BestFriendForever

For the last two weeks, I have been thinking about it, but failed each time when I tried to transform them into words. It seldom happens and believe me it is very frustrating when you cannot put your feelings into words (a writer’s frustration of sorts).

In a world of temporary feelings and permanent regrets; a world where picture changes like a slideshow in our minds; where livings are forgotten easily because we are the human race (pun intended),  I have always admired their friendship. A love so pure, a pain so genuine, that every time I see her display picture in a social media, I find myself yet again on that fateful night when the tragedy occurred.

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In the year 2007, it was Soumita di who was the first senior to tell me that I had been selected for Miss Fresher (having no idea how or why).
Having heard stories of hostel life, and ragging, the first month of my first year of graduation was spent in fear of the seniors; so for me to be selected in an event which needed a bit of feminine quality astounded me pleasantly; I have always been far from being a female (behaviorally speaking), let alone having a feminine quality, so much so that I had to borrow a nice attire from my roommate to go up to the stage.

Having said so, the first moment when I felt at ease in a strange environment, among strange people was when one senior came up to me and with her super soothing smile said that I was selected, I was too dumbstruck to ask any follow up questions, but that tap on my head and a smile which reached her eyes made me realize that everything will be fine henceforth.

We interacted many times throughout my first year in events like Janmasthami (birth anniversary of Lord Krishna) and the very popular university fest called Spandan; but sadly not much in my second year, because of the separate hostels and also because they were busy, that being their final year of graduation. Though we had different specialized subjects, it never made her forget me as she always used to wave and smile at me anytime when we crossed paths in the college corridors.

Time flew past. And one day in the year 2009, in my final year of graduation, I heard the news that she was ill..very ill..and was admitted to the university hospital (as she was pursuing her post-graduation degree from the same university itself).

My roommate and I with few of our other batch-mates rushed to visit her, only to find her in an unspeakable condition. I could still visualize the room of SSL (Sir Sundar Lal hospital) where she was semi conscious may be, thumping her right leg at intervals and was restless, as if, was in a hurry to leave it all. I was shivering at the sight thinking how can something like this have happened?!?!
The jolly and ever chattering Soumita di was silent and was in pain. I remember coming out of the room with mixture of inexplicable feelings.

After a month or so, most of the girls in my hostel went home for the study leave as our final examinations were approaching, including my roommate. Very few of us used to stay back during that leave, that year being no exception.
It was severely cold outside, a night of January 2010, when someone knocked on my door; a girl from my specialization class, she opened the door and just nodded her head saying, “Did you hear about Soumita di……..?!!!”….and nothing else…
…..she closed the door and went away… It was more the news and less the wind blowing outside that made me cold and still… I do not know how long was I sitting on at the edge of my bed; stunned!

I could think of nothing except the time I first met her and the last time I saw her. The contradictory picture of two incidents hurricaned my mind all throughout the night.

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It was a time of no prominent social media, at least not prominent enough to be easily accessed, but years later I saw her picture on a popular social media site. 

Banjot di, who was one of her best friends and was sadly not present there when the tragedy occurred, made her display picture in a way where both of them appear.

Every year till this one she has wished Soumita di on her birthday and mourned on her death anniversary through her writing. She pens down wonderfully, all her love and pain, for her deceased friend in a way that makes her alive for some time. 

Today Banjot di is an established person making a difference in work she does, but never has she forgotten to express her love for, possibly, her only best friend.

It has been quite some time that this year Banjot di celebrated Soumita di’s birthday with some of the school children who are may be less fortunate and gave the phrase “BestFriendForever” a different and divine meaning.

Yet again a mixture of inexplicable feelings engrossed me but this time it had a positive vibe and I found myself tearing up in front of a computer screen.

Not many who are alive receive such love and admiration.

Banjot di, I have never had a chance to talk to you one on one; nevertheless I will take this opportunity to let you know that I am proud of you and not everyone can do what you have done. May be it is a small thing for you but Soumita di is lucky to have a friend like you. Wherever she is, I know a part of her is left with you.

Thank you for making the world a better place and keeping an endangered relation like friendship alive in this uncertain world.

Some feelings do not require names, I am experiencing one of such.
...sometimes it is more than enough to know that people exist who know that love is timeless..
If both of you ever read this, I just want to let you know that I consider myself luckiest to have known you people in my lifetime...

#A_Dedication

#StayBlessed

#RestInPeaceWhereverYouAre

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