#52WoG: A Friend #Arundhati

I wont be writing about ‘A Friend 1’ and later ‘A Friend 2’ because I strongly believe that there is no other friend of mine who deserves to be appreciated and shown gratitude for being what he is.  

Dear Sameer,  

I have known you for a decade. You have always been a good friend and PHILOSOPHER! You know why the philosopher is in capitals. We met each other through our blogs. We used to chat online sometimes and once I decided to surprise him on his birthday by calling him. We used to wish each other on birthdays via phone calls and chat about anything under the sun. But its only since the past 4-5 years we have started discussing our joys, sorrows and anger. I have always called you my Instruction Manual. Anytime, I would be technologically challenged I knew he was just a call away.   

We finally met on 27th September, 2012. I remember the date because I met Sunny a day after. Sameer had accompanied me (a bundle of nerves) when I went to meet Sunny. He dropped me at the station and calmed down my frantic thoughts. He has always been a backbone. Be it breakups, family problems, work issues ... I have always seen him ‘listening’ to me. Also, because I rarely let people talk. Hehe! I can’t imagine a world without my support engineer! Hehe! I really want to thank you for the person you are, Sameer! Extremely reliable, caring, straightforward and loving. Be the way you are always! Wishing you all the happiness and love you deserve! Because you really deserve it. I can’t write much because you know I am better at expressing myself while talking than writing. Happy Birthday, Sam! And cheers to a decade and many more.  

Love, 

Your Best Friend ... Aru 

#52WoG: A Friend (1) #Kavya

She wasn’t tall, but the class teacher asked her to be seated in the last bench. Destiny and its wonders! She was the tomboy of the school and I never understood the concept of tomboy, I was of the opinion that she is posh (ok assumed) because she hailed from family that owned one the first and biggest supermarket in Mysore and consumers of that store were the elite class. 

In a classroom of 80, we were the only two girls who chose Sanskrit as our first language; we had to shift classes during the language periods. In the other section, we were strangers in the neighbouring class and often ragged in silly ways. That’s when we got close, entire batch of students opted for tuitions as the Sanskrit teacher resigned in the mid of the academic year. We both didn’t and it was considered foolish. How can one not join tuition classes conducted at home from the same teacher who was our new Sanskrit teacher? Who’d not want the brownie points, well both of us didn’t. 

Our rebellion attitude got us close, I am sure. We are close since 1998, we hardly see each other, not even once a year, nor do we speak daily, I don’t even know if she is on whatsapp, most of the times we end up not even wishing each other on our birthdays but the moment we meet, nothing matters. 

There are 40+ friends from school on my Facebook profile, about whom I know a lot because of the updates they share, her presence on social media is close to nil, but even without conversations there is a bond, that speaks for itself. 

Thank you Neha, for friendship beyond connectivity, boundaries and conversations!

#52WoG: The City You Live In #Arundhati

Mumbai: My heart beats for this city. My Mumbai, My Bombay! It is truly said that Mumbai is a city; Bombay is an emotion. Mumbai, a land of dreams, opportunities, happiness, drama, noise ... one can see every array of emotion in this beautiful city. Bombay, my city. Its hustle bustle, the people, the warmth, I love everything about my city. It is truly a city that never sleeps. Go out for a walk at 2 a.m and you will still see people drinking tea at a tea stall. The beach, the salty smell of the sea, the warmth in the weather is also seen in the people. I have visited other cities and have never been able to get over the life as a Mumbaikar. I start missing the sound of traffic, people, within four days of my trip to any other city. My first introduction to Bombay was Chowpatty. My grandparents (paternal) would stay very close to the beach near Opera House. Evenings were meant for long walks on the beach, making sand castles and eating chaats. A weekend would be spent visiting the aquarium, the museums and gardens full of greenery and slides, swings and see-saws. Every summer vacation, we would visit my maternal grandparents in Pune and within a week I would start grumbling, “Apan Bombay la parat kadhi jaicha?” (When do we go back to Bombay?) As I grew up, started going to college, I was introduced to the daily train travel. The chaotic train timings, crowded trains, fighting to get down at your station and finally huffing and puffing my way to college. Exploring Bombay by visiting different places, monuments, theatres, malls, heritage buildings, beaches, amusement parks, NGOs and slums. I was very upset when we had to write ‘Mumbai’ instead of ‘Bombay’ officially. I felt like the word doesn’t describe the true essence of my city. Truly, Bombay is an emotion! Though it is not an easy city to live in; it is addictive and fascinating! I am very possessive about my city...BOMBAY! My most favourite places in Bombay are Juhu Beach and now the Bandra Worli Sea Link.

Aye dil hai mushkil jeena yahaan... Zaraa hatke zaraa bachke yeh hai Bombay meri jaan...