featuring Anupam Kher and Swaroop Sampat with a full ensemble and music by Anu Malik. See it on October 2, 2026, 8:15pm, at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. For info, text 347-205-7276. Tickets via Ticketmaster.com.
Friends of Charlotte presents Bollywood Garba singer Bhoomi Trivedi in concert as part of her “Bol Mari Ambe” World Tour. For the first time in the Charlotte metro area, Trivedi will be performing for Garba with proceeds going to support local community initiatives. The concert will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center in Concord, NC. Tickets available now at Sulekha.com.
Keep up with all the events happening in our region with Saathee. The best way to find them is in these pages or online at our regularly updated events section: Saathee.com/events
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Choosing
Where to Grow Old
Choosing Where to Grow Old
The Shape of Independence: Part 9
Looking Back, Differently
During our three months in India, I found myself reflecting more deeply than I had expected. It was not just about where we might live in the future. It was also about how we have lived so far.
I thought often about my mother. She lived a life filled with quiet strength and enduring love. Her life did not appear extraordinary in the way the world often defines it, but in its depth, it truly was.
A Life Lived in Many Roles
At the same time, I found myself reflecting on my own journey. My life in the United States had been shaped by many roles—career woman, homemaker, and mother— often all at once. It was not always a matter of choice, nor purely of obligation. It was simply the path life had taken. I
have come to realize that whether a woman chooses to be a homemaker or builds a career outside the home, both paths carry their own demands. Neither is easier. Neither is greater. Each comes with its own form of responsibility and quiet exhaustion. But combining both—especially in a place like the United States— creates a different kind of pace altogether.
Raising children, managing a home, and building a career do not happen in separate phases. They unfold at the same time, often competing for attention, energy, and presence.
Seeing My Mother, Again
In India, while life carries its own challenges, the presence of extended family and the availability of support can ease some of that daily burden, if one has access to it. That difference began to stand out to me more clearly during those months. And in that reflection, I began to see my mother in a new light.
Years ago, when she chose to come to the United States to help me raise my daughter, I did not fully understand what that decision meant. She was in her early sixties. She had her own home, her independence,
My Voice by Malini Amaladoss
Dada, Please Don’t Go
Dada, Please Don’t Go
The Through Line
by Dhruv Pathak
My grandfather (Dada) left Karachi for Amdavad by steamer in 1948, as Sindh’s Hindus were forced out of the new Pakistan in the months after Partition. I arrived two generations later, and an ocean away, so I never got to ask him anything. This letter imagines a boy who might have been: me, in Charlotte, in the winter of 1948, reading the papers and writing to stop him. The history in it is real. Only the boy is invented.
Charlotte, North Carolina–January 24, 1948
Dear Dada,
There used to be a train, the Sind Mail, that went right through Amdavad. You told me about it two years ago. Now the safest way is by water, and I don’t get how water became safer than land.
I don’t want you to get hurt.
All we see here in America is the news, and it’s terrible. There were photos in LIFE magazine that Papa wouldn’t let me see, so I took them to my room after bedtime. People are being pulled off trains in Punjab, where Mummy is from. The paper says Hindu mobs and Muslim mobs, both, like it’s keeping score, like we’re all the same to them.
And I know about Karachi too, Dada. The paper said they killed Sikhs and Hindus near Ratan Talao this month, and Papa read it standing up, then went outside without his coat to smoke and stayed out for a while. But your letter said the camel carts still pass on Bunder Road in the morning, and Empress Market is still open. So maybe the city isn’t safe anymore. But your street is. Couldn’t you just stay on your street?
You’re already a big engineer. Everyone says so. You could find work anywhere, so why not in Karachi? They want you to design big houses and buildings in Gujarat, where Gandhiji is from, but Papa says the real reason is that you’re Hindu and
Your letter came on Thursday, and Papa read it to himself twice before letting me hear it. He said you were traveling from Karachi to Amdavad by boat because the trains aren’t safe. I looked it up in my school atlas and measured the distance with my thumb. I don’t think it’s even three hundred miles. Dada continued on page 72
All the People Artist Statement
Kismuth and the Way
by Dipika Kohli
Tickets are booked. I’m packing for North Carolina. At the time of this writing, it’s just a few days before I go, and I am going, really. This time I’m not simply daydreaming about it. I’m actually going. Today I am rooting through our stored stuff for something I never imagined I would need to take ‘home.’ An adapter. So, my Cambodia things work, in the US, which now feels like a foreign country. Twelve years away will do that.
Bit of a time crunch, trying to think about what else I might need after such a long gap of not going back. The deadline for this article falls smack on the date of travel.
I imagine many people, smart and creative people I know are doing this, would use AI to pop something out, about, oh, say, ‘nostalgia, pitfalls, expectations, things to watch for, and emotions around repatriating.’ I mean, people do it. But I can’t. I can’t stand it. No AI, for me.
As AI-y stuff likes to say, ‘Not because’ of this, ‘not because’ of that... but because it’s so boring to read what is so cookie-cutter, and so low effort. Does this opinion mean that I’m of the philosophy that words I put together here are not allowed to be dull and unimaginative? Yes. Yes it does. At least, I can give it my best, human-written shot. Because if one is writing with the hope that someone, somewhere, will relate to it and care, it means one must respect that person’s attention. Their time.
If you don’t care, then that’s a different matter, and I believe that’s why we have so much AI-made ‘content.’ You start, and then you’re four-fifths of a
Kismuth continued on page 82
Bus:
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American Dance Festival 2026 Review
by Dilip Barman
As I write in mid-July, the 2026 season of American Dance Festival is in its closing days. By the time it finishes on July 25, there will have been 49 performances by 26 dance companies.
If you have never seen contemporary dance, give it a try. I love watching professional dance of all kinds. What I like about modern dance is its freshness and unpredictability. Often grounded in other forms like ballet or hip hop, it adds elements that often surprise.
So far my favorite performance has been by Camille A. Brown & Dancers. I’ve also seen Pioneer Winter Collective, Charlotte Ballet, and Paul Taylor Dance Company (one of my all time favorites along with Pilobolus), and soon will see Shen Wei Dance Arts and Guangdong Modern Dance Company (together), Li Chiao-Ping Dance, and the season closer, Pilobolus.
On June 20, my high school-aged daughter and I attended Camille A. Brown & Dancers and both loved the performance entitled I AM. It was 60-minutes long with no intermission and non-stop energy, and was accompanied by a live trio of violinist, drummer, and
keyboardist. Camille Brown is known for her work exploring “Black joy”, and this piece was a great example. The dance forms were drawn from a swatch of African and African-American sources. I was excited when the live musicians played a version of The Temptations’ “Papa Was a Rolling Stone”!
In late June, my wife and I attended Charlotte Ballet’s Kamuyot by Ohad Naharin. It was a true experience, immersing the audience into an unusual setting for a performance: a lit gym with audience sitting in bleachers around the dancers. Dancers would move around the gym and frequently usher audience members to the dance floor. Sometimes dancers would slowly move around the perimeter distantly staring for a few seconds at a time at folks in the audience. The music was infectious and from varied sources including Lou Reed, Beethoven, and a version of Bobby Freeman’s 1958 “Do You Want to Dance”. It was a special, intimate, memorable, and fun event.
In July 15, my wife and I saw Paul Taylor Dance Company for perhaps the 20th time. They performed four dances but one really resonated with me, the second, Clair de Lune. Set to music by Claude Debussy, dancer Emmy Wildermuth had a white dress which, as explained when I asked in the question-and-answer session afterwards, consisted of over 30 yards of fabric (a commonly used size
Upcoming Movie Releases
August 7
One Night Only (Director: Will Gluck)
Cast: Monica Barbaro, Molly Ringwald, and LeVar Burton
Prahaar – The Ujjwal Nikam Story (Director: Avinash Arun)
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Wamiqa Gabbi, Sikandar Kher, and Jaideep Ahlawat
Late Fame (Director: Kent James)
Cast: Willem Dafoe, Greta Lee, and Edmund Donovan
Super Troopers 3 (Director: Jay Chandrasekhar)
Cast: Jay Chandrasekhar, Chace Crawford, and Brian Cox
Aryabhatt Ka Zero (Director: Kamal Chandra)
Cast: Himansh Kohli, Sonnalli Seygall, and Zooby Singh
Tony (Director: Matt Johnson)
Cast: Dominic Sessa, Emilia Jones, and Antonio Banderas
The Last House (Director: Louis Leterrier)
Cast: Greta Lee and Wagner Moura
August 14
The End of Oak Street (Director: David Robert Mitchell)
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Maisy Stella, Christian Convery, and Ewan McGregor
Don’t Say Good Luck (Director: Julia Hart)
Cast: Sunny Sandler, Jon Lovitz, Bebe Neuwirth, and Steve Buscemi
Union County (Director: Adam Meeks)
Cast: Will Poulter, Noah Centineo, and Emily Meade
Awarapan 2 (Director: Nitin Kakkar)
Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Disha Patani, and Shabana Azmi
The Rivals of Amziah King
(Director: Andrew Patterson)
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Angelina LookingGlass, and Kurt Russell
Batwara 1947 (Director: Rajkumar Santoshi)
Cast: Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Karan Deol, and Shabana Azmi
The Brink of War (Director: Michael Russell Gunn)
Cast: Jeff Daniels, J K Simmons, and Jared Harris
The Wrong Girls (Director: Dylan Meyer)
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Seth Rogen, LaKeith
Stanfield, and Kumail Nanjiani
August 21
Mutiny (Director: Jean-François Richet)
Cast: Jason Statham, Jason Wong, and Adrian Lester
The Magic Faraway Tree (Director: Ben Gregor)
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Rebecca Ferguson, and Jennifer Saunders
Irumudi (Director: Shiva Nirvana)
Cast: Ravi Teja, Priya Bhavani, Baby Nakshathra, and P Sai Kumar
Spa Weekend (Directors: Jon Lucas & Scott Moore)
Cast: Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, Michelle Buteau, and Anna Faris
August 28
The Dog Stars (Director: Ridley Scott)
Cast: Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, and Guy Pearce
Khosla Ka Ghosla 2 (Director: Prashant Bhagia)
Cast: Anupam Kher and Ravi Kishan
Coyote vs Acme (Director: Dave Green)
Cast: Will Forte, Lana Condor, Tone Bell, and John Cena
The Whisper Man (Director: James Ashcroft)
Cast: Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, and Michael Keaton
Bhogi (Director: Sampath Nandi)
Cast: Sharwanand, Anupama Parameswaran, and Dimple Hayathi
Macon Blair (Director: Sampath Nandi)
Cast: Dave Franco, O’Shea Jackson Jr, and Peter Dinklage
Eetha (Director: Laxman Utekar)
Cast: Shraddha Kapoor, Randeep Hooda, and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub
Saathee.com/movies has the latest info on where the movies are showing or streaming. Release dates subject to change.
