F.R.I.E.N.D.S – Family You Can Choose!
For most of us the growing up years of school are the times that we cherish. I bet many of us were asked to write essays on “My Best Friend”. Looking back at the years gone by, almost feel that friends are the family life lets you choose. Not to say that the I have complaints about the one I have (and no I’m not buttering up to my parents!!!).
I’m sure all of us have those cousins who irritate us no end and uncles who are snoots and aunts who’s son is better than you at everything. But when it comes to friends its different. These are people you’ve chosen to be with or those who have chosen you to be with. Either way it’s a two way street. When you’re with friends it doesn’t matter who picks up the tab after a couple of drinks at the pub. You don’t maintain books…most loans are on non-returnable basis! I guess what sets friends apart is the that there are no set expectations from friends…just that they are around.
My favourite friend moment was when a friend of mine called me and asked me what I was doing and when I said “Nothin” pat came the reply “Me too! Come over and we’ll do nothing together!!” That’s what friendship is all about. The ability to do nothing together! Who hasn’t spent endless hours just hanging around! Milkshake at ones place, followed by sandwiches at the next guys place.Having said that, with friends you don’t have to ask. We’ve all told those little lies for a friend. A little bit of truth bending. And no, friendship is not only about covering up its also about showing the way to the best of our capabilities. Yes, sometimes plans go horribly wrong.
Friendship is a spirit that does not age..you can press the pause button for days..months maybe even years and start from where you left off. Friendship is not only about reminisceing the moments spent together; it’s about creating one more moment every time you do!!!!
As John Lennon put it…”I get by with a lil help from my friends…”
An Ode… To Those Who Believed
It's not easy to walk a different path To set off on a journey where questions abound The doubts they flourish when you are stepping onto roads That are foreseeably bumpy, uncharted, even inexistent Risking it all doesn’t mean absence of fear The clock is your enemy and the mirror isn’t your friend When you have only yourself to blame and to rely When there are no maps or guiding stars in the sky Tis the believers who hold the torch For the explorers on their onward march No birds ever flew without the wind beneath their wings It is their belief that fuels the hope each passing day brings
The Perfect Circle
Art: Circle of Friends by Susan Vannelli I pen these lines to say ‘Thank You’ on what my little one says is Friendship Day
There are indeed things to express and today’s as good as any other day
Always maintained and truly believe that friends are the family one can choose
Our most potent weapons always ready at our behest to convince, corrupt or confuse
To all the friends who befriended me or I ever made
At work, the university, the neighbourhood or first grade
Close or distant so many of you have had a role to play
In shaping me into the person I am from the proverbial clay
To those who really don’t fit the classical definition of a friend
The ones that are always around to support with hand to lend
The parents, siblings, the teachers at school and yes even bosses
The hands of God, the guardian angels, the mystery sauces
To those with whom I stayed the course and they’re but a few
You have a big heart, I know what it takes for being there, for staying true
Then there are those that distances and time pushed away
Mere pauses in our friendship for whenever we meet we just press play
