Thursday, February 17, 2011

Friends

I was thinking about my friends. They belong to many categories – close, forgotten, social, casual, networking and what not! Each time think about my friends, I remember one of my childhood friends – Deepa R Nair. I don’t know where she is now. She had to leave our school while we were still in our primary classes as she had tragically lost both her parents and had to go and live with her relations… I still remember her vividly... A bespectacled girl with curly hair! Whenever I think about friends, I always remember her as my first ever friend though I don’t recall why we bonded well... And I still miss her even after almost a life time.
There were many others who made my school life worthwhile by enriching my life in their own special ways. But, most of them drifted away in the race of life. Many, despite the technology and the advent Orkut and Facebook, simply vanished out of sight, but remained in the corner of my heart along with the beautiful student days.
Along came college and a gang of pals. Roommate friends, classmate friends, Christmas friends, senior friends etc etc…It was a different ball game altogether. Some I found easy to be with, some not so easy. Some, I realized only later in life, were gems and I rue the lost opportunity in knowing them better. As naïve as I could be, I repelled some wonderful people with my own shortsightedness.
Then came another college and another set of friends. I recall that they were the essence of my life then. They’ve augmented my life in ways beyond words. A couple of them shall remain best friends for me in spite of everything. They have touched my life in a special way that no one else ever had. Life would have been different and poorer had they not been there.
Friends at workplace proved to be something else. I found out that selfishness and advancement in career were the driving force there. So, in the end there were no real friendships. Only a make believe one!
Right now, I have many friends in the friends list of the social networking sites. But how many of them think about me when they think about their friends? I don’t know… And the other set of people I met recently does not fit into the tag of friends. Like most of the network friends they are mere acquaintances. They are there, drop in a line or two at times and then forget you…
And in spite of all these, the term friend brings with it certain warmth that engulfs me in it and keeps me spirited. Though they might not be aware of it, my friends inspire me and keep me going, as only friends can!!!
PS: I have avoided taking names other than that of Deepa. I have taken her name in the hope that someday she'll come across her name and I can find her...

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