Our village on the Dance Floor- Bollywood Dance Cruise

With Desi Moms Network, I have organized so many events over the years. Every single time, I dream up something new, get excited, and then somewhere in the middle of planning I ask myself, "Oh my God... why am I doing this?" Between the endless messages, coordination, last-minute changes, and wondering if anyone is even interested, it can feel overwhelming.

Then the day arrives.

We all meet.

We laugh.

We have fun.

And I come home completely exhausted, telling myself, "That's it. I'm taking a break."

Within a week, another idea pops into my head... and before I know it, I'm organizing the next event.

That's been my story for years.

Water Country in June was an incredible success. I told everyone, "I'm done! I'm taking July and August off." Sure enough, before I knew it, we had already done two more events, and then we were planning another one.

One of our moms shared information about a Bollywood Dance Cruise and suggested we all go together. My first response was, "I think I'm done organizing for a couple of months."

But I couldn’t let it go.

I reached out to the organizers, got some discount and we were in. I honestly thought maybe 10 or 15 moms would sign up.

Instead...

Twenty-two of us checked in. 

This turned out to be one of the toughest events to organize. It was late at night, in the city. Many women don't drive at night. Some don't drive on highways. Some had never gone out this late with friends. For many, just saying "yes" was stepping outside their comfort zone.

Making this happen took many phone calls, encouragement, and a little insisting. Thankfully, because we had done a cruise before, many moms already knew how much fun they had missed the first time, so convincing them was a little easier.

The discounted tickets made it affordable, and then came the best part—carpooling. A few moms took the train, but most of them shared rides. The journey itself became part of the evening.

Finally, the day arrived.

I thought we'd have fun. 

But these women completely surpassed every expectation and every vision I had.

Our group was one of the biggest on the boat. It was hot, humid, crowded, and the DJs weren't exactly setting the dance floor on fire. We started slowly, chatting, catching up, and enjoying the view.

Then something happened.

Our group walked onto the dance floor.

For the last hour and half, they absolutely owned the party.

They danced like nobody was watching.

They laughed like there was no tomorrow.

Two of the moms had never attended any of our events before, and watching them smile, dance, and simply belong was probably my favorite part of the night.

We have only a handful of pictures, but dozens of videos.

And honestly, I think those videos tell the real story.

They are a reminder of what a village can do for you.

For one evening, these women were not introduced as moms raising a child with a disability. They weren't thinking about therapies, appointments, IEPs, or caregiving responsibilities.

They were simply women.

Friends.

Laughing.

Dancing.

Living in the moment.

And maybe that's one of the most important things our village gives each other—not just support during the difficult days, but permission to enjoy the beautiful ones too. 

The first gang to arrive

On the India Street

The boat didnt go far from the harbor so I could see this bldg.it is beautiful - I come to this bldg once a while for some events.

The Story of Human Resilience

 Over the years, my social circle has shrunk a lot. I never had a very large one to begin with, but I was—and still am—a part of various groups. Going to social gatherings is just not my thing anymore. My husband was never a keen participant to begin with, and that reduced our chances of going out together to the usual Indian social gatherings where you meet people, have a drink, eat, chat for a while, and come back home.

I also became more selective about how I spend my time ,aging sure is a factor. Ladies' nights out or drinking parties slowly became out of the question.

For the last ten years, meeting mothers raising children with disabilities and building our village has taken the front seat. I still keep my music group, saree group, and literature group alive within me, but meeting those friends socially has reduced drastically. Yet every time I do meet them, it is a treat for my soul. There isn't as much time, and priorities are shifting. But every time I come home from one of those gatherings, there is a warmth in my heart that stays with me.

Sometimes saree meets can feel a little monotonous. You meet, admire each other's sarees, take pictures, eat, laugh, and head home. But once in a while, a host changes the direction of the evening, and the gathering becomes something out of the ordinary.

Last meet was one of those, it started with introductions. What do we do? Who are we as a person? Where did we grow up? Slowly, the conversation became deeper. People started sharing what brings them joy, what keeps them going, and what helps them sustain themselves through life's ups and downs.

And somewhere in those conversations, something magical happens.

Stories of resilience emerge. Stories of hope. Stories of people overcoming unimaginable obstacles. Stories of loss, courage, reinvention, and quiet strength. They stir something inside you. They remind you that every person carries a story you know nothing about.

