Friendship - Some evergreen memories

12.40 PM on a warm and sunny day in the academic year 1996-97 - Four guys run out of their classes in the first floor of an imposing building onto the huge ground towards a shady tree some 100 meters away. In stainless steel lunch boxes, their mothers have packed lunch, they proceed to open the boxes hurriedly as crows monitor from above perched on the branches of the tree. As they eat, they discuss the maths and geography scores, how the geography teacher skips huge chunks from the text book and lulls the students into deep slumber, how the maths teacher makes sure that each student grasps the concepts...they discuss the fortunes of the Indian cricket team and the latest stationary store that has opened in the vicinity!


Early morning, Year 2001, the 10th standard results have just come out - two friends meet their tuition teacher near the town's lone mosque. She has just cleaned the house front and as she emerges outside, two little cats also come out and perch in their usual spots to see what is going on. The teacher monitors the marks and as is inevitable, she has some pleasant surprises and some crude shocks in store. 


3.55 PM on a pleasantly breezy day, year 2003 - two friends walk out from the school, imitating their maths teacher and singing paeans to the biology teacher's astonishing ability to hold the students in a trance. Their speed increases with every step they take, navigating the busy Shanmugham street to catch the 4.05 local. Once in the train, they look forward to the din and noise, as people thirsty for water and revel in every moment of the motion. As trees and houses rush by, they have no clue where they'll land up in life. Yet, there is no apprehension, only thoughts about the unit test next morning and the girl in the next compartment whose glimpse they'll catch when the train stops next.


12.15 PM, a terribly sunny day, year 2005, at the park near the Golden jubilee block - two guys are seen with their backs to the block, huddled together as they discuss the opinion pages of THE HINDU and compare it with that of the Deccan chronicle. They have neither completed the lab assignment due later in the afternoon nor do they worry about the angry stares they get from the teachers as they step late into the class, making an act of heavy panting for effect. As they walk back from the Veg mess, the sunlight filtering through the lofty branches of the trees alongside the road, catches a beautiful girl and brightens her expression. She is melancholic, but her features do a splendid job at hiding it...


7 PM, marina beach, year 2007 - The last semester is in progress. A group of friends have decided to discuss the weighty aspects of life. But when they start talking, they discuss about each other's crushes and wean out stories of romance and wooing. With a resolve to stay in touch, come what may, they watch the rush of waves teasing the shore, never ceasing and resolute in their ebb and flow. Time flees by and before they realize its too late, they rush back to catch the last of the buses!


Midnight, year 2008 is about to dawn - A group has decided to unwind from work away from the humdrum of the city in faraway Coorg. They dance to the beats of the latest blockbuster 'Jab we Met' even as they thank their stars for being part of a wonderful team that knows how to celebrate successes! The revelry continues well into the new year in the hope that the times can only get better...


7 PM, India Coffee House, Bangalore - Some friends are gathered at this relic from the past relishing the taste of the vegetable cutlet and the bread toast. They discuss mundane things, never once thinking that they are grown-ups now. They come out, click numerous pictures, take a walk on brigade road, ogle at beauties walking by and go their different ways...

It is memories like this, that make life happier, funnier and memorable. Without companions by your side who share your concerns and understand your thoughts and intentions, life is but a drag. With the hope of soaking in many more evergreen memories, I end this post.