F i l m C l i p s
Prahaar – The Ujjwal Nikam Story
The film revisits defining trials in Indian history, exploring prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam’s role in legal battles surrounding the 1993 Bombay Blasts and 2008 Mumbai Train Attacks. Directed by Avinash Arun, cast includes Wamiqa Gabbi, Rajkummar Rao, and Jaideep Ahlawat. August 7, 2026.
Aryabhatt Ka Zero
Aryabhatt ka zero is a slice of life drama that celebrates the power of self-belief through the ideal “Believe in Yourself.” It is the story of Baggu, a 25-year-old directionless young man from a middle-class family. Himansh Kohli, Sonnalli Seygall, and Zooby Singh star in the film directed by Kamal Chandra. August 7, 2026.
Awarapan 2
Shivam returns to the crime world, where his path forward demands redemption, love, and sacrifice. As relationships deepen and conflicts intensify, testing his resolve and shaping his destiny. Nitin Kakkar directs Emraan Hashmi, Disha Patani, and Shabana Azmi. August 14, 2026.
The Rivals of Amziah King
Amziah King, beekeeper, musician, and anchor of his community, reunites with former foster daughter after many years apart, and fends off threats to his honey business. Kurt Russell, Matthew McConaughey, and Angelina LookingGlass star in the movie directed by Andrew Patterson. August 14, 2026.
Batwara 1947
During India’s Partition, families face chaos and heartbreak as their lives are shattered. Amid violence and upheaval, they rely on courage, compassion, and resilience to survive in a world divided by fear. Rajkumar Santoshi directs Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Karan Deol, and Shabana Azmi. August 14, 2026.
Irumudi
The film tells the tale of an alcohol-addicted father with a violent past who lives peacefully with his daughter beside a waterfall and decides to take Ayyappa Deeksha at her request. Shiva Nirvana directs Ravi Teja, Priya Bhavani, Baby Nakshathra, and P Sai Kumar. August 21, 2026.
The Whisper Man
A grieving father and his young son relocate to a quiet town, which was terrorized by a serial years earlier, while rumors circulated that he worked with an accomplice. Starring Robert De Niro and Michael Keaton, directed by James Ashcroft. August 28, 2026.
Tabla Lessons
USCIS Updates Its Adjustment of Status Policy - Or Does It?
Immigration Matters
by Rishi P. Oza
Days before the Memorial Day weekend in May, the US Citizenship and Immigration Service issued a Memorandum stating that the agency would utilize its discretion in approving adjustment of status applications stating that such approvals were “extraordinary” forms of relief that required “administrative grace.”
Predictably, the reaction to the agency’s memorandum was swift and vocal, as immigrant groups and the larger immigration community reacted with confusion to what appeared to be a rather abrupt change in USCIS’ decades-long practice of adjudications.
To be clear, adjustment of status is the process undertaken by USCIS to convert an individual from a nonimmigrant status (i.e. H-1B, F-1, spouse or fiancée) to that of a green card holder. The AOS process requires an individual show that she has not only submitted a properly completed application but meets both the statutory requirements for approval and is also worthy of a favorable exercise of discretion in getting approved.
In practice, unless an individual’s case has significant negative factors (i.e. fraud, crimes, etc.), an individual’s statutory eligibility was a fairly strong indication of approval.
For purposes of context, the core tenet of the memorandum – the grant of adjustment of status is discretionary and not mandatory – doesn’t exactly break any new ground. USCIS’ argument that the agency isn’t required to grant adjustment of status just based upon eligibility is nothing new. Most immigration benefits, from the issuance of work permits to waivers, are inherently discretionary, meaning that the agency is not forced to approve an application, but does so after balancing the favorable factors against the unfavorable factors of a given case.
In its Memo, USCIS provides the example of two cases – Matter of Blas, 15 I&N Dec. 626, 628 (BIA 1974; A.G. 1976) and Chen v. Foley, 385 F.2d 929, 934 (6th Cir. 1967) – both of which evidence factors that are welloutside the norm of typical applicants for adjustment of status. In those cases, the individuals applying for green cards displayed behavior (lying on applications, failing to depart when ordered, asserting that spouses abroad were dead when they were not, etc.) that any normal adjudicator would likely find unworthy of approval. The pattern of deception that was exemplified in these cases made clear that these two applicants were not meritorious of USCIS’ discretion in approving their respective cases.
Digital Literacy
Why Strength Training is One of the Best Medicines for Menopause
Nutrition for Life by
Lavanya Kethamukkala
As women transition through perimenopause and menopause, hormonal changes, particularly the decline in estrogen, the effects are far more than reproductive health. Many women notice that despite eating well and staying active, they begin to experience rising blood sugar, elevated blood pressure, stubborn abdominal weight gain, loss of muscle, and lower energy levels.
If you’ve ever thought, “I’m doing everything the same, but my body feels different,” you’re not imagining it. These changes are common and are largely driven by shifts in hormones and body composition.
The encouraging news is that one of the most effective ways to counter these changes doesn’t require expensive supplements or complicated routines. It starts with building and maintaining muscle through strength training.
What Happens During Menopause?
Estrogen plays an important role in regulating metabolism, muscle mass, blood vessel health, and insulin sensitivity. As estrogen levels decline:
● The body becomes less responsive to insulin, making it easier for blood sugar to rise.
● Blood vessels become less flexible, contributing to higher blood pressure.
● Muscle mass naturally declines, slowing metabolism and reducing overall strength.
These changes increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and metabolic syndrome. Fortunately, regular resistance exercise can help address many of these concerns.
Pen is Mightier Than Sword
Pen is Mightier Than Sword
My Voice by Girish Modi
Some remember name of the film and music director who composed the song; but hardly anyone gives same importance to the lyricist who penned the song.
During the centennial year of Indian cinema in 2023 glorious tributes were given to the yesteryears’ actors who had made some memorable movies. Many rave reviews were given to the movie producers and their jubilee-hit movies. Some directors like Satyajit Ray, Bimal Roy and Yash Chopra also got recognition. Music directors like Naushad, Shankar-Jaikishan, O. P. Nayyar and S. D. Burman got their dues. But hardly anyone gave credit to people who deserved credit as much as singers and music directors.
Yes, I am talking about the poets and lyricists without whom the songs would have become lifeless, and compositions would have become ordinary tunes. A vast majority of music lovers associate a song with the singer and the actor who portrays the character and sings the song on the screen. Some remember name of the film and music director who composed the song; but hardly anyone gives same importance to the lyricist who penned the song.
There were many great poets-lyricists like Shailendra, Gulzar, Shakeel Badayuni, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Kaifi Azmi, Rajendra Krishan and Bharat Vyas, just to name a few whose poetry or shayaris made many songs immortal and helped turn movies into blockbusters.
However, three poets-lyricists shine among them like North Stars in a dark new moon sky. These are Sahir Ludhianvi, Neeraj and Pradeep, who proved time and again that pen is mightier than sword.
Normally a music director creates a tune and then narrates the story line of the film to the lyricist and asks him to write lyrics. When he and director are satisfied, the final song is created, its music arrangement is made, and the playback singer is asked to sing. If the combination of these three ingredients is successful, the song becomes a hit song and if the actor performs the song appropriately, the movie becomes famous. If all the songs in a film are hit songs, the movie becomes a blockbuster and may win multiple awards. An ordinary star becomes a superstar. But the lyricist’s name is forgotten.
Pen continued on page 96
Sahir Ludhianvi Pradeep
Neeraj
The Ultimate Copyrighter The Ultimate Copyrighter
by Preethi Sriram
What is “mine” to take credit for.
Another question: what is “original” and what is “copyrighted?”
These are topics that are relevant in the modern day, especially when it comes to the very topical issue of Artificial Intelligence. If someone utilizes AI, who gets the credit?
It is interesting to see the amount of division just the concept of AI can bring in:
“No AI! Humans first!”
“Individuality over artificiality!”
“AI is not original!”
So how does society grapple with this concept of possession and especially with the pervasive presence of AI? If we investigate the past, there may be some stories that can help to give us insight into this modern issue.
One of the old stories to pull from the time machine portal is the Mahabharata. The Mahabharata is the great epic of the family of Pandavas and Kauravas. It is thought to be one of the longest poems that have been written.
Copyrighter continued on page 88
My Voice
Charlotte Chess Center: Naroditsky Memorial Rapid and Blitz Community Focus
By Kelly Centrelli
The Charlotte Chess Center Foundation (CCCF), in partnership with chess.com, ran the Naroditsky Memorial Rapid and Blitz over the July 4, 2026 weekend in memory of the late Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, who passed away last October at 29 years old.
Over 300 players ranging from new-totournament players to the world’s elite participated. Naroditsky was known as both an elite-level player and educational content creator, impacting a wide variety of chess players during his life.
Naroditsky was known for his abilities as a speedchess player, and the tournament featured Rapid and Blitz events–the fastest forms of physical chess. Over the weekend, the Creator Invitational and Masters’ Blitz were also held.
Before the event commenced, lead organizer Peter Giannatos announced that the CCCF will give the Naroditsky Fellowship in January 2027, a $50,000 award intended to support the nation’s elite junior players. Applications will open in August. Naroditsky was the head coach of the Elite Team for the Charlotte Chess Center, and the fellowship will help his legacy support the growth of American chess, just as he did here in Charlotte.
The event was headlined by the world’s top players, such as Grandmasters Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So, and the challenger to the World Championship, Javokhir Sindarov. Chess’s top content creators were also in attendance: GothamChess, The Botez Sisters, Dina Belenkaya, Sagar Shah of Chessbase India, Danny Rensch of chess.com, and more.
International Master John Bartholomew won the Creator Invitational with a perfect score of 9 points, and Grandmaster Sindarov won both the Rapid and Blitz portions of the tournament. Naroditsky’s mother, Elena, flew to Charlotte to present the awards to winners in her son’s honor.
An inspirational moment was 17-year-old National Master Ethan Sheehan not only qualifying for the Masters Blitz final but also achieving third place in it with a score of 6 out of a possible 9 points. Sheehan was the only non-Grandmaster in the
Naroditsky’s mother, Elena, presents GM Sindarov with the Rapid Champion trophy
Impact of Speeding Tickets on Auto Insurance Impact of Speeding Tickets on Auto Insurance
by Anuj Kasera
The worst experience while driving is seeing the red and blue flashing lights in your rearview mirror. As you try your best to feign ignorance or come up with an original reason to justify your speeding, be assured that you are going to be ticketed. Keep your responses brief, polite and factual. Do not lie but do not volunteer unnecessary information either.
When asked for the documents, ask permission to retrieve them. If you are asked whether you know why you were pulled over, your best response may be noncommittal, “I am not sure.” For the purpose of this discussion today, we will discuss some of the questions that you may have after getting the ticket.
When do the rates change?
Premiums usually will not change immediately after getting a ticket. The carriers typically review your MVR (Motor Vehicle Record) before issuing the renewal policy. Any violations will certainly show up in your records –regardless of the location of the violation. All states share
violation information and so sooner or later, it will be there in your records. How long it stays there, or can impact you, will depend on your state of residence. In NC, insurance points for speeding tickets and most moving violations stay for three years from the date of conviction.
