Monday 23 December 2013

Memories Of My Friend



I was in Class V when I first met her. Tamanna was the new girl in our school. She had just shifted from Botswana. Tamanna had joined my School in Class V, though in another Section. However, we travelled together by the same School-bus as even she stayed in the same part of the city as I.

I really cannot recollect the exact time when we met for the first time or how we became friends. Perhaps, our love for Books and Comics, drew us together. Tamanna had a huge collection of Archie Comics while I had (I still have!) an enviable collection of Indian Comics- Volumes of Amar Chitra Katha & Tinkle. We happily shared and exchanged books. In fact, I discovered Archie & his friends thanks to Tamanna.

Courtesy
Later, we realized that we shared many interests- Cartoons, Music- all kinds, Food- everything, Hindi Movies …we even had the same favorite movie-stars- Madhuri Dixit & Aamir Khan! We had collections of their posters! Also, we were philatelists & numismatists i.e. we collected stamps & coins!

I was in Class VI when my first story was published in Tinkle. Tamanna bought a copy of the same magazine for herself!

We used to merrily chat in the bus, always sitting next to one another in the second row and singing songs and cracking silly jokes. We NEVER discussed guys as we had far more important stuff to chat about!

In Class IX, all the students, who wished to take up ‘Sanskrit’ as their subject for Class X Board Exam, were put in one Section. That’s how Tamanna & I were finally in the same classroom. Now we got to spend more time together. Our conversations spilled over even to the after-school hours. Once, my Mom asked, “What do you girls have so much to discuss that so many hours at school and bus aren’t even enough?!” You won’t believe, one day, when I was at her home and I was dialing my home, I was not getting the connection. When Tamanna stepped in to help, she pointed out the reason. I was actually dialing her telephone number instead of mine as I was so used to dialing her number all the time!!!

Just after Class X Board Exams, Mom enrolled me for the Bakery Summer-Course at the Institute of Hotel Management. As Tamanna was also interested, she too joined. We had to break a lot of eggs to bake cakes! When Tamanna broke the eggs, the egg-shells would fall into the container and we would have to fish them out! However, I was good at breaking the eggs in such a fashion that there were two equal halves of the shells! Even now when I break eggs, I remember Tamanna! Once Tamanna used 11 & ½ tspns of Baking Powder to bake a Cake, instead of 1 & ½ tspns that the recipe demanded. The result is anyone’s guess!!!
 
After we watched the Blockbuster, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (HAHK), I shared my views with her. A month later, she excitedly called me up saying the latest Filmfare had my review of HAHK as the Best-Review! It seems while reading the same, she remembered that it was I who had shared those points with her! When she checked the writer’s name, she was overjoyed to see that it was indeed her friend!

We joined the same College. I used to travel by my Bajaj Sunny while she took her Kinetic Honda. One day, another friend, Snigdha asked for a lift back home. Though Snigdha’s home was away from our travel-route, Tamanna agreed to drop her. I never encouraged pillion-riding, but Tamanna was capable enough to do so. I followed Tamanna and she dropped Snigdha. I was a slow and safe driver. On our way back, I was surprised to not find Tamanna or her vehicle anywhere on the road. I always knew Tamanna loved speed, but where had she disappeared? There were three roads at that intersection in front of the Governor’s House. Had she taken the left, the straight or the right turn? Then, a shocking sight greeted me. She had met with an accident and was lying on the road. Three people were already there helping her. I’ll never forgive myself for the silliest thing I have ever done in my life. Instead of staying by her side, I went to Snigdha’s home that was near to get help. Her father wasn’t at home and Snigdha didn’t answer my calls. Then, I returned to the site only to find that Tamanna was no longer there. The passers-by informed that her mother had come and taken her away. I felt very terrible about my stupidity and apologized to Tamanna and Aunty later. Aunty agreed that I should have been on the spot rather than try to get help from elsewhere. I still consider this as one of the silliest things I have done in my life. Even nice people can commit not-so-nice crimes like this, yet be forgiven and still loved by nice friends! Love is when we are loved in spite of our flaws. Friendship accepts us the way we are.

