11th August 2024
Many years ago, just after I had got married, I was sitting on a couch on a hot, humid day, sipping a chilled drink and talking to my father.
As I talked about adult life, marriage, responsibilities, and obligations, my father thoughtfully stirred the ice cubes in his glass and cast a clear, sober look at me.
“Never forget your friends,” he advised, “they will become more important as you get older.”
“Regardless of how much you love your family and the children you happen to have, you will always need friends.
Remember to go out with them occasionally, do activities with them, call them, spend time with them.”
“What strange advice!”
I thought, “I have just entered the married world, I am an adult and surely my wife and the family that we will start, will be everything I need to make sense of my life.”
He went on to add, “Try & earn two friends in life:
One Like KRISHNA
Who will not fight for you, But
Will make sure you always win
&
Second like KARNA
Who will always fight for you even when you are wrong.
I have remembered his words, I obeyed him; Kept in touch with my friends and always tried to be a friend.
Over the years, I realised that my father knew what he was talking about.
As time and nature carried out their designs and unfolded the mysteries, friends were the bulwarks of my life.
Time passes.
Life goes on.
The distance separates.
Children grow up.
Children cease to be children and become independent.
Jobs come and go. Illusions, desires, attraction, weaken.
People do not do what they should do.
Colleagues forget the favours.
Health starts wavering.
The race gets over.
But, true friends are always there, no matter how long or how many miles they are apart.
A friend for me was never more distant than the reach of my need, intervening in my favor, waiting for me with open arms and blessing my life.
When I started this adventure called LIFE, I did not know of the incredible joys or sorrows that were ahead. We did not know how much we would need from each other and we just went on the journey of friendship.
Today, I advise my children,
“Love your family, take care of your children, but always keep a group of good friends. Dialogue with them but do not impose your thoughts.
A true friend doesn’t care if you’re broke, what you weigh, if your house is a mess, what you drive, about your past, or if your family is filled with crazy people.
Your conversations pick up where they left off, even if it has been years apart.
They like you, for who you are. A true friend is a present you give yourself.”
Iam blessed to have true friends, many of them since childhood and they have always stood by me, through every trial & tribulation, always making me feel special.
I hope I can be as good a friend and always be there for them.
I just pray for their wellbeing and may they stay blessed forever.