Major violations like reckless driving or DUI can affect your rate for up to 10 years.
Insurance carriers base their rate on risks, and a speeding ticket obviously proves risky behavior that is associated with a higher likelihood of accidents. Now how do insurance companies determine the rate of increase? Each carrier has come up with its own algorithm to assign risk based on the event and charges accordingly. All of them consider at least the following:
Over the limit speed: 1-10 mph over the limit is usually considered a minor violation while 25+ mph can classify you as a high-risk driver, leading to massive premium spikes and in some cases a notice of non-renewal.
Why Failure Deserves More Respect Than Success
Why Failure Deserves More Respect Than Success
Overanalyzing
by Sainha Sivaram
Going into this school year, I need you to know one thing. When people ask about our achievements, we rarely hesitate to answer. We talk about the award we won, the test we aced, the team we made, or the goal we finally reached. Success is something we celebrate openly. Failure, on the other hand, is usually hidden away.
We don’t frame our failed exams and hang them on the wall. We don’t post about the opportunities we didn’t get or the mistakes we’d rather forget. Failure is often treated like something embarrassing, like a sign saying that we weren’t good enough. But what if we’ve been giving respect to the wrong thing? Success is rewarding, but failure is often where real growth happens.
Most of the lessons that have shaped me didn’t come from things going according to plan. They came from disappointment. They came from moments when I worked hard and still didn’t get the result I wanted. They came from realizing that effort alone doesn’t guarantee success. Those experiences are uncomfortable. No one enjoys failing. Yet failure has a way of teaching lessons that success never can. When everything goes well, it’s easy to assume we’re doing everything right.
Success can make us confident, but it can also make us complacent. Failure forces us to stop and reflect. It asks difficult questions.
Spot the Differences
Spot the 15 differences between original photo on top & modified photo below. (Solution on page 104)
Mindful Masala
by Hiren Deliwala
Maybe the Prayer is for Us
Maybe the Prayer is for Us
The hospital visiting hours haven’t started yet. I’m sitting outside on a plastic chair, the kind that makes a peculiar noise with every shift of your weight. Through the door I can hear faint religious music — my cousins have been playing it on a phone since last night. My uncle is in there. Sixty-five years old. Never smoked a cigarette, never touched alcohol, never used the masala tobaccos that are widely advertised and available in our city. My daughter, who is in medical school, told me there’s a saying among doctors: only good people get cancer. I’ve been thinking about that for two days.
When the doctors first started explaining his situation — the chemo, the infection that followed, the medications being delivered through IV and some orally — I did what any anxious relative with a smartphone does. I opened Gemini and started asking questions. What is this drug? What does this side effect mean? Is this timing right?
It helped. Genuinely. I understood more than I would have otherwise, and understanding felt like control. But somewhere in the middle of that second night, I realized something had shifted. I wasn’t just a worried relative anymore. I had become an unpaid medical monitor, cross-checking medications, tracking timing, flagging things to ask the nurse. The knowledge that was supposed to calm me down had handed me a new job, and with it, a new fear. What if I missed something? What if I didn’t ask the right question? The doctors were doing their best to translate complex medical language into something we could follow. That’s genuinely hard work. But now I was trying to do it too, and the gap between what I understood and what I needed to understand felt enormous.
We were still completely at the mercy of the staff. We just knew enough to be anxious about it.
Then there’s what no amount of information can touch.
My uncle has hiccups that won’t stop. Not the brief kind you can laugh off, but long, continuous hiccups that have been going on for hours. When he tries to drink water, he takes it in slowly, deliberately, like each sip
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- Film Review -
by Anuj Chakrapani
Blast
There is a moment early in debutant director Subash K. Raj’s Tamil film Blast where Nila (Preity Mukundhan) settles a stranger’s dispute with a local land grabber. After knocking down a handful of men, she simply picks up her dupatta and walks away, as though nothing extraordinary had happened. It is a deceptively simple moment, but one that tells us almost everything about Blast. In a genre where action heroes are often celebrated as much for their swagger as for their bravery, Blast quietly chooses a different path. It allows its heroes to remain ordinary people, even when they are capable of extraordinary things.
The film revolves around Rajaraman (Arjun), his wife Neelaveni (Abhirami) and their daughter Nila, a close-knit family bound together not just by affection but also by their shared proficiency in martial arts. Their fighting abilities never feel like screenplay devices introduced to rescue the plot. Instead, they are established as an intrinsic part of who they are, making every action sequence feel earned. It also comes as a pleasant surprise to see Arjun, once celebrated as Tamil cinema’s “Action King”, happily playing second fiddle in a narrative that is largely driven by two women. The decision lends the film an ensemble quality rarely seen in mainstream action entertainers.
The family’s life is interrupted when they cross paths with Varun (John Kokken, looking like Bobby Deol’s twin from Animal), a powerful criminal with plans of mining a precious stone buried beneath an idyllic settlement, which threatens to displace thousands of innocent villagers. Their collision with the antagonists is built on a series of coincidences, but the screenplay does enough to keep the proceedings engaging as Rajaraman and his family find themselves standing between the villains and their objective. What makes Blast particularly enjoyable is the way it subverts familiar action movie conventions without ever drawing attention to itself. Its heroes do not deliver lengthy
sermons, nor do they view themselves as crusaders fighting for a larger cause. When decisive moments arrive, they simply act according to the values they have grown up with. Their restraint is perhaps the film’s greatest strength. Heroism here is never performative; it is instinctive.
The action sequences themselves are crisply staged. Whether it is the amusing stretches involving Nila’s new workplace or the brief confrontation with a dreaded criminal, the film understands the value of brevity. Each action sequence delivers its impact and moves on before fatigue can set in. This is a refreshing change from commercial entertainers that often mistake lengthy actions scenes for excitement.
The screenplay is less assured when it turns its attention to Varun and his associates. While their larger objective is compelling enough, the ease with which they discuss murders and other criminal activities over routine phone calls, coupled with the casual transportation of massive quantities of counterfeit currency in broad daylight, makes their operation feel less sophisticated than it ought to. There is also a fine line between making villains detestable and reducing them to caricatures, and Blast occasionally finds itself on the wrong side of that divide. Fortunately, the warmth and relatability of Rajaraman’s family more than compensate for these shortcomings, ensuring that our emotional investment never wavers.
The film also deserves credit for staying grounded despite its larger-than-life premise. There is very little or unnecessary glorification of violence. Moments are allowed to breathe, making the family feel like people one could plausibly encounter in everyday life. Ironically, it is this ordinariness that makes their extraordinary feats all the more believable.
Ironically, the film’s least exciting action stretch is its climax. After a series of tightly choreographed and engaging set pieces, the finale packs in one development after another, yet never quite achieves the exhilaration of the action that comes before it. There is also an isolated moment involving one of the otherwise likeable characters reaching for a cigarette before making an important decision, a directorial choice that feels somewhat at odds with the film’s otherwise understated treatment of heroism.
Despite these minor missteps, Blast succeeds because it reimagines what a commercial action film can look like. It asks us to admire its characters not for the battles they fight, but for the quiet conviction with which they fight them. Blast reminds us that courage need not be loud and doing the right thing does not always require applause. The closing moments tease a sequel, but even if that never materializes, Blast has enough personality to deserve a franchise of its own.
Anuj Chakrapani
loves music and cinema among all art forms. He believes their beauty lies in their interpretation, and that the parts are more than the sum.
Contact: anuj.chakrapani@gmail.com
Quietly redefining heroism in commercial cinema
INS Sudarshini in NY Harbor for Sail250
INS Sudarshini is a sail training ship of the Indian Navy. The ship was designed by Colin Mudie, a naval architect and yacht designer from the United Kingdom and Sudarshini means “beautiful lady.” In July 2026 Sudarshini participated in Sail250, a parade of tall and military ships celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary, beginning in Norfolk, Virginia, including the Parade of Sail and the City Crew Parade. Later, she continued on to Baltimore, Maryland and New York City to participate in the events there.
BAPS
Celebrates America 250
As the United States commemorated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha joined in the America250 celebration through events centered on faith, service, gratitude, civic pride, and unity across the nation.
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha was a partner with America250.org, the national, nonpartisan initiative leading the commemoration of America’s Semiquincentennial.
For South Asian Americans, America250 offered an opportunity to honor the freedoms, opportunities, and shared values that have enabled generations of families to preserve their heritage while supporting the American story. From early immigrants seeking new beginnings to the millions of South Asian Americans who today serve in medicine, education, business, public service, technology, the arts, and civic life, their journey expresses a broader American experience shaped via resilience, service, opportunity, and belonging.
Across the country, BAPS Swaminarayan Mandirs were illuminated in red, white, and blue, families participated in patriotic activities, and community members gathered to reflect on the values that unite Americans across backgrounds and beliefs.
The events brought together community members, local leaders, veterans, faith representatives, nonprofit partners, and residents to celebrate the shared values that still shape the nation.
BAPS Charities also incorporated America250 themes into its annual Walk-Run events, bringing together tens of thousands of participants across North America in support of local charitable causes. These events have supported hundreds of organizations working in health, education, humanitarian relief, environmental protection, and social well-being.
America250 also served as an opportunity to reflect on the role immigrant communities have played in strengthening the nation. Across the years, Americans of diverse backgrounds have preserved their traditions while adopting a shared civic identity grounded in service, respect, responsibility, and community.
For more details, visit Baps.org.
The INS Sudarshini sails up the Hudson River during Sail250. Photo courtesy of Sushimi B / Wikimedia Creative Commons
Photos courtesy BAPS
Jaipur Literature Festival NC
The third edition of JLF North Carolina, an international edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival, will take place in Raleigh, NC from September 11 to 13, 2026. This year, the festival celebrates the many arts and histories of the ‘City of Oaks’, across sessions taking place at Meredith College and NC State Centennial Campus. The city’s boulevards will serve as the perfect backdrop for this celebration of books and stories.
JLF North Carolina 2026 will feature two days of thought-provoking conversations, compelling performances, and cultural experiences, making it an essential chapter of the JLF USA series.
The Jaipur Literature Festival, held annually in the historic Pink City of Jaipur in India’s vibrant state of Rajasthan, is hailed worldwide as the ‘greatest literary show on Earth’. In January 2026, the 19th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival reaffirmed the power of books and ideas through a remarkable line-up of speakers and sessions.
The festival’s energy and spirit travel across the world, in its international JLF edition. JLF International is a series of global festivals, travelling across continents, carrying with it the spirit of the Jaipur Literature Festival. Its editions span several countries including Australia, Europe, Middle East, Ireland, UK and US, seamlessly merging the rich multilingual literary traditions of South Asia with the unique essence of the host regions. More info at Jlflitfest.org/north-carolina.
