It's always a joy to meet an old friend, especially a classmate. I happened to meet a classmate yesterday in a book talk after seven years. She was the one who noticed me but to avoid any misunderstanding, she sent an sms to confirm if I was attending the same event. I immediately turned back inside the Stein auditorium, frantically trying to spot my friend. Finally, after much straining, I did spot her near close to the auditorium entrance - her getaway card if the event did not pan out to be what she expected.
After get over the unexpected encounter and hello how do you dos, there was few seconds of silence between us. I don't know about her but I could not think of what else to ask. I convinced her to sit next to me (another friend had accompanied me), we were together. The event went off well with us updating on lives, work and family of the other.
During the course of evening, I invited her and her husband home and while conversing, she mentioned how we should call another classmate, who also lives in Delhi, as he loved to talk and that way even if we didn't have anything to say, he could fill up the vacuum. Although we continued talking, that statement struck me.
Over the years, I have lost in touch with friends, who at some point were very close to me. I am sure this must have been the case with many of you. I can't pinpoint when the distance started creeping up, when we got engrossed with our work. But only with few are you able to pick up the conversation in the same pace as it was in the past. With the rest, after the initial euphoria and excitement of seeing each other, there is an awkward feeling. I feel that way about my school friends. As a child, I studied in different schools in different cities (my father had a transferable job). So, I just have handful of school friends in my chat list, and that too from the last school I passed out my Class 10 from.
A few months ago, one of my classmates, who was my best friend in Class 6&7 sent me a friend request in a social media website. Although, I was surprised to view her profile and amazed that she could still remember me, I did not feel the urge to add her. Strange, you might think or is it? I think once you are out of touch with someone, who was very close to you, it is difficult to renew the bond at the same level. Life happens and, as a result, not only you but your once dear friend also change. Our attitude, perspective, style, outlook, everything differs and then you realise you don't have anything common with this person anymore. He/she becomes an acquaintance; someone with whom you share some memorable phase of life with.
