I can’t tell what is it that holds us, the four of us, together. Maybe nobody can. We’ve lived more than a quarter of a century. We realise that it has been more than 17 years since we know each other. Knowing each other may not be special. What is special is friendship – the indefinable emotion that goes beyond its literal meaning. It can only be experienced. And cherished. Forever.
We remember the days after 10th, when we had all the time and energy (but not money!) in the world to do anything we wished for. We would wait till the afternoon to make plans for our lunch. The mouth watering local food we used to have – the “kappa – chicken” – that taste is still fresh and it will always be. And so are the memories. We used to hang around in my father’s retrofitted Chetak. It was the time when we thought why can’t we youngstas have a little fun. And we did – Youngstafun.
We walked through the path of creating a business and running it. We did PR and advertisement campaigns and contests to take our business reach to the next level. It was a whole lot of fun and of course, learning too. Almost ten years later, it surprises me that we had such good enterprising ideas as 15 year olds. At 29 we are still in the hunt for the dream business idea. Back then, our worlds were smaller, our dreams bigger.
Eventually, we had to shut our first business, as we chose different academic paths after twelfth. There was an unfamiliar discomfort in accepting the fact that our daily meet-ups will change to once in two weeks or more. Then, just like everything else in life, we got used to it. But we never missed the rare occasion, when we four we at homeland, to get together and discuss all that we care about and not.
Portico, Indraprastha, Kochi, Pondy, Wagamon, Raviz, Nihara, Hills, Beaches, Rooftops, Backyards. Naadan, North Indian, Chinese, Arabic and Continental. It was never about the place, food or drinks! It was about the feel of togetherness.
Things have changed a lot. Our timezones, our professions, our outlooks. The undying desire to have the next meet up never did.
This one is for you guys! When’s the next?