Other dates for JLF USA 2026: Seattle: September 18-20; Colorado: September 22-23; Toronto: September 25-26; New York: September 29-30; Houston: October 2-4.
India Day Parade NYC
For over more than 4 decades FIA India Day Parade culminates every year in August observing India’s Anniversary of Independence. It is considered to be the largest parade outside the India bringing together thousands of Diaspora for one of the biggest cultural extravaganzas in New York City.
This India Day Parade event marks the unique mix of togetherness of Indo-America where Indian immigrants residing in the USA come together with the visitors of different countries participating in the parade by holding aloft an Indian flag, and witness Indian culture, its identity and exchange social bonding with cultural understandings. The parade showcases an exuberance of pageantry displays, each meticulously crafted in accordance with its respective theme, serving as a representation of the prosperous culture and historical legacy of India. Bollywood celebrities, cricket greats, civic and community leaders, businesspeople, and eminent diasporan trend-setters have all historically participated in the procession and enhanced its magnificence. “Harmony in Heritage” is the theme of the 44th annual India Day Parade and it will take place Sunday, August 16, 2026, beginning at noon, in New York City. Info: Fianynjct.org.
VEMA MORTGAGE
Smaller is Better
Eye on the Markets
by Ketu Desai
In recent weeks there have been some major developments in AI that have significant implications for index investors. As background, the S&P 500 is a highly concentrated index, where the top ten companies make up just under 40% of the index. All but one of the top ten are tech and AI related companies with major hyperscalers such as Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon carrying large weights.
The investment proposition in hyperscalers is changing. Their AI cap-ex spend is expected to reach north of $3 trillion through 2029. They are going from cash flow machines to negative free-cash flow, high return on equity to lower, shifting from asset-light to asset-heavy, issuing equity, and reducing buybacks. Google announced an $85bn equity issuance.
There are reports that Meta might also issue equity. Amazon and Microsoft are likely not too far behind. They are issuing equity at a time when they are a source of funds for AI-winners and major new IPOs such as SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic. They are in a lose/lose situation, if they don’t spend, they will fall behind on AI and that could be existential. If they do continue to spend, they will have to issue equity, lever up, change their business model and have negative free cash flow.
Government regulation and intervention risk has also increased for hyperscalers. The Government issued an export control directive to suspend Anthropic’s Fable and Mythos 5 by any foreign national. As these models get more powerful, Government scrutiny will only increase. Further, it could shift power from a handful of labs toward model orchestration and open-source ecosystems. Ultimately, it
feels like the models will be commoditized and pricing will go significantly lower, which likely means a low return on investment. Deutsche Bank says, “for the bulk of everyday tasks (perhaps 90% of them) [China’s DeepSeek’s V4-Pro] does much the same job at roughly 1.5% of the cost of Fable 5.”
OpenAI is reportedly taking the first steps to lower pricing to gain share. There are better opportunities for capital than in companies that are negative free cashflow, issuing equity, have potential for government intervention, and potentially facing a price war.
This is reflecting in their stock prices, as they are down on the year and underperforming the broader market by double-digits.
With the headwinds hyperscalers face, equal-weight strategies and small caps are set up to take leadership. With nominal growth running in the mid-single digits, many more companies can provide high growth. The market will look to the companies that are the cheapest for that high growth. This means it will be the revenge of the value stocks, small caps, old-economy stocks, cyclicals, banks and financials, industrials, certain healthcare and biotech companies.
Basically, most things that have done very little for the last 15-years, while the market was held up by a few stocks. Goldman estimates 36% earnings growth for small caps this year and 38% next. Not only will many of these companies benefit from higher top-line growth from higher nominal GDP, but they will also likely see margin expansion over time from AI & technological advances. Every 1% labor cost savings translates to about a 2% boost in EPS for the S&P, but over a 6% boost for small caps. They will also see margin expansion from lower rates. Lower rates will favor many of these businesses, as they are often more levered. The
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Dada continued from page 26
Karachi isn’t yours anymore. Stay where everyone knows your name. What is so important about this private contract that Manjubaa has to pack my favorite place in the world into a trunk?
Papa keeps telling me all day that our family is Hindu. We’re Brahmins, but that doesn’t mean anything here in America. But you always said it’s fine to live next to Muslims. You told me to become friends with Ali. You said they are a good family. And when I left Karachi two years ago—remember?—Ali and I flew kites from his roof, and his mother fed me until I couldn’t move. You were so scared I was lost, but I just fell asleep on their floor. Is Ali supposed to be our enemy now?
My teacher, Mrs. Comer, told us that about a hundred years ago, Switzerland had a war between Catholics and Protestants. The next year, they wrote one constitution and became one country. That was a hundred winters ago, Dada, almost to this one. If the Swiss could do it, why can’t we? Papa used to tell me about an emperor, Akbar, who tried to bring the best of every religion together. Tarun uncle never stops talking about him like he’s talking about our future, not the past.
Now the newspaper says the United Nations voted to split Palestine in half too, just ten weeks after they split our Hindustan. Is that how things are done now? You cut a country loose like a kite string and just watch where the pieces drift? How can a line be an answer to anything?
Mrs. Sarkisian next door was a girl in Turkey when they came for her people, the Armenians, and she says it started the same way, with leaders deciding who belonged where. Why do they get to move our lives around like puppets?
Is this what Gandhiji starved himself for? He stopped eating for five days until people in Delhi promised to stop killing, and they say it worked. He’s an old man, Dada. How many more times can he do that? I would die if I couldn’t eat for five days.
Is this what they hanged Bhagat Singh for, so that seventeen years later we could draw the lines ourselves and do it worse than the British ever did? Mummy says Bhagat Singh wanted to bring everyone in India together after the British spent years pulling us apart. This feels like a trick. It feels like their last trick, and everyone is falling for it.
The newspapers here say it’s what everyone over there wants. I don’t believe them. Ali doesn’t want it. You said you don’t want it. That’s already two people.
We’re from Karachi. We’re from Mehran. Do they even know what they will call our home next? That’s ours, right, so why should we have to leave? I love how the walls and all the colors are so much brighter than in boring America. I love the sand at Clifton and the busy Empress Market. I love how everyone on our street knows you. Here, nobody knows us. Papa says they only let a hundred of us into this country each year, and the papers call every one of us a “Hindoo,” and Papa wasn’t even allowed to apply for citizenship until two years ago. When Papa meets another Indian at work, he brings him home for dinner as if he were a cousin. You have it good, Dada. You’re leaving to become nobodies like us.
And what is Amdavad, anyway?
We live in Charlotte, and it hardly ever snows here, so when everything iced over on Tuesday, the students and teachers all got scared and let us out early. That’s some good news, right? Papa says we always have to include some good news in every letter. I hope it’s at least warm when you get on the water.
Now, Dada, listen, here’s my plan, and I promise it’s a good one. Stay. Just stay. Keep your job, keep the house with Ali’s family down our street. When I’m eighteen, I’ll come live in Karachi with you and Baa. You can teach me the harbor again (I promise to listen this time), and I’ll teach you basketball, and we’ll wait until the two new countries get tired of being angry. I usually just get mad for a tiny bit, and then I feel better after five minutes. Sometimes I think I’m just hungry.
People are getting hurt every day, and I don’t understand why. But nothing has happened to you yet. Papa says ‘yet’ is a terrible word. Maybe he’s right. Maybe you, the boat, and the trunk are all right, and I’m just a kid with an atlas and a thumb.
So if you do get on that boat, look for the temple of Varun Dev as you pass Manora. Mummy says he is the god of the sea, Dada. Ask him to keep the water smooth for you. Ask him nicely. Papa says sometimes you forget to pray.
Or even better yet, stay home with Manjubaa. I think sometimes ‘yet’ can be a good word too.
Please be safe.
Please stay.
Om Namah Shivaya, Taro, Dhruv
P.S. If you see Ali before you go, ask him to write to me. I don’t know if letters can cross the new line, but mine crossed a whole ocean, so maybe.
Dada, you never got this letter. No boy in America could have sent it. You boarded the steamer. Manjubaa followed. Amdavad welcomed you, and in time your son carried his own trunk farther than you ever sailed, to Charlotte, where the boy finally arrived, decades late, still wanting to argue with you.
You were right to go. And every word of his plea is true. I don’t know how to hold both, so I hold them through the eyes of a boy who never existed, who cared nothing for history and only worried that his Dada might get hurt. He thought Karachi was the warm country and America the cold one, and he wasn’t wrong. I’ve felt that cold my whole life, the particular cold of being a stranger in the only country you have. You knew it too—you just knew it in Amdavad.
No one in our family ever said any of this out loud. So I made you a grandson who could. He isn’t real, Dada. The worry is.
Dhruv Pathak
is a salesman and writer based in St. Louis, originally from Charlotte, NC. He writes to better understand people and contribute to our shared humanity. Contact: pathak.d@icloud.com.
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Get ready to spice up your kitchen with this comforting classic Masala Chole! There’s something magical about the way a handful of everyday spices can transform simple chickpeas into a dish bursting with warmth and flavor. This North Indian favorite is the perfect weeknight or weekend star. These humble little legumes are packed with plant-based protein and fiber, making them a favorite among home cooks looking for something wholesome and filling. Beyond their nutritional value, chickpeas are incredibly versatile. They show up in curries, salads, stews, dips, and street foods across cultures, soaking up whatever spices and flavors surround them. Simple and satisfying. Let’s get cooking, Saathee Fam!
Ingredients Directions
2 cups cooked chickpeas (or canned, drained)
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoons ginger, grated
1 green chili, finely chopped
1 dry whole red chili, slit
1 bay leaf
3 tablespoons cooking oil
1 tablespoons ghee
1 teaspoons cumin seed
1 pinch Hing (asafoetida)
1.5 teaspoons turmeric powder
1 teaspoon red chili powder
1.5 teaspoons coriander powder
1.5 teaspoons chana masala powder
1.5 teaspoons Tava fry masala
Salt, to taste and water, as needed for consistency
Fresh cilantro, chopped
Lemon juice, to taste
Servings: About 2 - 3
Prep Time: 20 minutes / Cooking Time: 25 minutes
1. Soak and cook chickpeas: Soak chickpeas overnight, then cook them in a pressure cooker the next day until tender. Or use canned chickpeas, drained.
2. Sauté aromatics: Heat a pan and add cooking oil (as required) and ghee together. Add finely chopped onion and sauté until golden brown. Then add cumin seed, garlic cloves, grated ginger, chopped green chili, dry whole red chili slit, and bay leaf. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Add tomatoes: Pureed or finely chopped and cook for 30 seconds.
4. Cook the masala: Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, chana masala powder, and Tava fry masala. Cook, stirring often, until the oil begins to separate from the masala.
5. Add chickpeas: Stir in your cooked chickpeas and add salt to taste along with lemon juice, to taste. Mix well so the chickpeas are evenly coated in the masala.
