Edited by: Pragyna Divakar (UG 2020)
Life is like a train journey and every new stage of your life is like a station before you reach the final destination. On every platform some people get off and some get on. You meet different groups of people from every walks of life. You make friends in every new place that the train takes you to. It is common for people to meet others and become friends with some of them. Different group of people have different meaning in your life. But among these many sets there is one set which holds a very special place in your heart. They are not your parents, not your family, but your school friends — the family that you chose for yourself.
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It is true that your college and your work place gives you many friends but your school friends are different as they have seen you grow up and have grown up with you. They have seen your crazy side, your serious side, your tantrums, your emotional side, and whatnot. They have been on the train with you for a very long time. These friends are those who are a major part of you throughout your journey. But what happens when this train, instead of stopping at the same platform, goes in different directions and your destination changes? What happens when after school, you and your friends move to different cities? What happens when a friendship turns into a long distance friendship? Let’s think about some of the things that change.
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1. Instagram Feed: The people in their feed start changing. Earlier it was you who would dominate most of their photos but now there are other people who start coming up in their photos. You feel jealous but you know nothing can be done.
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2. Experiences: They used to be an important part of your experiences as most of your crazy times were spent together, and your experiences were their experiences too. They are still a part of that experience but now only as a listener.
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3. From meeting every day to video calling: There was a time when you used to meet every day in school but those meetings turn into once a week video calls, and hugs turn into virtual hugs.
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4. You plan your travel according to them: It is common knowledge that your attendance in school was decided according to your friends coming to the school but when you move to different cities, your home plans are made in coordination with theirs.
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5. Time commitment: If you and your friend are in different time zones, a problem arises when you are not able to find a common time to talk and the conversation decreases substantially.
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Some things might change between you and your gang when you move to different places but what does not change is the friendship you have. Some bonds are stronger than a few 100 kilometres and have the power to make the friendship last forever. Some things that even distance cannot change help your friendship to last and overcome all the hurdles.
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1. Inside jokes — Distance cannot come in the way of the jokes that your gang has because there are few things that no one else would understand and it is a part of your very own group.
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2. 2 AM partner — Whether it is waking you up after a nap or advising you in the middle of the night, some people cannot be replaced. They will wake you up and hear all your tantrums sitting in another part of the country.
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3. You realise how much you miss them — You might insult them, you might laugh at the thought of missing your creepy friends, but the distance makes you realise how much you long to see each other. When in a new crowd no one understands what you are trying to say anymore because they don’t know the history, you realise the importance of your old friends.
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There are some idiots who will never let you feel lonely, even if they are in another corner of the world. They will always be there with you , no matter what, patiently listening to your drama and then telling you about theirs. Your amigos are your people, the people with whom you feel home, the people who will always be the first ones you call, when you need crazy advice.
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A lot changes between you and your buddies but what cannot change is their importance and place in your life. You might save new numbers in your list but the number you dial in the time of crisis will always be the same.