To the handful and hopefully all of you know who you are
My rocks of Gibraltars, my partners in crime, my guiding stars
For a man of words I search for ones that’ll convey what I really want to say
I live and breathe metaphorically and truly it’s because of you I’m here todayएक ऐसा यार
Art : Rachel Coles न पूछे क्यों न सोचे कभी दो बार लड़ जाए भिड़ जाए सुन के बस एक पुकार रब करे सबको मिले बस एक ऐसा यार खाए जो बड़ी क़समें उठाए जो नख़रे हज़ार निभाए सारी वो रस्में झेलकर भी सितम करे प्यार दुआ है संग सदा मिले बस एक ऐसा यार पूरी करे जो तलब कश हो या जाम मिले तैयार महूरत मान ले फ़रमाइश को न दिन देखे न देखे वार जब मिले तेरे सा मिले बस एक ऐसा यार
यारी
यादों के लम्बे पाँव अकसर रात की चादर के बाहर पसर जातें हैं आवारा, बेखौफ़ ये हाल में माज़ी को तलाशा लिया करतें हैं ख्वाबों में आने वाले खुली आँखों में समाने लगतें हैं फिर एक बार बातों के सिलसिले वक्त से बेपरवाह चलतें हैं वो नादान इश्क की दास्तानें वो बेगरज़ यारियाँ समाँ कुछ अलग ही बँधता है जब बिछडे दोस्त मिला करतें हैं यादों के लम्बे पाँव अकसर रात की चादर के बाहर पसर जातें हैं
दोस्ती की expiry date
क्या दोस्ती की भी expiry date होती है या उम्र भर साथ की guarantee होती है कल की नोंक झोंक आज जाने क्यों दिल दुखाने लगती है अचानक कोई भूली बात जबरन आ आ के सताने लगती है ना मालूम क्यों उम्मीदों का traffic one way हो जाता है कभी हँसते थे संग जिसके वो क्यों रूला रूला के जाता है जो चैन देता था कल आज वही चुराता है शायद हर दोस्ती में ये दौर भी आता है ख़िज़ा की रुत होगी ये कभी न कभी तो बदल जानी है बहार जब तलक फिर न आए तब तक हर हाल निभानी है कहाँ दोस्ती की कोई expiry date होती है यहाँ तो उम्र भर साथ की guarantee होती है
चलो… (कुछ करते हैं)
चलो आज रात कहीं बैठ के पीतें हैं कुछ पुरानी बातें कुछ रूमानी संग भरते हैं बादलों में अपने रंग भूली यादों की लड़ी पिरोते हैं याद है जब चौक पे गाड़ी रोक के कभी नयी कभी अध जली सिगरेट जलाते थे फटे स्पीकरों से ऊँची आवाज़ में गीत गाते थे दोस्ती की क़समें खाते थे सीना ठोक के एक बार तो छोड़ भी आया था ना बीच राह में बनाया था कुछ अजीब सा ही बहाना ख़ूब हुई मिन्नतें चला था रूठना मनाना शब गुज़ारते हैं ऐसी ही किसी क़िस्से की बात में चलो आज रात कहीं बैठ के पीतें हैं कुछ अलग बातें कुछ बदले ढंग उड़ाते है क़िस्सों की नयी पतंग किसी की याद में एक ताज़ा याद बनाते हैं
दोस्ती का हिसाब
एक रोज़ बस यूँ ही दोस्ती का हिसाब करने बैठे मस्ती, समझदारी, वफ़ादारी और बेवक़ूफ़ी के नाम हिस्से बटे कुछ दोस्त इधर बटे और कुछ यार उधर बटे कुछ तो ऐसे थे जो सोच से ही छटे एक रोज़ जब यूँ ही दोस्ती का हिसाब करने बैठे सिर्फ़ मस्ती करने वाले दोस्तों की कसर न दिखी बेवक़ूफ़ियों और बेवक़ूफ़ों की गिनती भी कम न थी जब आढ़े वक़्त ने आज़मा के देखा तो एक-आध वफ़ादार भी मिले एक रोज़ जब यूँ ही दोस्ती का हिसाब करने बैठे हमने जाना की कुछ दोस्त ऐसे भी थे जो किसी भी खेमे में न बट सके कुछ नायाब जो दोस्त से ज़्यादा थे, कुछ वो जो दोस्ती के ही क़ाबिल न थे
एक ऐसा यार
Art: Rachel Coles न पूछे क्यों न सोचे कभी दो बार लड़ जाए भिड़ जाए सुन के बस एक पुकार रब करे सबको मिले बस एक ऐसा यार खाए जो बड़ी क़समें उठाए जो नख़रे हज़ार निभाए सारी वो रस्में झेलकर भी सितम करे प्यार दुआ है संग सदा मिले बस एक ऐसा यार पूरी करे जो तलब कश हो या जाम मिले तैयार महूरत मान ले फ़रमाइश को न दिन देखे न देखे वार जब मिले तेरे सा मिले बस एक ऐसा यार
Kuch Kahaniyan – Ep5 The Final Take
OK here is a different take on growing up. One that does not involve alcohol. Well, after all its not just alcohol that makes people do silly things…. right?
Yes, this one is about Love and to some measure about Sex and Dhoka as well 😉6
The late 80’s and the early 90’s had lots of stuff happening for, around and to us…Trysts with alcohol, Driving Licenses, Rock Music and Girls!!!!
We were in our mid-teens and the other gender had started making its presence or need felt amongst us. Believe me, for those of us who spent long years in Boys Only schools they had a lot more importance a helluva lot more early!!
