A trip to India in Dec 2025 was tumultuous , ravishing, ethereal , satisfying yet eye opening. This time it was not only a get together with my family, I actually wanted to zone in on the different personal traits of Gawade’s and Sawant’s to create a jigsaw puzzle that fits in together perfectly. It’s like reading someone’s mind and putting the finger spot on the troubled , rigged areas. When we look closely the strength and shortcomings become universal and lead us to some kind of matchmaking a game I wish to play with this blog.

Playfulness: I don’t have to see too far , it’s inbuilt in the Sawant’s and Gawade’s . That’s how it is also passed down to the younger generation. Akshata’s dad has such a wonderful sense of humor and brings laughter wherever he goes. At the same time he is a man of principles and true to his words, belonging to that rare group of people who give back more than what they have received. He made us laugh during our entire stay at Karjat with his casual jokes but he was also trying to keep his grandson at bay with activities and Avyaansh listens to him. Just like his grandfather Ayu wants everybody and entertains them with his silly faces, trivial jokes. Playfullness runs in their family. Ayu is very sensitive, caring, genuine and although on outside he pretends to be tough with his karate kicks, chatty words, carefree demeanor from inside he is very affectionate. He gets mad at me when I play pranks and shoves my luggage out the door but at the same time cries in the car when dropping off to the airport. The core tender heart is undoubtedly inheritance from his grandfather. There are grandads who lovingly nudge and few grandkids who comply. They both share love for their village and culture.

Conviction: My mom as stubborn as she could be was not ready to come to Karjat’s vacation. We all tried to convince her but the more we forced her the more she drew the blanket and went undercover to avoid getting out of the bed. We had already paid for the Air B&B in Karjat along with fine dining package and there was no refund allowed. The way we were going to get out of this situation was use a stronger force of conviction. The only person who had that tenacity was Akshata , she contacted the physiotherapist who came home and helped pack my mom’s luggage. Nikhita dragged her out of the bed. “ Your win is my win, if you don’t go today all the daily exercises, muscle strengthening we put in to get to this point is in vain” . Akshata’s strategy turned the tide in our favor and mom finally boarded the car. There she was fine , in-fact enjoyed the trip and came back rejuvenated. I can see many parallels between them but the ones to applaud are strength, willpower, audacity and courage.

Responsibility:

There are some people who have obligations to the dreams they have and our driven by responsibility. While Vahini is committed to the project at hand of building a farmhouse and assist her husband in fulfilling a vision, she also understands the importance of removing obstacles and coordinating with the workers. The buffaloes , the plants, the fruit trees, the shed at Karjat , the construction of the villa will take time, patience, labor and money . It’s a tight rope and will need many hands to support but she is meticulous and detail oriented. She is also religious and big on sacrifices like giving up non veg till the goal is achieved. Simple minds think alike . Ganesh also has similar characteristics, he is upbeat, loves farming , thinks about owning and milking the cows and is very fond of homegrown vegetables and chickens. His practicality and curiosity to engineer and build things makes him stand out from the crowd. He is deeply spiritual, a devoted partner who wholeheartedly supports his wife’s passions, while at the same time pursuing his own beliefs in self-sustenance and a farm-to-table way of life.

Joyful:

Priyanka is chill , she has a cool temperament. The fact that Kamlesh can come home late at night, go on enjoyable bike rides, and eat non-vegetarian food without interference reflects her gentle, soft-hearted nature.. I have never seen her putting any restrictions on anybody. She listens to Akshata , abides by her mother in law and easily gels in the Sawant household. Same applies to Sniti . I am in awe of that girl who does what her mom says, listens to her dad and plays by the rules. She won first prize in poetry at school and recites hymns and mantras meticulously. As days pass by she will blossom into a beautiful woman just like her aunt. They both share innocence , spontaneity, and grace making them somewhat alike.

Cultural ambassadors:

Akshata’s mom is always on the go. So much so that she recently injured her big toe after a freakish slip from the stairs. But women like her cannot sit still, they are so used to creating things, making memories in line with their culture that usually these are the ones who carry and hand over the baton to the next generation. Her every task is laden with love and grace. There is so much creativity in her hands that she should be rightfully called Annapurna.

I have similar instincts but nothing as compared to Akshatas mom . I like the old way of doing things, going back in time for the Bhondla’s , reading scriptures, visiting old monastery, handcrafting zentangle’s , writing poetry. The brick and mortar gets tarnished with age and yet it does not break. The secret to happiness is within the house, under the clay pot which has freshly made curd or the jar with fermenting pickles.

Progressive: Sid has a fascination for all things trending cars, gadgets, glasses, sportswear etc. In Pune house we have had so many cars. Our first was Maruti Suzuki. Then we had Ciaz and now we also have Alto. Sid fancies the branded and chic. He is not ZenZ but the evolution is quite evident. He is smart, progressive and lives every moment wholeheartedly. Mantra also fancies cars. I remember him going after his dad’s car keys and opting for car rides over anything else. After all they have it all in the Sawant family Dukkati, Mercedes and a sports van. Mantra also has a very keen observation and a sense of style which is undoubtedly Sid’s hallmark characteristics.

