Recent Meets with Bloggers
When I started blogging over two years ago, my intent wasn’t to make friends. This website was built so that Neeraj and I would have a place to write about the many things that we were going through in life, discuss hobbies, and a place to cherish our memories so that we would be able to share them with our children at a later date. But as I started to write more and more, I began to see that we had regular readers who wanted to find out what was happening with us — strangers who we had ever met nor any intention to meet.
Then when I was in India soon after I started blogging, two regulars (Manpreet and Kunal) said that if you are going to be in Mumbai let us know we will meet up. So Neeraj and I met up with them in Bandra, and it was amazing as we sat for over four hours talking about anything and everything. 
Because of the way Neeraj and I met, I knew that you didn’t have to be physically present to be friends, there is a concept of “net friends”. Since then, we have had the pleasure of meeting up with Kunal, and now his wife as well Bharti, on other occasions while in Mumbai.
Recent Meet # 1
Then there are other occasions that just make you realize that really, there is a God. I remember the first time that Ankur Raheja had come to our blog. During that time our photos link was open to the public, and Ankur would just write comments on the photos. So once I replied back to him and said,
Do you just look at the photos or read the blog too?
Since then he started commenting on my posts too. 
He got so involved with blogging that he started his own blog, and his bhabhi (sister-in-law), Manu, would also visit and comment on his blog. There would be instances where Manu Bhabhi and I would put double pressure on Ankur, especially on the topic of marriage.
As time went on Manu Bhabhi became Mannat, and she began to visit and comment on our blog as well. A small community was being built right around us. 
As we spoke more, I found out that Mannat and her husband (Ankur’s brother) lived in the same state as us but towards the south. We kept on telling each other that we will meet up, etc… but it never happened. Now that Neeraj and I have moved, we actually are even closer, and so this time Mannat & I decided that we will meet at any cost.
We spoke over messenger and setup a date and time to meet at their house. So on a Friday a few weeks back, we met up with Mannat and her husband. Now the first thought that would seem logical to ask is was there any awkwardness, after all, you never have met face-to-face previously? I would have to say no, and I hope that Mannat replies and gives her reaction as well. We sat for a very long talking about many things, as we had so much in common, such as her husband used to work in the same office where Neeraj works now. As well as her husband was in the same field as I am in, Information Technology (IT) Security. Poor Mannat was fed up with our tech talk. We had dinner together, thanks to a great meal made by Mannat, and enjoyed a cup of coffee as we spoke more just about life. We had so much fun that we didn’t leave until after 11 pm.
Interesting how that is right? After all we became friends with Ankur first, but met up with his brother and bhabhi first in person. Thanks to Mannat & Aman for a great time and inviting us to their beautiful home:!: We appreciate your hospitality.
Recent Meet # 2
I used to go to Deepak Jaiswal’s blog on and off, and every time I would go to write the comments, and I would see a message from “Kaush“. I had no idea who this person was, whether it was a girl or guy, but I was always intrigued by his/her response. Then she commented on my blog, and after that checked out her blog. Soon after I saw an email in my inbox from Kaushal - and it was a long letter explaining how she had been to our blog, and she was amazed from Neeraj and my love story, and she was going to a similar time. I wrote back immediately after reading, and we clicked instantly:!: After a few months of regular contact, I still had no idea what she looked like - we had been to online bloggers’ meet together, commenting, etc… but never I saw a picture. We would speak about anything and everything regarding relationships because we were going through so similar times. As with the situation with Mannat, Kaush and I kept telling each other that we will meet. Neeraj and I invited her and her family to come to our engagement party last November, but she said it won’t be possible because there would be no way to explain to her parents who I was. 
Kaush kept a promise that we would meet, someway or how, we would. She even sent us an engagement present through the mail. Really, thank you so much.
On October 15, 2006 that faithful day was here. Neeraj and I met the famous Kaush at the St. Louis airport. Yes, the airport. Kaush was on her way to another destination, and she had a stopover in St. Louis. It was just about an hour, and we sat at the coffee shop, shared a coffee cake that Kaush brought, took photos from our camera phones, and just chit chatted away as if we had known each other for years. Its these types of friendships that really make you love life even more — it was really great seeing Kaush, and we are looking forward to that day when we will get to meet her better half as well. 
A part of you is always with us now Kaush, the beautiful Ganeshji that you gifted us, thank you very much — everytime we look at that, we think of you. May God give you all of the happiness in the world that you very much deserve:!:
Thank you Kaush for letting us know that you were stopping in St. Louis - you truly are a gem of a friend:!: We really appreciate your friendship and looking forward to spending much more time with you in the future:!:
Alvida. Jai Mata Di.
November 2nd, 2006 at 10:51 am
Hi Poonam,
I completely agree that no only you make online- friends who share the same ideas you do but also you get inspired from many of there ideas to.
Mitra
November 2nd, 2006 at 11:04 am
sahi… poonamji.. you guys have met so many bloggers!
btw, did ya discussed Ankur’s marriage plans with mannat & Ankur’s bro?
