My best friend’s wedding

The growing up years were the best, right? Remember the time you took me pillion on your tricycle? And how you soon grew weary of my baby-fat and tried some Roadrash stunts to get me off the thing? You surely remember how I fell down, bruised my forehead and how Amma came chasing you with a little cane.

Remember those sultry afternoons, when Amma settled for a siesta, pulling us close to her, patting us to sleep? And how we waited for her to start snoring softly, to creep out of the cot and bolt into the other room to play Ghar-Ghar, Teacher-Teacher, Gudiya-Gudiya and other such games?

Those walks back home from school were the best, especially during the rainy season. Jumping in muddy puddles, walking through little grassy trenches gushing with rainwater, shaking Akecia trees with all our might and dancing in glee when the tree shook its raindrops on us, collecting those little fan-like flowers which you had fondly named ‘heaven flowers’, fighting with those stupid boys, looking out for mynahs in pairs…what not.

Come exam time and we were telling each other to read silently, not make faces, and promising not to talk for the next 30 mins after talking for an hour every alternate 10 mins. We used to kick each other screaming, ‘Don’t read aloud!’ but never paid heed to Amma’s advice of occupying different rooms.

Acha used to bring us separate chocolate bars which we stored in the fridge. Instead of eating one each, we always took one out, cut it into halves and relished it. We still do. One or both of us did mischief and never let the thing reach our parents. Even if it did, we stood together, speaking up for each other. And there were times we fought and I vowed that I would never talk to you. Your giggles a few moments later, would remind me that I had long forgotten the oath.

And then one day, we grew up. We were still the same but the people around us changed. Amma made disapproving faces when we laughed like demons; Acha wanted us to be more responsible; Aunts and Uncles who never spoke a word but carelessly ruffled our hair and patted our cheeks, were suddenly interested. Life changed. For them.

But before you or I knew it, you tied the knot. I loved the pre-wedding days. Talking, planning, teasing, shopping and more planning. On the d-day you looked lovely in your wedding saree and I enjoyed being the bride’s sister. I was happy as much as you were. And I am happy that you are so happy.

But there’s a void in me. There’s no fun in having the whole bed to myself, kicking for space was kind of fulfilling. Whole bars of chocolates are an effort. Watching TV alone is so boring! There’s nothing like passing our comments and judgments on every Tom, Dick and Harry, that appeared in those 32 inches. No amount of relaxed sleep is as soothing or refreshing as our heated/silly/funny arguments/fights/wrestling sessions.

I really miss you. You solved my problems. You were always right about people. You heard me out, said all the sweet things, made all the right noises, just to make me feel better, spoke up for me. You were critical without being mean. You are my best friend. Though you are just a phone call away, it’s not the same. Life has changed. Finally, for both of us.