A TRIP DOWN THE MEMORY LANE
We did not know it just takes a slight nudge to break even the strongest bonds. Not one, but a series of nudges, soft and trivial, so subtle that it’s all gone before you even realise it.
There were not two but three of us, one of whom had to switch schools because her parents were transferred. Now, she was the whole reason I and Christy met and bonded. If not for her, we wouldn't have known each other at all, given our contrasting characters. But we tried to cope with the loss of our vector. We were there for each other, looking out for each others’ problems and solving them together. But then came our other friends who joined us because of Christy’s outgoing nature. She is charming, easy to approach, and delightful to talk to. She is someone everybody wants to hold close to. She laughs heartily, speaks without a filter, and wouldn't mind giving it to your face if you deserve it. In short, she is everything that I am not.
And that was why maybe I wasn't comfortable being a part of the group. I preferred quiet corners, secret gossip and friendships that belonged to me. I wasn't sound enough back then to realise people don't belong to you. But now, do friends function that way? Absolutely not. Our mutual friends were more compatible with her as apposed to me. They mirrored the way she spoke, laughed, and moved, and they were moving closer together, though none was as close to the bond we shared. The distance that grew between us was silent and adrift. Before it was too late to act, influences had worked on both of us. There were people who whispered in our ears against each other, and what was once a strong, unbreakable bond weakened in silence.
We started moving apart, keeping secrets from each other, and then we went to a stage where we began avoiding each other. We never fought over it, but we both knew. Everyone sensed it, but no one brought it up. I grew silent and became lonely. On the other hand, her popularity kept growing. She was always surrounded by lovely people who cheered her no matter what. She won the class monitor election and was preferred over me for group projects and assignments.
I silently watched her from a distance. I grew possessive, a bit jealous, and a lot more aloof. So, I decided to mend my ways. I gave up things to become the best of me. I wanted to be the “cool” person they wanted to befriend. I changed my ways and improved my skills, and slowly, I, too, had a circle of my own. And this time, it was her time to become envious. We didn't know when this turned into a competition. There were silent challenges and unspoken victories. Bridges were burnt. But I think we both wanted to get back together secretly. But our egos got the best of us. Until one calamity struck.
This may be all for good. This may be a restart to the chapter we both thought was long over. Maybe I should give us another chance. Perhaps I should uno-reverse Samir’s strategy against him and use it to patch up with my old, lost friend.
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