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.
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.
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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.
