MY FIRST FRIEND

April, 2020

Dear - My first friend,

When I first saw you I never thought we’ll end up like this. Our first meeting is still fresh in my mind, I was reading a book under the tree in the park and you were feeding the doves. Yah! I saw you first but I never told you, I loved the way your hair looked - little messy but was my type. The park had more people than a lecture hall, but you were the one who stole my attention. I remember reading in a magazine that all the people around you might be connected by some sort of energy that they have in common ie we like those who are like us, they way they think are similar and have lot of stuffs in common. I found something common between us and I wanted to discover that at the earliest.

Next day I went to the park just to see you but couldn’t find you there, I was nervous and waited for you to come but you never turned up. I regretted for not speaking to you. I should have at-least said a hello, all these thoughts haunted me. What if I’ll never see him, what if I’ll never meet any friends.

Days went like shedding cherry blossoms, uncontrollable but beautiful. Now I’m officially a teenager where rules are tend to be broken, mood swings. Lot of things has changed in and around me, but I couldn’t find a friend even this summer, I’ll end up being lonely throughout my teenage. I sometime question myself why am I like this, why don’t I trust anyone? But I never found the answers. These questions gave me more questions and sleepless nights. I am scared of relationships and their impacts on ones emotional self.  

One sunny day when the sun was bright but not cruel, I decided to head to the park with a book. The park was empty left with few kids and their toys and nothing else. I loved the empty park I heard the kids at a distance and the mourning of the dove who came to enjoy the weather along with her friends.

Reading let me sleep on the meadow with the doves laying next to me. It was the best nap I ever had in my life. I woke up by the sound of the kids screaming from a distance and was shocked to see the guy laying next to me. I woke him up as I felt little awkward. He smiled and said Hey! Hi! and I still remember your voice back then. He got up and left to feed the doves, and I began reading and eventually staring at him. And as it was getting dark I left the park.

 Do you remember when we met again?

I know you remember, it is not easy to forget. Am I right?

It was a Sunday and I was dumping the trash in the corporation trash disposal bin, it was dark and silent. A dog was howling at a distance, my heart was beating very fast at this rate my heart might blast. There were no trace of human. I was walking back to home in a maximum speed, suddenly I saw a familiar face him, the guy saw on the park. He smiled at me, his hair was messy as usual. I guess he was out for a walk, was with his pet dog, a huge German shepherd.

He walked towards me, I was smiling unknowingly. A  vehicle approached me, pulled me in and shut the door. The situation changed in a second, there was a chance for me to speak to him and again it was, it was snatched from me. I shouted at my highest possible voice, there was about five of them on the vehicle. They covered my face with a black cloth tied me up.

The vehicle stopped, they dragged me and untied the cloth from my eyes. It was a dark room I could barely see anything. My body was aching from pain, I thought for a reason for them to kidnap me, are they behind money. If so why me, I am not a rich girl and my father is not an business man, this question left me in a state of numbness. I want to know why I ended up like this, I must find the reason they took me. I tried to hear what they spoke. But ended up with nothing, there was complete silence.

I was tired to move further, my feet was numb felt no pain. I don’t know when I slept. I was shocked  when I woke up, thought it was a dream but it was not. What’s going on? I questioned my conscious and was left with no answer. It was like the best surprise I ever had. It was him again, he untied me from the chair. He healed my wounded skin and soul. That night left me with lot of questions and I promised myself I’ll definitely find answers, and no more regrets after today.

He helped me to get out from there. We walked for a distance, but he never spoke a word. We got a bus from walking few kilo-meters. I finally decided to speak first, but I have a struggle to start. I was nervous, I gathered my courage and asked Hey! I’ve seen you in the park.

Me too, I liked your hair he said,

Oh, but why?

It’s like mine.

That’s why I wanted to speak to you.

Wait what?

Shit no, nothing,

Hey! Common you started it, now complete it.

Mm, well I wanted to be friend with you when I first saw.

With me, why?

Mm I’ve never had any friends because I was not like other girls of my age, I hate dressing up. Everybody hates my hair, it’s messy I like it this way. When I saw you it was like looking at the mirror. We don’t have everything in common but …..

We reached our stop, we got down from the bus and walked towards our homes.

But what? he asked,

But I think we were meant to be together after you saved me from those kidnappers. A friend in need is a friend in deed. You see, you saved me so automatically you are my best friend.

Mm, then tell me your name, I am Aadhi.

I am Purvi.

Nobody ever could have had a conversation like this, I can guarantee.

It was weird but it was like us.

It is not like someone said, but this time I know who said it. Bill Watterson said “Things are never quite as scary when you’ve got a best friend.”

This quote is really meant for us.