Forever

You’re thinking this is a love story, aren’t you? What with the title and everything? Well, let me assure you: it is not. This is not a story about love. It is a story about friendship; about two best friends. Like love promises; friendship is also promised to be forever, right? Perhaps even stronger.

Let us start from when these two best friends met.

Wait……. I can’t seem to remember when.

Ummmmmmm (scratches chin)

What? Don’t judge me. I do not exactly have the best memory do I?

Never mind, I bet these two do not remember themselves: the time they met or the moment; they had been friends that long. For years and years; they had been together through everything. I mean, literally everything. They grew up side by side, exchanged clothes, studied together, played together; if you did not find one of them at their house, you just knew she would be at her best friend’s. And it was this friendship that ended the long tiff between their families. Seriously, the tiff between two families ended because their grandchildren had become the best of friends. What a sweet friendship, eh?

Now you must be wondering what the names of these two best friends are. I’d tell you in a heartbeat. But I don’t seem to recall the names either.

I told you I had a bad memory.

But let’s call them Soumya and Samara for the sake of the story.

Now where was I?

Oh, yes.

The two girls grew up to be beautiful women, each doing well in their own fields. And they were now both happily married.

Aahhh, but I am getting ahead of myself.

Let’s start with a phone call.

Soumya held the phone in her hand; she pushed in the numbers that she had dialed countless times over the years.

One ring.

Two rings.

“Hello?” that familiar voice answered

“Hey, it’s me. What are you up to?”

“Nothing much, just got back from this party at the Hyatt”

“Oh. How did it go?”Soumya twirled her fingers around the cord. She was used to this. Samara’s life changed a bit over the years after her marriage, as did every girl’s.

“You know: the usual. I had to rush out and get a new dress at the last moment! Talk about stress!”

“Mm hmm” Soumya had never imagined Samara to being such a socialite during her younger years, but now parties, dresses, cocktails were Samara’s thing. She even had a new circle of friends; one Soumya had realized a while back, she was not a part of. Perhaps her marriage had changed her in a different way.

“And Tanya! My god you should’ve seen the dress she wore! She was a stunner! I am definitely going to the boutique she got it from!” Samara continued.

Tanya: Samara’s friend in her new circle that she had become close to in a short matter of time. Tanya: who Samara had barely introduced about Soumya, let alone mention that she was Samara’s childhood friend and best friend. That had stung.

“You should” Soumya smiled.

“Right?” a sigh on the other end “I am exhausted from tonight. I’m going to a book a massage appointment tomorrow.”

“That sounds nice” Soumya chirped.

“And what about you? What have you been up to? How was your day?” came the question.

“Oh you know the usual. I had a tiring day at work. Just put little Raavya to bed. I couldn’t wait to talk to you”.

“How sweet of you!” the response seemed genuine. But Soumya noticed that Samara didn’t say she couldn’t wait either. Maybe it was just her, but she had been noticing these little things. She was usually the one to call these days too. But of course she hadn’t said anything to Samara, not to her husband, Ravi either.

“Tanya said they were planning a trip to Bali this weekend!”

“Wow! Sounds exciting!” Soumya exclaimed.

“I’m thinking of asking Amir and booking up too!” Samara squealed and giggled on the other end. “I hope you won’t get jealous with us going a double trip.”

“Of course not,” Soumya smiled. Jealousy: that word brought up another memory. The day the three of them had decided to meet up: she, Samara and Tanya for shopping at LABIM. Soumya and Tanya had showed up first. Samara arrived a little later to greet only Tanya with a hug. Soumya had not only felt awkward and out of place but a little bit jealous. But she had shared none of it.

“Hey! Did you zone out again?” Samara’s question brought her back.

“Yeah sorry.”

“So tell me, will you be free tomorrow evening? I need a little help with shopping if we go to Bali. I mean I have absolutely nothing to wear!” Samara cried.

“Of course.”

“Thanks best friend. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow, okay?

“Okay”

Click. The line went dead.

Soumya sighed. It was almost always on the tip of her tongue; to tell Samara what she had been feeling. She was her best friend after all. How could she hide what she had been feeling? But it was not so easy. What if this was all in her head? Could she risk the years of friendship they had had? Their friendship was the forever kind; they had promised each other that they would always be there no matter what. Why then, was she slowly feeling distant? As if Samara were becoming part of another world? A part, she, Soumya, was not sure she would be.

Aah forever, such a beautiful word! But I wonder who has determined the extent of this forever?