Dil Dosti etc.: Friendship is one mind in two bodies...

A lot of people go through life with so many friends and yet there comes a time when they have no one to whom they can turn to in good times or bad. There is no one with whom to bounce ideas around, or to talk about deep and troubling subjects. They have no one to call in times of need or difficulty. They are at the mercy of life, standing alone.

Sometimes, remembering how valuable your friendships can take you on a different level altogether. Agreed this is not a day when friendship is celebrated, but do you really need a day to celebrate the bonding between friends? But sometimes it needs to be celebrated to make sure the relationship doesn't grow stale. But looking at these two young friends, maybe we can give this celebration a let go. In one of our usual trips to Delhi, we came across this ‘Happy-go-Lucky’ duo Pranshu Kulshreshtha and Ankita Kulshreshtha. While Ankita is based out at our infamous capital New Delhi and finished her MBA, Pranshu too has just finished his MBA from Bangalore and is planning to shift to the financial capital of India - Mumbai. Not just for his career sake, but to make a mark in the Bolly arena. Though there is distance involved in their friendship, it has not weaned out. 

Ankita quoting Flavia Weedn says, “Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same. And Pranshu is one such friend. As the saying goes - a friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. He is one such friend who even if he is swamped with his studies or project duties - never fails to reach out via text, watsapp or phone every few days - no matter even if his life is upside down or what else is going on. Even if it's simply something succinct - like "Just wanted to keep touch and say hi" - I truly appreciate these signals that I'm being thought about and that our friendship is live and important to him.”

Pranshu on the other hand is a truly mischievous guy. While he may have a multitude of friends and people likes to be around him, yet, should trouble strike, he has no hesitation to reach out to Ankita even in the weirdest hours and talk to her. He says, “I know exactly with whom to discuss the topics of inquiry and debate and of course my problems. Cos she is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out. Period!”

“Yet, in a deeper sense, love is below friendship because it carries with it freedom plus equality. The concept of friendship needs exploration because often a man is known by the company he keeps; knowing the company helps one to know oneself and develop his/her personality to the fullest. Each of our friends mirrors a rejected or acknowledged trait in us. They happen to be our friends because it is ourselves in different forms, and a unified vision of them constitutes to the sameness of our Identity,” continued Ankita.

Giving his take on friendship, Pranshu adds: “My side of friendship means so much to me that I will do anything to keep my best friend with me at all times. While I may take the liberty to be anyone's casual friend and talk to them and have fun with, Best Friends according to me is a serious matter and not an easy thing to let go. I have run into many people who can be nice at times and those that can be really mean. But with Anky, you can simply add the word ‘trust’. She not only provides comfort, and the answers, but is for me at all times. And that’s what I love about her.”

“I’d say, life is full of entertaining and invigorating relationships because it is full of friends. Friendship is about having wonderful moments with your friends and sticking to them no matter what you do or what goes on. PK (now I fondly call him this after the movie) makes all effort to even reach out. He does make it a point to visit me when he is town on way back home to Etah from Bangalore. And never holds grudges since I don't visit him at Bangalore or so. But that doesn't mean he is never fighting or annoying,” said Ankita. “Speaking of annoyance, you may think that just because Pranshu is a dear friend he is not annoying. You know what? Fine he does. But I have respect for him. I show kindness, respect, and all the love in the world for him. I show him that he means the world to me and I mean it,” she added.

“That’s so true. And I appreciate Anky who is all so forgiving. I'm not saying that someone should forgive an offense quickly - or superficially. It takes time to forgive. But if too much time is taken, bad feelings fester, and the friendship may never get back on track. No one is perfect and a true friend understands that. And Anky does. And that’s what makes her great,” concluded Pranshu.

Well, we did not write this article just for any arguments or gossip. The only reason what prompted us to do this article is that when you read this article you will think about what friendship means to them and to you and everyone else. There isn’t any time lost yet. Reach out to your long lost friends and retrieve the pure genuine friendship if its lost somewhere. This is the time. Don’t wait for any Friendship Day to tell your friend that you care. Do it today.

HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY TO ALL OF YOU...