DMC Issue 7

Friendship…how far does it sail!

On my ride back home a few evenings ago, when the train door opened and as I was about to get in, I saw this big gang of young college girls squatted in a circle inside the train. What a sight that was! All of them chirping with their high tone voices, laughing and having a great time. As soon as I saw them, even before I could get in, I figured out that there isn’t place to even actually get in. I moved quickly to the next door to get inside. Thankfully I was quick enough because the doors shut within a few seconds. What I did notice was that when I was made to play this ‘catch the next door' game by those young lasses, they all mischievously began giggling as the other passengers too had to get in through other doors. They enjoyed this ‘rasta rokho’ until they got down 4 stops after. This incident reminded me of my college days and my rides in our local buses with classmates and friends. Wow, those days and those experiences with friends are priceless.

This group of girl friends in the train depicted that phase of life which most people in cities around the world experience. Having fun with their group of college friends is an integral part of that special phase of life. The mischief, the friendship, the naughtiness, the loud behavior and all that comes with it. But this incident in the train showed me more than what met the eye. All of them were on the same ‘track’ and the track was towards one direction and it’s just that each one of them or a couple them got down at different stations. Isn’t life EXACTLY as this situation? We are with college friends for so many years of our acquaintance with them and in that period of time we all journey towards the same direction of life, which is; acquiring a good education and achieving a degree, which then helps us in getting a good job. One goal but different destinations. Studying the same course (common track), reaching towards the same goal – degree. However, seldom do all our friends end up together at a common destination. We all study together for a few years, but there is no guarantee that we end up working at common place for another few years. We are all on the same journey, but we choose our individual destinations. And happy are those who are lucky to get an opportunity to work in the same company and be together everyday for a few more years, just like those two girls who got down at a common station and walked back home together.

Happy are those who are blessed with true friends and with lasting friendships! I am glad that I have such friends and also lucky that few among them have remained with me since my childhood!