6. Simmer: Pour in water, as needed for consistency, cover the pan with lid, and let it simmer so the flavors meld together and the gravy thickens slightly. Give it a taste and you can add more spices/masala powder if needed.
7. Finish and rest: Sprinkle fresh chopped cilantro on top and give it one last stir. Turn off the heat and cover and let it sit for about a minute before serving.
8. Serve and enjoy: Serve hot with poori, roti, naan, or steamed Basmati rice. For extra tang, add a splash of amchur (dry mango powder) along with the spices. Leftovers taste even better the next day as the flavors deepen overnight. Enjoy!
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Upcoming Hindu Center Events & Activities:
Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav - Ram Parivar: July 31 - August 2, Friday to Sunday
Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav - Amba Mata: August 7 - 9, Friday to Sunday
Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav - Vasavi Mata: August 15 - 17, Saturday to Monday
Independence Day: August 15, Saturday
Balaji’s Brahmotatsavam: August 21 - 23, Friday to Sunday
Janmastami: September 4, Friday & Nand Mahotsav: September 5, Saturday
Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations: September 14th - 19th, Monday - Saturday
Ganesh Visarjan: September 19th , Saturday
Pran Pratishtha Sponsorship click BOTH QR codes to select which Murti you wish to perform the Pran Pratishtha.
HINDU CENTER OF CHARLOTTE
O F C HARLOTTE
Independence Day Celebration!! Saturday, August 15 (Noon to 3 pm) Vihar Hall
Flag Hoisting, National Anthem & Cultural show.
Theme: Ma Tujhe Salaam
Call or email for futher details on participation or vendor / sponsorship: Sneha Shah: 704-877-4706, Meena Bhasin: 626-675-5900, Niketa Mittal: 704-971-0572 or Nirav Pandya: 570-205-2636; or email: hcculturalteam@gmail.com
Sept. 4th (Friday - 7 pm to Midnight)
To participate in the cultural program call: Anitha Gowtam: 704-206-9348, Poonam Rojra: 704-682-1388, Anju Jain: 704-620-4503, Kaberi: 636-675-6580, Shweta: 216-785-5930, Niketa Mittal: 704-971-0572 or email: hcculturalteam@gmail.com
Nand Mahotsav: Sept. 5th, Saturday
Why Strength Training Matters
Better Blood Sugar
Control
Skeletal muscle is one of the body’s largest consumers of glucose. During and after strength training, muscles efficiently pull glucose from the bloodstream to use as fuel, even with less reliance on insulin. Think of your muscles as a natural sponge that absorbs excess sugar from your bloodstream.
This helps:
● Lower blood sugar levels
● Reduce blood sugar spikes after meals
● Improve insulin sensitivity for up to 24 hours after a workout
Supports Healthy Blood Pressure
Strength training improves circulation and enhances the function and flexibility of blood vessels. Research has shown that blood pressure often remains lower for many hours following a resistance-training session, and regular strength training can provide meaningful improvements in overall cardiovascular health.
Removes Harmful Belly Fat
Not all body fat is the same. Visceral fat, which is stored deep around the abdominal organs, is strongly associated with inflammation, insulin resistance, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Strength training helps increase lean muscle mass, which raises resting metabolic rate and encourages the body to burn more calories throughout the day, making it easier to reduce harmful abdominal fat over time.
Improves Metabolism and Energy
As muscle mass increases, the body becomes more metabolically active. During resistance exercise, insulin levels decrease while muscles use stored glucose for energy and the body becomes more efficient at burning fat. This shift is especially beneficial during midlife, when maintaining muscle becomes increasingly important for long-term metabolic health.
Why Your Largest Muscles Matter
Exercises that target the body’s largest muscle groups provide the greatest metabolic benefit.
Building strength throughout the body makes everyday activities easier while improving long-term health.
● Thighs and glutes: Improve glucose uptake and support better blood sugar regulation.
● Chest, back, and arms: Enhance upper-body strength, improve posture, and contribute to overall metabolic health.
You Don’t Need a Gym
Strength training can begin at home using your own body weight, resistance bands, or light dumbbells. Push-ups are particularly effective because they engage the chest,
shoulders, arms, and core simultaneously, providing both strength and metabolic benefits. Aim for 2-3 strengthtraining sessions per week, allowing your muscles time to recover between sessions.
A simple routine might include:
● Squats
● Lunges
● Wall sits
● Push-ups (modified if needed)
● Resistance band rows
● Shoulder presses
● Step-ups
● Glute bridges
Timing Can Make a Difference
Emerging research suggests that performing light to moderate strength exercises after meals may further improve blood sugar control and help reduce post-meal glucose and triglyceride levels. Even a brief session of resistance exercises or a combination of strength movements followed by a short walk can provide meaningful metabolic benefits.
The Bottom Line
Menopause is a natural stage of life, but it doesn’t have to mean losing strength, energy, or metabolic health.
Strength training is one of the most effective lifestyle strategies to help:
● Improve blood sugar control
● Lower blood pressure
● Preserve lean muscle mass
● Reduce harmful belly fat
● Boost metabolism
● Support healthy aging and independence
It’s never too late to start. Whether you’re lifting weights, using resistance bands, or simply performing body-weight exercises at home, every session is an investment in your long-term health.
Strong muscles aren’t just about looking fit. They are one of your body’s greatest allies for protecting your heart, maintaining healthy blood sugar, preserving bone health, and helping you thrive through menopause and beyond.
Lavanya Kethamukkala
RDN, CLT, LDN, is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and the founder of Nourishing Expert, LLC, a private practice based in Apex, NC. With nearly 20 years of clinical experience across inpatient, outpatient, and long-term care settings, she provides evidence-based, personalized nutrition care.
Contact: Lavanyard@gmail.com.
Find more Nutrition articles onlne at: Saathee.com/category/nutrition-for-life/
Driving history: Some insurers may overlook your first speeding ticket, depending on your driving history, coverage, and the details of the violation. However, this is usually a one-time exception. If you receive another ticket or are involved in an accident, many insurers may factor in both the new incident and the earlier ticket, which can lead to a much larger rate increase. Moreover, most likely your safe-driver discount will go away.
Driver profile: Younger, inexperienced drivers will see steeper rate increases than experienced drivers.
What can you do?
Once you have received the ticket, there are some proactive steps that you can take to minimize the impact of the rate increase. Insurance companies understand that mistakes happen and are equally interested in seeing that you are working on avoiding these mistakes in the future. One of the most popular mitigation steps is to take a defensive driving course.
Some carriers may offer reduced increases or remove points from your record if you voluntarily complete an approved defensive driving course.
Secondly, compare rates across different carriers. Each carrier evaluates tickets differently. You should talk to your agent to shop around and get updated quotes to ensure that you are getting the best possible rate.
Do not ever skip the court date! Usually during the hearing, depending on the severity of your ticket, you may be offered a reduced violation like improper equipment vs. speeding. If you are unable to attend, you may want to engage the services of an attorney who can get these charges reduced.
If the increase has caused undue financial burden, and if you can afford to take the risk, consider raising your deductible to offset some of the pain.
Finally, companies are increasingly offering options to track your driving habits like speed, braking, distance, phone usage, etc. which allows them to evaluate your driving habits and offer a more customized rate. These telematics programs do offer better rates but may come at the cost of privacy.
In some ways, this is similar to your phone tracking your location and movement. So, just make sure you understand the pros and cons before opting for the telemetrics program. We will have another article on the pros and cons of this increasingly popular tool but for this purpose, enrolling in the telemetrics program may be easiest and most effective way to get additional discounts to offset the increase in premium.
Anuj Kasera
is a long term resident of Charlotte, NC and owns an insurance agency, focusing mostly on home, auto and business insurance. He can be reached at anujkasera@gmail.com.
Kismuth continued from page 28
paragraph in, and bam, there it is, some telltale or another, you abandon it. You see it. You’re like, ‘Okay but come on, do I really care about your AI-generated conclusion?’ No. No, I do not. I’m calling a few acquaintances out on this, too, privately of course. People in my nearer circles. (Okay, just two people.) I said, ‘This would be so much more believable and I’d care so much more about it if you didn’t use AIsounding language.’
Writing about your personal experience takes a kind of gutsiness that I admire in authors, but it gets washed out if they start to use AI. It just does. I am over it. I’ve tuned out. I question the credibility of the author, too. Is this even real? Does it come from somewhere deep and soulful? It’s hard to answer such questions now that we are getting blurry about what is ‘real’.
So let’s me get real. In a like, 3D real way. I invite you to meet me in the Triangle in North Carolina, in person, in real life. It might be really fun.
Let’s talk about things, in person, face-to-face. As the ‘third place’ is one of my homes (as is bebop, coffee with friends, solitude in big nature), and other things that change at times but mostly stay the same, I will host one there, too. A third place.
Yeah, so, my plans for Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill in August include hosting a weekly meetup, ‘The Prospect of Beauty’. At rotating spots. A series, a ‘stammtisch’ style deal where we show up every week somewhere and talk, talk together, talk in real life.
Talk, most importantly, in the fuzziest of spaces where we don’t have to be ‘correct’ but we can relax our guard and honestly share about what we’ve experienced in this world, so far, together. Those firsthand stories are more real. We can laugh brightly, we can feel our feelings, be seen, see and hear others, we can learn, discover, and connect. I’d like it if we don’t get overly caught up in such things as being ‘right.’ This gets in the way, big time, of relaxing into experiences of awe, beauty, and wonder.
Over the years I found out ‘artist’ isn’t a coat you wear, it’s a thing you are, a thing you do, that you can’t help but do.
Such art is... a gift
My first-ever artist statement was something I wrote in 2008, in Seattle, for a show. I still feel this way about why I make these invitations to events, write Kismuth Books, collage my zines, and even write this column: ‘I want people to relax. To feel air, space, and comfort.’
It was true then, and it’s true now, too. There were so many instances of me trying to encourage people to feel relaxed, talk a bit, share their stories in semi-public, ‘third places.’ I’ve told you about those, many, many times, in this column. While it’s not simple to set up, it’s possible. Let’s try it. Let’s anticipate the possibilities, connect, and converse. Come hang out and meet new people, too.
Find details at: kismuth.com/upcomings.
Dipika Kohli is an author who is based in Phnom Penh.
Discover her books at kismuth.com and her projects at dipikakohli.com.
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for a sari is about 6 – 7 yards). As she danced, the dress billowed and fluttered beautifully, giving the impression of the dancer being the body of a large moth and the fabric being the wings. It was a bit surreal and very engaging, but only lasted a few minutes.
If you enjoyed ADF this year, drop me a note to let me know what your favorite show was. Some dances are pure movement that inspire with their aesthetics. Many if not all have a message or story. What that story is, especially in modern dance, varies widely and is defined by the observer.
I’ll leave you with a challenge, and that is the attitude that I take with me when I attend modern art programs. Attend a show with the goal to be moved, inspired, and entertained. Next year, if you only go to one or two shows, pick ones that sound particularly appealing and from troupes that have been around for some time – Pilobolus, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Camille A Brown & Dancers, Martha Graham Dance Company, Ballet Hispánico, Twyla Tharp, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago are a few great examples. But if you can attend at least four or five performances, pick at least one that sounds less “accessible” or conventional.
