Blooming of friendships: a few thoughts

#Blooming #of #friendships: a few thoughts

Aniruddha Sarkar

18 August 2022

#1

I had a friend, Jhantu among many other childhood friends. He was two to three years older than me. He was a #daredevil #boy. He could #aim at a #flying #bird from a distance and #threw #projectiles that, most of the time, would #hit the #bird. He then would strike a #fire, #roast the #bird and #eat that.

He could climb the top of a #risky #tree having #weak #branches and would #pluck #fruits.

Like these, he had a long list of daredevil acts.

One day, their landowner, came with a court order and evicted them from their rented home.

Before leaving, with a #lot #of #anguish, Jhantu told me, he will never come back to our locality.

I was overcast with #sorrow at the loss of this friend for a long time.

This short but #special #friendship with a daredevil boy left a #permanent #mark #in #my #heart.

#2

My father was in Railways. He used to enjoy Railway pass for free travel with family.

But, he would never avail that. The reason was the financial capabilities. He could not afford to spend money on hotel stays and other expenses while on a vacation with family.

Once, his colleagues told him to accompany them with family. They had arranged a full railway compartment that can be used. This compartment would be attached to different long-distance trains. I was hardly five years. I faintly remember traveling to Delhi, Shimla, and a few more places. I also met with several children of my age. During the trip, we became a single extended family. We would eat together inside the compartment. The cooks who were traveling with us did the cooking. The grocery was purchased in bulk from Barabazar Wholesale market. We thus had a nice menu to enjoy every day. Father later said food and lodging costs were negligible for the entire trip.

In Delhi, Agra, Shimla, Bindhyachaal, etc., places, we would take local transport to move around. At the end of the day, we would be back to the Railway Compartment for the night's stay. In specific cases, when we went for conducted local trips for a day or two, we had to stay in hotels.

As a small kid, I made several friends during that trip.

In Shimla, we had to spend two/ three days indoors due to heavy snowfall. We, the kids, had a lot of #fun #playing #together.

One morning, we, the kids, went together outside and played in the roadside snow. We #threw #balls #of #snow at each other. I have a #faint #memory of that even today.

After the trip, we all #dispersed. I could never get in touch with these friends.

That loss left a #void in my #mind #forever.

#3

In school, one boy was very attentive in his studies. He did well in his NCC performance.

He became an Agricultural Scientist. All along, he did very well in his academics.

He did well in his professional career as well. He was elevated to the position of General Manager in his organization at a relatively young age due to his extraordinary performance. He took over the charge in the Western Region and started operating from Mumbai. He had a sharp focus on his job. He could not even find time to marry at the age of forty while we, the other friends, got married and settled.

One day, this friend died. That was a shock to us, all the batchmates. Nobody knew the reason for his death. We lost a talented, industrious school batchmate. May His Soul Rest In Peace.

#4

In our engineering college, there were many friends. I liked one friend for his down-to-earth attitude. Over a period, we became fast friends. Both of us started collaborative study together. This friend stayed in an area not far from our hostel. Sometimes, he would come to our hostel room. Or, I would go to his place. We would divide the knowledge areas between the two of us. Then both would intensively study the specific area and would prepare detailed notes. Next, we would exchange notes between the two of us. In those days, in the 1970s, there was no copier machine. I would copy the note of this friend. He would take down my notes. In this manner, we both could save time in preparing. In class tests, we both could perform reasonably well.

This #understanding #transformed #into a #friendship that is #live #even #today. I knew this friend's struggles for survival from a bit close. And, he knew mine.

#5

In my professional life, I was fortunate to receive a few #friends, #philosophers, and #guides. The list is long.

One among them had a sharp analytical brain and a heart like a child. He could crack any difficult problem and, always passed on the credits to his teammates. In him, I saw #what #leadership #should #ideally #look #like.

Although he was my reporting boss for a long time, he used to mix with me as a friend.

To #respect #his #words, I was ready to #jump #into #the #ocean #of #challenges. I knew, that for any issue I face, he would be there to support me.

There were many other colleagues, who added value to my day-to-day professional life.

These colleagues thus, over a period of time, kept on enriching me as an individual. They immensely contributed to my growth as a corporate citizen.

#6

There were a few friends, who immensely contributed to my #cultural #growth. I started going to opera, listened to a few live classical music performances, practiced oration, started composing stories and poems, and participated in adventure sports.

Today, through this article, I hail all my friends.

Dear friends,

You were, there by my side when I needed you most, knowingly or unknowingly.

Today we may not be frequently in touch. However, deep within my #conscience, I #feel your #presence.

You #shaped me, you #changed my #attitude, you #moulded my #temperament, and you #smoothened my #rustic #vanity.

You taught me #valuable #lessons which nobody thought of. You #rebuked me for my #childish #behavior. You #criticized me for my #carelessness. You #championed me for #daredevil #assignments.

You always called a spade a spade. You never allowed me to think of myself as #larger #than #life.

You always kept me #down #to #earth. #Never #allowed #me #to #expand #my #ego.

You always #pushed #me #from #behind.

I hail you, my friends. You are there. Therefore I exist.

----------×----------