Life can throw situations at you which will open up a totally new perspective. Life that seemed so simple and straight forward starts to look like a Pandora’s Box. Things happen that you would never even have imagined about. Life which was so normal seems to have turned into mystery. You are left to find your own way in a maze of people and emotions. The very basis on which you had built your life seems to be shaken. The world that was in a beautiful bubble seems to be shrinking.
Few days back I heard news about a friend who was once very close to me, having been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. We were friends – close friends before 10 years. We used to do combined studies for our 12th class public exams. It was either at her place or at mine. We spent countless nights together preparing for our exams drinking masala tea that her mom prepared for us or my mom’s coffee that kept us awake night out. We even came close to each other’s family. We had a bit of unspoken competition between us. But that was only when it came to studies, in everything else we were together.
Once the exams were over we separated our ways to join different colleges. Neither of us tried to contact each other after that. I don’t know why. Thanks to face book, I came to know that she is married and settled in the US with 2 adorable kids. I felt happy for her.
But then I heard the new about her Cancer. I know how difficult it is going to be for her to fight a disease that can shatter her both physically and emotionally. But what has been pricking me from the day I heard the news is the fact that she was once a close friend of mine and today I am just a friend who is sympathizing her situation discussing about it over a cup of coffee. How we had pushed a wonderful relationship into almost oblivion.
People are the most important part of our lives. Every day we meet new people. We get close to some by choice and to some for no reason. The impact they have on our life is immeasurable. As we travel through time in our life, we choose to forget some of these people. For no reason they disappear. For all the time we have spent together, a single phone call might instill life into that relationship. But we choose not to do so. We don’t have time.
It pained to think about all the amazing friendships that I had lost in my journey of life - some wonderful people who had been a very important part of my life at different periods. I am not sure if I will be able to revive all of those connections. But I will definitely try to get in touch with at least few of them and start a fresh chapter with them. What else will be there for me to live on when I grow old, other than memories about people and places?
