Come with me

I met her first time in 1998...first day of my college...the so called Virgin tree in Hindu college...we started talking while standing in the long que for getting our new i-cards made.We both happened to be in the same class...statistics hons.We were both starving after that and thought of grabbing a bite from the canteen and walking around campus.Little did we know that the walk is going to last for the complete 3 years of college and will make us best friends.
Anu,call her my friend,comrade...

We would be in college at sharp 8 a.m.,irrespective of the weather-be it raining heavily,or a chilly December mning of Delhi...none of us cared...sipping tea at 'Jai Singh's'-a small dhaaba at the entrance of Hindu college.After chatting a bit with Jai Singhji we would go have garam garam samosas at the canteen...then one by one other friends would start coming...and the meeting point used to be the Virgin tree.Out of all 10 of us...just one of my friends used to have a cell phone...and it used to really fascinate us then.We used to spend hours sitting under that tree...all of us chatting everyday...God knows what,but time would always just fly past us..doing time pass...
everyone would leave by 2 pm. and me and Anu would then go to other colleges around campus and hang-out with our other sets of friends...try different food at different colleges...(food was another very important common thing between both of us...apart from common crushes ).
Allen bhaiya was our chowmein,banta(the kancha lemon) and aloo kee chaat waala bhaiya outside the college.Its unbelievable,but last year when I went to India,I went to my college to get my degree...and Allen bhaiya was still there...and he waved at me when he saw me and greeted me asking where my other friend was(referring to Anu)...he looked older than what he used to before...but the warmth in his smile was still the same...

Man...do I miss those days...those people...or what...

I havent met Anu since 3 years now...but I haven't been in constant touch with any other friend of mine like I have been with her.The way I relate to her,the way we clicked,the way we laughed...and still do...is what is most amazing!!!

There are absolutely no hang-ups...we both know that even if we dont talk for months...we are there for each other...
Love you honey,sugar,candy!!!
This one's for you...

Tujhpe qurban meri jaan,mera dil mera imaan
yaari meri kehti hai yaar pe karde sab qurban

A different odor when she hugs me...
her hands full of wrinkles warmly moving in my hair...full of selfless love...

Nani...
my best friend...my chess buddy...my mentor...
I can talk about anything and everything with her...

My entire childhood I went to nani's house after school and then go back home in the evening...she would make lunch for me and Pooja, and wait for us every afternoon...summer vacation...entire 2 months with nani and nana...

She has different attributes abt her...sometimes very strong emotionally...and sometimes very weak...she was strong enough to bear my nana's by-pass surgery and yet sometimes weak enough to be in tears while talking to me on the phone...
I havent seen her since 15 months now...and I am sure she looks older than the last time I saw her...but nothing else would have changed for her...
she has been living the same routined life since years now and surprisingly she never gets bored...cooking,knitting,talking about her leg pains...which I would not really pay attention to then...but miss taking care of her now...her vast friend circle that never leaves her alone in the house,her fights with nana on trifle matters...the time I spend with them is just full of humor,love,warmth and care.

Nani...a warm hug and just to let you know that I miss you ALOT...and a thought about you makes me smile and brings a tear...