http://www.wallpaperswala.com/wp-content/gallery/best-friends/best_friends_for_girls.jpg
In College, Tamanna & I made a great Team! We even secured the highest marks in a Music-Quiz and won the Inter-College Antakshari Contest too. We won one Salwar-Suit as a prize for that! I can never figure out what the organizers had in mind by gifting us just one Salwar-Suit!!! Tamanna wanted that we gift it to my sister! But, I would have nothing of it. I actually went to that shop and asked them to replace it. In exchange, I picked 2 T-shirts- 1 Red & 1 Yellow- 1 for her & 1 for me! Then, I asked her to choose which one she wanted. She, in turn, asked me the same! As usual, we indulged in- 'Pehle Aap! (First You!)'

Many more mad things we have done,
We have shared some food & fun!
We have been great friends rare!
Even now the special love is there!

Just like Dove Cream Beauty Bathing Bar replenishes our skin’s lost moisture each time we use it, memories of my friend springs to life precious special moments of togetherness.

Friendship’s secrets are like Beauty’s Dirty Little Secrets – Better to clear the air & expose the truth.

Friendship’s tips are like Easy Tips For Radiant Skin – Better spread the radiance!

Friendship’s tests are like the Dove Face Test where we Feel the difference with Dove! – Better discover the beautiful difference & the love!

Friendship’s care is like Healthy Skin care regime – Better care based on the ‘type’ or requirement.  




48 comments:

  1. Beautifully written, Anita. All the best for the contest.

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    1. Thank you so much, Kiran :) Delighted you liked it!

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  2. Wow wonderful! Friendship makes even simple moments worth recalling, doesn't it?

    Great post! All the best for the contest :)

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    1. Surely, Nabanita :) Great that Dove & IB gave us a chance to do precisely this :)
      Thanks for your appreciation & wish. Best wishes to you too :)

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  3. Very cute post Anita..The pics made me Awwww! ATB dear :)

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    1. Thanks Bushra :) Great you liked it! Best wishes to you too, dear :)

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  4. A cute little stoty, told so convincingly that it was difficult to judge whether it was a story or real. My appreciations.

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    1. Thanks Saket for your appreciation! Touched by your comment. It's a 100% real story :)

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  5. Aw! Such a beautiful post! And so nicely put. The dove reference at the end is great!
    You might end up winning :D

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    1. Thanks Bhavya! Delighted you liked it :) Hope the judges share your view :D

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  6. So touching post Anita.
    Truely... Best friends that we have are those, we made during childhood :)

    http://cerebralrendezvous.blogspot.in/2013/12/days-with-poona-my-first-ever-friend.html

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    1. Thanks Priyanka :) Blessed to have friends.
      Best wishes to you for the contest :)

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  7. Nostalgic moments of good old days Anita. You both make a great pair!
    All the best and wish you a Happy New Year Anita :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Uma :) Lovely wish!
      Best wishes to you too :)

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  8. You never discussed guys :O
    But we used to discuss are nasty boys who were are classmates :|
    Love the bond you share with Tamanna :)
    Lovely post dear ..ATB for contest :)

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    1. Sounds strange, but is true :) Thanks Nisa, for the appreciation :)
      Best wishes to you too, dear :)

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  9. those were the days... sigh..! beautiful post Anita.. :)
    all the best.. :)

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    1. Thanks Meera :) Delighted you liked it!
      Best wishes to you too, dear!

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  10. Nice post Anita..enjoyed it a lot with big smile 11 and 1/2 tsp of baking powder !!! haha..

    Best of luck ..:-)

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    1. Thanks Maniparna :) Yes, the extra baking powder takes the cake, sorry, spoilt the cake!!! :)
      Delighted that you smiled & enjoyed! :) Keep smiling! All the best to you too :)

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  11. The best is that I actually want to know more :D
    That's how you draw readers close and create a trance...this entry, my friend, is refreshingly different. Keep it up!

