"Dear Obaid: Even after all these years away from TIFR, it still feels strange to call you by your first name, perhaps because it is so easy to travel back in time, some forty years, and become a naive 18-year old with lots of hopes and dreams, many of which came true for me because of your interest and guidance, as it did for so many of your students. I especially remember the day I walked into your office and asked you if you thought I would make it America. This was well after arrangements to work with Dr. Apirion had been made, and I'd received my Fulbright travel grant. What else could you have said but "yes, of course"? Still, you said it with such confidence that I left feeling elated. That was back when I thought every one in America was brilliant. I hold very dear memories of you at the helm of our fledgling department with Drs. Maitra, Singh and Sarkar, Zita, Usha, Apte, Vijay, Shankar, Jagarnath, and Kalpana (of course,) and so many other faces whose names escape me at this moment. I recall Deeba and Kalim coming to the lab as babies and me carrying one of them; I think it was Deeba. I can see myself at the lab bench making crosses and looking for tryptophan deficient Aspergillus nidulans mutants. I remember those emerald green and orange spores as if it were yesterday. I am currently in New Zealand, working on my first novel, which I find far more daunting than writing short stories and poetry, which I've been doing in my spare time for a few years. But I retired from teaching this past Fall and am looking forward to being more productive in this new phase of life. Happy Birthday, Obaid, and may the year ahead be rich with all the things that make you happy. I hope that you have been keeping good health. Kalpana and I sometimes commiserate about our creaky knees, but not for long, because we spend a lot of time laughing at our young selves at TIFR. Please give Asiya my warmest regards, and take good care of yourself. Affectionately, Lalita

Website: http://www.lalitanoronha.com

Blog: http://www.lalitanoronha.wordpress.com" ---Lalita Noronha