The ADF website Americandancefestival.org has the details on all the events, including ticketing. It offers something for varied tastes and ages, including children. If you are on BlueSky, I post about the shows @dbarman.
Note: American Dance Festival logo and images courtesy of American Dance Festival, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Camille A. Brown & Dancers, and used with permission.
Dilip Barman
is a lover of culture and teacher of math and vegan food/nutrition teacher.
Contact: dilip@trianglemathinstitute.com.
Editor’s Desk
continued from page 14
The Rolling Stones were among the early staples of that musical awakening, which began a few years earlier in India with a music loving Mom and an engineer Dad who craved an alternate life of a professional performing musician. His engineering day job never went away, but he gave many live performances in audiences ranging from living room gatherings to large crowds and garba nights during Navaratri.
“It’s Only Rock and Roll” was one of the first Rolling Stones songs I heard in those formative years in NYC.
The band was never political, but in the new album there are shards of intrigue, especially the song “Ringing Hollow,” where Mick Jagger sings about the band’s love of America, paying tribute with his fellow Stones, a trio of America loving Brits. The song is a sharp commentary of current environment steeped in American birthed musicrock, blues, country. You just gotta listen to it.
Was it a coincidence they dropped the album in July? The 250th independence anniversary of this lovely nation? No matter. The album is packed with 14 tracks and pretty much all of them help complete a fantastic record.
This is quite likely their last studio album. But wait a minute. That has been said before, especially for a rock band that’s been around 60 plus years. They could have imploded along the way at any number of junctions, but for the joy of music lovers, they didn’t and still perform and record such essential music.
I surely appreciate the album being released the day before my birthday. Thanks Mick, Keith and Ron. I know it’s only Rock and Roll, but I like it, um, no, love it. The Stones have nothing left to prove. They’ve been there, done that.
The outlook on life and its fragilities appear different as you race through time in the final third of your life. The hazy possibility of a creative nonretirement beckons while splotches of inspiration come at you from those already ahead of you in line.
I take this record as an inspiration from elders to the ode of creativity, akin to a 93-year-old Clint Eastwood directing a movie, or here three guys in their 80s putting out a smashing new record. Who says creativity is in the hands and minds of the youth? I may yet shake the dust off the old guitar I bought oh so many decades ago. Ok, that’s not likely, but I’ll continue to take large stacks of papers and put pen and ink to work and turn those blank pages into dancing words. These are my riffs.
“Time is On My Side,” is a song the band recorded long ago. Well, of course that rascal time is never on anyone’s side, but at this moment, this day, while the Rolling Stones pour out of the speakers, all I’m thinking about is all the time, through all the years, those lovely riffs, how those rolling, rolicking, restless riffs rock guitars.
While this Guiness worthy record is impressive on its own, the behind-the-scenes footages of how the author, Krishna Dwapaiyana, writes the story is worthy of its own spotlight.
The sage needs help to write his story and so he approaches Lord Ganesha and asks that he be the scribe for what he orates.
Lord Ganesha is truly the deity to beseech for this enormous task as he is very knowledgeable, wise and has a good reputation for being able to remove obstacles. This leads to the topic what is “mine.”
Who then wrote the Mahabharata? Is there a “competition” between Lord Ganesha and Krishna Dwaipayana to see who wrote it? Since Lord Ganesha was the scribe, was he the writer? He used his own tusk to write out the epic. Or some may say then it was the orator who is then the “writer.”
This may seem somewhat silly and feel inane to wonder whether it was Lord Ganesha or Krishna Dwaipanya who “owns” the story, but we see this in everyday life as well. Sometimes, when something good happens, some may be more likely to say that “I was the one who made this. No one helped me. I pulled myself out of my bootstraps and did it all on my own.”
There are many anecdotes available from extremely rich people who tell us how they came from nothing, so they did it themselves.
But if there are troubles that one may go through, one may look up at the stars and “credit” it for all the woes. Is there a balance between the two sides? The question then comes into play: did one really do something completely on their own, or are there other factors that may come into play?
Lord Ganesha writing the Mahabharata as Krishna Dwaipanya orates is a beautiful scene. One may be able to witness this seen through listening, reading, or seeing it for oneself.
This is where the old story from long ago can have relevance in modern society and the issue of “what is mine.”
One can see then that there does not have to be duality and division but unity in the two concepts of “mine” vs “yours”. Giving credit does not mean that one’s individual credit must decrease.
These concepts can co-exist in harmony: The writers, the authors and the stars of the past, become a continued presence to guide us with enlightenment.
And that enlightenment may be encoded as well within the AI.
This series of articles is about the journey and unique insights of an adult dance student learning classical Indian dance and the experiences and perspective of taking classical Indian dance as both an American and an Indian.
Preethi
Sriram
is a classical dance enthusiast and lifelong learner of dance. Contact: SriramPreethi@hotmail.com. Copyrighter
However, these two cases are not emblematic of the vast majority of applicants for adjustment of status. While filings for visa overstays are certainly common (i.e. individuals that overstay B-2 or F-1 status), the majority of filings are submitted by individuals that continue to be in lawful status. The prospect of sending individuals that are otherwise eligible for green cards en masse to the US Consulates abroad, which are already overwhelmed with overseas applicants is nonsensical policy. The conclusion appears to be recognized by USCIS, which despite the memorandum, is still approving adjustment of status filings.
The agency is applying more scrutiny to filings for individuals that are out of lawful status and the prospect of potential removal proceedings remains, but the last two months since the announcement of the memo has not produced a groundswell of denials that was initially feared. Because the Administration is once ramping up removal operations, concerns about the initiation of removal proceedings are heightened, but an individual who is statutorily eligible to adjust status and in lawful status has no cause for concern that the government would (or is even legally eligible) to start removal proceedings.
At the risk of sounding self-serving, this places an emphasis on having competent legal counsel during the entirety of the process. The immigration process is often stressful and for most clients, one of the few times that they interact with attorneys (fortunately!). Mistakes can unfortunately lead to life-altering circumstances; this is not meant to raise alarm, but merely to raise awareness. Can individuals apply for green cards without an attorney? Of course. However, regular individuals can also fly a plane or attempt heart surgery – whether or not an individual can do something doesn’t necessarily make it a good idea.
The stakes in the immigration world have been ramped up considerably by the Trump Administration – meeting this challenge with skill and competence helps to ensure a smooth process for everyone involved.
Rishi P. Oza
is Partner at Brown Immigration Law, a firm that focuses solely on immigration law; he practices in Durham. roza@rbrownllc.com.
Hello Saathees
If you have a passion for writing, cooking or baking, we are looking for fresh voices. Send a query to our Editor Samir Shukla at Samir@Saathee.com with article or recipe ideas. We will consider them for possible publication in Saathee.
Growing Old continued from page 24
her life in India.
And yet, she chose to leave all of that behind to step into my world, to support me in mine. At that time, I was deeply immersed in my own responsibilities, including balancing work, home, and motherhood. I accepted her presence with gratitude, but perhaps without fully recognizing the courage it required. Now, looking back, I see it differently. She did not just come to help. She came with grace. She carried the responsibility of running my home so that I could continue building my career and raising my child the way I wanted to. She allowed me to remain the mother I wished to be, offering guidance gently, stepping in quietly, never imposing, always supporting. She adjusted to a new country, a different way of life, and a role that required both strength and humility.
That kind of love is not loud. It is steady. And often, it is understood only in hindsight.
The Question We Don’t Easily Answer
For those who have experienced something similar—or are living through it now—it may be worth pausing, even briefly, to recognize what is being given. Because in the midst of daily life, it is easy to accept support without fully seeing its depth.
This reflection also led me to a question I find difficult to answer. Would I make the same choice, if my children needed me in that way? I do not know. I would like to believe that I would do what is needed. And yet, I also recognize that the answer is not always simple. Perhaps that is the nature of parenting.
Holding On Without Losing Ourselves
As we move into later stages of life, our concern for our children does not diminish. If anything, it deepens. We want to support them. To be present for them. To make their lives easier, in whatever way we can. And yet, somewhere within that love, another question quietly emerges: How do we care for our children without losing ourselves?
This question has stayed with me throughout this journey. It is one of the reasons I have always felt drawn to the idea of dividing our time between countries, not as a compromise, but as a way of holding space for both. For family, and for self.
A Different Kind of Independence
My mother’s life took a different path. She lived between my brother and me, moving between countries, always within the structure of family, yet maintaining her dignity and independence in her own way. But I find myself imagining something slightly different for my own future. Whether together with my husband, or eventually alone, I feel a quiet desire to live on my own terms. Not in isolation, but in independence. To have a space that is mine. A pace that is mine. A life that is supported—but not dependent.
Where Life Feels Sustainable
In India, it is possible to create a life where support can be arranged and sustained, through community, through
services, through systems that make daily living more manageable. In the United States, as one grows older, the options often narrow. Support becomes more structured, more formal, and sometimes more dependent on systems or the availability of others.
And for many of us, there is a quiet hesitation in relying too heavily on our children or on those younger than us. Not because they would not be willing, but because we want their lives to remain fully their own.
Belonging, Revisited
Perhaps, in the end, the question is not only where we belong, but how we choose to live within that belonging. How we give. How we receive. And how we hold on to ourselves, even as we care for those we love. Because growing older is not just about finding the right place. It is about finding the right balance between love and self. The journey continues.
What We Owe Ourselves: Part 10
When the Questions Change
There comes a time in life when another kind of reckoning begins. For many years, we give ourselves to what must be done. We work inside and outside our homes. We raise children, build careers, care for parents, manage households, and keep life moving even when we are tired. We do it because it is needed. We do it because it is love. We do it because those years ask much of us. But like every long season, this one too must come to an end. And when it does, a quieter question begins to rise: What do we owe ourselves now?
Friendships Built Around Family
During the years of raising children, many friendships are formed around them. We meet parents whose children are friends with ours. We seek out families whose company brings comfort and belonging. Shared schedules, school events, birthdays, sports, and milestones often become the thread that holds those connections together. But children grow.
They begin to form their own worlds, their own friendships, their own rhythms of life. Naturally, some parents remain close, while others drift apart. The common bond that once connected everyone no longer carries the same weight.
Choosing Friends for Ourselves
Then we begin seeking friendships for ourselves. We look for those who share our interests, values, humor, and outlook on life. Yet growing older often makes us more selective. We know ourselves better, but we also become more fixed in our views, which include religion, politics, culture, and how life should be lived.
Perhaps this is human nature. In our own journey, we
Growing Old continued from page 90
formed many friendships across cultures. Yet over time, we found ourselves especially drawn to fellow Indians living in the United States. People who understood the unspoken layers of migration, the balancing of two identities, and the effort of raising children between cultures. There is comfort in being understood without explanation.
