“Hello, Pooj, I have left for college and I’m taking the bus now. I’ll meet you in the library in 20 minutes.” says Jovis Wilson on call using a PCO (Public Call Office). [Meet Jovis Wilson, my best friend from grade 12, I call her Jo]. Meanwhile, I’m hastily getting up from the bed and thinking how useless my alarm is that fails to wake me up before my best friend reaches college or maybe it’s just me! I have only 20 minutes to take a shower and get ready, eat breakfast, take a bus to reach the east side of my area and go to the west side and walk for 10 mins to reach my college. So I scuttle away, take a shower and dress up, skip the breakfast, take the bus and all this while I’m running. But as usual, I’m late (maybe the worst bestfriend ever) and reach library only to find Jo with her head down on the table, tired and sleepy awaiting me. I stand there palpitating and she somehow senses my presence like Jaya Bachchan (the Mother) sensing Shahrukh’s (Son) entry before even him reaching the door in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham! Raising her head in slow motion and she looks at me like- “what do I do to bring you here on time, you make me wait forever” but doesn’t say a word rather smiles at me. I can’t help but aimlessly and shamelessly smile back at her and be guilty about it. But guess what? I get her chocolates and wafers to munch on and compensate my shameless act (what a compensation!). My paavam (innocent) best friend would in fact make fun of herself waiting there and never even put me in guilt even though I have made her wait for hours several times.

I still wonder how tolerant and patient she was to me the whole time.

Back in 2012, maybe when the world was ahead, we were still those little girls assuming to be mature, roaming around the college hand in hand. Jo would save her lunch box, make sure that I get more of the dosa (Indian style salty crepes) and chicken curry, she would eat less of it and sometimes would not even eat while I would hog on it. Saving each rupee and get a cola and a plate of schezwan rice and share it was a thing back then. Probably we all do a lot of things for our best friend, I was even ready to give her a share in my property and never even regret. But she is just too precious for mere bunch of properties.

There were days when we used to walk a lot, eat Mumbai street food, wait long hours for the bus, sing carelessly in the bus, get drenched in the rain, help each other with studies, bunk lectures to sort boyfriend problems, boost each other’s confidence, teach morals and values, make each other believe in things and ourselves. We still do, maybe not an unusual thing from other friends, but experiencing miracles, supernatural stuff, literally believing in the words of each other to the extent that they would turn true, all of this made the friendship more divine for me.

The best part was knowing that we had both had our first period on the same date. So we wish each other on every anniversary. It’s a special thing for us. Celebrating womanhood together, reminding each other of the potential and the grace and wisdom we attain every year, reminding how equally strong and potent humans we are.

It was only an academic year that we spent together and she moved to Kerala, south of India, permanently. It’s been 9 years for our friendship and countless memories of singing to each other on calls, crying about our failures and heartbreaks, being the most vulnerable and yet believing in each other. She is married now, married the person she loved like crazy. I witnessed how she endured all the pain and suffering for him once. I am amazed at how she kept holding on it, believed in it, kept going, and finally made it with him. Despite all the personal turmoil, she was pillar strong with her academics. Graduated with a distinction and today eligible of getting a doctorate! This is where she inspires me. I know she will win the world someday! All those letters and cards she left me behind before moving is my treasure. I need to archive them for real. They remind me of how the simplest things could bring you joy that no costliest material in the world can.

You don’t need several decades to know your best friend. The true one can be known in a year or even within a day and would stand by you for a lifetime.

pooja ashokkumar

Today is Jo’s birthday and I wanted to do something better. I resorted to this blog. There are thousands of thoughts that cannot be put into words to describe this friendship, to describe her. There are not enough words to define the purity, innocence, unconditional love and goodness that she possesses and radiates. I am not going to wish anything for her because I know and believe the Universe is going to take her to the right places, with the right people, and give her exactly what she needs. I will be right here to hold her, listen to her, give her doses of confidence and positivity and remind her how beautiful of a soul she is and how much she deserves to be the happiest person in the world.

Happy Birthday Jovie! ❤