john, thank you for sharing such a personal part of your life with all of us....your story is very touching indeed and i think it was a good idea to accept her offer of bhai tika. there is nothing stronger than a connection between two people. it's just unfortunate that it worked out the way it did.... and i would like to add my two paisa....i have no sisters of my own. and while you were an outsider to neema and that community, i was an outsider to everyone in my village....but now i can say, with complete honesty, that i have about 100 wonderful bahinis in palpa....not that i accepted bhai tika from all of them, but i grew to love them like my sisters. and now, when i receive letters from them, they write "namaste sir and dai...." and then "love your student and bahini...." my heart breaks every time. yes, relationships do sometimes just happen....but they happen as a result of a mutual connection that we cultivate over time and through shared experiences. i am sorry that neema's family and the community was so misunderstanding regarding the relationship the two of you shared....but, in some ways, that's nepal for you....hoina ra? ruina, i also enjoyed reading your post. thanks for sharing that as well! ahile ta, sathi banayera, bhok lagdaina hola.... (;-D) ani indi ko kura pani ekdam thik ho! "It's weird how some people have some weird unexplainable warmth that touches you....I know love like happiness grows more when shared." so true....