Friendship Goals

From being in a class of around 50 girls who studied together to being a part of a gang of ten - 'terrific ten', we are now four close friends who never misses a chance of telling everyone how we know each other from the time we were mere five year olds (eight year old for one of us). Our friendship continued even after I changed school and then later, when all of us joined different colleges and got settled in different cities (and countries). One sentence found its way in all those christmas cards and birthday cards that we gifted each other and we went out of our way to hold it true - 'friends forever'!

The four of us have played a vital role in each other's lives at every step, starting right from watching out for each other at school, being the first ones to know about the love of our life, standing as a pillar of support for the 'meet the girl' function when the marriage proposals started pouring in, being the perfect bridesmaids to each other and even being there with each other through pregnancy and delivery - we've even heard each other's babies' heartbeats even before they were born! We've grown up together, literally sharing dresses and plates, making each other's parents our own and sharing secrets that we've told no one else. It was more joy when the husbands understood our friendship and accepted us as an inevitable baggage that comes along with the girl of their dreams. 

Though we keep spending time with each other as and when possible, it had been ages since the four of us spent time together - all four of us live in different cities with two in an altogether different country as well. So, a couple of months back, in between our frequent, daily whatsapp conversations we were talking about how we missed each other and it would be fun to go for a trip together. All of a sudden, the planning started for a trip with the husbands and kids. A dedicated whatsapp group for the trip was formed where we, along with the husbands, discussed on convenient dates and places to spend time together. After much deliberation, we shortlisted on spending two days at Kumarakom and finalised the dates as well.

We started dreaming and planning for the trip. While the husbands made a separate group to take a tally about the 'preferred drink' to be carried and the logistics, we fought for the pool in the villa and our timeouts without the kids. There was so much excitement build up and we just couldn't wait for the day to arrive, inspite of being scared that the whole thing might get jinxed if we spoke about our excitement. And then it happened. A couple of days before we were to reach Kumarakom, one couple had to back out due to a family emergency. It dampened the entire mood and we were in two minds whether to proceed for the trip or not. For the remaining three of us, it just wasn't going to be the same with one of us missing and the trip was not going to be perfect as we picturised. Nevertheless, we decided to proceed with the plan and I must say, that was indeed a good decision.

Considering the limited time that we had, we were holed up at the resort the whole time yet we had two wonderful days, spending time with each other and being one big, happy family. The kids were so comfortable with each other, the bigger ones bossing the younger ones, fighting for the baby's love, the younger one try so hard to please the older ones - it was so heartwarming to see them together, making memories. Though we are in touch almost on a daily basis and are well updated about each other's life, we still had lots to talk about. My favourite part of the trip was when we, three, got our time together sans the husbands and kids when the husbands volunteered to look after the kids while we relaxed at the pool for sometime. We held hands and spoke about random nothings while the husbands changed the nappies, fed the kids, soothed the babies and then finally decided to pull us out of the pool when they realised they needed a drink badly to stay sane amidst the toddlers and babies chaos. Later, while the husbands spent time together and the babies slept next to each other, hugging and kicking, we continued our chats late into the night, wishing time stood still. 

We gossiped, we cribbed, we spoke of the olden days, about our future and anything that came into our mind. By the time the two days came to an end, though we didn't want to, we parted with a lot of happy and fun-filled memories to cherish and dreams about the next trip together!

Though I couldn't be any closer to these girls than I am already, get togethers like these make me realise how blessed I am to have these three in my life. I don't have to speak my heart out for them to know what's going on in my mind. They know. There is a sense of belonging and we are just us - no masks and no pretentions. As time passed, I've made more amazing friends, who've stood by me and been my support system, but no one can ever replace what these three mean to me. Everything about this trip was a reaffirmation of that! Although the next trip is not going to happen anytime soon and we are yet to brainwash the boys about our next trip, I am already dreaming about it and can't wait for it to happen!