I wore one of my mom's simple cotton sarees, a maheshwari . It is well loved and well worn. As I sat there listening to everyone, I couldn't help but think how much she would have loved being part of that group—listening to these women, smiling at their stories, and perhaps sharing a few of her own.

More Than Just Tall Ships SailBoston 2026

 Sometimes it's good to go somewhere with no plan and no knowledge. Just show up and let the day take you wherever it leads. That's how I walked into Sail Boston 2026.

I was there by 8:45 AM, hoping the parade would start at 9 as mentioned. It did—but far from where I was. :)

MBTA had done an awesome job. I wanted to go to Castle Island, but I didn't want to drive, so I planned on going to the Seaport instead. I am so glad I did. MBTA had buses running to Castle Island from the JFK train station. I took the Silver Line to the Seaport.

After spending a couple of hours at the Mayor's Pavilion—watching the ships from the stadium seating, hanging out with volunteers and police officers, and watching families enjoy the beautiful sunny day—I realized people enjoyed the parade for a while, but after a couple of hours many started leaving. I already wrote about my time with Barbara.

I also met another Indian woman who did her master's in Urban City Planning and now works in the Mayor's Office. It was so wonderful to see another brown woman. :) We both left disappointed after learning that INS Sudarshini, the Indian ship, was almost at the end of the parade. That meant another couple of hours of waiting.

I knew I couldn't stay that long, so I decided to walk around the Seaport and witness the fun and the craziness.

The Seaport was buzzing with excitement. People were everywhere. I don't think I had ever seen this many people in one place in Boston. Maybe it was competing with the July 4th crowds.

There were so many immigrant communities waiting for a glimpse of the ship from their own country.

There were young children running around, long lines outside restaurants, and people simply enjoying the day. For a few moments, Boston felt like the whole world had gathered along the waterfront.

After a few hours, I was tired. Still, the Indian ship was nowhere in sight, so I came back home.

I went to visit the ship the next day. Most of the crew had gone to the hotel to rest. They work in shifts, so while some stayed with the ship, others finally had a chance to explore Boston—or simply enjoy sleeping in a real bed.

I spent some time talking with a few of them. They told me about life on board, the meals they cook together, the two washing machines and dryers they all share, and the friendships that make months at sea a little easier.

I found out they have been on the ship since January. They started their journey from Kochi, Kerala, have visited nine countries, and will reach home around the end of October or early November.

Thousands of us came to admire the ship. For them, it was simply home.

Sail Boston didn't just bring tall ships to Boston. It brought stories from around the world—stories of adventure, culture, friendship, curiosity, and the men and women who call these ships home. 

Someone got engaged :) They had a special photographer 

Rest after a long day 

and now pics of Sudarshini 

A Reserved Seat and an Unexpected Friendship #SailBoston2026

The Sail Boston event had been on my calendar for quite some time. I knew it was going to be a busy day, but that didn’t bother me. I was going to see magnificent ships.

Unlike me, I did not plan anything days in advance. I thought I would figure out what to do the day before.

Showing the YouTube video put my willing husband off, and he decided it was not exciting enough to go into a busy city.

So, I ended up going on my own because I just wanted to go.

I took the train, and on the train I met someone. I helped her navigate to the location, and we walked together to the Seaport.

When we said goodbye, she was heading to the Mayor’s Pavilion, where she had a reserved seat, and I was heading toward the busy Seaport area.

Then she told me she had one extra pass. Her daughter, her plus one, couldn’t come, and she would be happy if I joined her.

I was not going to say no to an invitation to sit in a less crowded area in a reserved pavilion.

Grateful, I went with her.

She and her husband had worked with the UN and lived in several African countries for most of their lives before finally settling in Senegal, her husband's home. They had met here in the U.S. while in graduate school—a very white New York woman marrying an African man. They have two children.

Life has a beautiful way of bringing people together when we least expect it. Here I was, simply going on my way. Had I chosen to put my headphones on and not talk to someone, none of this would have happened.

A simple hello led me to learn so many things about the world—geography, history, politics, and struggle. Her husband practices a different religion. She grew up in one country, spent time in several others, and experienced political and religious diversity, different beliefs, and different faiths.

We sat on higher ground and watched the ships go by. Every now and then I would stop listening and simply admire the ships. Their size, the sails, the crews waving from the decks—it was breathtaking. 

The temperature was perfect. It was a breezy morning, and we had a wonderful time talking while watching the ships.

