The Snapshots

In the past three years, all of us have gone on to create a new set of memories with a new set of friends. Some of us have continued to be friends with each other, while some have lost touch. I don’t want to hold on to my friends, but I will hold on to the memories. I won’t let go. I don’t want to live in the past, but I do want to cherish certain warm moments.

For those of us, who have not been able to nurture our relationship, I am positive our paths will cross. I want to take this opportunity to apologize for anything I might have done or said to upset you. I hope that when we meet, we can each bring an affectionate smile for the other on our faces.

I recently read somewhere that all of us experience certain moments in our lives that remain frozen in our memory forever. I just realized how true that is.

Aks: 1) You and I went to buy Rash’s birthday gift to GK. The cab ride to Kalkaji, the auto ride to GK, the burger at Mac Donald’s, and then getting totally soaked in the rain. Waiting at length for an auto to agree to let us board. When we reached office, people stared coz there was absolutely no rain in Okhla!!! You and I were the only ones who were soaking wet. :D

2) Minerva balcony, it was late evening. There was very little light in the balcony. You and I just sat dreaming with open eyes about all four of us staying together. I just kept my head on your shoulders. And we yakked and yakked and yakked. Aks, thanks for my KODAK moment, also one of my “breathless” moments, Ash knows about it. I’ll tell you guys about it some time. Sweetheart, I am really proud of you for having realized your dream.

Ash: Each of the times you have called me “paaji” and I have called you “baby” and “Ashu.” Love you baby. The first time I baked a cake for Rash’s birthday, you just came and hugged me and said “it was so tasty paaji. Mere liye cake kab banaoge?” i haven’t baked a cake for you exclusively yet. but I will.

Ayush: 1) kyabolu tujhe. Tu ekdam pagal hai. At seed, you kept on poking fun at yourself. I asked you one night why you were so critical of yourself and you confided in me about everything. It felt great that you could trust me. I remember every word that you spoke bhai. Thanks for saying that I am your sister.

Neha: Chauki dhaani. That one day you taught me to let go of my inhibitions and just be myself. Every moment spent dancing in the rain with the folk dancers, in that keechad, taking pictures on the machaan is so fresh that I can touch it.

Rash: J love you lots honey. One moment…and I remember what you wore...the white khadi kurta I picked up from GK. On our way back from jaipur, you just looked at me with all the gussa that I can imagine in your eyes, yet all the love that I have ever heard in any one’s voice, you said “aur mere saath to tu baithi bhi nahi.” I just got up and sat beside you. This snapshot makes me feel precious.

Saleem: The one snapshot that has me in splits. Of you taking on Moon…I mean honestly, Ididnot think that anybody could give that woman a taste of her own medicine. Except you Saleem. When I saw you argue with Moon about your point of view, the last day when all of us were selected, I was laughing inside at Moon’s plight. You do stand by your principles and for your self respect. I think it’s truly amazing.

Shikha: 1) hahah…I think I have to mention your birthday debacle here…itne pyar se wo cake laaye the :D

2) my Kodak moment with you shikhs was the Virtual Learning presentation that we made. I was shivering. You just looked at me and said “darne se kya hoga. Kar legi”. And I did it. J Like I always say tu meri unpaid psychiatrist hai. Practice mat chodio…abhi patientkailaaj baaki hai.

Guys I know that this may be an overdose of sentimentality. But it was really important for me to share this with you. Happy anniversary once again my happy tree friends (I think our friendship starts from the big fat tree in SEED).

Happy Third Anniversary Sparks

May 31, 2005, SEED, Sainik Farms, Dekhi

It was around nine in the night. I was nervous as hell...I was going to stay away from my family for 2 months for the first time in my life. I had taken up my first proper job. I believed I had to be the dumbest brunette on the block (I had copper colored highlights)…

I finally entered the complex…I was so nervous my heart was jumping inside my body. I had not eaten my dinner properly and my parents had bought me a pizza. I walked past a few people who were sitting together in the cafeteria. I saw everybody smiling and laughing and my heart sank…I asked myself if I would even be able to bring myself to say hello. Some of these people went on to become my dearest friends.

I found myself sitting alone in a room thinking about what I should be doing. A few minutes later, a pretty girl knocked on my door. She had the surliest expression I have ever seen and I was so scared as it is…Now scary woman aka Shikha is my rock star pal…but then...

A few moments later a little girl with a very very squeaky voice (I think we know who we are talking about :P ) entered the room with two other girls. I had already met one of the girls at NIIT during my interview. She had this air of innate confidence that comes from having “been there –done that”. This was Neha. The other girl looked like someone you could not help being friends with. She had wild hair and looked as lost as I thought only I could be :D This was Rash.

Ash received a phone call on her cell from somebody called Ayush. He was asking her if all of us wanted to go downstairs. Everybody said yes. This was the most fun I had had in my life yet.

I was introduced to 5 guys and a girl who sat with them. All these people sat under a huge tree. People had begun poking fun at each other. I would have felt a little out of place but there was rash with her lost expression and big wide eyes. She sat next to me. And I talked nineteen to the dozen only with her. There were Aks, Ayush, Saleem, Arnab, and the girl was Sunaina. Would you believe it, I thought Sunaina and Arnab were siblings!!!! The smiles, the jokes, everything still rings in my ears…I can relive each moment with closed eyes.

This is where all of us met. This is the beginning of a series of memorable moments that I have experienced with each of you. Next post…My Kodak moments with each of you :D