November 2nd, 2006 at 2:04 pm
Poonam, the reason I like reading your blog is that you write from heart. And that is why you are able to connect with so many people. It is so true that people make this life worth living. If you don’t have loved ones surrounding you, life means nothing.
November 2nd, 2006 at 9:53 pm
Yes we have Manpreet.
In fact we did discuss Ankur’s marriage with Mannat and Aman. Mannat also mentioned that she has been working very hard to convince Ankur to get married, but in vain, she has not succeeded. 
Kab yeh ladka raazi hoga?? 
Thank you very much Joy for your kind words.
I am very happy that you do come to our blog and not only read but express your views as well. 
Thanks! What you have mentioned is also true - life does mean nothing without loved ones. 
November 3rd, 2006 at 1:50 pm
Yes Poonam, credit for my blog goes to you… :)
I remember my first visit to your blog, as it was just a coincidence, as I was searching, maybe for a song on Google… when I landed up here. And at that time I had no knowledge about ‘Blog’. I read few posts, ‘about us’ page, before leavig the comment in photos section!
Ya, Aman told me about your meeting next day over the telephone, and now I am getting the point about the marriage… hmm
… as the same topic was discussed with me over the telephone, next day 
November 3rd, 2006 at 1:53 pm
I remmber about your meeting with Kunal and Manpreet in Mumbai… too!
November 3rd, 2006 at 2:50 pm
This comment completes my 500 comments on NP.com …a record
Where’s my Gold Cup
November 3rd, 2006 at 3:57 pm
Damn.. I forgot to keep track of stats.. and Ankur.. you scraped past me to reach 500 first… :( :(
Poonam.. delete all of Ankur’s useless comments… spam karke to main bhi pahunch sakta tha pehle :)
November 3rd, 2006 at 6:49 pm
Hi Poonam, how are you? I have been on and off lately … can’t regulary read your blog
It’s so true that from blog, we know and meet a lot of wonderful and great people. I can’t wait that one day I will meet with you too 
November 3rd, 2006 at 8:25 pm
You will get your gold cup as a marriage gift.
The quicker you get married, the quicker you get your gold cup. 
Nice to see you after long Mona.
I hope all is well with you and yes, I am also waiting for that day to meet you too! 
November 4th, 2006 at 1:57 pm
hey Poonam! sahi post hai thanks so much for coming to meet me!!!!! I remember exactly how I landed on your blog..Deepak told me “ek ladki hai love songs ka list bana rahi bilkul teri jaisi deewani lagti hai” and ofcourse the rest as we know is history:angel:
when we met.
And I totally agree with you ..felt like we had known each other for years
Actually you know, I agree with what Joy says as well, its you who is so wonderful and when you write you write from the heart so its so easy to connect with you :) and ofcourse mera toh tumhaare saath ek aur connection bhi ban gaya :) waise I talk to my other half about you so much that he feels like he knows you both so well too…it was a short time but I am sure this was only a teaser trailer of our meetings….hum logo ko Las Vegas bhi toh abhi jaana hai
waise Ankur…really when are you getting married
November 5th, 2006 at 11:05 am
That is such a sweet post, Poonam. You know I come to your blog on regular basis, but just have not been commenting much lately. But this one, I sure had to write a few words on.
It definitely was great meeting with you two. And I am glad that inspite of all the rain that day, you were able to make it to our home. We MUST do this again sometime. Aman enjoyed you both as well. I mean I still know a bit about you (by reading your blog), but for aman you were comlete strangers. He didn’t feel that at all!
And yes, I was a bit lost when you three started talking about IT stuff:yes::duh:But no, definitely, there was no awkwardness. It just seemed that we knew each other so well.
So when are we coming over for dinner to your new furnished house?:grin:
November 5th, 2006 at 11:07 am
And BTW, Ankur ki shaadi ka tou koi chance nahi lagta. Maine tou yahaan tak keh diya hai ke abh main India aaongi tou sirf tab, jab yeh shaadi karegaa.
Abh mera India aan sirf aur sirf Ankur ke haath mein hai:lol: Kahin sanyaas na le le:faint::faint::faint::faint::faint:
November 5th, 2006 at 9:04 pm
It is you who we should be saying thank you to Mannat.
You took the initiative to contact me so that we could get together and really I am so glad that you did. 
I can understand about what you said about Aman and us being strangers for him, but really we all were very comfortable like you said. 
Isn’t it amazing how that works out? Gives you another perspective about what friendship is all about - net friends aakhir main friends hi hote hain. 
Aman and you must come over to our place now. I will get in touch with you soon. 
I have good news that I am sharing in the new post - so we have a reason to celebrate. 
As for Ankur, uske liye toh mere paas ek hi salaa hai aur woh hai yeh: Ankurji, apni bhabhi ki liye socho aur shaadi kar lo.
Kab tak unko bhi intezaar kar waaogai woh apni desh nahi aa sakti jab tak tum band bajaa nahi laaogai ghar, isliya tum woh gaana gaao, meri shaadi karwaao, meri shaadi karwaao aur sab se pehle Manu Bhabhi pahunch jaayegi. 
November 6th, 2006 at 10:53 am