Life is the best teacher

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The happiness on her face knows no bounds when she is with her two-year-old twins, Ishaan and Isabella. “Having children is the best thing ever,” she gushes. “Life does not get better than this,” she goes on. Ramona Narang Rodella has been married before too, but didn’t have children. “I always wanted them, but I guess things only happen at the right time,” she adds.

I first met Ramona when she was married to Jaideep Garware. She came to visit me on the birth of my daughter and we got along instantly. Many good times and memorable evenings followed.
Always a lady of leisure, I had never seen Ramona work except at her father’s company for short stints at a time. She never appeared to me as the working type. What I see today though, is another Ramona, who recently launched her own designer label. At first, I did not take her seriously, but that was only till I saw her work. I was truly impressed and placed several orders instantly. Now, her little boutique that houses both a resort line as well as cocktail red carpet wear is a delight which I simply love.
Recently, she was in the news when both Ameesha Patel and Bipasha Basu ended up wearing the same dress that was designed by her. While she had created it for Ameesha to wear at the IIFA Awards, Bipasha was to wear the creation in one of her films. Ramona did not expect or intend for both of them to wear it in the same event together. “I don’t like scandals and I would never do it to clients,” she says matter-of-factly. As a rule, Ramona tries to be careful to not sell the same dress or design to women who may otherwise bump into each other.
Ramona has seen the ups-and-downs of life and is candid about her experiences that helped her learn. “Friends are forever. All of us go through our time in the sun and darkness, but good friends stand by you, regardless,” she expounds.
Although exposed to the grind of this society from a young age, she shrugs it off and says, “It’s great and healthy to be part of a society but you can’t get sucked into it. At some stage, haven’t we all been victims of that?” We both laugh.
We then go on to talk about our dreams and reality. “When I was growing up, my parents were overprotective about me. You start to dream about things in a certain way and marriage is part of that dream. But when reality hits, it is harsh. Parents should be protective, but shouldn’t overdo it,” she asserts, even as in the next moment, she ironically turns paranoid about what her children just put in their mouths. She had, in fact, just finished complaining about how kids in their nursery school had all sorts of viruses and so she had decided to keep her kids home. “Easier said than done, Ramona darling,” I teased.
Ramona is finally happy in her world with her husband Bruno, her babies and her work. “When I look back, I wish I had been smarter and not so impulsive with decisions. I guess it’s all a part of growing up. You live and learn. I love my life today. Motherhood has changed my meaning of sensitivity, patience, responsibility and brought colour to my life,” she says.
And the world? “I do know that what goes around comes around, and it pays to hold your head high but yet understand the meaning of humility — whatever the situation,” she finishes.