She knew a lot more than I did about many countries and about the ships, so I learned a great deal from her. After three and a half hours, we both left halfway through the parade. She went home, and I walked around the Seaport, soaking in the completely different vibe, the energy, and the crowd.

Meeting Barbara was pure chance. I was grateful for that extra pass, but even more than that, I was grateful for her wisdom and her willingness to share her stories.

It was not the seat, but everything that came before and after it, that made the day special.

Dear Mom, This Is How You'd Tell My Story - Anand as a guest writer on Moms Blog

 Wait... did I really write this? Nope! 😄

Anand decided to tell the story of his concert adventure by pretending to be his mom.

His observations of our family are surprisingly accurate—and hilariously funny..

Every word below is Anand's, written with his wonderful sense of humor and attention to detail. I'm so proud to share his writing with all of you.

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"Next Stop: Citizens House of Blues. Five bands playing near Fenway Park, one of Boston's many sacred lands. Tickets for the Summer School Tour officially sold out" - some commuter rail, subway, ferry, or bus announcer.

"Does someone want to tell me, what is going on?" — 2005 by South Arcade

Let Anand answer that. Another concert outing in Boston. After two days of Boston Anime Con, and a Comic-Con adventure in Springfield, MA, Anand is back to attending concerts. Yes, in his point of view, concert outings are very rare in our family, especially if it's just one concert outing a year. This one took place at—I can't believe I'm saying this—the Citizens of House Blues venue…near Fenway Park and Wahlburgers. I tell you, Anand was just lucky to hear that five months ago. February 23rd, 2026 was when I got a text about another concert venue…while we were stuck in a big snowstorm. Was Anand serious about this concert? Yes, he was! So, of course he'd put it in the family calendar.

Unlike his first solo concert outing, this one was very different. This concert was the Summer School Tour, which featured four other bands who were also performing at the Citizens House of Blues, not just South Arcade: Honey Revenge, Winona Fighter, Games We Play, and Chase Petra. I know nothing about these bands. Neither does Anand, but he loves South Arcade, since he saw them on October 15th, 2025. This concert outing also happened nine days before his 26th birthday, which might have been a perfect and early birthday present before we would go to Wahlburgers on the 16th. He requested time off from work on both Tuesday and Wednesday, knowing it'll be a nightly concert and he'd come home very late.

Anand kept us up to date with his schedule. We also discussed backup plans if the concert ran late. The Citizens House of Blues closes at 10pm, and the last train from South Station to Franklin would leave at 11:55pm and Anand would arrive at 1am, but he would know nobody would be awake to drop him home. At least, until Mr. Husband told Anand that I'd be able to pick him up from the station.

Anand took the commuter rail from Franklin to South Station in Boston, the Red Line to Park Street, then the Green Line to Kenmore. The original plan was to do his 90-minute walk to Fenway Park, but that plan was scrapped, due to rain. Unlike my last trip to Boston for the Fourth of July firework show, Anand just wouldn't take a train back home. Thankfully, he did bring an umbrella with him to the concert, though Anand had probably too much anxiety.

Despite the last-minute challenges, Anand managed the rain and bad weather in Boston by himself. He ate at Wahlburgers, charged his Apple Watch and phone at Panera Bread, and finally settled into the concert venue around 4pm.

While this was Anand's first visit at the Citizens House of Blues, backpacks were not allowed, so Anand could not bring a change of clothes. Only see-through totem bags, which Anand had to buy before leaving on Tuesday. Of course, as with many concert outings, Anand knew exactly what he'd expect: large crowds, loudness, people jumping, dancing, singing, and inadvertently bumping into each other. Totally normal in concerts, like Anand always says.

After the concert venue ended, Anand safely got out of the concert, drenched in sweat, and FaceTimed me. The amount of joy on his face was just priceless, probably because he knew he'd have such a great night.

He boarded the Green Line from Kenmore to Park Street, the Red Line to South Station, then safely boarded a train home to Franklin. It was nearly midnight when Mr. Husband brought Anand home, but hey, if he says he had a great night, there's nothing really to complain about. After all, Anand knew a lot more of what to expect after his second concert outing and based on his first solo concert outing. This sixth stop of his "Open World Expansion Tour" definitely means a lot to him. He may have been tired and sleep-deprived the next day, but at least Anand has his newest video game that he finally got working after the Fourth of July weekend, fitness at home, and his skill coach to keep him busy until he goes back to work. Fingers crossed Anand doesn't attend another concert that will end at midnight during weekdays. I certainly don't want to go through that again. All parents out there would agree.