My final take is actually about 2 different takes on what the protagonists thought was “First Love” and the instances that made their way to for lack of a better term “friendship-lore”. So brace yourself for a longish read.
6.1 Love
Mr. Fool for Love (FfL) was an average student. He was an average looking guy too. But…the young man had a phenomenal voice. Not the singing kinds though; it was one of those deep throaty voices that were tailor-made for voice overs.
Staying with our theme….Our man had the hots for this rather petite looking girl (for the sake of this story we will refer to her as Ms.G) who stayed 2 blocks away in the same residential complex as FfL. This tale is about the lengths that FfL would go to just to get a glimpse of Ms.G.
FfL had decided that he was in love. He had also decided that it was time to announce it to the rest of the world (i.e. classmates at the Deprived Boys School or DBS).
One fateful day he did just that. The close friends were promised what was called an “Intro” during those days with Ms.G and who knows a possible intro with ahem..Ms. G’s school mates. The final bell was eagerly awaited and a bunch of us were outside in a jiffy. Meeting Ms.G had its share of logistical challenges as well. It meant we had to go all the way to FfLs house and then home. Now cycling the additional distance just to meet Ms.G was not exactly an appealing thought for the rest. FfL quickly sensed this and a deal was worked out. We were to leave our bi-cycles in school, FfL would sponsor return auto-fare (the equivalent of which in current day terms would be someone sponsoring a stretch limousine with booze and blonde’s thrown in)
We piled into the auto and reached the rendezvous Ms.G’s bus stop and waited. FfL had ensured we were well in time and Thums Up was promptly thrown in to prevent anyone of us from complaining about waiting. A rickety DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation for the unaware) school bus pulled up and a flurry of students Ms.G amongst them got off. FfL marshaled all of us and we were hot in pursuit when we finally got in-step with Ms.G.
“Hello G, how are you?” said a visibly excited FfL. “These are my friends from DBS.”
“Hello guys” was Ms.G’s reply and even before one of us could put his hand out for a shake, FfL nodded in the other direction hinting/pleading for us to vamoose. While FfL walked 10 more steps with Ms.G till her doorstep.
“What? No Intro?? What about meeting Girls???” said one us grudgingly promptly being hushed by the others and making the disappointed and oddly silent ride back in the auto.
That examination year, FfL took a major chance as a proclamation of his love and memorised only 1 Sanskrit essay that had Ms.G’s name in it. He got Lucky!
Last heard, FfL got another opportunity to walk with Ms.G. He did not invite his friends this time.
6.2 Sex aur Dhoka
It was the first winter in college (grad-school). Mr.High on Hormones (HoH) had now been dating Ms.Aphrodite (Ms.A) for over a year now.
The passing out of school and entry into college had brought along with it a new found freedom. Freedom from wearing uniforms, having to attend lectures or classes continuously and freedom to spend more time with a certain “special friend”.
HoH and A would invariably bunk a lecture or two and make sure they got “Quality” time together. A day spent scouring the streets of Delhi on foot, sitting and talking endlessly in a favourite joint or sometimes cosying up at one or the others homes.
It was one such occasion HoH and A made their way back from their respective colleges to A’s place. A’s mother was out of station and her dad was driving to the next city for a meeting and was expected back only late that evening. This meant a lot more “Quality Time” for A and HoH.
They got back ordered some take-out and settled down to watch a movie (that was, at least, the stated intent). Some way into the movie the door-bell rang. A and HoH froze, they’d already received the take away!! A tip toed to the door and peered through drawn up curtains.
She came back running and uttered “Its Dad!!! Hurry Up!!! Hide!!!”
Those are not exactly the words one is waiting to hear while cosying up.
“Whoa!!! Where???” HoH sprang up. “I don’t know… anywhere” said A, almost bursting into this rather rare tearful anger. HoH promptly slid under the bed.
From underneath HoH could hear A’s Dad narrate how he had got a flat tyre someway out and had rescheduled his meeting for later. Having done that he thought of returning home and changing into a fresh suit!!!
Well it was a rather interesting view from the “spot” that HoH found himself in.
I am sure all of us know it was not really A’s Dad that HoH had hoped to see undress!!!
To officially bring to close this series that occupied my mind-space for over a year some lines from a song which sums it up for me.
Love, love is strange
As made popular by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
Lots of people take it for a game
Once you get it you never wanna quit
After you’ve had it you’re in a awful fix ….