Happy Friendship Day. Everyday!

Wow! It’s that day of the year again when we let our friends know just how much they mean to us! It’s that special day when we celebrate friendship. Ages ago, such a concept did not even exist. We made friends, stuck around together and that was sufficient to let our friends know that we valued them immensely. But, new concepts are bound to make a global trip, the friendship day concept popped into India as well bringing in a unique way of appreciating friends not to mention the gifts, the cards, the friendship bands and the like!

Leaving aside the idea of ‘friendship day’ tell me, doesn’t it feel good to have a friend, a confidant who shares your little joys and sorrows, however monotonous and boring, imagined or overrated? Many a time, I have found myself rattling away my problem to a friend only to discover much later that I had forgotten to ask about the problem that my friend had mentioned some days back. I have even rung back sheepishly only to be told, “What’s all that formality about man? When you were speaking to me, you didn’t even realize that I found a solution to my problem.” Now, that’s a real friend!

Of course, people’s idea or definition of a friend differs. For some it could be a huge bunch of people enjoying, sharing, teasing or going out together. For some, just a small group of friends will do with whom they hang out. There are still others who are content with a friend or two, guarding their privacy like hell. I remember way back, sorting out people as far as relationships were concerned, something my friends will vouch for even today! Just as not all could be strangers, not all could be friends either. Of course, a smile was ever ready for anyone who cared to acknowledge your presence. So, there were acquaintances – people who you met occasionally – the ‘Hi!’ ‘Bye’ kind. Then, there were the close acquaintances –the kind who you met frequently and who shared their views with you as you did with them at times. That’s about it. Then there were friends, persons with whom you had a wale of a time, with whom you could chat away but even with these your closest secrets remained just that – secret! Finally, there were close friends, your soul mates so to say with whom nothing was hidden, not school, not college, not work, not family. They advised you and you advised them. You had no self defenses before them. They just let you be YOU! They were God’s gift to you!

Sometimes I wonder. Do we need a special day just for friends? Don’t we show them that they are an important part of our lives every other day? But, do we? Sometimes, the ravages of time take you far away from the very friends who you considered close to your heart. So, I suppose a day to celebrate friendship, to let your friend know that he/she is not taken for granted becomes a convenient modern day requirement – more of a priority reminder!

Here’s a special  something for that special relationship called friendship.

Friendship –
no small thing.
A journey of little joys
on many a bumpy road
definitely not in an expensive Ford!
Just walks along the beaten path
sometimes hurried to reach a place,
sometimes at a leisurely pace.
Strolling on a rainbow across the sky
spreading our wings, ready to fly.
Distance and time just temporary barriers,
not a hindrant to pursue a friendship
blessed by the Power Above to survive
through the maze called life.

Walking hand in hand
for long can take a toll
on any relationship, blood related or not
but, not this one
as two friends enrich their lives
sharing emotions and reflections,
talking, chatting, arguing and loving.
The little fancies of teenage life
floating on a cloud sometimes,
landing on the ground with a thud at times
maturing jnto an association
that spreads across time
ready to take on the world
with just trust in hand.

I wonder, as each day strengthens our bond,
‘Is it some magic wand
that brought us together?’
‘Or, some previous incarnation connection?’
I know not,
I only savor our faith in each other
just as you do, I know.
I treasure
the beautiful threads of love
that bind us with tender joy
like a surprise gift wrapped
with a sprinkling of stars
to brighten the path ahead.
God Bless You, Dear Friend

Just wishing that all of us sail in the boat of friendship with positive and genuine friends and do not permit the waves of indifference and circumstance to ever let the boat of friendship drown.

Happy Friendship Day!