    Regards
    Sammya

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    1. Thanks Sammya :) Feel blessed to receive such support, inspiration & motivation! Cheers!

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  12. How neatly you have described this beautiful friendship bond that you share between you and your childhood friend, Tamanna. Well written, Anita. All the best for the contest :)

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    1. Thanks Bharati for your wish & for sharing such a sweet message :) Delighted you liked it! :)

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  13. Lovely sweet read.
    All the best Anita!

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    1. Thanks for your sweet message & wish, Indrani :)

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  14. Very Nice Post!!! All the best for the contest

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    1. Thanks a lot Aditya :) Best wishes to you too!

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  15. Really enjoyed reading anita... Tamanna seems like a really special person :)

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    1. Thanks a lot Canary for stopping by & reading :) Great that you enjoyed it.
      Yes, Tamanna is a really special person :)

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  16. nice post! Merry Christmas, I have nominated you for the versatile blogger award, check http://aayesha1611.blogspot.in/2013/12/versatile-blogger-award-yay.html

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    1. Thanks a lot Aayesha :) Merry Christmas! First, Congrats to you for the Award!
      Honored to receive the Award from you! Yaay! Need some time to claim it though:)

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  17. Beautifully post Anita, and the beautiful pointers at the end - they are linking icing on the cake. :)

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    1. Thanks a lot Ragini :) Delighted it appealed to you :)

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  18. You know this contest is giving room for some very beautiful posts. Yours was heartwarming :)

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    1. I am so glad! After all, variety is the spice of life :) Seriously, I loved this contest as it gave us a scope to express our memories & remember our friends :)
      Thanks for the appreciation :)

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  19. Who wouldn't want a friend like her? Well books was the best start. Beautiful recollection of 90s, Anita. :)

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    1. Thanks a lot, Saru :) Books are truly everyone's best friends that make us earn our best-friends too! :) Glad you liked!

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  20. Very nice post! Rememberin our best friend n times shared has been exciting! Ur post is filled with happy n not-so-happy times....do keep writing more! :)

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    1. Thanks Amrita! Means a lot :)
      Yes, you have the right observation- my Post has both Happy + Sad times - Ups & Downs...
      Some Smiles & Frowns - Just like friendship & life :)

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  21. Dearest Anita,

    this is one of the sweetest gifts I have and will ever receive. It was so nice reading the blog and all the fun memories we have shared together. I think of you often too..about how sincere, talented and genuine you are.

    A few additional memories from my end..celebrating one of rinky's birthday and all the games we organized, a party that aunty uncle threw at swosti hotel for your sister (her book of poems) and how I felt we both were really close, so many hours and hours spent at your place listening to the latest tapes and looking through the latest magazines..and remember that target competition?..where we had to hunt for so many clues..I vaguely remember the questions but I do remember how important it was to us at one point..and all the competition you used to enter and would inspire me to enter and last but not the least how proud I was to see you on the cover of CSR.

    I really hope you are living the life you always imagined you would. I wish that many of your professional and personal dreams get fulfilled and I am there to clap for you.

    love always,
    Tamanna

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    1. Dear Tamanna,
      It's wonderful to hear from you.
      I have tears in my eyes reading this...

      Such lovely memories.Time was short & I do have so much more to share.
      Our relation cannot b confined to just few words/lines:)
      Did U see the nice things everyone has written for you?! ;) I love all the fond memories you have shared here!

      Thanks for all the wishes! I do hope you have attained your dreams too!
      New Year greetings to you & your family! Bestest wishes for you as hamesha!

      Lots of love,
      Anita

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  22. Glad that you and Tamanna are still in touch (Read her sweet comment) :) It was a heart warming post. All the best for the contest.

    P.S. Your comment gave me the good news! I was blissfully unaware before :D

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    1. Thanks Khushboo :)
      Congrats to you for winning the Immune India Contest :)
      Always great to be the harbinger of great news :)

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  23. Thanks for sharing very useful.

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Your words mean a lot to me.

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