Such Big Dreams: breaking free and living life on your own terms

Such Big Dreams by Reema Patel is a  story of a savvy former child of the street who discovers a chance to live her life on her own terms. Rakhi is a twenty-three year old who is haunted by the grisly events that led to the loss of her best friend. She is constantly reminded that she doesn’t belong, that she is a charity case as she lives in a Mumbai slum and works as a lowly office assistant for Justice for All, a struggling human rights organization. Hidden behind her façade hides a fierce intelligence and sharp wit with an even sharper tongue, Rakhi doesn’t allow anyone to play her for a fool. She knows that everyone underestimates her until a new intern enters the office. Alex Lalwani-Diamond is the family friend of Rubina Mansoor, a fading former Bollywood starlet. Alex is Indian-Canadian on his way to Harvard for graduate school. Ambitious, persistent and a bit naïve, Alex convinces Rakhi to show him the “real India,” which seems harmless at first. As Rakhi’s past and her aspirations collide, she comes face to face with difficult choices and the moral compromises that one often makes in order to survive. 

Such Big Dreams is the debut moral of Reema Patel. A moving story of survival and the cost of one’s ambition and power. Ms. Patel’s descriptions are powerful and honest as she reveals the different sides, the different “classes” of India. She peels back the hypocrisy of the rich who build luxurious mansions on the land of former slums and then gets on a soapbox about affordable housing and the state of the people in the slums. I thoroughly enjoyed Rakhi’s character, a young woman who lived a hard life that was not of her choosing. I couldn’t imagine being a seven year old and surviving on the streets and yet that’s where Rakhi’s story begins. She is a survivor and I hoped and cheered her on as she tries to rise above her lot in life and works for a better life rather than resolve that she was born there and would probably die there. The author’s note after the story adds to the emotional power of the story’s events. My one complaint is the author’s use of Indian words and phrases without an indication of the translations or meanings. Overall, I enjoyed Such Big Dreams and highly recommend it. 

Such Big Dreams is available May 10, 2022 in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

New Year's thoughts and reflections

It’s that time again. As another year closes and the promise of new beginnings in a new year is before us, I am taking the time to reflect on 2019 as well as look forward to 2020. I think about the changes my life has gone through this year and I wish I could tell go back in time and tell myself, that everything will work out and I would be alright. To quote from the movie, Forrest Gump (1994), “Don’t you just love New Year’s? You get to start all over.” Everyone loves New Year’s and the chance to start fresh.

More changes came with 2019. My husband and I moved once again to a beautiful home that we have been incredibly blessed with. We have hit a stride that we finally have this adult thing down. As I turned 40 this year and I have the benefit of my experience to look back on and know that there is no time or place I would rather be. Although stress and hard times will always come our way, I feel we are better equipped to deal with whatever life may throw our way. My husband continues to grow professionally at work and takes great pride in a job well done. My oldest daughter is thriving at her new school and has grown into such a young lady that it’s hard to fathom that she will be 8 years old in a few weeks. My youngest daughter is now a toddler, walks and climbs and gets into all sorts of mischief. I look forward to further growth in 2020.

It's interesting that in 2019 was the year of continued growth in my life but it was also the year of looking back. As the song, Auld Lang Syne, commonly sung at new year’s, says “Should old acquaintance be fought and never brought to mind,” this year was the year of old friends from long ago brought to my mind. One friend, whom I haven’t seen since junior high, I have been thinking about her for a while and when I found her picture in my photo box, I took a chance to look her up. I was able to find her on Facebook but as hesitate to contact her. Would she remember me? Would she want to speak with me? Another friend popped up on my “People You May Know” list on Facebook. Most of the time they are people whom I have mutual friends with but sometimes it brings up random people like “Yeah! I do know him/her!” Sometimes the desire to reconnect with old friends is strong. Maybe 2020 will be the year of reconnection.

2020 will be another year of change as it brings the presidential election and other changes. While I am not looking forward to the ad campaigns, the mudslinging and the tensions between family and friends and even strangers on the internet. It comes with the territory of differing opinions, I guess but it stresses me out. It may be the time which I limit my time on social media. 2020 also brings the Summer Olympics in Tokyo to look forward too. Also, a very special birthday for my wonderful husband comes up this year so that will be a great time of celebration. 2020 is also the year to make new goals and work toward achieving those goals. I welcome the challenges which will undoubtedly come my way. I know that I have the love and support of my wonderful husband and extended family and friends to battle on whatever comes my way.

In conclusion, 2019 was a year of change and amazing blessings. 2020 is a new chance for new beginnings. But then again, each day is a chance for a new you. As I look down the calendar and see all that will happen, good and bad, expected and unexpected, it will be a great year. And before you know it, we will be saying goodbye to another year and looking forward to the promise of another new year.