Good friends are like rare gems

I've heard it said that good friends are like good wine - both get better as they grow older. Not that this friend that I have in mind is old or anything, but you get the point, don't you?

I think the first time we saw each other - more than six years ago - was when another friend of mine brought her to my office. I remember the bright face, the intelligent eyes, and a big, warm smile. It was not exactly a meeting, because after smiling and flinging a "Hi" at each other, we went our ways. But within a short period of time, we caught on really well, and very soon were chatting away for hours on the phone or the Net. It was an exciting time for me, because I was quite dumb, without any worldly experience to speak of, and she had already switched jobs twice (or more, I'm not sure), and so I could learn quite a few things from her. I was always in awe of the fact that she celebrated life like no one else I knew then did. She wasn't afraid of many things, and you could trust her to speak her mind, damn the consequences; I admired that. At the same time, she knew when to hold herself back too. I remember one glorious Music Season at Madras when she, myself and another friend had a whale of a time listening to Indian Classical Music.

Her marriage was a happy occasion, with tons of friends and relatives. She met married life in the same way that she did anything: with gusto! Her husband turned out to be a terrific match, with a love of good life that equalled hers. I've watched with quiet happiness as they more or less waltzed through their years of marriage, now with a trip to Africa, and then a trip to Australia (her husband is the classic "Travelling Salesman").

The first time I visited their home in Bombay was three years after I moved to Pune. But I enjoyed the trip thoroughly as it gave me a good opportunity to get to know her husband better. We went shopping, and had a lovely multi-cuisine dinner where I, as usual, almost made a fool of myself ordering an extra cup of ghee. Her husband saved me from the embarrassing situation I would have been in by cancelling it quickly! And the second time I visited them (this time on my bike), I made a mistake while coming back, which has now led to her calling me her "backtracker friend"! :-)

She may not be perfect, and may have faults that are all her own. But she's dear to me, because she's one of my best friends.

P.S.: Today is not the world friendship day or anything. In fact, I hate such "special" days. I celebrate friendship whenever I feel like it.