Heart'n'Soul

CAUTION: This is my longest post as yet so don complain later

When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.

YES YES please do…look at all my friends and judge me…for each one of them is special in his/her own way. And on this note I dedicate this post to the most important people in my life other than my family - MY FRIENDS - Thank you for making me who I am today.

Friendship, as I see it is a relationship that we chose for ourselves, and hence shows who we are. It’s the relationship where we chose to care and share our life with a certain someone, a relationship that is grounded in a concern on the part of each friend for the welfare of the other. It’s a relationship that is undoubtedly central to most of us and our lives.

I also feel that love is far below friendship because it love is a hierarchical relation, one with all the conditions. While friendship is freedom and equality and involves choice and volition. It is something you choose to do; you don’t do it out of a sense of obligation.

I...cuz of all the people I plan to mention in this blog, have learnt that a friend is someone I trust to be with me when I am at my weakest and most vulnerable. And they are the people who, no matter how painful it is to see, are willing to be with me when I am so helpless and weak. You are my friend cuz I can trust my life with you, and vice versa.

Thanks for everything....cuz you are the ones who like me in spite of my faults and tell me the truth. Cuz you are the ones who support my decisions and tell me when I am being foolish. Cuz you laugh with me and share my grief. Cuz you argue with me and stimulate my mind. Cuz you are the ones I am not afraid of telling my secret wishes to or what is really on my mind. Cuz you are all I really need.

Cuz you are my support system. Cuz I can depend on you, feel safe and cared for. Cuz you make me see the silver lining when all I can see is the dark clouds. Cuz you offer me an ear to listen (ok here I am sorry a little cuz I do use the ear a little too much...muah to all of you) and a shoulder to cry on. Cuz you not only offer me emotional support but also acceptance in the real sense of the word. And so, with you I don’t need to compromise.

Kevin - thanks for everything. For as long as I live, you will live in my heart. Can’t possibly think of a childhood memory without you. And every time I was in distress, one hug was all it took, and I knew that no matter how bad the rest of the day could possibly be, that it wouldn't bother me... as I felt so much better already. You will always be in my heart and my mind. Miss you so much.

Neha - My bestest girl friend. Thanks for all the impulsive long drives, shopping trips, movies, chaat trips and guy advice. You are one person who made me truly happy under all circumstances. No matter what I was going through, no matter how stressed I am cuz of studies or work or life, you always make me smile. Here’s wishing you a happy married life and best of luck for mommy hood cuz with me around you are really going to have a spoilt kid to manage...Muah!!!

Nikhil - the best human being I know. You are such an inspiration...so selfless in everything you do, EVERYTHING. My strongest and yet the most silent support. I wouldn’t have been able to hold myself together when dad was in hospital if you were not standing by me...and I wouldn’t be an MBA and where I am today if you din help me sail through, then. And this is not the only time you have been there for me. I could not have been more blessed. Thank you GOD… so so so very much for sending this angel in my life.
Surbhi, Tanu, Natasha - thanks for making me a girl out of a tom boy...lol...you have been a part of the best years of my school life and life never got better than that. You all will always be special no matter what.

Arpit - Thanks for teaching me the importance of staying in touch with your friends and never giving up on them...Ever!

Sudeshna, Abhijit - Thanks for letting me be myself and making me realize who I am and I am good as I am. For giving me so many perspectives about love, life, people and this world. Thanks for being my shoulder to cry on for like the longest time ever. Thanks for helping me grow up. Love you both so much.

Sandy - thanks for being there n not judging me when that seemed the most logical as well as the most popular choice by one and all. Thanks for teaching me that being a friend is not always about being the closest or being the best friend. Thanks for making me realize that not everyone is the same and that not everyone is out there trying to prove me wrong. And that at times, there are people who care even though I may not think so.

Sid, HA and Dip Dip - thanks for so much love and trust and thanks for showing me that I was not wrong in believing, that believing in my idols and my faith is the right way to live my life and compromising with them is compromising with being myself. Of course, work will never be so much fun ever again in my life without my sweethearts. Love you all...muah muah muah!!!

Arjun – like we agreed on, thanks for making me realize that "I" (of all the ppl) can be patient too (rust me I did not know that about me)... thanks for teaching me that sometimes its better to let go...that friendship is not just about sharing everything but also about letting the other person not share when they don’t want and still be ok with it...that friendship is about not taking advantage even when you can.

Fali and Karan - Thank you for just being there :) and making my time at SIBM worth it. Karan, thanks for your selfless support anytime anywhere. Fali, thank you for all your "something to chew on" thoughts that made me think and adapt for good. Love you to sooooooo much n miss you even more.


Bijja, Kiran, Yogi - my three musketeers. I found each one of you while I was looking for someone else and I cant be more glad that I found you instead. So much fun, so much love, so much goodness...Its cuz of you three that I have started believing in existence of truly good people again!!! Thank u for all those all night parties, cribbing and gossiping sessions...of course thanks for the food as well...lol.

And after writing about all and SO MANY special people in my life, I suddenly wonder why and what do I crib so much about in life...lol. Thank you God for sending so many wonderful people to this world and then making them all a part of my life :)

To me, friendship occupies a very high place of importance in life and if I make a list of all the people who are important to me ( I say important because nothing or no one is inevitable) , most of them would be friends. And so - Thank you all you beautiful people...for staying by my side when I needed you...for being there to hold my hands when I was going through the worst and the best...for helping me become a better human being...for helping me discover who I am and most of all for letting me be who I am. THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH.

And so lets hum along
My favorite favorite song

Yaaron dosti badi hi haseen hai
Yeh na ho to kya phir, Bolo yeh zindgi hai
Koi to ho raajdaar, Be garaj tera ho yaar
Koi to ho raajdaaaaar

Teri har ke buraai pe, daante vo dost
Gam ki ho dhoop to, saaya bane tera vo dost
Naache bhi vo Teri khushi main

Yaaron dosti badi hi haseen hai
Yeh na ho to kya phir, Bolo yeh zindgi hai
Koi to ho raajdaar, Be garaj tera ho yaar
Koi to ho raajdaaaaar