If you read the post titled The Christmas Message, you would have heard of what Paul and his friends planned to do this Christmas. On the off chance (implied most probably), that you haven't read it, let me fill you in. Paul and his friends decided that this Christmas, instead of giving each other gifts they didn't need, they would help out some poor family, by buying them them things they needed.
So, that's exactly what they did!! We bought them groceries for a few weeks, Christmas dinner goodies, clothes and gifts for the kids and the parents. The lady, Myra, was 39 weeks pregnant and was due just the next week, so we bought some stuff for the baby too, like a bouncer, diapers, etc. So Paul's friends did the shopping last weekend, while I was doing all the baking. And today, we went to drop off all the stuff!!
We are totally 7 in number, 5 guys and 4 WAGs (Wives And Girlfriends). The 7 of us along with 4.5 of them, barely fit in the house. As we all stood and made conversation, Erin, Casey's girlfriend, said, "So, let me explain the deal here (pointing to the line of men - Paul, Clinton, Casey and Andrew) these 4 guys are childhood buddies and new each other from school. They all went to the same college and there they met Dusty. And us 4 gals are just add-ons, either wives or girlfriends." The talk moved on to which college and then the obvious topic of college football(Booo)!! The talk moved on, but I got lost in a fog of memories...
It got me thinking of my childhood friends, who incidentally are also my adulthood friends!! Most of us know each other from kindergarten days (or as some of my friends would say 'chaddi dost'. Sheesh!!). Some of them I studied with in college too and others I was roomies with even after college. As I look back I realize, even during college, I let only one person into my close circle of friends (Teju). All others were 'just' friends and as days went by, they were demoted to 'just' classmates. My close circle of friends were like my security blanket, and though I was all grownup, I wasn't ready to part with it. Now 24, and married, and half way across the globe, I'm forced to part from them. They are no longer a phone call away, no longer available to go shopping anytime, or to go bowling, or to walk in the park, or to make scooter rides to the river.
Scooter ride, reminds me of this place we used to go to, called Rajanahalli. It's the name of a village near where I grew up, but what I liked most, was the river!! The same river (Tungabadra) flowed past our colony, but here in this village it was especially beautiful. The banks were strewn with round pebbles, cool to the touch. Here and there were sand dunes, usually accompanied by some muddy pools. And the water was generally calmer, not in a hurry to go anywhere. When my friends took me there for the first time, I couldn't believe that I didn't know of this place before. After that I would beg and if that didn't work, goad them into coming to Rajanahalli with me. Seeing my interest in the place, Vinu one day titled it 'Rosenahalli'. We used to drive there on scooters and bikes, a small stretch over the highway, but most of it over muddy roads, flankedon either side by fields. The ride was just as beautiful as the destination. I loved the place so much, that it inspired a poem. And I'm not a poem kind of person u see, I don't write them and am not very good at understanding them. But if I ever finish the poem, I shall post it here on the blog.
I can still see my friend's faces and hear them talking. Gulli's chubby face, laughing and saying. "Kya re moti?!". Chaal, bobbing his head in agreement, but starting to give his customary advice (or plans b, c and d :). Shilpa, smiling and shaking her head at my clumsy antics and trying to remember where we left off the 'Boys' movie story. Vinu, playing with his keys and always teasing. Teju, laughing, with her eyes wide and asking the usual, "What ya!!". Nammu, walking in the door, promising to finish a chapter of her CCNA, but eventually falling asleep or watching TV!!
Looking at Paul and his friends, I realized that my friends aren't going to move here, and so I needed to make new ones. The old friends will always be close at heart, but in a new place, I need to make new friends. But my befriending skills are a little rusty, 20 years rusty. Until I sharpen my skills, I guess Paul will have to do :) .
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