Family Ties

Bharat Najara (Posted Image)(Posted Image)

Bharat was not the typical mother hen, and one would be laughed at hysterically if they were to suggest this to one of her children. She was a stark contrast to the traditional Sihk wife her mother had so pushed her to be, choosing to wear a DPM shirt and trousers than a sari any day. She was an extremely tough woman, the only female Major-General in the history of her regiment, and took her title extremely seriously. According to her husband, she was stark raving mad, clearly way off her rocker, but in a way that was simply irresistible. She was in no way anyone to be fooled with, and had a manner about her that her daughter seems to have inherited.

When it came to her children, however, one would be hard pressed to find a bigger softie. She would fuss over her babies like one would expect any mother to, and many times went out of her way to make sure they were perfectly happy. She was a hero to most who knew her, especially Shanti, and even more so in her last moments. The life of Major Bharat (nee Bajit) Najara ended abruptly on March 29, two days before her daughter’s tenth birthday, when she was killed on duty as a guard in Jerusalem.

Mohan Najara
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While Mohan Najara has never been quite the same since his wife’s death, he still retains some of his more positive attributes. Where his wife was tough and closed off, Mohan was always friendly and out going. He could always put a smile on anyone’s face, whether it be a fresh faced private or the most jaded of Colonels. He made friends very easily, establishing connections he still holds in all parts of the world. He never took his military career nearly as seriously as Bharat, sliding through the years rather than climbing ranks like his wife. No one could meet Mohan and not love him, something that has held true throughout the forty nine years of his existence.

Now, a retired General and beloved father, Mohan has become much more wise and soft spoken with age. He doesn’t have the carefree spark that was once his signature in his youth, but has a certain warmth about him that is becoming increasingly rare now-a-days.

Ravi (Fatts) Najara andSashi (Manny) and [26]
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Bharat, though probably up to her elbows in morphine at the time, knew exactly what she was doing when she named these two; Sashi, whose name literally translates to ‘Moon’, is as different from his twin as the sun Ravi was named after. In fact, the only thing the two of them share is a face and a last name. In a world where logic and reason reign supreme, spontaneity is the lowliest of swear words, and everything can be fixed with a well thought out plan, Ravi is king. One of the youngest state prosecuters in the history of his law firm, Shlepy and Barns, he is the epitome of ambition and success. Sashi, on the other hand, is anything but. This lovable slacker has the mind of a con artist, the heart of a artist, and the work ethic of a three year old. These two are constantly at each other’s throats, something the family has gotten well accustomed to over the years.

Sanjay (Lover Boy or L.B.) Najara [22]
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Sanjay has done well to earn his nickname, and it is self evident to anyone who meets him why he carries it. Ever since he hit puberty, Sanjay has had to beat back the women with a stick (almost literally in some cases), and for good reason too. This man is handsome in the most cliché way possible, with big doe-like brown eyes, silky black hair, and a smile that can make anyone’s heart melt. The fawning is usually always reciprocated, as Sanjay manages to fall head-over-heels in love with anyone he goes out with. Really, if it weren’t so sad to see him get his heart broken practically every week, it would be almost comical.

Ajaya (Jay Bird) Najara[15]
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If one were to look up the term ‘easily amused’, they would see Jay chuckling away back at them. This is just about the goofiest, most lovable person Shanti has ever met, and it isn’t easy to see why everyone loves him. He isn’t a very tall man and is dwarfed by most of his brothers, but he makes up for his height in his larger that life personality. No one can stay in his presence for long and not be completely consumed in a fit of giggles, his magnetism is just that strong. His sweet demeanor and carefree nature simply intoxicates others, making it self evident to anyone who knows him why he is named Bird.

This post has been edited by Shanti Najara on Nov 25 2009, 04:53 PM