The Pull of the Past
And yet, even there, time changes things. Many of us begin to feel a pull toward childhood friends, cousins, classmates, and those who knew us before careers, mortgages, titles, and accomplishments.
There is something deeply comforting about being remembered from a simpler time, when we had little, but perhaps felt more whole. And still, not all reunions become what we imagine. Sometimes conversations drift toward comparisons. Whose children are doing well, who prospered more, who chose wisely, who sacrificed more.
We begin to measure lives that were never meant to be measured against one another. We may even wonder whether different choices would have brought greater happiness. Would life have been easier had we never left?
Would staying have brought more closeness? Would leaving still have been worth it?
These questions rarely have clear answers.
Stepping Back
India has changed. America has changed. Our children, whether raised here or there, often carry similar hopes, ambitions, and ways of seeing the world. And so, I found myself stepping back.
I began to think less about maintaining large circles and more about choosing meaningful ones. I started to value the people who stood beside us in difficult seasons, who remembered us when life was hard, who asked how we were when there was nothing to gain by asking.
As life moves forward, circles often grow smaller but sometimes more sincere.
The Deeper Concern
And with age comes another awareness. There may come a point when younger generations begin to assume we will naturally depend on them. Sometimes this assumption is loving. Sometimes practical. Sometimes unconscious. But it led me to ask myself a deeper question:
What kind of life do I want in the years ahead? I realized I was not afraid of aging. What unsettled me more was the possibility of losing choice. The thought of spending later years in an expensive institution, watching savings disappear, did not fill me with fear so much as reflection.
Imagining Other Possibilities
What other possibilities exist? Could I create a home of my own, supported with help if needed? Could I live near friends, siblings, or relatives who share history and warmth? Could I divide time between places that each offer something valuable?
Could I remain connected to my children without becoming dependent on them? These are practical
questions, yes. But they are also deeply personal ones. They ask what kind of life feels sustainable. They ask what freedom means in later years. They ask how to remain connected without disappearing into the needs of others. Because our lives still matter too.
Planning Without Fear
We have spent years fulfilling responsibilities. We have given much, often gladly. And perhaps later life is not only about helping the next generation. Perhaps it is also about honoring the life that carried everyone else. This was the season when I decided it was time to think clearly about retirement, not only financially, but inwardly. To set a time. To understand what I have and what I need. To simplify where possible. To be content where I can.
It is wise to plan, though not to the point of fear. Numbers matter, but they are not everything. A plan gives shape to hope.
What We Still Deserve
Hope is not reserved for the young. Those growing older also have aspirations. We too deserve something to look forward to. Perhaps that is what we owe ourselves most of all. The journey continues.
Editor’s Note: Read her previous articles on Saathee.com. Search for Malini’s name.
Malini Amaladoss
is a software engineer and published author who writes about family, independence, and life transitions. Her work can be found at MaliniAmaladoss.com.
Hello Saathees
What went wrong? What could I have done differently? What do I need to improve?
Those questions are rarely pleasant, but they are valuable.
In many communities, including the South Asian community, achievement is often highly valued. Academic excellence, career success, and personal accomplishments are celebrated—and rightfully so. Hard work deserves recognition.
At the same time, this emphasis on success can create the impression that failure is something to avoid at all costs. Students become afraid to take risks because they might fail. Young people hesitate to try new activities unless they’re certain they’ll excel.
Some avoid challenges altogether because failure feels like proof that they aren’t capable.
The problem is that growth requires failure.
No one learns to ride a bicycle without falling. No one becomes a skilled musician without playing wrong notes. No one becomes a strong writer without producing drafts that don’t work.
Every accomplishment we admire is usually built on a foundation of mistakes, setbacks, and perseverance. We just don’t see that part of the story.
We admire successful people without always recognizing how many times they failed before succeeding. We see the finished product, not the countless attempts that came before it. Perhaps that’s why failure deserves more respect than success.
Success shows what a person has achieved. Failure reveals how a person responds when things don’t go their way. It reveals resilience, determination, and character. It shows whether someone is willing to keep trying even when there is no guarantee of success.
Anyone can enjoy winning. Continuing after a loss requires courage. That doesn’t mean we should stop striving for success. Goals matter. Ambition matters.
Accomplishments matter.
But maybe we should view failure differently. Instead of asking, “Did I succeed?” we might ask, “Did I learn something?” Instead of seeing failure as the end of a story, we might see it as part of the process. The most successful people are not those who never fail.
They are the people who refuse to let failure define them. Failure is not proof that we are incapable. It is proof that we were willing to try.
And in a world that often celebrates results above all else, that willingness deserves far more respect than it receives.
Sainha Sivaram
is a sophomore at Panther Creek High School and passionate about exploring culture, identity, and the stories that bring people together. She enjoys debating, cooking, and finding the perfect song for every moment. Contact: sainhawriter@outlook.com.
Community Focus
tournament and managed to take down elite players like Nakamura and Sam Sevian. Sheehan had also been a participant of Emory University’s Castle Chess Camp for multiple years, studying under Naroditsky.
The tournament was broadcast on Chess.com over the weekend, with chess legends Judit Polgar, Peter Leko, and David Howell gave commentary.
Through their efforts and the efforts of the tournament staff, the CCCF surpassed their fundraising goal of $50,000 over the tournament weekend. Meeting fundraising goals such as this will ensure the continuation of the Naroditsky Memorial and Naroditsky Fellowship for future generations.
If you are interested in donating to the Naroditsky Fund, visit: Givebutter.com/Charlottechessfoundation
To learn more about Naroditsky, visit his Digital Archive: Cltccf.org/naroditskyarchive
Lead organizer Peter Giannatos and Naroditsky’s mother, Elena Photo: Divakar Shukla
Pen continued from page 42
Nevertheless, the three lyricists mentioned here backed the trend. Unlike many lyricists, these lyricists were shayars and poets in true sense because they would often write poetry first and then set to music afterwards. Sahir Ludhianvi was one shayar who can evoke raw feelings inside of a listener. Many of his shayaris reflected the sufferings and heartbreaks he had gone through in his own life. Guru Dutt’s Pyasa and Kagaz ke Phool are two movies whose songs were based on Sahir’s poetry written many years before.
Shayari like “Ye mehlo ye takhto ravajo ki dunia, ye insane ke dushman samajo ki dunia” is so rebellious yet so true that these words pierce our hearts and leave lasting impression. Even though Sahir was a Muslim, he wrote bhajans like “Allah tero Naam” and ”Toraa manwa kyun ghabharaye” for the film Sadhana. In the Dhool ka Phool movie his songs “Daman mein dag laga baithe” and “Tu hindu banega na musalman banega” are evergreen songs sung by the great Mohammed Rafi
Neeraj, whose real name was Gopaldas Saxena, was another poet who would write poems first and then music director would set the tunes. Neeraj, though proficient in Urdu, used very simple words in Hindi in his poetry which were powerful and conveyed deep meaning. For example, “Kehta hai joker sara zamana, aadhi haqikat aadha fasana” & “Aye bhai zara dekh ke chalo” tell a joker’s life-story in the film Mera Naam Joker. Likewise, one can hardly find more romantic yet simple words in “Jaise radha ne mala japi shyam ki, maine odhi chunariya tere naam ki”. Neeraj often rejected offers because a movie producer would not give him freedom or he did not like the story.
Kavi Pradeep, whose real name was Ramchandra Dwivedi, was among the few exceptions. He created a distinct niche with his patriotic, devotional and inspirational songs. Many of his songs not only became hugely popular, but created a specific mood about them, with stories and legends associated with them that have now become a part of popular folklore. Pradeep was among a few lyricists who acquired a larger-than-life image. He acquired penname of Pradeep during this period.
Bombay Talkies had him write all the 12 songs for Bandhan (1940), all super-hits and at age 25 Pradeep had become a leading lyricist of Hindi Films. In Jagriti (1954) all songs were brilliant. Mukesh’s “Chal akela chal” in Film Sambandh (1969) was Pradeep’s creation under O. P. Nayyar’s music composition.
Pradeep wrote many patriotic songs namely “Dur hato o duniawalo Hindustan Hamara hai” (Film Kismet) “Chal chal re naujawan” (Film Bandhan), and “Aao baccho tumhe dikhaye zankhi Hindustan ki” (Film Jagruti), which galvanized the nation in those days. His most famous creation is “Aye Mere watan ke logo” written as tribute to the sacrifice of Indian soldiers in the 1962 war with China. Its music was composed by C. Ramchandra and sung in melodious voice of Lata Mangeshkar that reportedly brought tears in Nehru’s eyes when it was performed for first time live during Independence Day celebrations.
Pradeep’s creativity was not one-dimensional. If he is associated with Manna Dey’s “Upar gana vishal”, he also
created Talat-Lata’s duet “O dildar suno ek baar (School Master, 1959) or “Kanha bajaye bansuri” and “Tere phool se bhi pyar” in Nastik (1954) or fun songs like “Main to Dilli se dulhan laya re” (Film Jhoola).
Kavi Pradeep was demanding about his lyrics. According to trade publications of the time, he would not only tell music director how to compose songs but also tell the singers how to sing them. He often sang songs (mostly religious) himself. Pradeep was a gifted lyricist and his words have helped make songs evergreen.
“Main to aarti utaroon re” from the Film Jai Santoshi Maa, the music was composed by newcomer C. Arjun and sung by Usha Mangeshkar, became a huge hit. It has been said that when Jai Santoshi Maa movie was released in theaters, audience would ask to rewind the reel and repeat that song over and over and women worshipped and made offerings to the goddess in front of the screen! It was such a big success that the movie ran continuously for three-and-half years in one theater.
In summary, these three poets-lyricists were gifted and gave us immortal songs. Even after 75 years of some of their work, their creations are played on the radio and YouTube channel on Independence Day or a religious festival or a wedding. They were the real National Poets of India.
Girish Modi
is a retired engineer who is passionate about Indian music and classical dances. He donates money to various Indian organizations and provides free photo service. Contact: girish39@yahoo.com.
Eye on Markets
continued from page 68
combination of moving past peak oil prices and hawkishness will allow rates to stabilize and move lower. The 5YR breakeven inflation rate is down to 2.24%, the lowest of the year, allowing the Fed to tone down its hawkish bias.
Many of these areas of the market have low positioning and a smaller market cap, so it won’t take much reallocation for big returns. The market cap of the top ten stocks is approximately $28 trillion, while the market cap of the entire Russell 2000 is $3.5 trillion. Just a 10% allocation away from the top ten S&P names would mean nearly doubling for the Russell. We are just at the beginning of reallocation.
Positioning is only in the 8th percentile. The Russell has more than doubled the S&P’s performance this year. It is just breaking out of a five-year base with long-term momentum and trend indicators pointing higher. The spread between large and small is at historically wide levels. When we have had similar levels of valuation for small caps relative to large, small caps went on to outperform for the next 12-years by 6.5% per year.
