The day almost ended. So it has come and gone.... Another Friendship Day. But was I supposed to make some extra effort on my part to make it special, unlike other days, I wonder! Then, I'm sorry I didn't. Oops, maybe I shouldn't exist after this day for not being a proper-and-active part of the new era!
And that makes me wonder if Friendship Day of the current era is limited to a couple of lines to drive home friendly wishes (loud and clear) to loved/ dear/ dahling friends, and acknowledgments/ likes/ same-to-you-toos on popular social networking sites, SMS exchanges, and a few calls from my own close friends wishing me 'A Very Happy Friendship Day' (which, by the way, slipped out of my mind completely)...
Just when I was wondering about all this, a whiff of fresh air brought in fond memories of SR, a very very close childhood friend of mine. Now what do I say about her... except that she has seen me in my teen years, and shared all my secrets and insecurities, joys and sorrows, has grown with me during the three years in Indo-English High School where we studied Std. VII to Std. IX together.
She was privy to all important information of my teen life like my first crush on my classmate - a tall, dark Muslim boy who used to remind me so much of Azharuddin; the next one on my senior for whom I would wait near the school gate and all he ever did was lift his eyes and just give me a shy smile before cycling away. Oh yes, my crush on my Maths teacher in ninth class never caught her unawares. Only recently did I get to know (from SR herself of course) that I had a contender in another classmate (who was fairer and taller than I) for the same teacher's attention... :) And yes, SR even knew about my first love. She was my first Best Friend for all purposes.
But then, like all good things that come to an abrupt end, our blossoming friendship had to discontinue because of dad's transfer to another city. We used to write letters once a while for a few months but new surroundings, new friends, ensuing new college environment, and then the additional burden of semi-adulthood did come between us. But we did meet a couple of times, after dad's transfer back to Hyderabad three years later, and exchanged information on what we're doing currently. And then, that was it. We lost touch completely. I guess I never really forgot my best friend but I had many other friends too... and I sometimes used to think about her and wonder where have I lost her and how do I find her in this big bad world...
I guess my attempts to trace her were never adequate. SR beat me to it too - like she used to in good ol' days with her logical analyses. Here I must admit that I somehow was reckless and never really tried to look her up and connect with her on any social networking site though I was active on a few for the past few years. But she never gave up on me. She kept relentlessly trying to trace me eversince we lost touch some two decades ago - though the only details she had of me were my name (the spelling of which changed later), maiden surname (which changed after my marriage), my father's name and work info. That's about it. And still she pursued it - using the most modern technology... the powerful medium called Internet.
I never really understood the power of the Internet till I received an email recently, forwarded by a cousin late one evening. Like most non-techies, I took the Net for granted and kind of (ab)used it just to socialize with friends, and to keep tabs on others' lives. Disgusting? Yeah, you bet! But my respect for people who're behind the IT revolution grew many-fold when I received the best email forward that put me on cloud nine.
It was from SR. All the crucial information which she thought would help her didn't do her any good. Then she made her final move... instead of trying to find me, she traced a couple of my cousins (thanks to the celebrity writer status of my maternal uncle) and sent them emails introducing herself and asking for my details. Both my good samaritan cousins promptly forwarded her email to me. My smart younger cousin even sent me her FB profile. Thanks to them, and thanks to my friend's perseverance, energy, and dedication, we got back in touch again.
And our re-union in Hyderabad during this summer vacation was one of the sweetest memories that I'll cherish forever, and carry with me to my grave. So, Mr. Charles Babbage, I thank thee from the bottom of my heart!
For you SR, I have just these three simple, little words - love you hamesha! And on this Friendship Day, I dedicate this post to you, your amazing personality, and your truly undaunted spirit !!
