I have always believed that our childhood friends are our real friends. Friends we grow up with, who accept us just as we are; who don't judge us and who stand by us through thick and thin.

I'm a very shy and reserved person and take time to open up to people. But it is my childhood pals — Srila, Hiteshi, Divya and Sneha — who I'm totally dependent on. We were all in the same school and have grown up together. Divya and Sneha were also my neighbours. We were inseparable, almost like sisters. We treated each others' homes like our own. Went to school together, ate together, played together, did our homework together and even went to bed at the same time. Thank God we never fell for the same guy. Except once, when Divya and I had a huge crush on Leonardo DiCaprio!

We were also fond of cooking. One evening, we decided to make an omlette. Fearing we would make a mess in the kitchen, we set up four bricks in my garage, heated some coal, placed the kadhaai… but the eggs were missing. We argued and blamed each other for leaving the eggs behind. But just as the fight began to get worse, I felt something wet under me. Turned out, I was sitting on the eggs!

Another time, Srila came home excited, holding her first broken tooth in her hand. She wanted to preserve it so she could keep it under her pillow for the Fairy Godmother to bless her with good luck. But the tooth looked a little dirty, so I decided to clean it in warm water. Srila kept warning me not to but I didn't listen. I snapped at her saying I was older and she should listen to me. As luck would have it, the tooth slipped out of my hand and into the drainpipe. I'm sure Srila hasn't forgotten that. And neither have I.

Today, I want to apologise to you Srila. I want to tell you that I'm sorry for having deprived you of a beautiful memory. But thanks for being a part of my life. Thank you my friends for making it so beautiful.

Posted on: 25 Aug, 2009