Pen Pals Finally Meet After 22-Year Relationship

Mala Pandurang said that she feels as if she has grown up in Warsaw even though she never set foot in the United States until May 1.

For 22 years, Mala imagined what Warsaw was like by the pictures painted by Brenda Webb, who really did grow up in Warsaw.

The two women have been pen pals since they were 11-year-old girls signing letters "Your Pen Pal Forever." Mala is currently on a monthlong trip from her home in Bombay, India, to Warsaw to spend time with her "best friend."

"It's been like a jigsaw puzzle coming here," Mala said. "All of the pieces are put together."

Neither Mala nor Brenda could put a figure on the number of letters the two have exchanged in more than two decades, but both said they have saved every one. They estimate that they write to each other at least every other week - "once a week, once a fortnight," Mala said, adding, "but she's better than me ... she doesn't wait for a letter from me before she sends one."

Because of the relationship the two women have nurtured over the years, Mala said that she wanted to come to the United States because it was important to meet Brenda's family. Brenda already had an opportunity to meet Mala's family when she traveled to India in 1994. The two had planned that meeting since they were 18-year-olds.

There are many differences here from Mala's native land, where she teaches English literature at the college level.

For instance, homes in India have no ovens. "If we want something baked, we go and buy it," Mala said.

Mala has been busy trying a variety of American foods, her favorite being warm, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies with a glass of ice cold milk.

Brenda was concerned with what she would offer her friend at meal times because she doesn't eat meat, but Mala has enjoyed trying many vegetables which are new to her, including celery, broccoli and asparagus.

"The nicest part here is the people," Mala said. "Everybody is so friendly." She was pleasantly surprised to learn that family values are strong here - not the stereotypical Americans seen on the few American television shows she sees in Bombay and reads about in newspapers. "I only get to read about bad things," Mala said, citing children doing drugs and committing shootings. She said she has met a lot of good kids since coming to Warsaw.

Mala did get caught up in the "Seinfeld" frenzy and watched several episodes prior to the series finale. "I was here on a historical day," she said.

Her main purpose in coming to visit was to live the American way, rather than running from one tourist attraction to another. She has been living with Brenda, her husband Jeff and son Zach, and experiencing many American ways.

"She got to sit in a hot tub," Brenda said.

"It was a lovely experience," Mala added. "It was great."

She also learned about the changes in seasons. In India, she said, they have two climates - hot and hotter.

"I didn't understand why (Brenda) got so excited about summer coming," Mala said. But she froze the first few days she was here before it started warming up. Now she knows.

She's gone to Glenbrook Mall, the Fort Wayne Zoo and spoken to fifth-graders at Leesburg Elementary School.

She also knows what it means now to find a bargain: she's been garage saling. "It made my heart thump," she said.

But Warsaw and the surrounding areas aren't the only stops on Mala's trip. She and Brenda traveled to San Francisco, Calif., to visit Brenda's grandmother, and took a day trip to Washington, D.C., exploring the various monuments and sites.

"It was very exciting for me because I've only seen these things in pictures," Mala said.

Both women are thankful for the opportunity to get to know each other, both through letters and in person.

The two were matched after Brenda wrote in to "The Big Blue Marble" television show. "We got to know each other very well," she said. "We're a good match."

Now, they've done a little matchmaking of their own, pairing Mala's niece with Brenda's cousin as correspondents.

Mala will take the 22-hour airplane journey back to India today. And with it, she will take a video of her time in America to share with her husband and family members. She also takes with her many memories and, of course, her "Pen Pal Forever."