Down the memory lane......

One of the travails and tribulations of growing up as homo sapiens is keeping track of the innumerable email ids. I have progressed to different email providers over the years and as a result, keeping track of my older emails is a herculean task. There have been instances where I've forgotten that I had an email on a particular account and I open my email to belatedly realize a ton of messages from friends. From the lack of my replies, I am sure that they must be of the impression that 1. I am too busy to reply (which is not the case since I can spare time for all my good friends), 2. I no longer consider them my friends (I have few friends I consider close and not keeping in touch with them is not an option :-)..)

Today was one such occasion when I had a lot of time on my hands (read.... I was prevaricating). I opened my one of my less frequently checked email-accounts and found a ton of junk mail. Nothing new. As I dug further, I came across a few exchanges among a couple of my friends. Precious gold nuggets. As I opened and read each of them, a sense of wonder filled me and a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. Some serious, some humorous, some lamenting, some cheerful, some even cribbing, but every single email had a strong current of humor and genuineness running through it (wow.... I must have been an electrical engineer hoda janma to think of such a beautiful analogy :P).  Was this gregarious individual truly me? 

As to the people who mailed me, these included close friends from work, from childhood, from blog and even from my bus! These were people who stood witness to my most happiest and depressing moments, and spared some time to reach out to me....to let me know that I was not alone. Now I have their emails - some inspiring words, some memorable photos - as fond memories as the time I was relatively younger, relatively happier and relatively care-free. 

Now, I have all the tools of modern times to help me keep in touch with my friends. A FB account. A smartphone. Skype/Google+ chat. The only difference is that the familiar friends are missing, having been caught up with life, work and family (not necessarily in that order). Do I miss them? Hell yeah! But, there's someone I miss more - moi. 

Apologies......

........to all my friends who have been mailing, calling, writing and in general, keeping in touch. “I have been busy” is too less of a profound statement to declare. Phone conversations have been short and stilted. And, I have been too busy to read mails let alone reply to them. So much for liking long mails :-| !


So, Monsieurs and Messieurs, I hereby take this opportunity in thanking (read as revealing my adoration and admiration) to a select group of people who (wonder of wonders) like me, and whom (wonder of wonderest) I respect. In random order of importance:


SMV: The one and only. Someone whom I admire but have not found the courage to express it yet. Or perhaps I had taken her for granted to such an extent that I did not feel the need to keep the relationship alive. Ever since I have been working abroad, our relationship has got better. Distance really does make heart grow fonder :-) !


SBA: My pillar. The pillar. One of the mysteries of the world is from where he has the patience to tolerate me. I wonder if he would give a straight answer if I ask him. There was a period during which I has been very angry with him and, as a consequence, had not talked with him for several months. Thankfully, we have now reached a stage in our friendship that we laugh about the spat :-)!


SAs: There are two of them and each, a gem. One of them is older to me by an year, and the other younger by a month. Both are as different as chalk and cheese. But hey, when we meet, we connect as if we have never been away from each other. Words have failed me in thanking the duo who have supported me during my worst phase in life just by listening. No unsolicited words of advice, no suggestions. Just the much needed shoulder(s) to cry on. And with both of them being expectant mothers, I am all set to become an aunt twice over :-)!


NA: A long standing gentleman :-)! And I don't know why I have not fallen in love with him ;-) ! A gem of a person who's always admonished me for being...well... the way I am. And at present, he is all set to take one of the most important decisions in his life. Good luck kaNo !


BD: To say that we worked in the same workplace for nearly two years and never knew each other would be an understatement! A chance introduction, and several cannot-stop-have-to-go meetings later, I can safely say that we have come to the stage of accepting each other the way we are. One of the few people I bug :-) ! And whose company really enjoyed during my trip to Wales. Perhaps that was what brought us close . Destiny, I say.....destiny........


NJ: My batch mate girlfriend. And my lifeline many a times. I have not known her for long- we met through blogs. Literally. And managed to remain in touch. It feels good to read her mails describing her daily activities in detail. Anything, be it shopping or eating, is expressed in way such that I can mentally visualize it. Here’s wishing the lady in Minneapolis luck !


Divs: We hardly keep in touch. But whenever I call her, we can easily continue from where we left off. I still have not figured out how, but we do. One of the most unproblematic friendships, and a near-ideal one.


RS: Member of mutual admiration society…. I hope (at least, I like her). Blogging is common. And her writing is down-to-earth and genuine. Our meeting was a strange coincidence – I would never have dreamt of meeting a fellow-blogger near my workplace! One of the few people I have cried out my woes in spite of knowing for a relatively short period. May her tribe live long :-)!


AM: AA's younger sister. A popular figure. She has this genuineness and innocence-like aura around her that makes you feel as if she is listening to you and not just hearing. The lady’s just back after completing her Masters. Not sure if you would be reading this but here’s wising you the best of luck, kiddo !


A: My much mentioned, much harassed colleague ….by me of course! A mother of two young kids, her enthusiasm is there for all to see. But what struck me was her maturity and ability to tackle tough situations. A source of much-needed inspiration and the best role-model I could choose (oh yeah…. I yum a vaaary choosy lady :-)…). Yo A, meri dost banogi ;-)?


Some people who have endeared themselves to me in a way so genuine that I will continue to like them, even if they don’t. I hope that our relationship continues to survive time.


Yaaron dosti baDi hee haseen hai
Yen na hota kya phir bolo yeh zindagi hai


Sheesh! I am speaking like a sentimental bloke! The work pressure must have gotten to me.


;-)

HuTTu habbada shubhaashayagaLu

She is one of the few people to have impressed me...and the impression has lasted....

She has known me most of my college plus life.

She has been the one to instill confidence in me for several things starting from riding a bicycle on the main road.

She has been partly responsible for one of the most unexpected events in my life....and a turning point.

She is one of the classiest ladies I have known....

Smart, intelligent and good-looking, she has everything which a lady would aspire for.

Ten years is a long time. And our friendship has endured a little over that period. Who has tolerated whom....well, that’s a million-dollar question :-)!

With the passing years, I have watched her undergo a metamorphosis from a teenager, into a woman and finally a wife.

And exactly four days after today, she would be taking the final step in completing her Masters. What better way to celebrate one’s quarter century of existence?

AA, here’s wishing you a very happy birthday :)! Cheers......and loads of luck for the future yet to come......