I am arshdeep from ludhiana punjab a tourism and hospitality...
I am arshdeep from ludhiana punjab a tourism and hospitality professional in industry in last 13 years and on airbnb last 7 y...
Note - This post is written from the perspective of an Airbnb guest.
It was meant to be just a two-day stay at our Airbnb accommodation in Kandy (Sri Lanka) with most of that time spent outdoors exploring the region. We were on our honeymoon and Kandy was just a short stopover during the extended trip. The host’s profile seemed to indicate that the couple was homely and quite friendly.
Not that it mattered. We would barely interact with them...or so we thought.
Nothing prepared us for the love and warmth that emanated from Sujatha and Roney - from the minute we met them until the final goodbyes; from setting up our bedroom with flowers and balloons to feeding us sumptuous meals as if we were a part of their family.
On Day Two we had an early morning start at 3:00 a.m. but Roney was up and packed us a lovely meal to take along for the day trip. What was meant to be a quick stopover in Kandy ended up being a wonderful two days of warmth and companionship with two of the most wonderful people we have had the privilege to meet. Sujatha and Roney touched our hearts with their unconditional love and their tremendous capacity to give.
We arrived as complete strangers but ended up becoming friends for life.
We stayed in touch with the couple occasionally, and we would call them up from time to time updating them about our lives: our move to Australia, the birth of our two kids, our struggles, and our success as migrants.
The news of Sujatha passing away came to us like a bolt of lightning. I have never felt such a sense of loss for someone we barely knew or with whom we had no family relationship. We had always imagined that someday we would meet the lovely couple from Kandy, although it would take us a few years or even decades perhaps. She may have left us for good. but I will always remember her gentle nature, her comforting smile, and her warm hugs.
So my question is where do such angels go when their journey on earth has ended?
PS: This post is shared with the kind approval of Roney. Sujatha Vyse passed away on 22 August 2020. Roney now spends his time drawing animal sketches full time, something which keeps him going through these difficult times. As you will appreciate from one of his sample drawings attached, he has a keen eye and an artistic flair for drawing.
Sujatha's property listing can be found at - https://www.airbnb.com.au/users/show/3039272
