Neeti Kaikini, our Nightingale

Neeti Kaikini

As I’d mentioned before, Neeti’s inclusion in Team Miracle was truly a miracle. A former colleague of Amitabh, she just happened to hear that he was rehearsing for a music program to cheer up patients at the Cancer Ward in Command Hospital.

“Would you mind if I joined in,” she popped the question.

Mind? We were delighted because that is exactly what we needed! And when Neeti regaled us with one Golden Oldie after the other, we knew we had struck gold. Neeti can sing in any voice – Lata, Asha Bhonsle, Geeta Dutt…and even Sunidhi Chauhan’s sexy ‘Kaisi paheli zindagani’. In fact, she’s particularly good with what we laughingly call drunken songs – Aao huzoor tumko, Aaiye meherbaan, Raat akeli hai  …and all the rest.

We love her feisty smiling face, her untiring enthu. Neeti is not just a great singer …she’s a general do-gooder. She left her hot-shot corporate job a few years ago to have a more meaningful life. She volunteers regular teaching time with kids at Akanksha. On Saturdays, she’s set herself another goal. On these days, you’ll find Neeti in her kitchen, cooking up a lunch, packing it and then distributing it amongst beggars in her locality.

And why did she volunteer to sing at the Command Hospital? Both her parents are cancer survivors…and her father being a retired Army officer, they were both treated at the Command Hospital. This was Neeti’s way of giving back!