Looking ahead, the market will focus on second quarter earnings, AI, and the latest from Washington and the Fed.
Ketu Desai
is the principal of i-squared Wealth Management Inc. (www.isquaredwealth.com), an investment management firm based in New Jersey. ketu@isquaredwealth.com
CarToon Corner
Tune Your Brain
Solve these brain teasers - Solutions on Page 110
Kalgi Trivedi, CPA
Kirti Shah, CPA, Chartered Accountant (India)
PUZZLES
Puzzles 4 Kids Answers on page 110
Answers on page 104
Maze Answers on page 110
Magic
Key Word Search
Fill in blanks of these clues, then take the first letter of each word and unscramble them to find this month’s Key Word.
____ Language Models, the foundation for AI. Disney World is in _____ Florida.
____ Day is a holiday on First Monday in September. Ancient city of Cairo is located in _____.
_____ Bush, first name of two Presidents. Which came first, chicken or the _____. USA’s most populous state _____.
Chess Puzzles
Difficulty:
Game reference: Zontakh v Savanovic, 1998
Directions: White to play, checkmate in 2
Difficulty:
Game reference: Zvjaginsev v Danin, 2011
Directions: White to move, Checkmate in 3
Difficulty:
Game reference: Ziatdinov v Zugic, 1998
Directions: White to move, win material
We welcome comments and suggestions about our puzzles and cartoons pages. Send your thoughts to Samir@Saathee.com
Festivals & Holidays Puzzle Solutions
AUGUST 2026
Aug. 2 - Friendship Day
Aug. 8 - Kamika Ekadashi
Aug. 9 - National Book Lovers Day
Aug. 12 - Darsh Amas (No Moon)
Aug. 14 - Independence Day (Pakistan)
Aug. 15 - Independence Day (India)
Aug. 15 - Hariyali Tej
Aug. 16 - Senior Citizens Day
Aug. 16 - Simha Sankranti
Aug. 16 - Nag Panchami
Aug. 19 - Tulsidas Jayanti
Aug. 19 - World Humanitarian Day
Aug. 21 - Varalakshmi Vrat
Aug. 23 - Shravana Putrada Ekadashi
Aug. 26 - Milad un-Nabi
Aug .26 - Onam
Aug. 26 - Women’s Equality Day
Aug. 27 - Gayatri Jayanti
Aug. 27 - Shravana Purnima (Full Moon)
Aug. 28 - Raksha Bandhan
Aug. 30 - Kajari Tej
Key Word Search Answers from page 103
Large
Orlando
Labor
Egypt
George
Egg
California
Key Word of the Month: COLLEGE
Go Figure! answers from page 103
Spot the Differences Solutions from page 56
1. Whirlpool added
2. 2nd stairway added
3. dolphin fins added
4. boat & water skier added
5. surfer & wave added
6. flock of birds added
7. volcano added
8. bridge different color
9. train added
10. tower added
11. UFO added
12. Mars added
13. Mountain range added
14. Boat dock added
15. Clouds added
Puzzle Solutions from page 102
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This should be an action-oriented month. Even though unexpected expenses and family problems could be present, you should enjoy this period, which can lead to favorable business travel. Avoid any disputes with your partner. If hoping for promotion, now is your best chance to get it. Don’t delay making any career-related decisions.
Taurus
(April 20 – May 20)
During this month you need to focus on your health. Unexpectedly favorable events will likely occur in your family life. Financial progress can also help a longcherished desire to materialize. Don’t overthink why luck favors you right now, just enjoy the ride. You may spend money to improve your home. Avoid aggressive comments and listen to your partner.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
After an expensive start, the month will end with great financial profit. Bad decisions at the beginning of the month can create some unexpected problems and disturb your confidence. Luckily, your family will support you and by the end of the month, you will replenish some much needed savings. The optimal plan for this month is to be honest and nice to others.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
You should be quite comfortable this month. You will have to spend money on household items. Mature decisions should lead to success by means of financial gains. If looking for a promotion or change in career, it will come your way. Some back pain may give you hard time. Traveling can be quite fun.
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
Even though you should do extremely well in your job/business, mental anxiety will also be there. Try to remain focused even with an increased workload and this should prove to be fully rewarding. A tendency to take risks should be curbed and any speculation must be avoided. By the end of the month, you will feel a shift in your way of thinking and attitude towards others.
Virgo
(August 23 – September 22)
You may lose a very important opportunity during the first half of the month. Love and affection could lead you to mistakes, so avoid cheating as it will only create further problems with your partner. This will be a good month financially as unexpected monetary gains and involvement in religious activities can provide peace of mind. Any and all hobbies could be very rewarding.
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
Short period prospects don’t look bright, but a new business partnership should bring great success in long run. This is also a good period for love and romance. You might also receive a very good piece of news from afar. You will enjoy financial gains yet could spend it all unexpectedly. Businessrelated travel might prove to be exhausting and unrewarding.
Scorpio
(October 23 – November 21)
An aggressive attitude will contribute to you being both bold but violent in temper. Devotion to a super power or religious activities can bring peace of mind. A family member’s ill health may cause minor mental anxiety during the last week of the month. Don’t rely on your partner too much. Financially you’ll do well but your contentious mindset could lead to disaster.
Sagittarius
(November 22 – December 21)
You may be busy with both work and an active social life. Some unexpected expenses could be there, but overall happiness is clearly indicated. Your partner should be very supportive. Income may flow in from multiple directions including an unexpected inheritance during the middle of the month. A long-distance journey could prove very successful.
Capricorn
(December 22 – January 19)
An awkward circumstance can occur due to your personality that could potentially damage your reputation. Try to spend more time with family. You may get a sudden lucky beneficial deal. Avoid any involvement in any new ventures this month and instead encourage your partner to invest. Try to slow down and spend time on routine activities. Sudden travel is also possible.
Aquarius
(January 20 – February 18)
You may face trouble maintaining income as expenses related to family responsibilities and health issues could force you to pull heavily from savings. Life can seem much slower as your energy feels depleted. This could even affect your love life. Execute further study and/or enjoy some of your hobbies to keep things more active.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
Your confidence will command a great deal of respect. There is a likelihood of becoming active in traveling activities. A substantial increase in income is also assured. You may not experience major changes at your workplace, but you should still feel content and happy. Misunderstandings could result in a dispute with your partner. Also avoid any voluntary services as they could further facilitate animosity.
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Looking for licensed / unlicensed financial professionals for one of the fastest growing companies in North America. Maximize your income with highest compensation plan, ownership & legacy. Guaranteed support & professional training. Contact Bhavesh Patel (Executive Director) 704-3904747 or visit bpatel.experiorfinancial.com.
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Full-time Cashier Wanted at Gas Station in Charlotte metro area. Evening shifts only. Legal status required. Please contact 704-241-4499 for details.
Hotel Help Wanted for Front Desk & Housekeeping for hotel in Orangeburg, SC. Legal status required. Accommodations available. Call 980-226-3095.
Live-in Help Needed
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Hotel Help Required
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Hotel Help Wanted
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Two Full-Time Positions Available at Gas Station in Charlotte, NC. Legal status required. Good pay! Call 704-299-8535.
Elder Care Needed in Charlotte
Looking for female to work 4 to 5 hours daily to assist active 84-year-old lady in daily chores, some cooking and companionship. Please call 980-339-5575.
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Manager / Front Desk Needed for Franchise Hotel in Rock Hill, SC. With Accommodations. Please call 803-517-4662.
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For Immediate Hire
Looking for General Manager at Motel 6 & Studio 6 (combo 101 rooms) in Charlotte, NC. Must have experience, good knowledge of the brand and be able to manage without supervision. Good pay! Email resume to abcone@abcinns.com or pritesh.nagarji@abcinns.com.
Looking for Manager/Associate/Helper part-time / full-time for Indian Grocery Store in Durham, NC. Call 919-489-9084 or email harig81us@gmail.com.
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Matrimonial / Seeking Companion
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continued from page 58
requires a small act of concentration. He doesn’t complain. He just works through it quietly, while we watch.
There is nothing to do with that. You can’t Google your way out of watching someone you love struggle to swallow water. You can sit next to him, ask how he’s feeling, adjust his pillow. My cousin has wiped down the same surface near his bed three times this morning. Not because it needed it. Because her hands needed something to do.
Nobody prepares you for that kind of helplessness. Not the dramatic kind. Just the quiet gap between wanting to help and having nothing useful to offer.
And so we pray.
My cousins have been playing religious music since the first night. Someone brought a small, framed image and placed it near his bed. Prayers are being said at homes and a few relatives are organizing special pujas at the temple. From the outside — especially if you’re not from this culture — it might look like ritual for ritual’s sake. I’ve been part of this since childhood, and this time I find myself observing it more closely. Something specific is happening.
We pray because we have run out of other things to do. When you cannot fix the thing that needs fixing, you reach for what feels like action. Prayer is action. It is something when everything else has run out. My cousins aren’t naïve. They know the chants may not take the cancer away. But the chanting fills the silence, and that’s better than sitting around waiting.
Here’s what I kept thinking: we say the prayer is for him. Maybe it is, partly, but watch who relaxes after. Watch who feels they contributed something. The prayer is doing something real — just perhaps not what we tell ourselves it’s doing. It is keeping us from falling apart. It is giving us a way to feel like participants in something we have no control over. It is care directed inward, not outward. And maybe that’s okay.
I don’t say that to diminish it. If anything, I think that makes it more honest. We are not pretending to heal him with devotion. We are admitting, in the oldest language available to us, that we are scared, that we are here, and that we don’t want to give up hope.
My cousins and I are exhausted in the way that only hospital nights produce. We don’t say much. Someone gets tea. The music is still going faintly from a phone someone left inside. My uncle, a good man who did everything right, is in there fighting something that doesn’t care about any of that. And we are out here doing the only things left to us, and that is asking how he feels, wiping things down, offering him water, checking our phones for answers, and praying.
Maybe that’s enough. Maybe it has to be.
Hiren Deliwala
is a Charlotte-based overthinker, closet philosopher, and avid board gamer. He writes about everyday life, Indian upbringing, and finding humor in the chaos. When not philosophizing over chai, he’s usually losing arguments to his wife and, shockingly, learning from them. Contact: hcdeliwala@gmail.com
Magic Maze & Puzzles4Kids answers pgs 102 -103
Mindful Masala
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Index for Charlotte, South Carolina & Atlanta Region
A 2 Z Driving School...........................................19
Aim for Seva (Raman Bhaje with Sooryagayathri)..10
RB Realty Group (Ravi Bheemarao).....................89
Real Triangle Properties (Joe Mathews).................65
& Home.........................................................3 Ryan Shah (Tabla Lessons)...................................37 Shah & Associates, CPA, PLLC.............................53 Shah & Trivedi CPA, PLLC.................................101 Singh, Manny (Real Estate)..................................29 Spectrum Family Medicine (Sujatha Sajeevan, MD)63
