On this day!

On this day today, exactly eight years ago I met somebody who since then has become an essential part of my life. It began with a discussion on 'Illusions' and turned to literature, human existential crisis, historical references and has continued till today. We discuss, talk, argue, write long mails to each other attacking and defending our views on topics that range from Mughals, Indian History, Societal degradation, Art, institutions of marriage & companionship and a lot many things. This friend has influenced and channelled a lot of positive thinking into me. I usually talk of Keats and beauty and truth in the same breath while my friend carefully fragments beauty and truth as ideals and groups Keats with Gulzar. We meet only once a year and that meeting lasts for about an hour or two in which we cram Atticus & Morrie, gender stereotyping, political hoodwinking, architecture and social accountability whilst savouring the absolute pleasure of our brief meetings.

As we grow in years, our sensibility matures into more metaphysical than the real. I used to frequently get frustrated and annoyed by the lack of exhibited ideals in my early twenties. Now, I have developed an understanding of the grey and negative as opposed to my earlier belief in the assumed goodness of people. Sometimes we do meet people who light up our existence with their presence and assurance. My friend exuberates a rare understanding and kindness for my often aggressive stand on feminism and all things that make me so angry that at times it just culminates into a verbal frenzy.

Our shared love for music has us singing, humming and drowning in musical notes at odd hours. We are constantly updating and texting each other over Mehdi Hassan's ghazals either of us is listening to, or the 50's slow numbers I keep falling for and listening for days. It's this crazy overzealous passion for life that drives us both. We're friends not because we agree on everything but because we respect our differences and disagreements and allocate that space and understanding to each other. Some people are just fabulous the way they are. My friend has amazing levels of patience and empathy too. It's this delving deep into our hearts' core that unites us both in spirit and emotion. Over the years, as we have grown up together, it's been a wonderful association and one I hope grows over time.

Each one of my memories with my friend always finds me in the most genteel and noble regard I've received over all these years. Some kind souls give away every bit of their gentle warmth to the people they connect with and my friend is one of those gracious hearts. I've lost count of the number of times we've both excitedly shared our musings on art, ideals and life's many vagaries together. I share my soul with my friend. There's not a time that I recollect we've gone without talking of books and photography, feelings and human nature, of expectations and hurt, and loosening up on life. I remember the crazy time I listened to Duck Tales theme song one fine day and then drove my friend nuts over the constant humming which ended in our laughing together or the 2 am messages over reading Jhumpa Lahiri's sad tale of love and loss in The Unaccustomed Earth. My often crying over book characters and music has found an affable reciprocity in my friend. One knows when one meets a person who mirrors them. I am glad we are in each other's lives and I look forward to having many more conversations and disagreements and laughter together. Today is special and will always remain so.