Friends Forever
Marisha Ida Fonseca
13 March 2009, 11:27The world had been so beautiful, life was so much fun, just a minute ago. Then…
“Hey are you going to Deepna’s party?”
She stared at Rohini. “Party?”
“Yeah, Ritu, it’s Deepna’s birthday tomorrow, they’re all going out for lunch.”
“Who are?”
“Deepna, Alisha, Rahul, Kunal.”
All her best friends. No, all her former best friends. Ever since Ritu had entered BMM while the rest continued with BA, they had forgotten her. All right, she had been busy with projects all the time, and she had made new friends among her class people. There wasn’t much time to hang out with the old gang. But did they have to leave her out like this? She and Deepna had been so close in junior college. How could Deepna do such a thing?
“Are you going?” she asked Rohini.
“No, my cousin brother is getting engaged, the ceremony is tomorrow. I’m leaving tonight for my native place and I’ll come back only on Saturday.”
Deepna had even invited Rohini, whom she hadn’t known six months ago! And she had forgotten her former best friend! Ritu blinked hard, determined not to let Rohini see any tears in her eyes.
“I’m not going tomorrow.”
“Really? Why? Deepna is your very good friend!”
“Oh, she didn’t invite me.” Said as casually as she could. Forcing a smile on her face. Rohini was not going to think she was feeling bad about it.
“Actually no one knows about it. It’s just four of them going out, if you go you might feel left out. They’re all such good friends, you know.”
Yes, she did know. Before Rohini had joined the college, there had been five good friends not four. And if no one knew about it, why did Rohini know? Deepna had asked Rohini, not her! Rohini with her greasy hair, pimples and tell-me-I-can-fix-all-your-troubles attitude!
“You’re not feeling bad, Ritu? Deepna used to be a very good friend of yours, she told me.”
Feeling bad! Ritu felt like someone was stabbing her with a red hot knife. And Rohini’s odious kindness was like rubbing salt into open wounds. Everything she said was pure poison dipped in honey. So Deepna told Rohini all about Ritu! And now Rohini would try to be kind to her, Rohini thought herself very wise and understanding. She thought she was a good counselor. She wanted Ritu to tell her her troubles, so she could comfort her!
Why hadn’t Deepna invited her? And the rest seemed to have forgotten her. She had been such friends with Rahul too; they had been friends from school. Now they weren’t friends any longer!
She had neglected them. There hadn’t seemed enough time to meet them properly. She had been happily busy as Class Rep, Student Council secretary, Editor of the college magazine, marketing head of the BMM Fest. In the holidays, she had been lucky to get an internship with the biggest advertising agency in Mumbai. When Deepna’s dog had died, she hadn’t time to do anything but send a nice SMS. When Kunal had had to repeat his economics exam, she had just been able to send him an e-card.
What did she know about them? Once, they had been so close. Now, they were like strangers. What were they planning to major in? What were their plans for the holidays? How far had Kunal progressed with his guitar lessons? Had Rahul’s parents finally bought him a digicam? Was Alisha still learning French at Alliance Francaise?
“I’m a fool,” said Ritu to herself. What did doing so many things matter? When your best friends deserted you? What was the use of achieving so much, when nobody really cared about what you did? Ritu tried to remember the last time she had actually spoken to Deepna, face to face, beyond just a brief hi in the college canteen. It was very long ago.
Even her Sundays had been fully occupied with her dance class and all the projects and assignments she had to complete.
She left Rohini and walked away quickly, almost blinded by tears. Her best friends had left her. She’d lost them because of her stupidity. She’d never have another chance. Deepna was so understanding, she was the world’s best listener. Kunal could make her laugh more than anyone else. Alisha had always helped her, lending her books and notes. And Rahul! Ritu felt the worst about losing him. They had been so close once upon a time.
“Ritu, I’m glad to see you! Are you free tomorrow? We’re going out to celebrate my birthday- Rahul, Kunal, Alisha and myself. You’ll come too? We’re going out for lunch after lectures, at about two.”
Ritu could have hugged Deepna. Deepna hadn’t forgotten her! They were still friends! The stabbing pain in her heart was replaced by an almost idiotic sense of peace and relief. Dear, sweet Deepna! She would spend more time with her, with them all. Tomorrow they would catch up on each other’s lives. Now that all projects were over for the semester, she had free time to spend with them.
Then a chilling realization hit her. “Deepna, the Student Council meeting is tomorrow at two, and I’m running for president next year. I’m so sorry, I can’t come!” She tried not to show how bad she was feeling. Deepna was so sensitive, she’d feel miserable too, and her birthday would be spoilt. For the second time in a few minutes, Ritu forced a smile on her face.
“Oh, that’s all right. Best of luck!” Deepna said cheerfully. Did Deepna really care about having her? Ritu wondered. Of course she didn’t, she was smiling as she went back to where Alisha was sitting. The stabbing pain began in Ritu’s heart again. She turned away and hurried to the library, to prepare her speech for tomorrow. She hated the election, she wished she wasn’t on the Student Council. But how could she back out now?
Meanwhile, Deepna was sobbing out to Alisha, “Ritu just doesn’t care about us any more. She’s forgotten her old friends.”
