The tiny tot, who, after entering school, at the age of two and half years, had discovered that there was a world beyond the home and people outside of family members. In school, she found more of her own ilk. Her joy knew no bounds as she started connecting with them. Over a period of time, as the bonds grew, she wanted a diary. And that diary became her most prized possession. She guarded it zealously. In it she would, in her own hand, jot down names and numbers of the children with whom she had started forging a bond. And then one day, in a fit of fury, she scratched out a name and number, only to rewrite it after a few days. As time passed, as she added years to her life, she realised that friendship is a lifelong undertaking, a commitment, and it cannot be culminated by a random argument or a disagreement. The ‘deleting’ of names always brought on a smile.

 

“Wasn’t I being petty?” she’d often quip, while reminiscing over the incident, which at that point in her life, were very frequent. Petty or otherwise, the bond that she has with the group of people who find a place in her diary - still with her - thirty years after she first jotted down Prathamesh’s name, has withstood the ups and downs that life doles out. Her friends are her lifelines - her ‘4 am go to people’ - who have made a pact to catch up once every two years. And when they meet, it’s as if they haven’t been away from each other even for a day. This is what it means when we say ‘true friends are never apart - maybe in distance, but never in heart.’ Reams and reams have been written about the power of friendship, songs dedicated to close friends, and innumerable surveys have revealed ‘happiness is spending time with a close friend.’ In times of crisis, to find a remedy for problems bogging us down, invariably we turn to a friend - for support, for we know that a good friend will never be judgmental.

 

Outside of the family, we all need somebody to lean on - and that somebody can’t be anybody but a friend who understands you. I believe that the friendships formed during school times is the strongest. For this is a bond that has been formed without taking into account any caste, class, colour, creed, religion or financial status. Friends who come into our lives during our student years - school and college - are the ones who find a place in our lives, forever and ever. As we mature, lots of other things come into play when we start connecting with people and start including them into ‘friend circle.’ But there can always be exception to the rule.

 

And sometimes the friendships formed in adulthood can also be strong and solid. However, the process always has to be two-way. And one must never ever say to a true friend - “I don’t have time for you.” At the end of the day everybody’s Dil Chahta Hai - Hum Na Rahein Kabhi Yaron Ke Bin. Three cheers to this special bond in our lives! Happy Friendship Day.