Beliefs : My dad is a man of principles. He is usually on the side of righteousness and his life is centered around helping others. He is always been a giver with a wide repertoire of social service, monetary help, organizing events, shaping careers. His beliefs are written in stone. His intuition has served him well. There is no authority in the world that can force my dad to do anything against his wish. Shivaan is just like him. On my Karjat trip I tried to trick him to come to me by picking him up from behind , lure him with his favorite things, but he refused and turned away. In his little mind he has his own favorites and he only goes to them. His mischief , impishness are just outward expressions of the inner play. There is nobody who can convince him to do anything against his mind perhaps his conscientious behavior comes from paternal traits . It’s too early to tell as he is so young but the two Gawde’s are a force to reckon with.

Rigor: Pankaj was not there on our trip to Karjat but everybody missed him. We talked about him a couple of times. He dreams big and pursues things with conviction and rigor. His plan to build the farmhouse is crafted and executed flawlessly. He doesn’t mind staying on the ship for extended days more than 6 months to gather the funds required to pour in his latest mission. Ashutosh also exhibits similar qualities. He doesn’t mind hard work and travels for work. He was the mastermind in designing , renovating and upgrading their house in Long Island. He laid the plan and managed the finances. Whether it’s a new venture or a new recipe he is always eager to learn and implement. He takes calculated risk which are based on research , study and mathematical backing. Once decided, no task is left unfinished.

Hospitality:

One person who always tops in hospitality , generosity and dedication is Kamlesh. A gem of a person who stands by Prachiti Vahini, visits Akshata every year for Bhaubeej , listens to Sid’s demands and really embodies selflessness and duty. Kamlesh’s loyalty to his family is true connectedness for a larger good. He is also a foodie and knows all the good dining venues around Chembur. Rishi has similar traits. He is a wonderful host, makes excellent Biryani and loves to travel. He is funny, adventurous and possesses business acumen just like Kamlesh. Rishi’s AI savviness reflected in the program he produced for Saanvi’s graduation, and Kamlesh’s anecdotes are intriguing and compelling. Both are business minded , driven but so easy to talk to and generous towards guests.

Studious:

Hitarth is very obedient and listens to his parents. He is a soft speaker and often spends time inside his room studying . He is aware that good grades are a key to success and is determined to get into good college considering this year is crucial for his career. Saanvi also exemplifies the same qualities. She is hardworking, well mannered, scholarly and serious about getting into her dream college. Infact she avoided travel during Sophomore and Junior year to utilize the summer for GPA advancement. Nobody can derail her from her studies and she also makes wise choices based on judgement and guidance. There’s a kind of balance and all roundedness in her personality. Both of them have in-house teachers Prachiti Vahini for Hitarth and Ashutosh for Saanvi.

Flamboyant:

Shreeya is a party person , she likes to travel , eat good food, plan ahead and still do well in her studies. She doesn’t need any guidance and can pretty much manage things on her own. Also she loves getting her way. She is bossy but in a sweet way. I see the same qualities in Aarohi fierce, independent and controlling through sweet talk, negotiation or persuasion. Shreeya adores Aarohi and often talks about how street smart she is even as a 5th grader. Aarohi participates and wins most of the competitions, a born winner. They have colorful personalities and with their charm and synchronicities they impart magical realism to the people around them.

Dreamy:

World is dreamy in the eyes of Arya and Haley. They are still young , tender and fragile. Arya has almost this fierce diva look with eyelashes , makeup, blush and highlighted hair but inside she is still broken, healing , teary wounded with so much pressure , expectations and responsibilities. When I saw Haley for the first time , I saw the same dreaminess , mischief and love for Barbies which Arya possessed. Haley is just a kindergartner but her way of expression , her smile, graciousness is so delightful that I find many commonalities between Arya and Haley. They are like the pristine goddesses who create their own rules not too much worried about time as if in a cocoon that is so warm and unbreakable.

Colorful:

Namita has a colorful personality. She loves brands, travel, good food and adventures. She has the FOMO of missing out and likes to participate in most of the events. Her enthusiasm , love for marathons, a big friend circle , work, kids keeps her on her toes but she is good at juggling responsibilities with poise. She has bigger dreams and is very progressive in her demeanor. She is workaholic and loves to see produce in her garden by employing her household members. Namita is good in delegation and her forte is executive. Neha is enterprising , diligent and resourceful. She is a good cook and knows exactly what she wants. Her speed of doing things is commendable and her practicality of finding good deals makes her an efficient go to person. The one thing strikingly common in both of them is they make the people around them more efficient 😛 Jokes apart if I accidentally hurt anyone with my rambling please ignore, sometimes I can be a shadow writer with a nasty sense of humor.