A memory of Neha Limaye (1974–2026), artist, writer and cook. Shared by Sia.

Last year (April 21st, 2025), during my most important and technically challenging semester of architecture school, Mom had just come back from India and hadn’t seen me in a while since I was at school and she was away. I was super busy working on my final project, but she drove 4 hours early in the morning just to come see me, have lunch, and spend a few hours together before driving 4 hours back home that same day. She would really do anything for us, even drive 8 hours in one day just to see me for a little bit. At the time, I was also waiting to hear back about internship offers, and I was really hoping to get a spot at this one firm that I wanted so badly. When Mom got to Syracuse, I helped her park her car outside my apartment, and she came inside carrying sweets from India and food for me, because she was always so thoughtful and never showed up empty-handed. We were standing in the kitchen talking and were just about to head out for lunch when I got a call from the firm offering me an internship spot. The timing was so crazy because it happened literally as soon as she arrived. I genuinely think it was her good luck, and it’s something I’ll always remember whenever I think about that day. That was just who she was. She would do absolutely anything for us. No distance was too far and no effort was too much. If she missed me and had the opportunity to see me, she would always find a way, no matter how busy she was or how far she had to drive. She was always so thoughtful, always thinking about what she could bring me or do for me, and truly the best mom. Even in the middle of such an important and stressful semester, she made the time to come see me and made sure I felt loved. I’ll always be grateful for little moments like this, and I think I’ll always believe she brought me a little good luck that day.

Sia · October 24, 2026 · 📖 Shared for her book