It was a rather amusing day, nothing unusual for my friend Harendra and myself as we are constantly having a laugh about something or another but most of all about ourselves. Whilst relaxing on the verandah we were reminiscing our past and Harendra wanted to go down memory lane about all the friends and lovers in my life. At that moment and at the thought of all the people who have entered and exited my life, it felt like I was caught in a tornado since so many people have been there in my life one way or the other. This is something that all you readers could identify with, I am sure, since we all go through such experiences albeit in different way.  There are many highs and lows peppered with complications at times when a person enters your life.

Fortunately I am one of those who can actually forget without undergoing physiological damage or harboring any anger as I am a firm believer in that all who actually exit from my life is for my good. This, Harendra pointed out, was due to my age, which is true in a way.  We then had a good long chat about the past ghosts in our lives.

First we thought of all the dear ones who actually meant a lot in our lives and passed away. Memories of such persons one treasures as they were in our lives and we loved them dearly; some passed away due to age others due to tragic or other circumstances. Then we got on to the other lot. One must remember our parents’ advice when they warn you that many a friend will be around you when you are doing well.  Our parents’ warning is the absolutely truth as these fly by nights we meet when we are on a high are never around when we are low. The bright side of this is that you know who your true friends are. Look around and bibbity bobbity boo hardly a handful.

My life is like a yo-yo having encountered many an acquaintance like this.  What one must keep in mind is that these are around you just to have a good time and should not worry when they drop you at the first sign of trouble knocking on your door.  Is this not something many of us have witnessed if not personally experienced?

On many an occasion I have seen those who are on the way down making a desperate effort to keep up appearances to the public by talking of how well they are doing and pretending that they are taking off to an exotic destination or talking about the inheritance that they are expecting soon etc.  Sadly this does not get them anywhere and they end up fools to the public.

In our society circles it is very rarely that you would come across somebody making a genuine effort to befriend a person less fortunate or less known.  If it is charity work that they are involved in, then the whole world is made aware of their involvement and contribution.  The disgusting sight of seeing the name of the donor engraved on a brass plaque and stuck on to a donation made to a place of worship is certainly not a sight one wishes to behold.  Unfortunately, this is the world we live in

Most amazing is when you have been friends from childhood, especially “mango friends” for yonkers  and all of a sudden they look away and drop you.  It certainly surprises you and gives you a jolt the first time but then when it comes to the second it does not even bother me.  

Many come into your life like a cyclone and during that period “you are their soul mate and the life of their party.  Then abracadabra they have left like the cyclone too. People certainly have changed in this century  and are not the same as those one reads about in novels or your grandparents and parents spoke about in their eras. Everyone has something nasty to say about each other; friends discuss you and laugh at you with other circles and sadly it is the world we live in.

In this melee if you find someone who would actually stand up for you and be by your side in times of good and bad and accept you for what you are, lucky are you.  Till we meet our maker our lives will be encountering such situations and people in our lives unless we decide on our own to lead a quiet and sedate life.