Happily never after

dedicated to my awesome friends

But miss, we go out once in a blue moon, why should we have restrictions on how to behave, and what to wear? We need that exposure” I exclaimed persuasively.It was an everyday scene. We, the boarders of the St. Louis school, could argue in finding faults in this place every second of the day, literally every second. Well, boarding is supposed to be that way, isn't it? So, convincing became a useless skill like asking the walls to walk and the dogs to fly. Whatever! If I could write down my complaints and inconvenience, I could write a whole novel all together, BUT nothing stood in front of the great friends I made, nothing at all. Even a tiny candle lights a dark room. Similarly, their blooming faces, enlightening smiles lit my dark stay in the boarding. I’m sure of that, that everyone one has those friends that they can die for, I guess these were mine. Ramanika, Kiara, Zoya, Vikas, Armaan and other five of us together were crazy! Laughing at jokes which were as meaningless as chemistry, Trekking was like an adventurous and dangerous trip to Saturn. You cannot really describe the times you have which people as close as these ones were to me because they are so beautiful that they mesmerize you. Ramanika and Zoya were my roommates and besides just having uncountable dancing and screaming memories, we always stood there for each other. In fact, everyone else did too, including Kunal, Honey, Nandu, and Ayan. If it hadn’t been them, I don't know how dramatically slow my life would be in that dark room.

 It was the last day of school. Yes, the day when we promised to stay in touch, meet regularly and other bullshit and we knew would be forgotten into oblivion. When it came the last goodbyes to the last ten faces, I was unable to say anything. Only hugs and tears were the things that portrayed the sign of me in the corner of their hearts (brain to be realistic). I wanted myself to stay with them as long as they would in me. Soon, we all settled in our own lives. Soon, was really very fast. I was an architect with an income of twenty cores per annum. Big cars, big achievements, big parties, College had been a blink of an eye. Indore wasn’t the place of me. I wasn’t able to even make a single friend. I used to get ragged too. So during my college years my only pals were my chemistry, physics and mathematics books, to whom I gave my full attention and determination. I was doing quite well in my life. Good enough for my parents to have all the comforts and luxurious they desired for. Good enough to donate money to my extended family to start up a ‘business’ which they were trying to start up ever since I was born or even before that. I earned good enough to roam in a Porsche, Smell jimmy choo, wear Prada and walk mango. I did attend a lot of parties with companions whom I really cannot call friends like I did to those people I did in 2013. They’d just hang out with me; fill empty spaces in cars, some memory in the sim card and time in the schedule. Even though we didn’t share that ‘tell secrets’ factor. “Buzz” my phone rang.“Hello, Munira?” the voice on the other line questioned.

“Yes, speaking?” I threw back another question“Vikas, you remember? We were in St. Louis together and in the 11^th grade, I was your partner as well. I had gifted you a superman ring. Are you still that obsessed with that lunatic? Ha-ha. I’d pull your cheeks a dozen times a day to irritate you. Arrey, I’m the same guy who you and Armaan would call idiotic names and tickle.”“Vikas! Of course I remember you. The day when Shantanu sir slapped you and all of us left the class in a sign of protest! Anyways, how are you doing? How is life?“Munira, you don't have to be so formal with me. I know it’s been years, but recent  my wife was cleaning a really old shelf in the cupboard and a picture of our group fell down…I couldn’t think of anything else but to call one of you’ll. It was easy to get your number since you have become such a big shot. Anyways, I really thought, you know once in a while we all would catch up or bump into each other. It’s upsetting that our friendship turned out to be so vague.”“Firstly, you are married! Oh my god, who married you mad man?! Hahahha, I really miss all of this. AND hello, I’m not such a big shot okay? Don't exaggerate things like you always do. Even I thought that we all would meet at least once.” Talks with Vikas felt like we were back in the old times. Back in school with two pig tails and dirty brown uniforms. A sudden nostalgic feeling struck me and I did nothing but get the numbers of my lost friends from just dial. Well, it didn’t turn out to be like I had expected. Zoya couldn’t recognize me at all however hard I tried to tell her. She just couldn’t. I was shattered. My last definitions of friends were them, those whom I encountered in school. There is nothing worse than the feeling of being forgotten by those people whom you cannot forget. I did try calling up others, but some had changed their numbers, some had changed their countries while some had changed their friends.  I was financially doing a boom, still somewhere I lacked satisfaction. Back in 2013, I remember having a discussion that money was the ultimate source of happiness. Since it was better to cry in a BMW than on a cycle, but now a faithful shoulder seemed so much better than an empty car. I wanted to meet everyone at least once so I could say a bye properly and then, no more expect anything else. Frankly a reunion would have been so much better; there was nothing I could do. I was the only one who hadn’t moved on enough. Just to kill the urge, I finally sent a mail to all of them.

  Dear My St. Lousier, Every since the day we passed out and moved into our own ways, I had missed you all. It wasn’t easy for me to forget people whom I ate with, studied with, and got up with. So, I’m writing this just so that I could tell you’ll how lucky I was to have friends like you. Ramanika, I’m sure you have excelled in the field of medical and Zoya I know you still are a fashion maniac. I don't think I have ever told you this before but you guys were the best roommates ever. Kaira and Aman youll were the reason for my migrane attacks nevertheless I don’t think I will ever getting mad dancing partner like both of you. Dancing was beyond the limits of fun.

 Dearest Armaan, how I wish we could come back to those days when we would hum in class and the teacher would waste half the period finding the culprit. Not just this, but everything was so much more retarded when done together. Specially, writing those aimless stories when bald people came out of the principal’s office and killed everyone. It sounds so stupid now but we used to laugh on this for hours. Vikas and Hannah! I spent days weeping on your shoulders when I fought with mom, or failed a test and when Fishy died. I can’t thank you’ll enough. Kunal, Ayan and Nandu, all the nuisance were a million dollar thing. Helping in studies, specially chemistry and physics (if I’m a successful architect, it’s all because of you). It was so difficult to imagine me without you. Friendship was so important then, right?

 Holding hands all through school like, we finally cleared board exams with flying colours. All through think and thing we dealt it as a team. Me without you’ll was like a bird without wings. I love those times, I love you’ll. I kind of felt a vacuum between us all, so I just wanted to bid farewell. Last I remember was only hugs and tears, let’s make it happier this time. I haven’t really had friends ever since that time, I expected a comeback, but nevertheless, your place in my heart will always is statutory. It’s too emotional whatever I said so thanks for being patient and reading this.It was great to have you’ll making me smile,All through the childhood, you’ll were mine.

With warmest regards,

Munira

And then I logged out of my Gmail account and slept with the longest smile.