Joy of a Brand New Book

As a sworn biblomaniac, I come into possession of new volumes almost every quarter. And the anticipation of receiving new book, then opening it, its fragrance is something I cannot describe in mere words. Last week also, I went through the same giddy process. The high of owning new volumes is still there. Anyways, so here I am, opening a new book. And out of nowhere a memory spears my heart. The mind takes some time to process the event that was brought back with opening a brand new book. And it took me back to my high school days: in those days I was head over heels crazy about Harry Potter. In fact, this series was solely responsible for turning me into a book addict. So, every time a new volume will come out, i would impatiently wait for the moment when it will reach my hands. Fortunately, my high school librarian was very accommodating. She knew how much I wanted to read the series. So, she made it possible that every new installment was available within few weeks. So much so that she loaned me her personal copy of the last installment. Such teachers are very rare. If not for her, then my high school could have been a lot more miserable. 

Here was the background of my nostalgia. Back to the original thread, as I opened the new hard-copy, the whiff of glue and fresh ink brought back a wave of nostalgia so hard it left me on the brink of tears. I was wondering what it was, and then I remembered; the same fragrance came from new books of Harry Potter series. And because I used to eagerly wait for them, my mind has attached lots of fond memories with the fragrance. As a grown up, I really miss those silly crushes in whom I could indulge because I did not have any other worries to mess me up. Now, I cannot afford to be so childish. Still, these memories are a cherished part of me, of who I am and revisiting them have left me with a pleasant buzz! 

A letter to my longtime friends.....

I will start with stating the obvious- I miss you.

We have been friends for almost 6 years, though we all know it is more than that, it is a lifetime of being friends. We used to be inseparable, sharing all our moments together. We have come a long way now from those days. Still I miss them, the bittersweet memories almost tangible. And then there are days when a wave of homesickness leaves me gasping for breath. Because being with you feels like coming home. 

Slowly, I have come to accept the reality that there are new priorities in our lives. Our primary mode of communication is now limited to facebook and whatsapp. But this does not mean I don't wish things were different sometimes. That you didn't have to move to other cities, get jobs and have some other people who are more important than us. I still miss you, I will always miss you. 

I miss how spending time with you was as easy as picking up phone and telling "we are having lunch together". I miss the way we shared our big dreamy dreams, visions free from realities like marriage, in laws, finances. I know we will make new friends as we grow, but they will never be you. 

Life has been moving fast lately, too fast to catch up, and before you know it months go by without any real contact. But whenever we are together, time seems to stop. It is as if we are back to our hostel days gossiping, being silly over a cup of tea. Now we have other topics to discuss, but some part of our hostel days do creep up. We spend hours reminiscing, saying things starting with "remember when..." and laughing till tears roll down our faces. 

This friendship will stand through the trails of time because of its steely foundation of cherished memories. 

So now whenever we are together, which is not often enough, we talk about how far we have come from those carefree days. We talk about things which were so unreal then- marriage struggles and cranky parents. And then we hug and say goodbye, planning the next time we will be together. Slowly we creep back to our life routine with the mode of communication being facebook and whatsapp. Through it all, we miss each other. Until the next time when the time will stand still, the moments will fall away and we will meet like it were yesterday.

Until next time.....