Rediscovering Manisha

The following 1975 song was Manisha’s favourite; I absolutely understand why. She wrote about this song in her letter on January 30, 1976, for St. Valentine’s Day. She wrote, “St. Valentine’s Day is celebrated here also not only by those who are in love, but also for those who are very dear to you. This song by Steve Lawrence, the words are very nice and meaningful, I like it.” She loved romantic songs of Steve Lawrence, a well-known American singer. Since a lot of her time, she spent alone at home she enjoyed these songs on the radio and imagined me near her and felt the love we shared. In her earlier letter dated January 12, 1976, she had said that she keeps all my letters and photographs in a separate album; she wrote, “Everyday especially when I am alone, I take out all your photos and letters to keep me company.” I contemplate that during such moments she might be playing her favuorite Hindi songs and music of Steve Lawrence on her record player. Her favourite song was “Now That We're in Love” sung by Steve Lawrence. The lyrics is as follows:-

Now that we're in love, the world is a lovelier place, now that we're in love, it has a smile on its face

Every night is New Year's Eve, each day is Valentine’s Day, I know this you won't believe, you sigh, and violins play

Now that you're the one, who else could matter to me? now that you're the one, whoever else could there be?

All you do is touch my hand, suddenly it's wonderland, Shangri-La, Eden Yes! Heaven and paradise too, now that we're in love, you with me, and I with you

Now that we're in love, the world is a lovelier place, now that we're in love

All you do is touch my hand, and suddenly it's wonderland, Shangri-La, Eden Yes! Heaven and paradise too

Now that we're in love, I can't believe it's true, you with me, and I with you

She did not live long enough to enjoy more music of Steve Lawrence and the internet explosion where she could have explored romantic songs both from India and the west.

During my student days at MSU in the 1970s I used to listen to WKAR FM of Lansing, Michigan, especially while doing microscopy and photographing microfossils in my laboratory and developing and printing them in the dark room. This station used to play beautiful western classical, semi classical, pop, soul, and jazz music both current and old ones; thus, had become my favourite radio station. I had heard several songs of Steve Lawrence including the one loved by Manisha but never paid any special attention. It took me over thirty-seven years now to realize the wonderful lyrics of this song which Manisha understood well and enjoyed and could relate her own state of mind with this song. I have always been a fan of another great American singer, Jim Reeves, who also sang wonderful romantic songs, I wrote about him to Manisha. Those days I used to have ‘Best of Jim Reeves’ in two LPs at home in India and every time I heard songs of Jim Reeves, Manisha’s memories would always be in my heart and mind.

She was born into a well-to-do family of farmers where she was pampered not only by her parents but also by her six brothers. She enjoyed excellent health, and loved cinema, music, cooking, baking, dress designing, socializing with friends and cousins, and writing love letters to me. At the later stages of our friendship, she had become very romantic in her relationship with me. She had a huge wardrobe of a wide variety of clothes, and she loved to be fancily dressed. Several of her photographs indicate that she loved her various hair styles and once wrote me that she looks different in her different hair styles. She was a kind, caring and a patient person and always forgave me for not responding to her expectations. She was a great emotional support for me during my Ph.D. studies at MSU and understood my extremely busy study schedule. She was also very proud of my achievements and was dreaming of a happy and peaceful married life with me. I give her a lot of credit for whatever I achieved at MSU, and her promise of everlasting love and support has taken me much higher in my career. I regret that I never kept a framed photograph of such an important person in my life in my room; well now is the time to put one at least, better late than never. Her life was short but sweet and has a parallel with cherry blossom flowers that are colourful, charming, beautiful, and fragrant but short lived.

I was quite lonely at MSU as a student, but luckily for me I was very busy in my studies. Manisha and I fulfilled our emotional emptiness through our letters and expressed ourselves openly. After my visit to her grave in February 2013, it seems that she is always with me. I am looking forward to visiting her again whenever I find time.