By Indu Danturti
When I walked into my first Henna with a Heart meeting, frazzled and 15 mins late as usual (Ackerman Union is an impossible maze), I never imagined that I’d be meeting my future wives. But months of trauma-bonding over Bollywood/Hip-Hop remixes, microwaved Maggi, and abysmal Visa situations later, I have professed my undying love for and married nearly every member of the organization.
I still remember how after that first meeting, I went back to Madam Vice President Anusha’s room to…stuff myself with shared Indian snacks :-) I have never flirted as heavily as I do with my Henna Hearts with any man, and the only time I ever giggle and blush at a cheesy pick-up line, (instead of rolling my eyes and scornfully laughing), is when it is delivered by Nidhi.
We have now gotten (a little too) comfortable enough with each other that I’ll come back to find the Hearts chilling in my bed, or casually chatting in my room while I’m taking my shirt off to change. But the level of intimacy that comes from shared situations like dreading the day your dependent Visa expires and you have to pay international tuition has made these girls some of my favorite people.
I fell in love with Nicole’s gentle smile, Sanjna’s dry humor, Anoushka’s sexy brain, Gayathri’s bouncy hair, Nidhi’s dramatic stories, Anousha’s dumb jokes, Anya’s uninhibited laugh, Hema’s chaotic energy, Namrata’s open heart and every single member’s creativity, passion, and unwavering commitment to marrying each other for the sake of US citizenship.
So even though I walked into my first Henna with a Heart meeting late and skeptical about being able to find the room again, I left with a family. And as the organization grows, we will continue to foster this amazing community.
Comments